Repairing neoprene boots instead of buying new ones

[daffyduck]

After two years of heavy duty farm work, one of my trusty LaCrosse SPOG boots has sprung a leak and suffered a sizable (8cm) tear. A younger me would've thought nothing of (in fact, would've been excited about) dropping $150 on a new pair of the same model, and this sentiment has been echoed by all the well-meaning people around me. However, current me (who I think future me is going to be thanking a lot), instead spent $7 on some repair adhesive. It took me all of 15 minutes to wash/dry the boot, rough up the surface with a wire brush, clean with rubbing alcohol, stick some backing tape to the tear, and apply the adhesive to the leak and the tear. I'm guessing I used 5% of the tube to do this repair, and if this stuff works like it should, that's a pretty good ROI! Plus, I love doing this kind of meticulous work with my hands.

The product can also be applied to anything else made of neoprene (waders, wetsuits, drysuits, cycling gear, etc.)

One warning: this stuff smells like it could give your unborn grandkids health problems if you inhale too much, so be quick and/or use it outside.

[Frankies Girl]

That is so funny... just ordered that stuff to repair two pairs of shoes that have the soles separating and one with a seam rip. Hope it works as well as we think it will. ;)

I hated the idea of buying brand new shoes when the shoes we had (both pairs in question are the husband's) were in really good shape otherwise and would have been pricey to replace.

[Ozymandiaz]

I just used Shoo Goo for the first time in my life last month, and am a huge fan now. My wife's hiking boots started coming apart in Death Valley this spring (it was HOT). The soles started literally peeling down and off from the front end, and were flapping when she walked. Fortunately, I had some twine in the car and was able to tie them back together, though it looked pretty redneck (if only I had duct tape!). Anyway, she's had the boots forever and loves them, and they don't make the same model anymore. So I decided to try Shoo Goo to glue the soles back on. Amazingly, it works, or at least has so far.

[daffyduck]

Quick update: after allowing the repair to cure for 10 hours, I farmed my little heart out all day today, including chasing a bunch of pigs around in the woods, and the repair is holding up well. So far, so good, Aquaseal!

[daffyduck]

I just used Shoo Goo for the first time in my life last month, and am a huge fan now. My wife's hiking boots started coming apart in Death Valley this spring (it was HOT). The soles started literally peeling down and off from the front end, and were flapping when she walked. Fortunately, I had some twine in the car and was able to tie them back together, though it looked pretty redneck (if only I had duct tape!). Anyway, she's had the boots forever and loves them, and they don't make the same model anymore. So I decided to try Shoo Goo to glue the soles back on. Amazingly, it works, or at least has so far.

Love the mental image of walking around death valley with boots held together with twine.

Also, your mention of duct tape inspired me! My girlfriend was making ice cream and realized that the stirring blade was missing, so out came the duct tape: I taped two wooden spoons together in an inverted L shape. I screwed the horizontal one into the wall above the ice cream maker to hold the vertical spoon in place while the cylinder of awesome rotated around it. So thanks for making me look like MacGyver and making the homemade peach/raspberry ice cream turn out well.

[Cherry Lane]

I'm guessing I used 5% of the tube to do this repair, and if this stuff works like it should, that's a pretty good ROI! Plus, I love doing this kind of meticulous work with my hands.

The problem I've had with Aquaseal is in storing it for reuse.  I can get two uses out of a tube.  The initial one, where you unscrew the cap and punch a hole in the foil liner, use it for its purpose, and put the cap back on.

Next use:  unscrew the cap, try to use a nail to punch through the dried aquaseal (unsuccesfully).  Punch a hole in the side of the tube, use it for its purpose, and try to seal up the hole.

Third time:  it's all dried up.

I really wish I could get this in smaller tubes.  $7-8 is still better than paying for a new whatever, but not as good an ROI as you think you're getting.

[daffyduck]

Update: Aqua seal is still working well. The large tear, which I was most concerned about, has held up without repair to farm abuse. The leak (and another two new leaks) have had to be repaired a couple of times after the repair job itself tore or came away from the neoprene. I chalk this up to the leaks being right at the junction between the upper and lower parts of the boots, which differ in flexibility and material. However, I'm still very pleased and being more rigorous with the steel brush/cleaning protocol during the last repair has helped.

So far I've gotten four uses out of the aquaseal tube without any problems with stuck caps or the product drying. Here's what I do:

• Store the aquaseal inside a ziplock bag in the freezer
• When ready for use, take it out of the freezer/bag and put it in warm water (don't submerge the cap end -- I put it in a little glass)
• Use product as directed
• When done, dip the threaded (uncapped) end of the tube in denatured alcohol and wipe with a paper towel to remove any adhesive from the threads
• Screw back on cap
• Return tube to the ziplock bag and freezer