Advice Re Neoprene Boot Repair

[ontdiver]

My 2yr old Akona 6mm hard-soled boots separated extensively at the sole on the weekend. Grateful for advice as to which adhesive works best. Also curious whether this type of problem common. (Boots only used in freshwater, stored in basement over winter.) Thanks

 

[ams511]

I would try aquaseal first. It is not uncommon for boots to separate but usually it takes longer than 2 years.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Those boots are made for several companies by one OEM. They just make some minor cosmetic changes. I'd call or email Akona and see what they say. Or go to the dealer that sold them to you. Two years is not that long for a recreational dive item like that. Unless you're doing a hundred or so dives a year in places like we sometimes do.

 

[spoolin01]

It should be pretty easy to stick the sole back to the boot. Aquaseal may work - though I once tried it to stick a rubber kneepad back down on a nylon skinned wetsuit, without success. Urethane glues tend to work broadly and have great durability. Shoe Goo and the related GOOP products are also really good, and easy to use. Try cleaning the surfaces with acetone, toluene, or MEK before gluing. Those solvents may be aggressive towards the materials (which is a good thing for gluing) - if so, use them sparingly.

 

[spectrum]

Wetsuit cement or whatever you have for contact cement.