https://www.reddit.com/r/BuyItForLife/comments/m44pc4/ysk_that_shoes_with_a_pu_sole_are_highly_likely/ Press J to jump to the feed. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts [ ] Log InSign Up User account menu 98 YSK that shoes with a PU sole are highly likely to disintegrate after about 10 years due to hydrolysis [renderTimi] BIFL Skills Close 98 Posted by11 hours ago YSK that shoes with a PU sole are highly likely to disintegrate after about 10 years due to hydrolysis [renderTimi] BIFL Skills You may have had a pair of great shoes, especially hiking or working boots, where the sole just disintegrated after a while of disuse. I had quite a few. And I just learned that this is not, in fact, a sign of bad quality. This decay pattern actually a normal and to-be-expected property of Polyurethane (PU), the material most soft soles are made of. Its internal structure is altered when exposed to moisture, especially when shoes are stored in damp places and not worn for a long time. Under those circumstances, you can expect the PU part of the sole to just fall apart after some years. Manufacturers use PU despite this issue because otherwise, it's just a great material. Once you know what to search for, the internet is full of discussions of this effect (see, e.g., safety show maker uvex's statement on the issue). Keep it in mind when buying shoes that you will not wear too often, plan it into the lifetime considerations, wear (and dry) your shoes regularly to get the most out of them. 15 comments share save hide report 95% Upvoted Log in or sign up to leave a commentLog InSign Up Sort by best [renderTimi] level 1 10 hours ago IMO the only shoes that can be considered BIFL are ones with repairable/replaceable soles 63 Reply Share ReportSave level 2 5 hours ago IMO no shoes are anywhere close to BIFL if worn daily. Leather with replaceable soles last a fair bit longer but are more expensive and need more upkeep, so it's a pretty even call when it comes to footstep/dollar over the lifetime compared to a good quality non-replaceable. So, closer to BIFL if you value not wasting resources and contributing to plastic consumption and landfill mass, but not really if you value cost over that. But, OP is making a great point, so many have work boots winter boots or hiking boots that get worn 10 or 20 times a year. Leather does not degrade over time like synthetics do and anything that is used that lightly can last for decades. Just slap your conditioner of choice on it a couple times a year or after extended hard use and put it away for another 6 months. 23 Reply Share ReportSave Continue this thread level 1 10 hours ago Good article. The heels on my Ecco shoes still crumble even though I wear them regularly though. 3 Reply Share ReportSave level 2 10 hours ago I had the soles of a pair of Ecco dress shoes it didn't wear often literally turn to dust as I walked into an event. Spent the rest of the night in socks. It was so bizarre. 5 Reply Share ReportSave Continue this thread level 2 7 hours ago I had my entire Ecco golf shoe soles disintegrate, maybe wore them a dozen times. I was pissed, but Ecco did give credit for a replacement even though they were long out of warranty. Apparently, they cover this type of issue for longer but didn't specify how long. 2 Reply Share ReportSave level 2 6 hours ago I wear my Ecco dress shoes every day for work and they've lasted longer than any other dress shoe I've ever used. I used to buy new shoes every 6 months because the rubber soles would wear down and they'd fall apart, but Polyurethane soles don't wear down, and if you use them regularly they don't disintegrate. It's all about putting pressure on the sole. 2 Reply Share ReportSave Continue this thread level 1 6 hours ago Is that why the soles of my favorite Ecco shoes are disintegrating! Most comfortable shoes ever, I wish I could get them resoled. They're 20 years old at this point though, they've done their time. 3 Reply Share ReportSave level 1 3 hours ago My tried and true redwing steel toe workboots died this death. The PU minilug just fell apart. I think I can get em resoled, though. 1 Reply Share ReportSave level 1 1 hour ago Didn't know it was due to this, but had that happen to me! Dug out my old parade shoes for a quasi military funeral, and I hadn't worn them for 6 or 7 years hitherto. Half an hour in, it feels like I'm walking on soft sand in thick socks even though it's a hard floor. I look down and my soles are disintegrating and turning to sand before my eyes, every step shedding a pile of noticeable black crumbs. A few more minutes later the soles started flapping as I walked, then the entire heel came off. 1 Reply Share ReportSave level 1 4 minutes ago I have never had a pair of shoes last more than a year at any price point. My bifl shoe is out there but i haven't found it yet. Vote Reply Share ReportSave level 1 5 hours ago After I saw a guy literally sprint across a mountain with stone rubble as ground, in fucking Nike sneakers, I'm never going to buy hiking boots for $200 again just to have 3 hiking weekends a year. That guy was living in the area and had to go down to get packages delivered every day multiple times I guess, but still... we are just consoomerist sheeps. -2 Reply Share ReportSave View Entire Discussion (15 Comments) More posts from the BuyItForLife community Continue browsing in r/BuyItForLife Subreddit Icon r/BuyItForLife For practical, durable and quality made products that are made to last. **Reminder:** Please use the search function before making a request. 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