Shoo Goo & Mister Glue

What kind of glue to use for shoes and boots?

There are a couple of ways you can repair your shoes and boots - depends on the extent of the damage. Primarily you want a flexible glue. Often you will also need something that fills gaps as well. For very small repairs where there is surface area to bond to one can use Mister Glue. It bonds most materials that shoes are made of and is flexible and clear.

For larger problems use Shoe Goo.

It comes in clear and black, is flexible and is waterproof. I used it on the boots in the picture and didn't even really follow the directions fully. One is supposed to wait a few minutes to put the surfaces together and I did it right away with no problem. I glued them at night and used them the next morning. Rubber to leather and I have used them in a Calgary winter and they stayed waterproof and flexible.

Shoe Goo is primarily used for skateboarding shoes. These shoes take a real beating and whole sections get worn away.

Mister Glue will repair most shoe and boot problems. Best to use for smaller repairs - catch them early. It will bond rubber to leather, rubber to rubber and vinyl and most combinations of what shoes are made of. It will not glue fabrics very well, they are too porous. If there is a small separation it will glue the materials instantly. The shoes or boots can be used immediately. Mister Glue continues to cure for up to eight hours but shouldn't come apart earlier. It is more expensive than the Shoe Goo but you use so little it is not really a problem.  And the fix is in in a few seconds.

I've repaired hundreds of pairs of shoes with Mister Glue.

Shoe Goo can be purchased at many hardware stores. Mister Glue can be purchased on this site.  If you keep it in the refrigerator or freezer it will last you years as for most uses it only takes a drop. Shoe Goo does not have to be refrigerated

A trick with the Shoe Goo - use a piece of ice to smooth it out. Anything else you use will stick to the glue - the ice will not.