Lost my boot sole on day 3 of a 6-day hike in the Smokies

I was coming down off Clingmans Dome and my right boot sole just peeled off from the toe. The glue had totally given out after all the rain we got that morning. I had to wrap paracord around the whole foot a dozen times and tighten it like a tourniquet just to keep the sole flapping. Made it down to the car by mile 8 but my feet were blistered from the cord digging in. Has anyone else had a boot sole fail mid-trip and found a better field repair?

3 comments

3 Comments

nancyjones1mo ago

Oh man, that sounds absolutely MISERABLE. Solidarity

foster.tessa1mo ago

Yeah super glue and duct tape gets you a few more miles if you dry the boot first with a lighter.

sethfoster1mo ago

@foster.tessa knows what's up but that lighter trick only works if you don't accidentally melt the rest of the boot into a sad puddle of rubber. Done that before on a rainy shift, ended up with one foot colder than the other and a smell like a burned tire convention. Miserable is the nice word for it, I'd add a few more choice ones but my boss might see this.