Life expectancy of polyurethane boot soles
Unknown
polyurethane (PU) soles on walking boots? I'm interested in the
soles' theoretical life as well as the experience of members of the
group with this type of boot sole.
--
John
PeterC
Had some about 1976: Clarke's Hiker. Modern PU could be a different matter.
Started cycling about that time, so the boots were put in a cupboard for
about 8 years, with only a few miles on them.
Got them out, travelled about 1.5 miles and the sole of one started to
break up and crumble away. I can't remember the state of the other one.
Possibly ozone caused the problem. Certainly wasn't UV. Possibly the
polymer just kept on going and became 'brittle'.
--
Peter.
The head of a pin will hold more angels if
it's been flattened with an angel-grinder.
Unknown
year and put away without use for nine years. On the first outing
after the break the boot soles disintegrated spectacularly, making it
difficult for the wearer to return home with both soles hanging off
and many tiny fragments of PU just falling out.
It seems to me that manufacturers and retailers have a duty to warn
buyers that the boots will not last for more than, say, five years in
storage, before deteriorating.
Is it unreasonable to expect this? How well known *is* the fact that
PU deteriorates this rapidly during storage?
--
J
PeterC
> How well known *is* the fact that
> PU deteriorates this rapidly during storage?
This group?
Unknown
>On Sat, 18 Jul 2009 12:32:57 +0100, John wrote:
>
>> How well known *is* the fact that
>> PU deteriorates this rapidly during storage?
>
>This group?
Forgive me if I'm wrong but your cryptic comment appears to be a
suggestion that the performance of a type of walking boot sole is off
topic for uk.rec.walking. Perhaps there is a new (to me) group
concerned specifically with walking equipment in which case please be
kind enough to point me towards it.
GSV Three Minds in a Can
wonderful person John <?@?.?.invalid> said
>I have an instance of Meindl boots, bought in 2000, worn twice that
>year and put away without use for nine years. On the first outing
>after the break the boot soles disintegrated spectacularly, making it
>difficult for the wearer to return home with both soles hanging off
>and many tiny fragments of PU just falling out.
>
>It seems to me that manufacturers and retailers have a duty to warn
>buyers that the boots will not last for more than, say, five years in
>storage, before deteriorating.
>
>Is it unreasonable to expect this? How well known *is* the fact that
>PU deteriorates this rapidly during storage?
If you mean the foam inserts, then yeah, well known - the plasticizer
gives up after a few years, and what =was= spongy rubber turns into
something akin to Frys 'crunchie' filling.
I'm sort of surprised that walking boots have that much foamy stuff in,
but I've had several pairs of regular shoes do that to me (typically the
lighter weight ones where there is lots of foam and not much solid).
--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
15,016 Km walked. 2,773 Km PROWs surveyed. 50.1% complete.
PeterC
I forgive you, my son ;-)
Never having seen or heard this subject raised, the knowledge is, in my
experience only, confined to this group and only arose due to the OP.
nm...@cam.ac.uk
PeterC <gir...@homecall.co.uk> wrote:
>On Sun, 19 Jul 2009 09:17:21 +0100, John wrote:
>
>> Forgive me if I'm wrong but your cryptic comment appears to be a
>> suggestion that the performance of a type of walking boot sole is off
>> topic for uk.rec.walking. Perhaps there is a new (to me) group
>> concerned specifically with walking equipment in which case please be
>> kind enough to point me towards it.
>
>I forgive you, my son ;-)
>
>Never having seen or heard this subject raised, the knowledge is, in my
>experience only, confined to this group and only arose due to the OP.
I take issue with the latter! I have raised such matters before,
though about failures for different reasons. But I agree that such
issues are unlikely to be well-known outside people who at least
occasionally look at this group.
I forgive you in advance for forgetting - I, too, am suffering from
forgetfulness as old age creepeth on :-).
Incidentally, my problem is with boot soles cracking, because I need
to wear ones two sizes too large and I am a Mr Natural - i.e. I
still have full toe functionality, and use it. Few modern boots can
survive the toe section being bent to a right angle to the heel as
a normal part of their use. But that defect is another rant ....
And I lost the soles of some el cheapo boots when walking in Crete,
but what do you expect?
Regards,
Nick Maclaren.
Jonathan Campbell
I cannot be certain that the soles are polyurethane (but not like the
dark rubbery material one normally expects in soles) but I was very
disappointed that the soles of my Ecco boots have started to come apart.
Okay, ten years old, but very little use --- maybe 300 miles in the ten
years. They may have been stored in my car (in direct sunlight) for
about six months, but not recently.
I have noticed that the cushioning parts of the sole of some old Nike
running shoes that I have attempted to recycle (maybe fifteen years old)
have crumbled completely.
Best regards,
Jon C.
--
Jonathan Campbell www.jgcampbell.com BT48, UK.
PeterC
> Incidentally, my problem is with boot soles cracking, because I need
> to wear ones two sizes too large and I am a Mr Natural - i.e. I
> still have full toe functionality, and use it. Few modern boots can
> survive the toe section being bent to a right angle to the heel as
> a normal part of their use. But that defect is another rant ....
Yes, I use my toes a lot for fine control, especially when not wearing
shoes etc.
I had to pack on the PW due to a boot creasing across my toes and wearing a
hole in one (no - not buying drinks in the 19th. hole!).
My boots are size 47 - about 1.3 (British) sizes 'too' big, but my feet go
to nearly 48 at full speed. I've fitted some Superfeet in them and have
done 1 walk of 4 miles. Since then I've spent 3 months cycling so, apart
from being unfit for walking, still don't know if the Superfeet will be
beneficial. If they do reduce the size required, they'll solve a
35-year-old problem for me. (Walking comes soon, but 400 kmiles beckon!).