How to Repair a Hole on the Shoe Sole

Written By: Wei Zeng

Comments: 15

Difficulty

Very easy

Steps

Time Required

15 minutes

Introduction

Do you have a pair of shoes or just one shoe with a hole on the shoe sole? With this guide, you will be able to repair the hole and reuse the shoe rather than buying a new pair.

Tools

Parts

Shoe Goo

Step 1

Scrape off any extra material near the area of the hole that is not part of the outsole of the shoe.
Clean the outsole with a wet paper towel.
Clean and dry the outsole with a paper towel before starting.

Step 2

Use the 120 grit sandpaper to roughen the edges of the hole on the outsole.
This helps the shoe goo adhere more readily to the outsole.

Step 3

Pull the insole out of the shoe.
Apply duct tape inside the shoe (on the other side of the hole).
Make sure the duct tape covers up the entire hole, so there will be no shoe goo going through the sole into the shoe.
For holes that ripped through the shoe sole and to the inside of the shoe, this step is very important.

Step 4

Apply the shoe goo to fill up the hole on the outsole.
Apply enough shoe goo to cover up all of the areas of the hole.

Step 5

Spread the shoe goo evenly with an ice cube to cover up any uncovered area.
The shoe goo will not stick to the ice cube, and you will be able to easily spread the shoe goo. The coldness of the ice also helps the shoe goo set in place.

Step 6

Let the shoe sit for 24 hours for the shoe goo to dry.
In this period, do not let any objects come into contact with the glue.

Step 7

After 24 hours, remove the duct tape from the shoe.
Place the insole back into the shoe.

why would you remove the duct tape if your putting the insole back in?

gary b -

Step 8

Use the 120 grit sand paper to rub the surface of the outsole until the shoe goo portion is smooth.

Quella del ghiaccio per spargere la colla e un idea superlativa

giorgio.dulizia -

Spargere la colla per scarpe con un cubetto di ghiaccio mi sembra un'idea fuori dall'ordinario

giorgio.dulizia -

You can use some other kind of sole glue too to fix holes or even reconstruct parts of a sole.

They are available in different, common sole colors. With a little experience and patience, the sole can look like new again.

The advice with the tape protection from the inside and the ice cube are very useful!

Calix -

Conclusion

Now you can walk again!

11 comments

Excellent - thank you

Amanda Bowdler - 14/08/19

I used shoe goo on part of the sole that touch the concrete and over about a weeks time it eventually just fell out.

kimdelee - 20/10/19

I wonder if there is any tip for a sole that has a hole all the way through. I tried something similar like this guid but it was quickly worn out. Maybe if I reinforce with duct tape and build the hole up from inside out, then make it a 2 step progress and do the outside first. Let dry for 2 days and then approach the same from the inside. Hmm such a shame certain brands have weak soles

blackwidow - 03/05/20

Buen dia voy a seguir su recomendacion para reparar mis deportivo GRACIAS

Olga rodriguez - 19/06/20

heel patch has to extend a considerable length past the actual part to repair (preferably into any grooves) to reduce edges of the patch from peeling and falling off.

Doug - 28/10/20

Why dont you just buy Shoe sole replacement on amazon or walmart and use the shoe goo the way it was meant and glue the New sole (or just a piece or part, they do sell half sole replacements as well all in various thickness, size, and style) to the shoe over the damage? Shoe goo is meant to bond 2 things together not fill holes..

Kristina M - 08/01/21

I didnt quite get to doug before I made a whole account to rant a bit in a comment.

Smart

Kristina M - 08/01/21

Clean the hole with paper towel sb clean the hole with chemical cleaner and rag. The material must be prep for the shoe goo to stay and not peel off after a few uses. Sanding will help too as will applying glue past the hole onto a crease or tread pattern as Doug mentioned. Some goo inside the hole is OK as it helps hold in the patch just flatten it so there is no lump inside

om1gc -

Thanks muchly.

Paula Thompson -

How prone to wear is the glue alone if compared to the rubber it supputo fill?

Thanks in advance 😃

Bonus tip:

If you have a cracked sole; a hybrid 'caulcing' glue (the one from a caulking gun) did the trick for me; but I assume it will wear quite fast as a sole.

NederLof - 15/04/24

Gracias, facil y muy bien presentado.

Gerardo Lopez -