Meindl Desert Fox boots - they've got no sole...

[Ratten]

I've had my desert foxes for 11 years and paid £50 for them - bargain (see to be £250 now!). Lightly used as they're dry weather boots and we don't get a lot of that round here!

I took them to Africa for some plains game action and they were perfect - light, protective and comfortable. Well they were until day 3 when the soles started coming off and the only thing holding them on was the gaiter straps! My shooting partner thought it was hilarious.

It seems that the adhesive layer that holds the grippy bit to the boot bit had just turned to dust. Cue big game hunting in loafers. I prayed they held up because the next stop was flip flops.

A note to Meindl that night got a very prompt response noting that this is a known 'feature' called hydrolysis and such soles typically last 6 -7 years. They can be repaired (Inghams in UK). I responded that i understood it was past the guarantee (1 year) etc, but if this was a known problem then perhaps print an expiry date or warning in the boot to have them resoled before then? If i'd known they were dodgy i would have had them redone before i went!

I really like the boots so will get them done, but thought i'd post this if anyone else has a pair of these (or any with a polyurethane sole rather than stitched? ) to check and consider a resole!

I also suddenly realised that my boots were probably named after Rommel given the heritage....german, desert boots

 

[Demetrius]

You could try glueing them back yourself on using 2-part rubber adhesive as used for building inflatable boats.....I've used that for repairing my dive boat back in the day, and it sticks like the proverbial...
And totally unaffected by water, so doesn't "hydrolyse".

D.

 

[long_range_rob]

Price increase since the Afghan pullout. I think there may be a glut of winter boots soon unfortunately

 

[Koenig]

That’s pretty poor QC.

 

[nic531]

Price increase since the Afghan pullout. I think there may be a glut of winter boots soon unfortunately

i hope they have some wide fitting ‘Mickey Mouse’ boots then they were being worn in the winter by a lot of Germans a few years back when it got to minus silly numbers

 

[Donkey Basher]

Had a pair of these that lasted for about 8-9 years, worn very heavily except in the winter when they were put aside in favour of winter boots. In the end the sole on the heel wore right through & I had to ditch them, with great sadness. I looked at replacing like for like but was well aware their longevity bucked the trend for Meindl boots & was lucky enough to steal a pair of Lowa desert boots for not a lot of ££ via this very forum! Fingers crossed they will take the beating the Meindl ones did & last as long. Have had them about a year now(?) & whilst they do the job, they’re not as comfortable as the Meindl ones were.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Price increase since the Afghan pullout. I think there may be a glut of winter boots soon unfortunately

Have been wearing a pair of Iturri cold wet weather boots for the last two seasons & they are mustard!

 

[Greenmist]

I have a pair and also like them, what is the cost of the resole if you don't mind me asking

 

[Klenchblaize]

A great name for a band would be "Sole Crumble". Cue exclusive signing to the Meindl Record Label!

 K

 

[Jelen]

You could try glueing them back yourself on using 2-part rubber adhesive as used for building inflatable boats.....I've used that for repairing my dive boat back in the day, and it sticks like the proverbial...
And totally unaffected by water, so doesn't "hydrolyse".

D.

Wouldn't work. It's the midsole that crumbles - or did on mine, so the glue would just pull great lumps out.

 

[Demetrius]

Ah, I see....I had a pair of Meindl boots, described as "4 seasons", which was about as long as they lasted before the sole started to separate from the upper........on Mammuts now., so far so good.

D.