Many people don’t know what to do whenever their soccer cleats get torn. Some throw it away once the cleats get ripped, thinking it’s unfixable.
However, the truth is, you can actually fix your torn soccer cleats, and do so without breaking the bank.
Generally, manufacturers make soccer cleats with different materials, and each has a unique repair method.
Nevertheless, you will learn how to fix your cleats once ripped in this article, saving you the additional cost of purchasing a new one every time.
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Repair Torn Leather Soccer Cleats
Leather soccer cleats can get small rips, obvious rips or frayed stitches.
1. Fixing small rips
If your leather cleat has a small rip, some simple fixes can work for it. For the first method:
- Always start by cleaning your cleats properly.
- Get transparent industrial glue.
- Place an adhesive tape beneath the rip to ensure the glue doesn’t spill into the cleats.
- You should fill the small hole with some glue.
- You can also press the cleats together to make the hole vanish.
- Allow the glue to dry for a couple of minutes.
- You can use cotton wool with some alcohol to rub the edges in.
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Another method for fixing small rips is:
- Clean your cleats.
- Get a nail polish with a color that blends with your cleats.
- Apply an adhesive tape beneath the rip.
- Fill the rip with the nail polish.
- Blend the edges with transparent nail varnish.
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2. Fixing obvious rips
To fix an obvious rip on your leather cleats, you’ll need to:
- Get rid of any dirt on your cleats.
- Get a leather patch that matches the color of your cleats.
- Cut a size that fits the hole/rip on your cleats.
- Paste it over the whole with a strong adhesive. Press down firmly till it sits like a second skin on the cleats.
- Apply transparent nail varnish to blend in the edges.
- Give the patch and glue some time to set properly before wearing the cleats.
3. Fixing frayed stitches
This has perhaps the easiest fix should your soccer cleats ever get frayed. Here are the simple steps:
- Wipe down your cleats.
- Get a transparent nail varnish.
- Apply it along the stitch lines on your cleat.
- Leave it to dry for some minutes.
- Cut off the frayed threads.
- This method will also protect your stitches from fraying further.
Repair Torn Fabric Soccer Cleats
A fabric soccer cleat is perhaps the most fragile of all soccer cleats. This is because it is easy for the tears to get worse. The first method for fixing holes in fabric soccer cleats is:
- Get your cleats clean.
- Get a strong industrial glue.
- It might be best for you to put adhesive tape under the hole.
- Then you apply some glue around the tear and clamp it together.
- Make sure you do not bunch up the fabric when you’re holding the hole together.
- Leave the glue to set.
The second method which largely applies to obvious rips and tears is the use of fabric patches.
- Ensure your cleats are clean.
- Get a fabric patch that matches the color of your soccer cleats.
- Cut out the size of the hole you’re trying to fill.
- If the tear is really large, you might want to first close it up by sewing or with some glue.
- Apply some adhesive to the rip area on your cleat.
- Paste the fabric patch and press down firmly.
- Iron over the patch for the adhesive to set but not for too long.
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Last update on 2023-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Repair Torn Synthetic Soccer Cleats
Although this material is strong, it is not as strong or durable as leather. It is better suited to players who change their cleats every two seasons.
If you notice a rip in a synthetic leather cleat, you should start considering a new purchase. While you’re planning your next step, this should help.
- Clean your cleats.
- Afterward, you can paint it over with a nail polish that matches the color of your cleats.
- You can also apply some glue to fill up the hole or hold it together.
- If you’re desperate for a temporary hold, you can just wrap some duct tape around your cleats if it is falling apart.
Ripped from the Toes/Sole
Sometimes your soccer cleats might get ripped from the toes or sole, and how can you fix it? You will need;
- Glue
- Newspaper
- Adhesive tape
- A clean damp cloth
- A painting brush for this method.
Whether ripped from the toes or the sole, these steps will guide you in fixing your cleats with ease and without wasting much time.
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- You should clean the entire cleat
You will want to remove all the dirt stuck to the cleats before repairing them. This is because the presence of dirt can interfere with the repair process. It is best that you do this with a toothbrush. For example, the dirt might prevent the glue used in the repairs from being less effective.
- Squeeze out some glue on a dry surface
This is so that you can easily assess the glue without making a mess. Ensure that you do this in a ventilated room to avoid being choked by the fume of the glue.
- Apply the glue with a paintbrush where the cleat is ripped
Do this fast and thoroughly. You don’t want the glue to dry off before you apply it in the opened part, and you also don’t want to do a poor job on the cleats.
- Reapply the glue
After 2-3 minutes of applying the first glue, apply the glue again. That is so that the glue can hold well when you finish the repair.
- Close the ripped part
After applying the glue again, wait for some time, depending on how fast it dries. If it is the type that dries up within 2 minutes, leave it dry for 30 seconds. After that, close up the ripped apart and press together.
- Wrap it up
Roll up the glued cleats with newspaper and use adhesive tape to hold them together.
- Dry up the glued parts
With the newspaper still around the cleats, use a hairdryer to dry the glued part with hot air. Ensure you don’t hold the dryer too close to the shoe to prevent the glue from heating up.
- Unwrap your cleats
Remove the newspaper and adhesive tape from the show after 24 hours. You will notice that the newspaper has prevented glues from sticking to your cleat.
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- Fine bristle brush for controlled coverage with less mess
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Last update on 2023-11-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Ripped cleats Tongue
The second method of fixing soccer cleats is to repair the ripped tongue of your cleats with a stapler. A cobbler can quickly help fix the ripped tongue of your cleats at an affordable price.
But in case you need the tongue of your cleats fixed quickly, here is a simple trick you can use;
- Roll the ripped tongue of your cleat up a bit. This applies to the tongue that is completely ripped off.
- Position the ripped part of the cleat tongue inside the stapler and put the other part of the stapler inside the cleat where the rip is.
- Staple the parts you held previously together.
- Roll out the tongue once again and check the part you have just stapled. You could adjust the position of the stapler again if you didn’t get it right.
- You can repeat the process more than once to hold the cleat tongue in place properly.
Broken soccer cleats Stud
When the stud of your cleats gets broken, you can also repair it yourself with the quick, easy steps below. You need;
- Old soccer cleats
- Iron
- A source of heat
- A file
- Plastic straw
- Scissors
- First, you need to find studs that are similar to the ones broken from your boot. It would help if you had some old cleats that you could remove the studs from.
- When you find studs similar to the one that got broken, cut them out. You can do that by detaching the sole first and then cutting the stud out.
- File out the place from where the studs got broken so that you won’t have an uneven stud by the time you finish the process.
- Place the rubber stud you cut out from the old cleats on the site it is about to be installed. If it doesn’t match well, then file it a bit until it is suitable for replacement.
- The next step is to join the replacement stud to the base of the cleats with the heated iron. Finally, melt the straw on the place where you joined the replacement with the cleats for a stronger hold.
Why Soccer Cleats Get Torn?
Having addressed how to address the issue, let’s now focus on proactive measures to prevent soccer cleats from tearing in the first place.
1. Unsuitable cleats size
When cleats are not your size, it might render it getting torn. Apart from the cleats getting ripped, your toes will also suffer the consequences of wearing the wrong size.
If you wear oversized cleats, you will most likely trip or get blisters because your foot will move too much inside the cleats.
Plus, you will also be unable to feel the ball properly when playing with oversized soccer cleats. Wearing smaller cleats, on the other hand, can as well affect your toes. As a result, your toes will be unable to breathe in the soccer cleats.
The first thing to prevent the cleats from suffering rips, is to ensure you wear the correct size.
For you to pick the right cleat size, ensure you buy the one that is a half-size smaller than the shoes you usually wear. That half size is for the socks material to fit in the cleats when you wear them.
2. Wearing the cleats incorrectly
Some players try to force their feet in and out of the soccer cleats without undoing the laces. However, that may cause a rip in the cleats as well.
The best way to prevent this is to wear your cleats with the laces undone, that way they won’t get torn. However, not all soccer cleats have laces. If yours doesn’t, you don’t need to worry about your cleats getting ripped due to undone laces.
3. Using cleats on incorrect surfaces
Soccer cleats are tailored for different kinds of surfaces. Some are made for synthetic grass pitches, some for natural grass pitches, and some for firm surfaces. That means that you should consider the surface you are playing on too while picking your cleats.
Using a soccer cleat meant for an artificial grass surface to play on firm grounds can cause damage to it. Apart from that, the cleats’ studs can get worn out and cause nasty injuries.
So always use suitable cleats to play on different surfaces to prevent rips and injuries too. Also, avoid using the cleats on hard surfaces to prevent them from getting worn out.
4. Improper care for the cleats
After gathering dirt with your cleats due to playing or training, how do you care for them? When proper care of your cleats is lacking, you may end up exposing them to the risks of getting ripped.
Therefore, while it is good to clean the cleats after use, it is also essential to clean them correctly.
Before cleaning, remove the parts of the cleats that are detachable. You can clean those separately for ease. If the studs are not detachable, you can clean the dirt out using brushes.
Never use hot water to clean your cleats to avoid ruining the materials used to make them. Instead, to clean your cleats, use cold water and remove the dirt using a brush or scrub. Plus, you have to ensure you are not scrubbing too hard, though.
Drain the water that the cleats may have accumulated as you cleaned them. Use a towel to wipe the cleats both inside and on the outside. Then, do not dry them under harsh weather conditions; allow the cleats to dry at room temperature.
For cleats with leather materials, exposing them to too much moisture can soften them and make them more prone to damages.
Once in a while, use leather foods on them to make them more durable. However, don’t apply the leather food every time to avoid breakage in the material.
In addition, you might want to avoid using harsh chemicals on your cleats. The material used to make your cleats may react to such chemicals. Instead, stick to water and soccer cleats’ approved cleaning agents.
5. Extreme weather conditions
How do you store your cleats? Do you leave them outside in the sun or under harsh cold temperatures?
Exposing your cleats to harsh weather can make them suffer damages. Cold weather will make the cleats hard and shrink, and hot weather will cause the sole cleats to melt and detach from them.
Store your cleats under mild temperatures to avoid them wearing off untimely. This will also help them stay in good condition even when you are not wearing them for a long time.
6. Manufacturing error
Some players wear their new cleats for the first time and notice a tear in the sole. This is a rare cause of rip in a soccer cleat but is not entirely impossible.
Sometimes, manufacturing companies make mistakes while producing cleats. This can cause the cleats to get damaged without you breaking any rules.
7. Collisions on the field
Soccer cleats can also experience tears as a result of collisions on the field. As you know, soccer is a physical sport that involves heavy tackles and constant physical contact.
Hence soccer cleats are bound to come in contact with several objects and tackles which can cause them to tear. When this happens, especially consistently, it will eventually cause it to tear, damaging the cleats.
Whether your soccer cleats are leather, synthetic or premium synthetic, the method to fix them is all similar. Although they might get torn differently, basic steps will get them fixed. Let’s see different types of rips on soccer cleats and how to fix them.
Should You Fix Your Soccer Cleats When They Fall Apart?
Yes, you can fix your soccer cleats when they tear. However, you should be careful when repairing them so that you won’t cause structural damage to your boots.
If you don’t understand how to go about it, you should reach out to the store you bought it from, and they will be glad to help out if you meet their conditions. You should reach out to the store you purchased your cleats from, especially when the tear is a manufacturing error.
They give warranties on purchases most times. And if your warranty still applies, you will get a replacement or have it repaired for you.
If you can’t get it fixed through the store, it’s either you fix it yourself or turn to a professional cobbler. Fixing torn cleats is easy. However, you have to be careful and thorough when doing it. Note that, when you are fixing your cleats, do not rush the process.
Conclusion
Once in a while, your soccer cleats get ripped whether or not you like it. However, with the steps we have provided above, you can quickly fix your cleats when it gets ripped.
Also, do not forget to invest in more than one soccer cleat. This will help them last longer and save you the stress and extra cost of repairing your cleats every time.
Hi there, I’m Jay.
Soccer is everything in my life! My friends and I have created this blog with all our enthusiasm, passion, and understanding after years of playing pro soccer. Hope you will enjoy it!