Who does not like to be the center of attraction? But you would not like a squeaky pair of boots to be the reason for this. A squeaky pair of leather boots brings embarrassment to you and irritation to others.
Fortunately, squeaking in leather boots is not a huge problem. You can stop your leather boots from squeaking all by yourself at the comfort of your home.
Only three parts of your boots are the most prone to start squeaking. They are the soles, insoles, and upper of your boots.
Carefully observe which part of your boots squeaks. Once found, apply the tips given in this guide to fix the area. Here’s how:
In This Article You'll Know
11 Ways to Stop Your Leather Boots From Squeaking
Important: Once you have figured out which part of your boots squeaks, it is time to fix it. Apply the techniques shared below to the problem area only. Try one solution at a time before moving on to the next one. Here you are:
Take Time to Break Into Your Leather Boots
Leather goes through several treatments during the making of boots. These treatments make the leather stiff as wood. That’s why most new boots always squeak when you walk in them.
If stiffness is the cause, the squeaking will disappear in a few days. All you need to do is break in your leather boots before you wear them to work.
Dry Your Boots Well
Even the slightest amount of dampness in the leather may cause the boots to squeak. This dampness may come from a wet environment, snow on the street, or your sweat.
Regardless of the reason, dry your wet boots every night to keep the squeaking at bay. If you often find your boots wet, consider investing in a quality boot dryer.
Soften up the Leather
If the squeaks are coming from the upper of the boots, the reason could be the stiff leather. In this case, the solution is fairly simple. Just apply a couple of coats of leather oil on the upper. The oil will soften up the leather fibers and make them squeak less.
Use Telcom Powder
Telcom powder is great at absorbing moisture and reducing friction. Sprinkle a liberal amount of Telcom powder beneath the insoles. Sprinkle some around the edges of the insoles as well. You will immediately notice the squeaky sound has faded away.
Use Other Household Items
If Telcom powder is not handy, there are a few other household items that may help the cause. Telcom powder work by reducing the friction in the boots. You can achieve the same by using dryer sheets, a thin towel, or a piece of kitchen roll. Just place them beneath the insoles of your boots to stop your leather boots from squeaking.
Buff the Outsole
The outsole of the new leather boots is too smooth to leave the ground easily when you walk. On top of that, the tread pattern on the outsole creates a suction grip with the ground. This grip breaks off with a sharp squeaky sound when you lift your foot.
Alternatively, you can wait for a few days for the outsole to wear off a little. To speed things up, buff the outsole gently with 60-grit sandpaper.
Seam the Insole
Some leather boots come with a removable set of insoles. With some wear & tear, these removable insoles may get loose and stop staying in their place when you walk. As a result, your leather boots may start to squeak.
In this case, the easiest solution would be to glue the insoles of your boots to the footbed. If they are too damaged, consider buying better insoles.
Resole the Sole
The sole of your boots may come loose over time. It may get detached from the rest of the boots, especially from the heel area. This will squeeze air when you walk, causing the boots to squeak.
Use some good glue to attach the sole again with the upper to remedy this. You may even consider taking your boots to a cobbler for a resole.
Fix the Tongue
In some rare cases, the squeaky sound may come from the tongue part of your boots. The reason behind this is the friction between the tongue and laces.
As the tongue is a visible area of your boots, sprinkling some Telcom powder on it is not practical. Instead, apply some leather oil on the tongue and reduce the friction.
Buy a New Pair
This step will require you to shell out some money. Old boots are bound to squeak once your boots get old.
Old boots develop cracks in them, the leather gets stiff, and the sole gets detached from the rest. These imperfections blow concentrated air, which causes a squeaky sound.
In such a case, buying new leather work boots is the most appropriate decision to make. Fixing all the issues yourself or paying a cobbler to fix them is not worth the money.
Ask For a Replacement
You read it right. If your new boots squeak and the issue does not resolve in a couple of weeks, ask for a replacement.
The sole and the upper of the boots are made separately and attached later. During this attachment, if not done right, some air pockets may form up in the sole. The trapped air in these pockets burst out when you walk and cause the leather boots to squeak.
If a manufacturing defect is a cause, no tips are useful to stop the leather boots from squeaking. In such a case, ask for a replacement from your manufacturer.
What’s Next
Now that you know what causes the squeaky sound in your boots and how to remedy this, time to take action. Follow the solutions given in this guide one by one in the order as laid out. I am sure you will always be able to stop your leather boots from squeaking.
The key is to figure out what part of the boots is making the noise. Then apply the techniques shared in this guide to that part only. I invite you to check our homepage for more boots care ideas. Thanks.
