It’s not uncommon for Wellington boots, commonly referred to as wellies, to develop a tear in the upper section. Most people end up throwing them out when this happens, but there’s no reason to trash your best Wellington boots when they get older. If you've repaired a puncture on a bicycle tire, you'll find fixing a tear in your wellies pretty straightforward. Even amateurs should have no problem if they follow the instructions in the bicycle tire repair kit.
Steps in Fixing Wellies
If you have a bicycle tire repair kit, you’re good to go. There are different types of repair kits, but you shouldn’t have any trouble fixing your Wellington boots. Just follow these simple instructions:
- Clean the area of the Wellington boot you want to fix and let it dry completely
- Rub sandpaper around the area you want to patch to ensure its even
- Use a pair of scissors to cut the piece of rubber in the patch kit to a size that will cover the area you want to fix
- Apply glue to the area you've sanded
- Press the piece of rubber you just cut firmly onto the glue
- Apply more glue along the edges of the patch if they aren’t sticking as desired
- Let the glue dry completely
Just as you might do with a bicycle tire patch, you may find that you may need to patch the area of your boot regularly if you want to extend the life of your wellies. You should also familiarise yourself with how to store Wellington boots to ensure they last even longer.
Repairing Wellington Boots With Tape
If you’d rather repair your Wellington boots in a way that doesn’t require regular repatching, consider using double-sided tape. If you go this route, you'll need the following supplies:
- Double-sided tape, two inches wide
- Gaffer tape, two inches wide
- Sandpaper
- Glue
Once you have all the materials ready, take these easy-to-follow steps:
- Clean the split area thoroughly and let it dry
- Rub sandpaper around the split to prepare the surface
- Take your double-sided tape and cut it to the desired size
- Press it tightly on the prepared area
- Peel the protected area to leave a sticky surface
- Take the gaffer tape and cut the same size as the double-sided tape and press it firmly on the now sticky surface
- Apply glue around the patch to ensure the tape stays in place
Things to Keep in Mind
Pay attention when considering what adhesive to use on your wellies because some, such as super glue, may not work with particular types of rubber. Using the bicycle tire repair kit method is effective when done properly and should result in watertight wellies you can use to walk through puddles; however, it may not be enough to wade through strong streams of water.
When fixing wellies using the tape method, the gaffer tape is effective in repelling water. The boots will withstand light tasks such as working in the garden and walking in puddles, but the tape is bound to peel off after regular soaking.
If you are thinking about wearing your best wellies for a music festival, either repair method will make sure older wellies are up for the event. By fixing your Wellington boots rather than throwing them away, you'll save a few pounds and also be more environmentally friendly by helping to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in a landfill.
