Re-affixing sole on boots

[ggorgeman]

The sole around heel area of my fave Scarpas has come adrift. What’s the best glue to use to re-attach and any other tips?
Thanks in advance!

[north-north-west]

Clean everything to within a nanometre of its life and make sure it's dry before using the adhesive. Flexible marine-grade Sikkaflex is the best option I've come across, although nothing will last if the midsole is decaying. Use heavy tape to clamp the sole in place until the adhesive is fully cured. Keep fingers crossed that it works.

[GregG]

Here is the solution I adopted last week when the soles fell off my sixteen year old Rossi's.Luckily a companion had a roll of electrical tape!

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[GregG]

And what's with these modern rubber/synthetic materials that seem to have a built-in self-destruct mechanism? Back in the day boots just wore out depending on the amount of use they had, unlike now when it seems to be a factor purely related to age of the product irrespective of amount of use. Here's some pictures of the middle-sole of my Rossi's, it turned into this sticky crumbly mess that in no way could be fixed, yet the outer sole and the leather upper still had plenty of wear left.

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[north-north-west]

Hydrolysis and it happens to footwear that doesn't get used frequently enough.

Last edited by north-north-west on Mon 23 Jun, 2025 2:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[GregG]

Thanks NNW, I never knew that hydrolysis was a "thing" - it explains much.

[GregG]

And in addition to binding the soles on with electrical tape

I can recommend FlexGlue which has worked very well for me, it is very tenacious and even works on wet surfaces, only downside is it takes about two days to cure properly. I have also used Shelley's Shoe Fix which seems to work OK. As NNW says the surfaces must be very clean and dust free.
What does not seem to work is two dollar shop yellow contact adhesive, which seems to break dow n fairly quickly.

[GregG]

Flex Glue and Shelley's Shoe Fix.

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