Boot Hydrolysis Anyone? 😂

Corton93

Corton93

Joined
Mar 17, 2020
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Important note, if your working in your boots every day always have a backup pair on the truck lmao.

Decided to have myself a comfy day today and decided to wear the Redbacks, for the first time in like 3 years... About an hour into the job I noticed I was leaving a trail of black foam everywhere I was walking.

No biggie, I had a pair of Whites and some Carolinas on the truck. Just thought someone might get a good laugh out of it lol..

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I've never had that problem...

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I had a pair of Merrill hiking boots that sat in my closet for about 4 years before I went to wear them. The sole pealed off. I went to a shoe repair shop. They told me that shoes/boots can die if not worn and time passes. They told me not to repair them.
 
The trail of black foam happened to me at my Inlaws last Easter. The soles on my special occasionally worn 20 year old shoes disintegrated.

I replaced them with a pair of Iron Rangers.
 
that kinda foam and glue/cement constr dry rots or whatever happens to it after some time not being worn. doesn't take long either. year or two and it's done. I've had it happen also.
 
It all depends on the materials.
Natural rubbers can live longer, urethane lives quite long in my experience, and the foam type stuff is the worst.
I no longer buy any footwear that can't be resoled, and have been gradually working on improving my skill of resoling my own boots.
So far I've successfully done 2 pairs and the 2nd came out looking better than the 1st, both look amateurish but have been holding up.
 
eveled said:
Wow! Resoling your own boots is quite an undertaking. Hats off to you sir.
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These 2 kind of were because they required some changes, but typically with a Goodyear welt and say a common wedge sole you just peel the old outsole off do a little sanding then glue the new outsole ( lots of hammering required) on and finish the edges.
It's time consuming and hard on my hands, but ultimately worth it.
 
I’ve had that issue with a couple pairs of New old stock boots. First time it happened I called the company, lady kindly explained that the boots are meant to be worn, not stored. In both cases the vibram (stitched) soles were easily glued back with CA glue and never came back apart. Just have a wet cloth handy for the excess glue.
 
I had the "rubber rot" happen to me on a nice pair of hunting boots that didn't get worn for too long. Luckily I read that Redbacks would do the same thing, so I wear them a lot - I would say they were my favorites if they were just a little prettier!
 
Had some Wolverine brand, heavily insulated boots , hardly worn , basically dissolve in storage . :mad: :thumbsdown::thumbsdown:

Never bought any more of those !

That was many years ago . I guess more brands have gone bad since then .

Used to be very common and easy to have boots and shoes resoled .
 
You can still find USGI surplus boots from 20 years old to 70 year old Korean war era boots that have soles that are still perfectly good.
Lots of NOS Vietnam and interwar " Panama sole " jungle boots that are still good, and they use a direct mould sole construction that can't really be resoled without significant rebuilding.
Hell you can find original ww2 issue boots of various types with cord rubber soles that are still good.
From Corcoran jump boots to double buckles and USMC rough outs,
Most of the problems you'll find are typically ( there are exceptions) going to be found with footwear made using more contemporary materials & construction methods, footwear that's meant to be disposable anyways.

You aren't likely to find any of these problem materials being used on any American made boots that are traditionally constructed.
 
Corcoran jump boots are a good bet for lasting and yes resole is easy peasy for shoe/boot shop that offers that service, same for Red Wing.
 
Black Magic makes a clear silicone spray for tires and trim, but it also works for non leather soles, as it refurbs the rubber. You only have to dump about 1/2 inch in a throw away baking pan and place the boots in them so the soles can suck in the silicone for a few days. It works great, and yes I am an expert on refurb of old shoes and boots and leather goods.
 
jux t said:
I’ve had that issue with a couple pairs of New old stock boots. First time it happened I called the company, lady kindly explained that the boots are meant to be worn, not stored. In both cases the vibram (stitched) soles were easily glued back with CA glue and never came back apart. Just have a wet cloth handy for the excess glue.
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Cadillac Shoe and Boot cleaner/Conditioner will refurb old leather, sometimes even bringing back from leather death, leather that is stiff and brittle.
 
1938 spade sole shoes, fully refurbed and wearable. Prior to being refurbed, the leather felt like a taco chip.
 

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Blade Lady said:
1938 spade sole shoes, fully refurbed and wearable. Prior to being refurbed, the leather felt like a taco chip.
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not being a shoe connoisseur, what are the toe and heel areas pieces for? durability, or just to make a clickety clack sound when walkin? or are these actually a type of tap shoe? what are they made of a metal or....?

thanks.
 
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