Hole in my shoe. . Vegan Doc Martens. Help.

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I have a pair of those vegan Doc Martens, they are very nice, bought them in a sale in the Camden shop.
In general they are very hard wearing, but one shoe developed a crack on the outside early on that over time has made its way through to the inner lining. This lets water in and I assume will just keep getting bigger.

My question is, as it's not leather can I repair it with some rubber glue (is there such a thing?). What about a puncture repair kit?

I would just buy a new pair, but looking on line I have discovered the non sale price is waaaay out of my league (nice to know I got a pretty sweet deal at least).

 

[gaijingirl]

Sorry - no help but this was obviously my first thought (as I think it was yours too judging by your "letting in water").

 

[marshall]

Urethane glue.

But thought they were like super durable, why are they splitting 'early on', how long have you had them?

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Urethane glue.

But thought they were like super durable, why are they splitting 'early on', how long have you had them?

The crack seemed to form pretty early on and I have only had them two years tops. I think the hole has been open a while, just didn't worry about it until I went through a marshy field.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I've now that bloody song going round in my head.

 

[killer b]

I have repaired similar holes using Shoe Goo, and they've held up well.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I have repaired similar holes using Shoe Goo, and they've held up well.

Ah ha! What's that then?

 

[killer b]

this stuff - they do it in black or clear: Shoe Goo - Clear 109.4 ml (3.7oz ) - Repair Products

I cut a piece of cloth to the right size to cover the hole from the inside and stuck it in place, then covered the outside of the hole with a layer of it.

 

[Pickman's model]

The crack seemed to form pretty early on and I have only had them two years tops. I think the hole has been open a while, just didn't worry about it until I went through a marshy field.

yeh well if you've been wearing them constantly you've done bloody well to get two years out of them

that's about what i got back in the day wearing dms.

 

[Pickman's model]

I've now that bloody song going round in my head.

that's ok, i can get rid of it for you

Spoiler

 

[farmerbarleymow]

that's ok, i can get rid of it for you

Spoiler

I'm not falling for that trick you git.

 

[Pickman's model]

I'm not falling for that trick you git.

agh a do!

 

[pinkmonkey]

this stuff - they do it in black or clear: Shoe Goo - Clear 109.4 ml (3.7oz ) - Repair Products

I cut a piece of cloth to the right size to cover the hole from the inside and stuck it in place, then covered the outside of the hole with a layer of it.

Thats the stuff!

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

this stuff - they do it in black or clear: Shoe Goo - Clear 109.4 ml (3.7oz ) - Repair Products

I cut a piece of cloth to the right size to cover the hole from the inside and stuck it in place, then covered the outside of the hole with a layer of it.

Seems quite pricey for a small hole but I guess ultimately worth it to keep my boots going.

I wonder about this stuff which is smaller and cheaper.

Fantastic Elastic Flexible Glue - 20g: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Fantastic Elastic Flexible Glue - 20g: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

www.amazon.co.uk

If I were to buy shoe goo in lockdown, rather than get it delivered, what kind of shops stock it?

 

[Looby]

The crack seemed to form pretty early on and I have only had them two years tops. I think the hole has been open a while, just didn't worry about it until I went through a marshy field.

I know it’s too late now but did you contact them at the time? This happened to Mr Looby and they replaced them with no hassle.
Worth remembering for future.

 

[killer b]

Seems quite pricey for a small hole but I guess ultimately worth it to keep my boots going.

I wonder about this stuff which is smaller and cheaper.

Fantastic Elastic Flexible Glue - 20g: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Fantastic Elastic Flexible Glue - 20g: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

www.amazon.co.uk

If I were to buy shoe goo in lockdown, rather than get it delivered, what kind of shops stock it?

I haven't used fantastic elastic so I've no idea - the reviews seem mostly very positive though.

I've not see shoe goo for sale in physical shops, although it seems to be heavily used by skaters so maybe a skate shop?

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

Sorry - no help but this was obviously my first thought (as I think it was yours too judging by your "letting in water").

Apologies, wrote that intentionally to attract more footfall to the thread.

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I know it’s too late now but did you contact them at the time? This happened to Mr Looby and they replaced them with no hassle.
Worth remembering for future.

No I didn't. Perhaps I should have. However I bought them while working nearby during summer months and didn't really start wearing them until I left the area. Not really been an issue until a week ago. I only paid something like £40 for them.

 

[marshall]

yeh well if you've been wearing them constantly you've done bloody well to get two years out of them

that's about what i got back in the day wearing dms.

Seriously?!? I thought they had a lifetime guarantee, they should last at least 10+ years, even if you wore them every day, shouldn't they? Never owned a pair personally, so can't bring any personal experience to the table, I was a monkey boots man.

 

[Pickman's model]

Seriously?!? I thought they had a lifetime guarantee, they should last at least 10+ years, even if you wore them every day, shouldn't they? Never owned a pair personally, so can't bring any personal experience to the table, I was a monkey boots man.

they never had a lifetime guarantee

the sole doesn't last that long - never mind the leather, and if the leather doesn't crack then the stitching will go. obvs if you're wearing them occasionally they'll last longer but if you do as i did and have them as your main or only footwear - and walk as much as i do - then they won't last much beyond a couple of years ime. and as for repair, years back there was i think only one places repairing dm soles and that in canterbury iirc.

 

[seeformiles]

yeh well if you've been wearing them constantly you've done bloody well to get two years out of them

that's about what i got back in the day wearing dms.

They are pretty rubbish - apart from the initial comfort. When I worked in jobs with lots of exposure to industrial chemicals DMs were knackered in 2 months which rather contradicted the grand claims on the box about being resistant to all manner of things. The German para boots from the army surplus I got afterwards survived everything thrown at them and are still sound and waterproof 30 years on. Great for digging the garden.

 

[Pickman's model]

They are pretty rubbish - apart from the initial comfort. When I worked in jobs with lots of exposure to industrial chemicals DMs were knackered in 2 months which rather contradicted the grand claims on the box about being resistant to all manner of things. The German para boots from the army surplus I got afterwards survived everything thrown at them and are still sound and waterproof 30 years on. Great for digging the garden.

when i first met Badgers he recommended blundstone boots, which must have saved me weeks of time in the past few years as they don't need lacing. i tried solovair but while very comfy their soles seem rather softer than auld dm ones and they don't last for shit.

 

[krtek a houby]

I have a pair of those vegan Doc Martens, they are very nice, bought them in a sale in the Camden shop.
In general they are very hard wearing, but one shoe developed a crack on the outside early on that over time has made its way through to the inner lining. This lets water in and I assume will just keep getting bigger.

My question is, as it's not leather can I repair it with some rubber glue (is there such a thing?). What about a puncture repair kit?

I would just buy a new pair, but looking on line I have discovered the non sale price is waaaay out of my league (nice to know I got a pretty sweet deal at least).

Maybe contact Doc Marten with a pic of the shoes/boots. They might just send you a free pair.

Few years back, one of their people noticed the state of mine, randomly came up to me in the bar and asked me my feelings about the brand. Told him (truthfully) that I was a long term consumer of the brand. Long story short - got a pair free from them. No strings attached.

This was in Tokyo, but the guy was originally from Camden. Was very proud of the brand. (Didn't mention to him that felt the quality had dipped over the years, regarding durability etc).

Still. Worth a try, at least?

 

[seeformiles]

when i first met Badgers he recommended blundstone boots, which must have saved me weeks of time in the past few years as they don't need lacing. i tried solovair but while very comfy their soles seem rather softer than auld dm ones and they don't last for shit.

Hmm - might check those out. I’d like a new pair of boots but think I’m too old to wear DMs or Para boots for fashion purposes like the Urban Guerilla look I favoured in my youth.

 

[Pickman's model]

Hmm - might check those out. I’d like a new pair of boots but think I’m too old to wear DMs or Para boots for fashion purposes like the Urban Guerilla look I favoured in my youth.

something like these

much lighter than dms, they're warm through the winter and while they don't do so well as walking boots they're really comfy

 

[pinkmonkey]

when i first met Badgers he recommended blundstone boots, which must have saved me weeks of time in the past few years as they don't need lacing. i tried solovair but while very comfy their soles seem rather softer than auld dm ones and they don't last for shit.

You can replace the Solovair soles though, they're £15 on their website just get the cobbler to do it. But you can't replace dm soles, they heat seal/weld the soles on. I'm gonna get some solovair for my next knock-about-boots, I'm only gonna buy repairable boots if I can, from now on, I'm sick of binning decent footwear because the only thing worn is the sole. My posh boots are Trickers. Cost me £££ but they'll repair any aspect of their boots,, even unpick the upper and replace the bits that need it.

 

[Pickman's model]

You can replace the Solovair soles though, they're £15 on their website just get the cobbler to do it. But you can't replace dm soles, they heat seal/weld the soles on. I'm gonna get some solovair for my next knock-about-boots, I'm only gonna buy repairable boots if I can, from now on, I'm sick of binning decent footwear because the only thing worn is the sole. My posh boots are Trickers. Cost me £££ but they'll repair any aspect of their boots,, even unpick the upper and replace the bits that need it.

still got a couple of pairs of solovair knocking round so will have to get a sole or two

 

[gaijingirl]

Apologies, wrote that intentionally to attract more footfall to the thread.

it worked!

 

[StoneRoad]

I kill boots fairly frequently - mostly by the sole splitting or the upper goes just behind the equivalent flexing point.

Finding something comfortable - my ankles stick out a lot more than I think they should - and with toe protection for use in the workshop is a never-ending challenge.

 

[campanula]

There is a glue for everything - I even glued my fake teeth back together with some absolutely eye-watering stuff which involved hot water soaking. Shoes are one of the easier fixes (have just mended sweetheart's Birkies cos he failed to replace them before lockdown).