View Full Version : Soles of Boots have Rotted
Forest fella
07-01-2010, 15:56
Hi, I've just been out clearing the path in my backyard,And I noticed I was sticking to the path and on close inspection I saw lots of my Tread stuck to the path,And I've just came in and looked at the Soles on my British Assault Boots which I've had 3yrs and Hardly worn,and There is Hardly any Soles Left on them and what there is,is very Soft and Crumbly,
looks like Rubber Perish to me,anyone else had this problem with the Assault Boots
cos Mine are going in the bin
Melonfish
07-01-2010, 15:58
never seen that tbh, had my last pair about 4 years and had these ones i'm wearing now for about 3.
I used to have a pair which did the same thing when I left them in storage for six months.
Gave them to a mate who had them resoled with Vibram and now they're good as new.
Forest fella
07-01-2010, 16:05
yeah mine were in a Boot bag on a shelf in my bedroom,I last wore them about 3 months ago,As with the weather being as bad as it's been I been wearing my Magnum Elites.
I can't believe that they've rotted in a couple of months.
It was a problem with one batch of proboots.
There are still some about but when you buy them mail order there'll be a clause that says no returns for accelerated wear.I still have a pair in my shed.
My mates pro boots did this. We thought he must have had them too close to the fire.
How about keeping the leather, might come in handy for small projects....like cattys maybe. :)
Forest fella
07-01-2010, 18:19
Well I was that shocked to see how bad the Rot was,I took a picture of them.The Sole just rubbed off.
http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/forestfella/005.jpg
This happened to my bike tyre once, maybe its some kind of oil or something?
Forest fella
07-01-2010, 18:22
pass,but it was bad.
Well I was that shocked to see how bad the Rot was,I took a picture of them.The Sole just rubbed off.
http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/forestfella/005.jpg
Yeah that's pretty much what mine did. I had the goretex lined ones and I'd probably only done about 40k in them so they were mint otherwise.
Worth getting them replaced if you can be bothered, I think the Vibrams cost my mate £22 fitted.
Petrol and other hydro-chemicals can have a very bad affect on these kind of soles. Any small spillages at your local petrol station recently?
Sometimes old fashioned rubber wellies will perish, but not as bad as this. I understand glycerine liquid is the thing to rub in and preserve these natural rubber wellies.
[QUOTEWorth getting them replaced if you can be bothered, I think the Vibrams cost my mate £22 fitted.[/QUOTE]
Shewie,
Do you have a link for the firm that do the vibram resoles.
Thanks,
T.
Do you have a link for the firm that do the vibram resoles.
Thanks,
T.
It was just a small independent shoe repair/key cutting shop in Bradford, not sure where you are but if you're near I can give you the details.
Bit to far but will check locally for vibram resoles-thanks
Bit to far but will check locally for vibram resoles-thanks
There's a few suggestions on here fella ....
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-37736.html
beamdune
07-01-2010, 20:53
Just before Christmas my Dad had 4 pairs of hardly worn but oldish of shoes disintegrate on him - maybe there's some shoe eating nanobots out there
Ogri the trog
07-01-2010, 22:09
The heels have rotted out on my combat boots recently,
so I might try resoling them myself, as I had been of the opinion that they were only fit for the bin.
I'll let you know if its a success.
Ogri the trog
There's a few suggestions on here fella ....
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-37736.html
Thanks mate
Forest fella
08-01-2010, 10:18
mine have been binned
John Fenna
08-01-2010, 10:24
I had an old pair of Britorian boots that recently had the same thing happen - but I had not worn them for years as the uppers were splitting, just had them in reserve for garden work.
I just binned mine....
Forest fella
08-01-2010, 10:26
I've not seen anything like that before,Good olde British Army Quality strikes again
Something like this will happen with all soles sooner or later. Usually beginning 5 years after having been manufactured.
The glue and the softener in rubber and PU-foam detoriate. UV-rays and fumes may hasten this.
It may happen on tour or with boots stored in the basement.
We have lots of customers coming into the shop for a re-sole. The luckier ones didnt experience this while out and in the middle of a tour several days long.
With a quality brand, and a construction based on an insole around which the upper is formed, a re-sole is nearly always an option.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a273/Supercorsa/Misc/1008_520002.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a273/Supercorsa/Misc/1008_520009.jpg
moonvisage
14-03-2010, 06:05
Well I was that shocked to see how bad the Rot was,I took a picture of them.The Sole just rubbed off.
http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr79/forestfella/005.jpg
I do not want to annoy any members who read this thread,by over quoting this picture,but i must thank you for posting this picture.I gave a pair of pro boots to my niece about a month ago,after storing them for a few years.They looked great when i gave them to her,but she told me the soles literally vanished when she walked down the street in them.Her description of the soles,matches the picture you posted.