What's the best way I can seal up cracks, seams, where soles are glued together, etc... of my Lacrosse rubber hunting boots? I purposefully filled my boots with water the other day to find leaks and I marked where they were leaking. Help.

Thanks!

BTW, I do not buy Lacrosse Hunting Boots any longer!!! There are simply too many parts of the boot that are glued together and they come apart too easily. IMO.

aqua seal

Those boots have probably had it, brother.

Sho goo

That's just it... they should NOT be worn out. The "wear" on the bottom of the boots is little.

Lacrosse boots today just seem like they're just poor quality! I have a pair of Lacrosse Boots from the 90's and they are ONE piece material. They're still going strong! All this gluing of layers ain't working! Or their glue is cheap or process is flawed.

I believe those boots only carry a year warranty. If you can, send 'em back for a rebuild if in warranty.

Sorry you're having trouble.

I just looked at their website... it's only for leather.

I have used Shoo glue but it peels off after a while.

Hmmm.... looking on Bing... Barge Cement? I'm looking into this Barge Cement.

IDK.... I may try Marine Goop or Barge Cement... unless I hear differently from some other Aldeer guys.

Thanks all!

nope

this stuff

https://www.mcnett.com/gearaid/aquaseal#04004

Trash em and buy a new pair, they don't last forever!

I would say shoo goo or a new pair.

If you really want to try to save them go to a site for duck hunters and ask them what they do about leaky waders. If there is a good solutions, I bet they'd have it.

Buy another and send the leaking ones back in a couple of months.

X2 on shoe goo.
The key is cleaning it really good before application. I'd clean the heck out of the area with alcohol, scuff it and clean it then apply. You can wet your fingers to smooth it and reapply after it cures.

I did this to some hunting wader boots that had some dry rot cracks in em. I wore em two more yrs before deciding to buy another pair.

Flex seal!

Got it! Thanks!!!

Regarding the Flex Seal... I thought about it as the application looks easy. But durability is suspect. Any thoughts on FS for leaking boots?

I was jk buddy I don't know if it'll work or not.

LEXEL

You could glue the world together with a tube of it. It's the best thing I've ever found for gluing plastic to plastic or rubber.

I've extended the lives of several boots and waders with this stuff. Never used any of the others mentioned.

I just discovered Lexel. It's light years ahead of anything I ever used for sealing with a caulk type application. Absolutely the best.

That being said, if your boots have developed a leak where the rubber flexes, they are toast. The constant flexing when you walk will not allow anything to stay sealed for very long. I've got a perfectly good pair of LaCrosse something or other high gram count of some insulation that are relegated to very cold/dry weather use because they have cracks where they flex near the ankle.

Lexel... I am sold after some research. I am going to attempt to use this stuff!!! Thanks!!! L

They probably aren't worth the time and money you are going to put into fixing them

I tried to fix a pair and after several failed tries I just gave up and bought another pair. Used to be a patch called a hot patch that you would put on and light it and it would melt the rubber together but I guess it worked so they took off the market.

What about a thin coat of Tuff Toe ? I useit on my daughters cleats to keep from blowing the toe out pitching. Two part epoxy that is wicked tough.

Mighty Putty!

I've had several LaCross alpha burleys that the sole separated. I would glue them back and even duct taped them. I called LaCross and talked to them about it. They asked me how old the boots were and I told them 3 years. They told me that was the lifespan of those boots if they were used a lot and mine definitely were. I was a loyal LaCross customer until then. I won't buy another boot that has a separate sole design. I bought a set of Muck boots 3 years ago and love them and have had zero problems.

Dr. B

How long do you guys expect pre-fab multi-piece sock-booties to last when we subject them to mud, rocks, briars, water, heat, cold, ice and so forth?

I don't like throwing money away and am not a huge fan of the disposable lifestyle we have today. But when the 4- or 5-year-old $30 Mr. Coffee quits, you get a new one. When the $199 lawn mower quits after 17 years -- like ours finally did -- you get a new one.

I don't expect neoprene-rubber sockbootie boots to last 10-15 years. If three is the lifespan under harsh but normal use, IMO for $50 or $60 a year in multiple seasons under multiple conditions that's not bad.


An aside, for guys who back in the day (or still may wear them) wore the Burly rubber knee boots, how long did they last compared to today's multi-piece boots from LaCrosse, Muck, Grubb, etc.? Longer? About the same?

marine epoxy period! wear rubber gloves when using it.

That's a negative on the flex seal. Had a friend try it and it actually eroded the original boot material. Looked like he had melted part of it.

Your point is invalid. I am not asking for too much. I want a quality hunting boot.

IMO, and probably some other guys on here, Muck Boots are better made than Lacrosse. I have a pair of Lacrosse boots that are really old, but they're one piece or maybe two, at the most, hunting boots and they're still going strong. I guess the mfg process is now cheaper to multi-layer and glue.

I have boys who have caught up to me in boot size so it's not like I have to buy boots for just me. I want a quality made boot so I do NOT buy Lacrosse boots any longer. I like Muck! I like RedHead.

If I can get another season out of a $10 fix (AquaSeal, etc...) then I'll save $400 or $500 as each of us needs at least two sets of boots.

I don't buy "Weed Eater" brand weedeaters. I don't buy Walmart power equipment. I buy Stihl power equipment and I've had them for MANY years... they're still working and I don't have to buy another chainsaw.

There's a lot to be said for quality and saving money in the long run.

I didn't say you were asking for too much. I merely asked what anyone expects out of a neoprene, thin-rubber, multi-piece boot that is put through the wringer of multiple seasons in myriad conditions under heat, cold and possibly ice.

These aren't leather boots. They're pretty much thick socks with tennis shoe rubber soles.

So, no, I don't believe my question is invalid. Three to four years of normal to harsh wear for $150 is a bargain. If the boots separate after one season or year then yeah that's a bad deal.




This pretty much is true. A one-piece (or two) will hold up longer than a multi-piece boot with triple stacked soles, neoprene that is glued or sewn, etc.

BTW, what size boots do your kids wear?

3M 5200

My scouting boots dry/crack at the flex point on the top of the boot. I tried the flex seal several times and it'd work for a day or so. Found an old tire tube and cut me a section off it and it fit over the front part of the boot good (almost too tight). Works like charm and I believe it'd solve your problem too?

Why not just patch them like an innertube. Piece of rubber from a tube and contact cement. I will be doing some thing like this when mine crack.

My soles separated in a couple of places. I just siliconed them back together. Working fine through one season of hiking hills.

I know you didn't start this thread to solicit what brand of boots to buy, but allow me to say I've had great service YEARS after the sale from LLBean.

They will work with you anytime for any reason, I've found. When you call them, they treat you like you're their only concern. The only drawback is they don't usually carry EE width, but they seem to run comfortably wide anyway, and they have a wide selection of styles and they won't set you back any more than other boots. They aren't hype, they simply have been quietly building superior boots for a century. My Maine Hunting Shoes (boots) are 21 years old, and I use 'em. I've had 'em re-soled.

I know you asked about fixing what you have, but if you have to start over, go to their web page and look around.



Edit: My reason for posting this is that the idea of the very hands that built the boots in the first place do the repairs and are familiar with every stitch and weak point on their product. And I believe they carry the muck-style design that's popular now in several variations.

Good luck with your repair.

I use to wear LL Bean boots all every day, but they are HOT in the summer time. I had one pair I sent back and had new soles put on 8 different times.

I tried patching but the cotton and soybeans pull the patches off.

I have a pair of un-insulated alpha Burly's that I wear all summer working around our place. They are at lest 15 probably closer to 20 years old.

out with the old and in with the new.

I wore my Burly's till they came apart at about 10 or 12 years old. They don't mak 'em like that anymore.

I've mended many pairs of rubber boots and countless pairs of waders. I've used every manner of substance.

Aquaseal is the best. Ain't cheap, but will get you some more life. 3M 5200 is pretty good too but is very rigid when dry.

https://www.amazon.com/Essentials-Aquase...words=aqua+seal

But I know when I start repairing with aqua seal, I better start looking around for a new pair. Might get me through another few weeks to months, but if being used regular, the end is near.

Took mine to Handley's Boot store in Jasper because the bottoms came off and they repaired them for $8.00
No problems since .