Looking for Shoe Glue? 7 Top Choices for Boots and Shoes
- By George P.H.
We reviewed 15+ products; Gear Aid’s AquaSeal was the best overall.
Some of these products, we’ve used for years. Others we had to buy and test. A couple were recommended by the experts and consumers we trust.
The factors we considered were adhesiveness, drying time, application, and versatility. We also looked at abrasion, water and shock-resistance.
Gear Aid’s AquaSeal is #1 because it bonds with so many materials. It’s flexible and durable, meaning it plays well with athletic shoes and soles.
Other products are good for specific use cases. is for a quick, on-the-go fix. Tuff Toe’s Boot Dip is best for boots.
Keep reading to discover the for your specific situation(s) below. You can use the table of contents to jump to the section you need. If you want to know what to look for in a , read the “Buyer’s Guide” section first.
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Table of Contents
Best Overall Shoe Fix Shoe Glue
95/100
Our Score
Gear Aid’s AquaSeal Shoe Repair Adhesive
Gear Aid’s AquaSeal Shoe Repair Adhesive
Why this product?
AquaSeal SR is flexible, durable and inexpensive. It works on virtually all shoe fabrics including leather and suede.
95/100
Our Score
AquaSeal is a versatile urethane adhesive. It can stick and hold fabrics as different as rubber, suede, leather, nylon, and vinyl. It takes a while to dry, but it’s your best option if time isn’t an issue.
Aquaseal Shoe Repair Adhesive gets rubbery and flexible as it dries. It stretches and compresses together with the shoe fabric it’s glued too. It becomes an extension of your shoe. This is why I’ve been using it for years.
This urethane adhesive can seal rubber shoes, sneakers, and everything in between. You can even use it as a leather glue. After curing and drying, it’s water and abrasion resistant – though not the best choice for waterproof boots.
The glue takes eight to ten hours to cure after applying. It naturally blends in with the color of your shoes. This product isn’t your on-the-go glue, but it *is* the #1 shoe repair adhesive on the market today.
Pros
- Versatile
- Water-resistant
- Flexible
- Durable
Cons
- Takes a while to dry
- Messy when used carelessly
Best Boot Fix Glue
93/100
Our Score
Tuff Toe Boot Protector v2
Tuff Toe Boot Protector Guard Cover Dip
Why this product?
Tuff Toe Boots is an extremely tough product. It’s strong enough to hold a safety toe cap in place. Its ability to withstand impact is legendary. Perfect for boots.
90/100
Our Score
Tuff Toe’s product makes boots and shoes good as new. Literally; it replicates the factory gluing processes used by many . It’s seriously tough.
The Dip is best for that takes a beating. Whether it’s hiking, construction, mining or industry, the glue can handle it. Despite the Tuff Toe Boots brand name, you can use the product on shoes too.
Tuff Toe Dip doesn’t just glue. It protects shoes from scratches, scrapes and lacerations. It’s waterproof, fire-resistant, and non-conductive. It’s safe for all environments.
This glue works on vinyl, , cloth, , and even steel. It’s effective at sealing, reinforcing and .
This is the only boot glue tough enough to reattach a loose . Gear Aid is still my go-to, but for toughness and durability, I recommend this product.
Pros
- Extremely tough
- Best boot glue
- Fire & heat-resistant
- Puncture-resistant
Cons
- More expensive than other glues
- Requires time & preparation to use properly
Best Rubber Cement Glue
90/100
Our Score
Shoe Goo
Shoe Goo Repair Adhesive
Why this product?
Shoe Goo is durable, flexible and rubbery. It’s a solid choice for rubber soles and moving shoe parts. It’s one of the more famous shoe repair products on the market.
90/100
Our Score
Shoe Goo is a popular rubber cement brand. It sticks to most surfaces, dries quickly and lasts a while. It’s inexpensive and leaves no glue marks on your shoes.
Shoe Goo is water-resistant. It’s also springy, flexible and abrasion-resistant once dry. This makes it a good choice for repairing athletic shoes.
Shoe Goo is an excellent choice for sole repair. Whether you need to replace a worn-out rubber sole or reinforce a heel, it’ll do the job.
This glue takes up to a whole day to dry. Once dry, it’s clear; tough; UV-resistant. Unlike other glues, it won’t flake or melt on a sunny day.
Shoe Goo is good for all types of shoe repair and inexpensive, too. The reason it’s not #1 is that it’s less water-resistant than a urethane glue.
Pros
- Impact-resistant
- Durable
- Cheap
- Good for rubber sole repair
Cons
- Takes a while to dry
Best Gel Glue Product
88/100
Our Score
Gorilla Super Glue Gel
Gorilla Super Glue Gel
Why this product?
Quick-drying and durable. Water-resistant. Doesn’t run when applied, which is rare for gel glues.
88/100
Our Score
Gorilla Super Glue is a powerful glue gel. You apply it, you press it down for 10-45 seconds, and you’re good to go.
This glue gel uses the same molecule as superglue: cyanoacrelate. The difference is that it doesn’t drip.
This means the glue won’t run on your shoe, even if you hang or tip them over. Combined with its quick drying time, this makes it perfect for fine shoe repair.
Gorilla Glue comes in a handy bottle with a narrow tip. This makes it easy to apply with precision. It works with any type of shoe material, may it be leather, fabric, rubber, etc.
The design of the bottle means you can store and re-use the glue despite its fast drying time. It has an airtight, anti-clog cap
This glue gel is a good, no-fuss choice. It’s strong enough to fix a broken heel and durable enough to repair a casual sneaker. Its drying time, storage, appearance and versatility are all excellent.
The one thing we don’t like is that Gorilla Glue is inflexible and brittle, just like any superglue. You can’t use it for moving shoe parts.
Pros
- Various Colours
- Light Weight
- Water proof
- Shock proof
Cons
- A bit stiff when dry
Best Waterproof Glue
94/100
Our Score
Barge All-Purpose Cement
Barge All-Purpose Waterproof Glue
Why this product?
The best waterproof shoe glue on the market. Dries relatively quickly; is both flexible and durable. Inexpensive given the quality of the product.
94/100
Our Score
This is the best waterproof on the market.
It works on woven textile, , , vinyl, cotton, and most other materials. It’s flexible, durable and truly waterproof; not just water-resistant. Athletes use it to repair swimming fins, which is impressive.
This product’s base makes it flexible and waterproof. is less known than , but it specifically excels at water resistance. It also bends with the without cracking or creasing in the glued area.
Barge All-Purpose Waterproof is a fast-drying . You can start using it 10-45 minutes after application. An open can won’t dry up for to 4 hours thanks to its anti-dry construction.
, water shoes, and most swimming fins when used correctly. You can also use it to reinforce worn soles.
One word of warning: this should only be used outdoors. It stinks terribly and isn’t safe to inhale. Make sure to get a good construction respirator and a fan (if possible) when applying.
Pros
- Dries quickly
- Completely waterproof
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Can only be used outdoors
Best for Dress Shoes, Suede & Leather
87/100
Our Score
Aleene's Leather & Suede Glue
Aleene’s Leather and Suede Glue
Why this product?
Aleene’s Glue is a quick way to repair leather, suede and nubuck products. It doesn’t mark and is easy to apply.
87/100
Our Score
This product is our top choice for suede. It’s clear and doesn’t stain or mark when used carefully. This makes it good for repairing an office shoe, dress shoe, etc.
This is originally an arts and crafts glue. To our surprise, it holds up surprisingly well. It can handle some tugging and pulling. It’s also singularly good for suede and nubuck.
Unlike most other glues, Aleene’s glue is undone by water. This can sounds like a bad thing but really isn’t.
First, suede isn’t supposed to get wet in the first place. So if you think about it, the glue will hold up if you treat your suede right.
Second, you can use the glue as a quick-fix for a suede upper. Then you can take it to a shoe repair expert for a more permanent fix.
In other words, use this for a quick cosmetic fix. Do not use it for heavy repair work and shoes that get wet.
Pros
- Specifically made for leather products
- Inexpensive
- Discrete when dry
Cons
- Not waterproof
Best High-Precision Shoe Glue
90/100
Our Score
Loctite Super Glue
Loctite Super Glue
Why this product?
Dries quickly and lasts a long time. Inexpensive and re-usable. Can be applied with a great deal of accuracy out-of-the-box. Works on leather.
90/100
Our Score
The first is a unique brush-on applicator. You can use it to apply as much glue as you want in a thin, thick or medium line.
The second applicator is a long nozzle and a precision tip. This lets you apply glue to hard-to-reach spots easily.
Like any cyanoacrylate glue, Loctite dries quickly and cleanly. It works well with both porous and non-porous materials and doesn’t leave any repair marks, since it’s colorless. It can bond with , woven fabric, plastic, , and other shoe materials.
We have to complement the airtight cap on the Loctite Super Glue. Most superglues start drying up really quickly, but this product doesn’t. One of our testers has reused it a dozen times without replacing it.
is an excellent choice for its power, accuracy and versatility. It’s also notable for being decent with , which is rare for a non- .
Pros
- Versatile
- Inexpensive
- Easy to apply neatly
- Re-usable
Cons
- Relatively stiff when dry
Buying Guide
There are several things to consider when choosing a shoe glue. Here are the top 6 qualities to look for.
1. Durability
When we talk about glue durability, we’re mainly talking about two things. First, flexibility. Second, impact resistance.
Why flexibility? Shoes move around a lot. A good glue will move with them, stretching and compressing as needed.
Why impact resistance? We want it to be able to withstand tens of thousands of steps before we need to re-apply it.
2. Water Resistance
A glue needs to be water-resistant so it doesn’t fall apart the first time it gets wet. In some cases, a glue needs to be completely waterproof – for example, for waterproof shoes.
The types of shoe glue that are most commonly used today include urethane, neoprene rubber cement, and cyanoacrylate. You can learn more about these glue types in the FAQ section.
3. Appearance
Different shoe glues come with different colors, thickness, and consistency. Some appear to be more opaque than others, and that’s what we don’t like.
Something else to be mindful of is neatness. Some shoes are easy to apply carefully and precisely. Others tend to get all over the place.
4. Drying Time
Cyanoacrylates or super glues are best used for small holes and rips. They dry and cure faster than any glues. However, reattaching the sole to the bottom of your shoe needs a more flexible glue such as neoprene. These take a lot longer to dry; up to 24 hours.
Although elastic glues take a longer time to completely dry and cure it, using them produces better overall results.
5. Compatibility
Some types of glue don’t work well with certain materials. For example, Aleene’s Leather and Suede Glue is made for leather and suedes alone. You cannot use it on rubber and plastic materials.
If you don’t pick the right glue for the right material, your adhesive may fall off with a little pull. Taking the time to find glue that’s designed for your shoe fabric is important.
6. Active Molecule
There are three main types of shoe glues: urethane, neoprene, and cyanoacrylate. It is important to know which glue type you need to best repair your shoes.
Urethane is water-resistant and flexible. It’s also durable. It’s a good overall choice. The exception is when you need two glue stiff shoe parts – like a shoe sole and a broken stiletto. I recommend the adhesive below for that.
Cyanoacrylate, a common “superglue” adhesive, is quick-drying and tough – but stiff. It’s not a good choice for moving shoe parts and athletic shoes. It’s best use for shoe uppers and some sole repair cases.
Neoprene, like urethane, is a kind of rubber glue. It’s highly waterproof but not the toughest or most flexible, in my opinion. It’s best used for shoes you need to waterproof. It takes a while to dry.
In Closing...
Choosing what is best for your shoes requires you to be a meticulous buyer. There are many things that need to be considered such as its material and the appropriate type of for the medium. In the buyer’s guide, we have put the details in place to help you get the information you need.
Among all the adhesives, Gear Aid’s AquaSeal Adhesives goes best with any material. Just 8 to 10 hours of drying time and your is good as new. It also has the ability to repair the soles and cleats of your shoes even when used in mobile activities.
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