Is Repairing Old Shoes a Good Idea?
- David Tollafield
- Mar 18
- 9 min read
Updated: Mar 31
Do we keep an old shoe or buy a new shoe, or is regeneration possible? The inevitable shoe burial (aka the dustbin) may be one of life’s lesser stressors, but there are many things we can do to keep shoes lasting longer, and of course, there is the foot health angle.
Repair Old Shoes Versus Replacing Shoes
If you are like me, shoes last a long time, but then we all have our favourites, which might wear down faster.
My blue trainers looked sad, as the outer coat (the uppers) was speckled with garden shed paint. Converting to a workhorse makes economic sense, as you can keep shoes going for longer even if they are past their best. When should you chuck them out? Can and should you make them last longer? A quick look at shoe anatomy is helpful. The key elements to check include:
uppers (vamp toe cap)
soles and attachment to the upper (welt)
insoles (condition)
laces & eyelets
heel counter (cap)
heel wear
Qualities of a shoe
Water-resistant around the sole and upper
The sole should not slip
There should be no pressure or resistance to the material on the foot
Adjustability allows changes in foot volume during the day
The inside lining should not be damaged, have prominent seams, or rub
The heel section, if it contains a heel cap (or counter), should fit snuggly and not dig into the calf tendon
The lifespan of a shoe?
The determination of how long to keep your shoes might relate to mileage—a bit like a car service, only sometimes you have to change the shoe, not add a service. Better-made shoes last longer, but price does not always equate to better. Repairing old shoes can add life.
We are informed that shoes last for 300-500 miles. As no one measures the distance, you can only go by constant use for hours. With only one pair of shoes in the cupboard, you might make one year with a predicted range of 6 – 18 months, so realistically, you need more than one pair to make them last.
Repairing a shoe with a complete sole detachment below or a deformed heel counter/cap is not a good idea.
Servicing shoes
Wear is shown on the sole and the heel. The heel is typically worn on the outer edge (shown) because this is where the foot strikes it first.
The forefoot also shows wear and tear. If the sole is patterned, like a tyre tread, we can see where the height is reduced. If the grip is lost, then replace the shoe or consider a resole. Heel bars (cobblers) can replace the entire heel, levelling the shoe up. However, if the heel counter/cap is twisted or distorted, replace the shoe.
If the insole (inner lining) is detachable, it can be replaced. This slim, often padded lining can be purchased online or from shoe shops. Leather and rubber soles are readily repaired with new sole units. If you can afford to throw away shoes and buy new models, then do this in preference to a service.
The Everyday Shoe
Of course, it would be daft to suggest that all shoes are the same, but we all wear our day shoes in the same way. Stepping away from heavy-duty physical activity and pounding the track, squash court, or treadmill will alter the longevity of our shoes. Shopping, driving, and shorter walks are the general activities we might associate with the needs of our main domestic shoe.
Polishing Uppers Extends the Life of a Shoe
As part of your regular maintenance and keeping the shoes in good order, there are a few things you can do.
Sprays, oils, and coloured polish all help maintain the upper water repellent, look new, and prevent cracks and deterioration. Avoid using your regular shoes in adverse weather, such as rain, mud, and snow. Any salts in water, dirt, and snow will leave a stain and soon cause the natural leather to degenerate.
Always use the proper footwear for the right job. When it comes to walking boots, make sure old mud is cleaned off with warm water and allowed to dry. Any wet shoe should be left for up to a week to dry out naturally and not be exposed to a direct heat source. Never put your footwear into a washing machine, no matter how tempting. If all the constituents of the shoe are made from rubber, maybe, although WikiHow suggests a washing machine for bad-smelling shoes. It is not feasible to replace the uppers because the cost would be prohibitive as the welt and manufactured joint would be difficult to reseal. While I don’t like to plagiarise, why re-invent good advice?
I happen to agree with the sentiments from Campobello’s post from August 2016, and I have married them together in this article. As I start to mention the care of the uppers, there is no substitute for natural materials, but such shoes cost more. The money spent will probably pay you back if cheaper shoes are being replaced more frequently. If the budget doesn’t matter, then this does not apply. For expensive dress shoes, you need to keep your smartest and use a shoe tree. These are available in a wide variety of materials, from cardboard moulds to wooden lasts that hold the shoe shape.
Nasty Bugs Smell in Old Shoes
Shoes are best stored in a dry place and put away clean. The micro-organism fungus can grow on damp leather and materials inside shoes. Coming back months later to a poorly stored shoe is just unpleasant and unsightly.
As a guide, trainers and shoes with fabric constituents are the worst offenders and more challenging to manage than natural leather-made shoes. Sometimes, it is not possible to avoid smells, especially if your feet are prone to the problem. If you suffer from athlete's foot or a skin fungal infection, then allow shoes to dry from sweat for at least 24 hours, and dust your feet daily with a light covering of proprietary anti-fungal preparation.
You can put a formaldehyde-type product inside the shoe (Yandell Hendersen. Arch Derm Syphilol. 1932;26(4): 710-711.doi:10.1001/archderm.1932.01450030709014.)
This idea was taught in my college classes. I am a little wary that this product, apart from being pungent, could lead to dermatitis (skin rash) from any residue. Sprays and ‘wikiHow’ provide some colourful ideas rather than recommendations from my pen.
Bacteria are different from fungi and may be less visible, although stains can be created by their metabolic activity. Metabolism is likened to car exhaust, i.e byproducts from engine activity. Sweat is healthy and necessary for temperature control, but when it gets out of hand, the bacteria will produce a pungent smell we call bromidrosis, or smelly feet. The word offensive is apt as such feet can be overpowering. No doubt, some marriages have faltered because of this condition. Shoes will literally fall apart if not managed. Using odour eaters is a product designed to help use charcoal impregnated into the insock so it can absorb smells. Insocks will need changing as the effect does not last. Such products can be found on the usual online purchase sites. Seek help from a podiatrist or dermatologist if the condition is severe.
Inside the Shoe
If we can replace a sole or a heel, we can also replace the insock or insole. Most shoes have a lining, be it leather or thin foam, that blends in with the upper and inner lining. Some manufacturers introduce moulded inlays with arch raises into shoes. I am not keen on these, as they can make shoes tight and uncomfortable.
Most people do not require any arch support, although I am not averse to it if it helps with foot pain or fatigue. Don't pay more for a gimmick. The insock (insole) will damage in time, lifting away from the corners so that dirt fills the crevices. The internal forefoot section remains unseen and can become damaged and ruck up. It is important that this insock is replaced from shoe shops or online, as it extends the life of the shoe. There are health issues to consider.
Health Warnings
It is not just nasty bugs that damage the insock/insole but natural wear and tear. The material, once damaged, can affect the skin under the ball of the foot (metatarsal area). It should be replaced as it is time to throw away those shoes.
People with poor sensation (neurological complaints) are at greater risk as a tear in the skin can lead to infection without realising it is happening. An erosion is surface damage but can deepen into an ulcer and take months to settle. So if your diabetes is not stable, and you know that you have poor-quality sensation. Check the sole of your foot each night with a hand-held mirror if you cannot bend down. The insock can cause skin damage. Examination of the insocks is as critical as examining the heel.
Fastenings and eyelets
Laces, buckles, and Velcro fasten the shoe to the foot. Pseudo straps are for trim rather than function, and of course, those buckle designs are tantalisingly easy to slide out and left fastened. This is a sure way to break down the back of any shoe heel counter. Velcro needs cleaning so the hooks do not become so ingrained that the grip fails. This is simple housekeeping. Eyelets can loosen but are rarer in well-made shoes. Laces derive mechanical pull from the eyelets and should be repairable, but matching the colour might be difficult. The lace string comes in many designs. Black, brown and white can be easily matched but when we come to less common colours this is a problem.
More on lace replacements
My latest shoe, a grey suede-coloured Oxford with a pseudo-trainer appearance, had grey laces that tore through within 2 weeks. Hanging almost by a thread for little use was a good reason to go back to the shop. My laces were changed without. Don’t expect a no-quibble service without keeping that all-important proof of purchase. Fortunately, my shop keeps computer records. If you do have shoes with unconventional laces, approach the shop where you purchased your footwear and see if they have spare laces or know where to find replacements. It is not just about colour but design. Flat, round, or twisted. Snazzy laces may have mixed colours. Try the internet, but make sure you measure the old ones first. Sixty centimetres might seem long, but you might need longer laces for some shoes. I have noticed round laces can slip more than flat ones.
The shoe lining
It was hammered into me as a podiatry student that good shoes should have no lining. The reason given is that a shoe would mould better around a foot than a non-stretchy lining. Additionally, we could offer a shoe stretching service, but only if no lining was fitted because the stretcher would tear the material. Most fabrics (non-leather uppers) have some finish, which means a lining exists in the majority of shoe designs. The most common place for wear and tear inside a shoe is the toe cap and back of the heel.
The Heel counter or cap
The lining wear and tear is often noticeable inside the heel. One part of the heel, in particular, can be worn more than other parts. There is a chance you have a Haglund’s deformity. This is also known as pump bump, exostosis and heel spur. I know all about these as I have one on my right foot. The foot moves around the heel and rubs over the bump, so the skin is irritated, and the lining suffers as well. I fit felt pads in those shoes where this presses, and it saves the lining from wear and my skin from damage. Driving is worse, so I keep some siliconised heel pads ready for any walks where my designated walking boots cause problems—padding for the heel bump - information sheet for heel pads for the heel bump.
Back to those ‘Uppers’
Of course, at the end of the day, if we appear out in shoes that have long lost their lustre, we may feel conscious, so avoid taking your well-worn shoes to the opera or theatre, or if you are up for a Knighthood, appreciate your shoes will give you away. It has been suggested that the term 'to be down on one’s uppers' dates back to 1891, as recorded in The Century Dictionary (USA) of the time. Nonetheless, you may not be on your last uppers, but there is no need to show off.
Here is a 10-point summary of shoe care
Invest in a good pair of shoes of natural materials such as leather and suede.
Use shoe trees to retain shape.
Keep an eye on the bottom part or outer sole.
Avoid wearing shoes for long periods.
Alternate pairs to allow the shoes to dry out and freshen up.
Waterproof your shoes for protection against the elements.
Don’t forget to check both the inside and outside of your shoes for damage.
Don’t clean your shoes in a washing machine.
Scrub shoes by hand with a stiff brush and treat the leather.
Keep shoes away from sunlight and store them in an airy place.
Thanks for reading 'Repairing Old Shoes' by David R. Tollafield.
Published by Busypencilcase Communications & Publishing for ConsultingFootPain.
Retired podiatrist and full-time author David writes about health matters with special reference to feet for the public. His latest book, A Complete Patient Guide to Bunions, covers shoe fitting problems. Buy Now.
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