Disintegrating shoe soles

I had a pair that actually looked new although I had not worn them for a while. I noticed bits of sole on the carpet of our rather nice hotel room. It was very embarrassing

I bought a pair of Sketchers zip up boots last winter which were perfect after I had my hip replacement as I could put them on easily.
They lasted precisely a year and the soles peeled off!
Never mind, I bought another pair for this past winter and guess what? They have begun to separate already.
They were quite cheap, less than £40 so I can't really grumble but it would be good to trust a pair of boots to last a bit longer.

For the first time ever I bought shoes from M&S and I’m delighted with them.

Gwyllt

Perhaps people can talk about shows that have not had this problem

I buy shoes and boots from Ecco, Hotter and Josef Siebel.

The only shoes (or boots) I have had this problem with are the ones which had been stored for a length of time in a fitted wardrobe the back of which was on an outside wall, where damp had got into the soles breaking down the polymer chains as described upthread.

I have never had a pair or shoes or boots that had regular use all year round do this. They are usually retired just because they have become scuffed, faded or stitching has become frayed.

I keep four pairs of tatty old shoes, different brands, by the front door, the doors to the garden and by the door from the utility room to the garage, for slipping on as and when. They all get some use each week just pottering about. After many years, the soles show no signs of crumbling.

I had a pair of Ecco shoes that had only be worn a couple of times. I sold them on EBay, the buyer contacted me almost immediately to say that the first time she had worn them the soles had disintegrated. I was so embarrassed, I refunded her money immediately!

Oreo

We must all buy lots of new shoes immediately!🤭

Absolutely!

I had that with a couple of pairs of MBT's. I was told it is something to do with the materials they use in China.

I've had this with Ecco and M&S footgloves, both types the soles suddenly crumbled away withput warning 🤷‍♀️

I am afraid I would be emailing Clarks, hotter if that happened within a couple of years.
I got Clarks sandals from ten years ago, still ok.

Faxgran Gave up buying Hotter shoes due to the soles either cracking straight across or disintegrating. After a few pairs I contacted Hotter, wouldn't entertain any complaint. On one occasion I was told I should wear the shoes constantly, not swop between other shoes! I have avoided for 4 years now.

I was told a few years ago in the Hotter shop the soles are made in such a way if not worn quite regularly they crumble -something to do with if they are worn regularly air regenerates the rubber sole from the action of them being crumbled

This happened to a pair of Ecco shoes. I wore them fairly regularly but from one day to the next the soles just crumbled.

I have the same trouble but with soles that only last a year. I will admit I wear them practically every day

I have had the same thing happen with Pavers shoes. I have winter shoes and summer sandals, so they are left in a hanging rack in the wardrobe. I left black rubber on a friends brand new carpet. Fortunately it was not sticky so just hoovered up. I have had Karimore walking shoes and boots for over 20 years and so far they are still in good condition.. I assume that the new soles are a different composition, like Graphite explained.

The moral of the seems to be don't buy Hotter Shoes.This company must be aware of the problem. But obviously
couldn't care less.

They've had your money. That's all that matters.

🥿📢👎

Interesting discussion here. I have had same trouble with very expensive MBT trainers especially ones I bought 'as new, unworn' on Ebay. I thought it was like rubber aging over time.

I would avoid Shoezone. I had to buy a pair of shoes as a distress purchase a few years ago as the local Clarks outlet was closed due to the pandemic and only Shoezone was open. The pair looked OK, the price was reasonable at £25, but after 2 months the soles started to split and at 3 months old, the shoes were falling apart. Luckily Clarks had reopened by then, but I've heard similar stories about Shoezone shoes being cheap rubbish.

I have had it with a pair of Pavers shoes

There was a thread some years ago about Skechers shoes crumbling too. Many contributed with similar experiences.

I had two pairs of Hotter shoes that I used to wear if I wanted a reasonably smart shoe. Recently they started feeling a bit odd and when I looked at them I found the soles were paper thin and had cracks across them. I started calculating and realised I must have had them for at least eight years and it was probably time to buy some new ones.

I have a pair of Ecco boots which are at least 15 years old and are still wearable. I have never had a problem with Hotter as they seem to wear forever. I did have a pair of Geox and the soles crumbled away after a couple of years.

I just remembered we threw out a pair of Josef Siebel sandals (mens) few months ago. They were several years old and well worn but we were finding big blobs of black “rubber” in the house. The soles were disintegrating. It seems it affects many brands.

On one occasion I was told I should wear the shoes constantly, not swop between other shoes! I have avoided for 4 years now.

Well I have 20+ pairs of Hotter shoes and boots, so how does that work? 😳

I had a pair of hotter boots that I didn’t wear often. I went for a walk at the start of Covid and the sole disintegrated! Had to hobble home. And they were not cheap!

I've had this happen to Clarks, Cotton Traders, Hotter and Moshulu shoes. It's annoying when I haven't worn them much.

In fact after reading this post I went to check on my numerous shoe collection, only to find a pair I haven't worn for a year and when I bent the sole it cracked across in two places. So I think I must learn to not keep wearing my favourites, but ring the changes every couple of days.