Cam's Boot Repair...i.e. extending the life of walmart footwear

I work at the local grocery store part time to pay the fairly measly bills I have. I need steel toe shoes to be allowed in the back room, because of the skids and all the other heavy stuff being moved around. Where did I buy my last pair? Where it is cheapest...Wally World. They worked great, until yesterday when I kneeled down to search for something on the shelf. When I tried to stand up my right foot was stuck. I looked down, and saw the rubber sole nearly separated from the boot and catching on the floor. This was in front of a customer, so I made a comment about this is what one gets when you buy shoes from Wally World. For my in situ repair, I used a piece of clear tape to hold the boot together. It made me laugh because every step I took sounded as if I was stepping on some sort of wrapper. It worked though!

First thing this morning I decided to make a tougher repair. So I grabbed the drill and the zip ties, my two favorite repair tools.

Here is the boot.



Here is how it looked yesterday on the floor.



I put a 1/4" bit in and started to poke holes. It was surprisingly easy once I took out the insoles. The most challenging stitch was the front middle one, as I had to bypass the steel toe. I did it though!



Ta-da!



The long term solution to this issue is to buy a better pair of boots that are stitched together instead of glued, so they last longer than a year and a bit. Right now I'm a bit strapped for cash though so this will do the trick. And don't worry I know these boots will not be waterproof now, but they weren't anyways. I spend 95% of my walking time in these inside the store where it is cool and dry. The other 5% is doing carts where sometimes it is wet. But oh well, I am proud to have added some life to these boots.

I think your repair job is fabulous!!

As for waterproofing: back when I was a distance runner there was a product called "Shoe Goo" that you could use to get some extra life from your running shoes when you wore off the soles. It is also a sealant -it's like stronger, more flexible rubber cement. You can make those shoes waterproof, in the drill holes as well as the sole. I seem to recall it costs maybe 5 or 10 bucks but it lasts a long time and costs less than a new pair of shoes or boots.

just a suggestion from past experience, treat yourself to a pair of redwings or danners and with care they will last a lifetime and protect your feet from any possible damage while giving great support and comfort.

Tereza Okava wrote:I think your repair job is fabulous!!

As for waterproofing: back when I was a distance runner there was a product called "Shoe Goo" that you could use to get some extra life from your running shoes when you wore off the soles. It is also a sealant -it's like stronger, more flexible rubber cement. You can make those shoes waterproof, in the drill holes as well as the sole. I seem to recall it costs maybe 5 or 10 bucks but it lasts a long time and costs less than a new pair of shoes or boots.

Thank you!! One of my welding friends mentioned that stuff when I was talking about the hole in the leather on the steel toe of my blundtstones. I completely forgot the name though and kept forgetting to ask.  I think I may get a tube of it to seal the sole of my work boots and to repair the blundtstones as well.

bruce Fine wrote:
just a suggestion from past experience, treat yourself to a pair of redwings or danners and with care they will last a lifetime and protect your feet from any possible damage while giving great support and comfort.

Thank you for the suggestions I appreciate it. It's good to find out about the brands that are still making stuff that lasts. They're out there, but they're harder to find these days.

I'd suggest GOOP II max.
It has worked the best for me when glueing shoe soles back on.

Tried black weather strip adhesive. Too brittle.
Shoe goo didn't last .
Gorilla glue didn't hold long enough either.
After those, I didn't think anything was going to work.
GOOPII max surprised me

Clever use of zip ties if I've ever seen one!

craig howard wrote:I'd suggest GOOP II max.
It has worked the best for me when glueing shoe soles back on.

Tried black weather strip adhesive. Too brittle.
Shoe goo didn't last .
Gorilla glue didn't hold long enough either.
After those, I didn't think anything was going to work.
GOOPII max surprised me

Thanks Craig. I read this a little late because I've already got some shoe goo. I'll give it a go and see how it performs. If it doesn't last I will definitely try out Goop II! I already went crazy tonight and repaired a pair of rubber boots, one blundtstone, and two birkenstocks. One of the birkenstocks will need the sole glued back on...that will be the true test.

L. Johnson wrote:
Clever use of zip ties if I've ever seen one!

Thanks! I'm pretty proud of it. I wore the boots for my shift last night, and all day today. They work perfect!! Tomorrow I will seal the drilled holes up and we should be good to go.

When your cracked boot splits open again (sorry, but it will) and you've gone through every adhesive you can think of and they've all failed and you're sick of wet feet, you can cut the tops off and turn them into clogs. I love mine.

Jan White wrote:When your cracked boot splits open again (sorry, but it will) and you've gone through every adhesive you can think of and they've all failed and you're sick of wet feet, you can cut the tops off and turn them into clogs. I love mine.

I love that idea, thanks Jan!