Shoe Goo is a popular shoe repair glue that can be your solution to several different types of shoe problems. As for me, I use it quite often because my shoes typically don’t last that long.
I walk a lot, and I’ve probably gone through a bunch of shoes that were probably fixable, but I’m too lazy to fix them on my own. Since I found that I can use glue for shoes to repair my shoe sole, I instantly regrated all the shoes that I’ve thrown out over the past couple of years.
It doesn’t take me more than six weeks to ruin the sole of my newly purchased running shoe. Most of the time, it’s the adhesive that wears out due to daily walking and running.
The irony is that the sole starts to wear out from the same place regardless of the shoe brand that I’m wearing. This is something that I have to deal with because of how I walk. Each and every time, it’s the same place and in the same fashion.
Except for the sole, the rest of the shoe remains in good condition. So, throwing them out seemed like a waste. That is when I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be better if I fixed my own shoes?
I had two choices.
- Take my worn-out shoes to a cobbler and have a professional fix my shoes.
- Fix them by myself using shoe adhesive.
Obviously, I don’t want to spend 30-40 bucks to fix a damn shoe when I can buy a new one for that price. So, naturally, I went for the second option.
The DIY Approach Of Repairing Shoe Sole
I bought a glue for shoes called the Shoe Goo, which I’ll talk about later on. The reason why I bought a shoe adhesive is that the shoes were perfectly fine. With a bit of adhesive, there was a good chance that I could fix the shoe sole.
And so, I did that. Believe me, it didn’t take too long, and before I knew it, the shoe was good as new. Before that, I would try to wear them in a manner so that I could extend the lifespan of my shoes.
What Is Shoe Goo?
Shoe goo is an adhesive that is more like a rubbery sealant. It comes in a tube and comes out like jelly. Shoe Goo is a general term, and different brands have their own variation of this shoe Goo.
You can use it to repair the base of your running shoe, tennis shoe, flaps, attach rubber soles, and even repair splitting. Shoe goo comes in two colors, clear and black. Additionally, you can also use it as a waterproof sealant.
Does Shoe Goo Work On Soles?
Yes. It works like a charm. If the sole came out, you could easily fix it using shoe goo. On the contrary, if the sole is worn out and you can see a visible hole, it’s better to replace the entire shoe sole.
Also, if you happen to live in a place where you get a fair share of rain, then you will have a tough time walking a lot using rubber shoe soles.
Rubber soles are completely useless in the rain. If you don’t want to walk around with cold toes and wet socks, I would suggest you wear a good pair of waterproof shoes.
How Did I Find About Shoo Goo?
That’s a funny story, actually. Do you know how skateboarders ride their boards? They strike the ground hard, using their shoes to push them forward. This means, compared to an average runner like me, skateboarders go through shoes much faster.
Skaters don’t change shoes that often because they repair their shoes using shoe glues. A product that is mostly used by them is called Shoe Goo, and that’s where I initially found out about this item. They use this adhesive to repair their footwear and save money.
How To Use Shoe Goo To Repair Soles?
In addition to a shoe adhesive, you will need a few other items such as a toothpick, an ice cube, a nail filer, sandpaper, and a rag. Before you start applying, make sure to read the safety warnings on the tube of the shoo goo adhesive.
As for the steps, it’s fairly simple. The place where you intend to apply shoe goo, you will need to rough up that place first using a nail filer or sandpaper. This is done in order to make the glue stick better.
After that, squeeze a bit of glue and apply it to the worn-down area. How much glue you should put depends on the size of the surface area. You need to apply the glue in a line and then spread it using a toothpick.
Additionally, you can also use an ice cube to spread the adhesive evenly. I prefer to use ice cubes because it’s much safer, and the glue won’t stick to anything. In places where you need more precision, you can use a toothpick.
It takes time to get the hang of it, but after a while, you will be able to easily apply glue to your shoe without creating too much mess.
As for the result, it won’t be that pretty, but you have just extended the lifespan of your shoes at home, and it didn’t cost you anything at all. If you want to build up the sole, try applying several coats of adhesive.
Shoe Goo comes in a 3-oz tube, and it’s enough to rebuild a dozen of tennis shoes and boots. If you don’t like to use Shoe Goo, you can use other glue like Gorilla glue for shoes that will give you equal results. Just make sure to follow the steps properly.
Final Words
And that’s all there is to it. Hopefully, now you know how to use shoe goo to repair shoe soles and rebuild your shoes and save money in the process.
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