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My 4 year old Mountain Warehouse 'Mens Mcleod Walking Shoes Active Hiking Outdoor Trainers' failed after just 3 years when the right hand sole partially detached from the upper over about a quarter of its contact area. The boot had only light use as can be seen from the images of the sole.
The sole was glued back to the upper using silicone rubber normally used for sealing around baths and sinks. As there is always some silicone rubber left over after a bath sealing job and it only lasts for a year or two, it can be used to make an essentially free repair.
The repaired walking shoe/boot/trainer has been in use for over a year, confirming a satisfactory repair. The left shoe also failed this year and has similarly been repaired.
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Images show general view of boots (shoes or trainers). The red arrows show the white silicone sealant recently applied and the blue arrows show the same sealant applied a year ago to the other boot, where general use (dirt) has coated the white sealant so it's not so obvious.
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No special cleaning was used but it was more or less dry and dust free. I used several teaspoons of sealant applied with a blunt knife and flat screwdriver to both surfaces, working it in as deep as possible without opening the crack any more than necessary.
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The sealant doesn't set touch dry for hours, so there is plenty of time to get the right amount of sealant in place, and use some weights to hold the sole to the upper if required. Leave for several days before it is really set.
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You can use more sealant which has the effect of cushioning the sole for a more comfortable shoe, as silicone rubber is soft but adheres strongly. I have only used these boots for walking, ie not tested on rugged terrain.
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If you can't squeeze any silicone sealant from an old used tube, it may be that some of it has set in the nozzle. Remove the nozzle and remove any set blockage in the top of the tube. If all else fails, push the piston out of the tube with a very long screwdriver and hopefully there will be some usable sealant left.
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You could use coloured sealant to improve the look if required.
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Boots with detached soles can be glued back together using standard silicone sealant, normally used for sealing around baths and sinks.
So don't throw away the remnants of the tube of silicone sealant (it may be usable for a year or two) as it could save a pair of boots for no extra cost.
Boots with detached soles can be glued back together using standard silicone sealant, normally used for sealing around baths and sinks.
So don't throw away the remnants of the tube of silicone sealant (it may be usable for a year or two) as it could save a pair of boots for no extra cost.
