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So today I was out walking with an old pair of sneakers and it reminded me of a time I was out hunting. These shoes would squeak with every step, kind of like a new pair of hunting boots I bought a few a few years ago. Every step there was a squeak. I tried some glue and even duck tape on the boots, but nothing worked. What would you do?
Mike
Lube them.. :) Obenauf's LP it's the first thing I would try.. But luckily I've never had that problem. I use Nikwax on my newer boots and have had great luck with it. I believe they breathes better and dry quicker with the Nikwax.. As with bees wax based profs,, I think it slows the drying time as the bees wax kinda locks in the water that got pass it. But a squeak is a squeak and you got to try something. Maybe I would try the beewax on only the area that I think is squeaking.
Ed
I've lubed them with Nikwax also AND then put them in my wife's oven (big grin) set at warming 110-150 degrees for about 20 min. Then I lubed them again.
No squeaks ever again, REALLY water resistant YMMV (insert marriage for mileage as you see fit).
Bill
Baby powder works sometimes too. Remove the insole, put a light dusting in, and replace the insole. I've done this before but it's been years since I have had a squeaky shoe/boot. Not a permanent fix but works for a while.
-Joe
Had a new pair like that ( Danner Pronghorn) and I coated them with Montanna Pitchblend and were very quite and waterproof after that.
I had this issue while hunting a few years ago. Thought it was my pack, nope. Maybe the stand I was carrying, nope. The rubber boots, nope. My waterproof pants? Nope. Jacket?, nope. Plastic bag covering my wallet? Nope. After frustrating day of hunting came home, showered up and was about to get into bed, squeak, squeak, SQUEAK, What the?? All I have on is my underwear. Seems my hip joint (new metal one) started squeaking about a year after it was installed. good thing it went away after a month...
This is a true story about 2-5% of them do squeak once in a while. And loudly.
Sometimes there will be dust built up on the laces and they squeak when the laces rub the grommets. Moving the laces 1/2" can fix it.
Good thread as I have had that problem in the past with Vasque Sundowner boots. I applied Sno Seal (Beeswax type of waterproofing) and it helped for a while.
Current boots are different make and I don't have that problem; but, hey - ya never know! :)
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I have an old pair of Ibex's that are starting to squeak. I haven't tried anything yet, but I am going to have to address it. The dust thing intrigues me. You think a good cleaning might fix them?
A good cleaning sure won't hurt.
To the guy above using Montana Pitch Blend on your Danner Pronghorns, I wouldn't do that. It's not intended for Goretex products, or chrome tanned leather.
I had a pair once that sounded like a bed in a whore house, got rid of them suckers. I could not get them quiet.
Start My Hunt's Link
Thanks guys,
I may try some of the wax. I am not real sure where the squeaking is coming from, but it is most likely coming from one of the back heals. It only gets bad once they get wet. Once these boots are wet, the whole forest can hear me coming.
Mike
The squeak most likely is coming from the tongue where it is folded together under the laces. Take the laces out and pull the tongues out. Clean the "groove" (part that is folded really good and wax the hell out of it. Never has failed for me!
I always use Snow Seal under the laces. That seemed to do the trick.
i bet they are Rockies or Danners. It is the liner and water membrane in the boot. Buy better boots.
Depends where the squeak is coming from. I've got an older pair of boots that I had re-soled. The vibram sole squeaks. It seems like there's a glue gap between the layers. If it's leather, you can lube it.
I never worried about getting the vibram soles replaced because the boots were really just too worn out to have done it anyhow and I used them for hiking, not for hunting. homebru
Liquid mink oil Is what I treat my boots with. Never any issues. Quiet too.
I bought a pair of Meindl boots from Cabela's $350......they would squeak when I walked I thought they would stop when I got them broke in. I had them about 9 months and they still would squeak so I wore them back into Cabela's , they heard them and told me to go get another pair. I did, end of problem. You pay 3,4, 5 hundred dollars for boots they shouldn't squeak !! I'm not trying any ointment or oil or grease on them I'm taking them back and getting some that are quite hunting boots.
I may try this...^ --- Even though their older, they shouldn't squeak!
I wonder if this will also work (taking them back) for boots that are no longer water proof?