The Best Shoe Glues of 2023

Save yourself the price of a new pair of shoes with a quick repair using shoe glue.

By Timothy Dale | Updated May 16, 2022 10:47 AM

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Best Overall

Shoe-Fix Shoe Glue: Instant Professional Grade
Best Bang For The Buck

Shoe Goo Repair Adhesive
Best Urethane

GEAR AID Shoe Repair Glue with Aquaseal SR

Shoes, like many common clothing items, can range widely in price, durability, and purpose, but when you find a pair that fits perfectly, it can be difficult to give them up when they begin to wear out. With shoe glue, however, you can patch up minor problems, including fixing laces, sealing holes, or reattaching soles, so that you can enjoy your footwear for a few more months or even years.

Before deciding on the best shoe glue to repair your shoes, be sure to consider what type of material you will be working with. Some shoes are made of leather, while others could be rubber, vinyl, or canvas, and not all shoe glue works for all types of material. Another important factor to keep in mind is the color of the glue. If in doubt, choose a clear shoe glue that won’t attract attention.

With that said, take a look below at some of the best shoe glue options you can use to repair your footwear.

1. BEST OVERALL:Shoe-Fix Shoe Glue: Instant Professional Grade
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK:Shoe Goo Repair Adhesive
3. BEST URETHANE:GEAR AID Shoe Repair Glue with Aquaseal SR
4. BEST NEOPRENE CEMENT:Barge All-Purpose Cement Rubber Leather Shoe Glue
5. BEST SUPER GLUE:Glue Masters Thin Viscosity Shoe & Wood Adhesive
6. BEST FOR LEATHER SHOES:Aleene’s 15594 Leather & Suede Glue 4oz

Types of Shoe Glue

There are three general types of shoe glue, each based on the active ingredients used to create the adhesive, including urethane, neoprene cement, and super glue, which contains cyanoacrylate.

Urethane

Urethane or urethane rubber shoe glue is a strong, waterproof adhesive. It’s also resistant to heat and cold, which can help prevent your shoes from falling apart in the winter. This glue is primarily used to repair shoe soles that have become separated from the shoe or that have been badly damaged.

This type of glue binds the two parts of the shoe together with a strong adhesive formula, but what makes it very effective for larger repairs is that it remains flexible after the glue has cured so that walking, running, or climbing shouldn’t break the adhesive bond. Urethane shoe glue is suitable for use on leather, suede, rubber, neoprene, canvas, and vinyl material, though you should always refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations when using a specific product.

Neoprene Cement

Another type of shoe glue that is great for large repairs is neoprene cement. This glue is used on a wide variety of materials to bond with rubber, vinyl, polyurethane, leather, cotton, and other synthetic and woven fabrics that are frequently used to make shoes. Like urethane shoe glue, neoprene cement is also waterproof once it has fully cured, making it a great option for sealing holes against water.

Neoprene cement is regularly used by shoe manufacturers to provide a strong, waterproof bond between the sole and the bottom of the shoe. However, it should be noted that neoprene cement is flammable, so it is important to stay far away from an open flame when applying the glue, and avoid putting your shoes near sources of fire such as a lighter, match, or campfire.

Super Glue

Super glue is the most commonly used type of glue for shoe repairs and it’s the least expensive, making it an excellent option to fix most types of shoe damage. The active ingredient in super glue is cyanoacrylate, which reacts with moisture to form strong bonds between the two surfaces in contact.

Super glue acts fast and cures almost instantly, so there’s no waiting for the shoe glue to dry. After your shoes are repaired, this type of glue can be used on many other items and materials around the home. However, it should be noted that super glue isn’t as flexible as urethane rubber or neoprene cement, so avoid using super glue for larger repairs to a flexible area of the shoe.

What to Look for When Buying the Best Shoe Glue

Before choosing the best shoe glue to repair your footwear, take a few minutes to learn about the features that affect how the glue works so that you can find a product that suits your shoes.

Drying Time

Depending on the type of glue you choose to fix your shoes, you could be waiting around for a few seconds to a few hours for the glue to dry. Once that happens, it’s always a good idea to wait out the remaining time until the shoe glue has fully cured because the flexible movement of your shoe can easily break an adhesive bond that hasn’t fully set.

Fast drying and curing glues, like super glues, are an excellent option for small fixes, like holes in the sole of your shoes, because they dry and cure within about one minute. However, for larger repairs, such as reattaching the sole to the bottom of your shoe, it’s better to use a more flexible adhesive, like urethane rubber, and waiting until it is fully cured. Always refer to the manufacturer’s directions to identify the drying and curing time of a specific product.

Waterproof

Almost every type of outdoor footwear is designed to withstand coming into contact with water, because even when you are careful, there is still the chance that you can get caught out in the rain or step in a puddle. With this in mind, it’s important to invest in a shoe glue that has also been designed to withstand moisture.

Common shoe glue types, like urethane, neoprene cement, and cyanoacrylates, are waterproof, but the effectiveness of this feature is typically reliant on the specific product formula and the success of the glue application. Following the instructions provided by the manufacturer, you should be able to apply the adhesive to a clean, dry surface and bind the two pieces of material together. Provided that the application is done correctly, the repair should be sealed against water damage.

Type of Shoes

When you are deciding on a shoe glue to fix your favorite pair of work shoes or an old pair of dress shoes that you need for just one day, consider the material with which the shoe is made. Shoe glue manufacturers will usually list the materials that their glue can be used to fix, so if leather is not listed on the package details or manufacturer’s website then the product isn’t a good choice to fix your leather boots.

Leather, suede, rubber, neoprene, canvas, cotton, and polyurethane are all commonly used materials in the construction of shoes, and there’s a different glue to use for each type. This is because some glue products work best with rubber, while others are better for materials like suede. To get the best outcome for your shoes, it’s important to find glue that is made specifically for fixing your type of shoes.

Versatility

While you want to be certain that your shoe glue will work for your shoes, you should also consider what other types of footwear it can be used to repair and if the glue can be used to fix other issues around your home. Versatile products with a wide range of purposes won’t sit around on the shelf collecting dust until the next shoe repair.

Versatility should also be a factor when you are considering the type and extent of the damage to the shoe. Some shoe glue can work on many different materials but isn’t capable of forming a sufficient bond for big fixes. To find out the various types of material uses and fixes the shoe glue is designed to handle, you should always refer to the manufacturer’s directions and the product information listed on the packaging.

Our Top Picks

The products below were chosen for quality, price, and customer satisfaction. Stick to this list to find some of the best shoe glues so that you can get a few more years out of your favorite footwear.