Sole coming off hiking boot

[RedLeader]

The sole has started to part company with the boot of my Brasher Hillwalker GTX. It's not hanging off or anything but it's definitely separating around the arch. Is there any way I can glue them back together and with what?

[Dowser]

Unfortunately it may be time to say goodbye to those boots.  The last thing you need is to be 4 miles into a hike and the sole come off completely.

If you were wanting to try a repair, and keep them for knocking about in, you could try this stuff which is probably as good as your gonna get for a DIY job:



FLEXIBLE VINYL GLUE REPAIRS NEOPRENE PVC RUBBER TENTS WETSUITS WATERPROOF STRONG

Maybe somebody else can suggest something stronger.

[Dowser]

PS... If you do decide to wear them on a long hike again you may want to think about carrying a roll of Gaffer Tape for any temporary repairs required.

Don't forget the golden rules of DIY:

[Spud]

PS... If you do decide to wear them on a long hike again you may want to think about carrying a roll of Gaffer Tape for any temporary repairs required.

Don't forget the golden rules of DIY:

Haha cracker!

[RedLeader]

Turned out my Dad had some Gorilla Glue knocking around the man-shed. It's a glue that is designed to bond any materials and the thinking was that since it was a "foaming" glue it would more readily seep into the small space between the sole and the upper. This actually turned out pretty well, my only problem was that I couldn't easily clamp the boot for the time needed for the glue to dry. I was using wood clamps (all I could lay my hands on) and once I had them in place I couldn't get a cloth in to mop out the glue that squeezed out once pressure was applied leaving loads of glue on the outside of the sole. I was stupid enough to do the big gap first that ran nearly from the heel to the toe of one side of one boot instead of the small inch gap on the opposite side meaning that the first try was really messy but the rest much better once I got the hang of it. So now my boots don't exactly look spiffing but I reckon they're good for another few trips anyway meaning I can at least stave off an emergency boot purchase as they're pricey off the shelf.

[Dowser]

Good Stuff... More money for Scotch 

I'd still throw a roll of Gaffer tape in my ruck though, if I were you!!!

[Matthew]

Tube of rapid set Araldite, that would be the ticket.

[RedLeader]

Wish I'd flippin listened to you when you first pointed out the sole was splitting By the time I got around to doing anything about it had become much worse.

Tube of rapid set Araldite, that would be the ticket.

[LandyLiam]

Tube of rapid set Araldite, that would be the ticket.

I've tried that before and it didn't stay together long  maybe i didn't clean it properly first though, was a lot of dirt between the soles as you can imagine, i did give it a clean with an alcohol wipe first though

[RedLeader]

How much had your sole come off? This is just coming away at the edges.

Tube of rapid set Araldite, that would be the ticket.

I've tried that before and it didn't stay together long  maybe i didn't clean it properly first though, was a lot of dirt between the soles as you can imagine, i did give it a clean with an alcohol wipe first though

[Typo-On]

In my experience araldite generally sets fairly hard so I dunno how useful it would be in the sole as its always flexing.

[Matthew]

I was thinking more along the lines of an emergency repair when in the hills. Titebond make a flexible glue which might work, it's expensive though.

For Araldite to work the best it would need to be applied to dry and clean surfaces.

[whoRya]

Not sure it has been asked already but how old are the boots?  And how much use have they seen?  The second question is perhaps the more relevant.  As you have said yourself RL they haven't been abused in the last year.  Is it worth taking them back?

[RedLeader]

I bought them in June 11 and while I didn't walk huge numbers of miles, I defo didn't look after them. In fact I don't think I ever even cleaned them, they went straight into the garage when I came home and stayed then until next time 
Though I don't think the sole issue is connected to the lack of care, I think Brasher boots aren't necessarily the best quality, trouble is they were nice and waterproof (leather) and one of the comfiest pairs I've owned. They also scuffed incredibly easily, after the first weekend they were already very marked and grazed and that was only a night in the forest.

Not sure it has been asked already but how old are the boots?  And how much use have they seen?  The second question is perhaps the more relevant.  As you have said yourself RL they haven't been abused in the last year.  Is it worth taking them back?