If your favorite pair of work boots, skate shoes, or tennis shoes have become worn, here are a few easy DIY methods you can do to repair them yourself. Most shoes begin to show wear when the sole starts to come off of the shoe. Another sign of wear is when a tear has started on the fabric of the shoe.
Best ways for repairing cracks, rips, tears, holes in shoes:
Choose an adhesive that is ideal for shoe repairs. (Shoe Goo works the best) Most shoe repair glues are easy to apply and fully cure in 24 hours.
The best method for repairing a shoe with a hole or that has become torn:
- Make certain that your shoe is clean and fully dry and roughen the surface for better adhesion. (Completely remove grease from your shoes or any dirt that may interfere with the adhesive)
- Seal holes or torn area from the inside with duct tape or similar before applying the shoe glue to the outside.
- Seal the hole or open seam with a bead of the adhesive.
- Spreading the adhesive is the hardest part because it is sticky. (A good trick to spread the glue around the surface of your shoe is by using an ice cube. The adhesive won’t stick to the ice and the glue will flow evenly where you need it. The cold temperature of the ice also helps to make the glue set.)
- Once the glue is fully dry remove the piece of duct tape from the inside of the shoe.
- Any excess material that needs to be removed can be cut off or removed with paint thinner.
To reattach a sole to a shoe that has come off:
- Clean the shoe and sole surfaces that are going to be glued together.
- Remove the sole completely if that will make it easier to work with.
- Apply the shoe glue to both the sole and the bottom of the shoe.
- Line up the sole with the bottom of the shoe evenly and have them make contact with one another.
- Wipe any excess glue coming from in between the shoe and sole.
- Use a heavy object to set on top of your shoe to add pressure to make a tighter bond.
- Wait 24 hours for glue to cure.
Written by Keith Schneerer
Certified Appliance Tech · Founder, RemoveAndReplace.com
Keith has spent 30+ years repairing machines, starting as a military mechanic and later maintaining food processing equipment before moving into appliance repair. He founded RemoveAndReplace.com to share field-tested repair advice.
More about Keith →
I have a pair of Jordans that are from 1997 and the suede looks stringy I tried to brush it but it’s still the same how do I fix it or do I have to replace it??
I have a hole in my expensive bike shoe, and you can see my toe, what should I do?
I could really use some help i have some sandals that are worn out from where the toes go on the front.
The usual material on the front on the sole is peeling off this has happened a lot.
Can the red stripe on my Air Jordans be repaired? It is peeling.
I have a pair of dress heel sandals and the sole is cracking, what can I do?
I have an insole of a sneaker that is loose and slides back toward the heel when I walk (feels like my toes are extending beyond it.)
The other sneaker is fine.
What can I use to keep the insole in place?
I have a pair of leather slip on wedge shoes where I have ripped the inside lining with my pinky toenail, now there is a fingertip-sized, round hole from my foot rubbing the tear.
The entire lining is made of pigskin.
Is there any remedy for this?