Skate shoes can be expensive but we have to face the fact that destroying our gear is an inherent part of the learning process. If your a daily skater, you’ll go through shoes fast. Knowing how to fix your shoes is a game changer. Either by prepping them beforehand or repairing them after hand.
How to Repair Skate Shoes After They’re Destroyed
PRO TIP: Don’t throw away your old skate shoes. Instead part them, by cutting out suede patches and using them on your current skate shoes. Function over fashion.
Shoe-Goo/Hot Glue/Rip Care and Suede
A better and more cost-efficient way of patching a hole in your shoes consist of using shoe-goo coupled with a piece of suede.
- Apply a thin layer of shoe-goo around the area to be fixed
- Place a piece of an old shoe over the hole
- Cover the patch with yet another layer of glue
This has the ability to last a few sessions depending on the application of the patch.
Pro Tip: Do this in the evening. This way there’s enough time for the glue to dry out before riding them the next day.
If the shoe has large tears try to combine Rip Care, a suede patch, and shoe Goo. Fill the hole with Rip Care and let it dry, 12-15 hours later patch it up with shoe goo and suede. Use the spatula that comes with Rip Care to prevent the sticky stuff getting all over your hands.
Adhesive Shoe Patch
Using an adhesive shoe patch is a ready-to-go method that fixes sneakers and skate shoes. The brand Trick Tape use commercialized shoe patches specifically designed for the practice of skateboarding. Made off 100% recycled synthetic suede, the sticky patches will last quite a few sessions.
How to Fix Every Type of Hole on a Skate Shoe
How to Repair a Kick flip Hole
The kick flip area is the most used and stressed part of the skate shoe. Located right before the toes, on the external part of the shoe, a hole there usually symbols the end of the shoe. Not fixing the hole means you could do damage to your socks and skin. The good news is that there are plenty of options available to fix this issue.
- Use Glue and a piece of suede to cover up the area.
- Use Adhesive shoe patch
- Strap cardboard around your foot to avoid tearing in your sock and skin. (Not Recommended) You need to replace or fix your shoes. They protect your feet and offer ankle support.
How to Repair a Heel flip hole
The least common shoe hole. Appearing right at the junction between the heel reinforcement of the shoe and the place a logo would be.
Less debilitating than the Kick flip hole, the heel flip harder to patch because of its location. This is because of the reinforced padding around the heel, making it harder to rip out. A hole in this area will be harder to fix.
A solid way to fix a hole in the heel part of the shoe is to use shoe-goo and suede:
- Apply shoe goo both around the hole of the shoe, and on the back of the suede piece.
- Place the suede patch between the reinforced padding and the first layer of shoe.
- Apply a second layer of glue on top of the suede. Cover the piece with the reinforced padding, using it to make the patch stick in place.
How to Repair a Sole Hole
Tearing up your sole is common, especially if loads of transition, constantly wiggling and adjusting your feet on the deck happens. Once the hole tears through the sole, the skateboard grip will tear up your insole next. Patch it up as soon as possible.
Options:
- The Lazy Option: Place a piece of cardboard or extra-insole that you parted from another shoe in between the sole and the insole to prevent the grip tearing in the insole.
- The Long-lasting Option: Fill the hole with shoe-goo and use two pieces you’ll still need a patch on the inside of the shoe to avoid your insole and sole sticking together.
- Purchase new shoes or second hand shoes that still have some life in them. Second hand is better than shoes that are tore up.
How to Fix Skate Shoes with Duck Tape
Duck-tape is the cheapest and quickest alternative to cover up your beat-up shoes. Now, there are two ways you can repair these holes.
The first method comprises simply covering up the hole by tapping layers of tape going from the cup sole to above the hole. This probably won’t last the longest but will provide a solution ready on-the-go, as long as you carry duck-tape with you.
The most durable technique comprises cutting thin pieces of tape to make it match the form of the shoe perfectly. Once the first layer covers the hole, put a larger band on top of the first layer to solidify the patch. This should last you 1-2 sessions depending on the roughness of your grip.
How To Prevent Skate Shoe Ripping
As the old saying says: “Ripping and the tearing”. Even when shoes are brand new, you can still maintain them to expand lifetime.
Reinforce the Laces
Laces usually give out first. Chances are, you’ll go through laces almost weekly. Fortunately, they are not expensive and are easy to replace. Skate shoes come with specific designs to counter this problem. Metal eyelets, suede reinforcement or gillie mounts are some of the most common set ups to keep your laces intact.
PRO TIP: You can use shoe-goo to reinforce them.
Put a single drop of shoe-goo on each eyelet so that you have a thin yet protective layer over your laces. Once you see it deteriorate, reiterate the entire process. Don’t seal your laces to the eyelets by using to much shoe-goo.
Conclusions
If your shoes are tearing up faster than normal, the problem might not be the shoe itself, but from the grip-tape instead. Fresh grip tape is abrasive. This is when grip tape damages your shoes the most. Its good practice to sand down new grip with leftover grip tape before riding the deck, it really makes a difference.
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