reinforcing polyurethane midsoles on sneakers?

[despotroast]

sorry about all the "does anyone know how to do this?" topics, but I Have a lot of old stuff that I never want to stop wearing. I have asked this question on various sneaker-specific forums, and most people have no idea what to do, so I figured I would try it out here.

I have a huge collection of vintage nikes, most of which have never been worn before but are all somewhere near 20 years old. As some of you may know, over time the polyurethane midsole of these sneakers degrades even if they are not worn and just stored in not the best of conditions. There is often yellowing of the midsoles, which is not a big deal to me, but more often than not the midsoles will crumble as soon as the sneakers are put on because their age has weakened them so much.

Most people would say it's time to forget about these sneakers, but I feel there must be a way to fix this. I have heard about people injecting polyurethane caulk into the sneakers without much success. They cannot really be re-soled because the midsoles are not rubber and are an important part of the sneakers that would surely fall apart during the re-soling process. I have thought about injecting them with some sort of epoxy to reinforce the midsoles or taking them to some sort of sneakers expert. Does anyone have any ideas or know of anywhere in NYC I might be able to have them fixed?

[Salad]

I feel your pain.

I tried to wear a pair of Nike Air Tech Challenge and the sole crumbled like a potato chip. I don't think there is anything you can do. If you try to caulk or "shoe goo" the crevice, the sole will snap again at the unreinforced part of the sole. Thats my theory, at least. I felt sick see the sole on my shoes crack so I threw them in the back of the closet where they still reside.

Maybe there is a way to "rehydrate" the foam material to make it less brittle prior to wearing them? I doubt it, though.

Sneakers, like most consumer goods, are not designed to last more than a few years. They were meant to be worn and thrown out.

[mickawes]

I dunno, but with the shift of sneakerheads into mainstream culture, there should be some sort of sneak-specialist somewhere. Maybe get in contact with nike for getting spare midsoles? Im not sure what you can do.

[despotroast]

yea..I have a pair of tech challenges too actually. That is one of the few pairs of mine that has actually stood the test of time. They're still in really good shape. If I listed all of the pairs I lost though, it would probably be a tearjerker. I did a little bit of research to try to find some sort of sneaker specialist and all I was able to find was some kid who "restores" jordans. Looks like he just smears white paint on them and tries to clean them up. I was not very impressed. I've tried various glues and goos on pairs that had crumbled past the hope of saving, and found that it either breaks again where there's no glue, or the glue hardens the midsole to the point where it breaks off in huge chunks rather than flaking off like it doesnt when it's softer. There has to be a way around this; I wasn't completely expecting to find an answer here, but thought I might find a little insight..or at least empathy. Oh well.

[steven]

try using bondo... i dunno if its practical but they use it for cars

[jo3 b]

despot, empathy here.

just like i said on VGA, it hurt a little to have stuff crumble on me, but in the end, what am i gonna do.

[wEstSidE]

I just got a pair of Nikes from god knows when. They're challenge court series shoes but I don't know what kind. I think they're the 1991 Air Tours but I can't be certain. I'll post up pictures in a bit...I don't want to start a new thread. Anyway the midsole is cracking already...I'm thinking I'll just wear them once to some COOLGUY event and then retire them but if there is a solution by now then I'd like to know.

[despotroast]

I just got a pair of Nikes from god knows when. They're challenge court series shoes but I don't know what kind. I think they're the 1991 Air Tours but I can't be certain. I'll post up pictures in a bit...I don't want to start a new thread. Anyway the midsole is cracking already...I'm thinking I'll just wear them once to some COOLGUY event and then retire them but if there is a solution by now then I'd like to know.

still no solution. I have basically resorted to the same method. wear em to a cool guy event and then they're done. last coolguy event I rocked a pair to, both soles fell off completely by the end of the night. I wasn't feeling so coolguy. I also lost most of a sole on stage at bowery ballroom once...not cool. had another sole completely fall off on stage in boston..i am SO cool looking.

[chromesquared]

try using bondo... i dunno if its practical but they use it for cars

Umm, actually, dont because this shit gets hard as a motherfucker (think plaster).

i.e. not practical.