Toe holes are inevitable. If you are not ready to say goodbye to your beloved Vans, here’s how to fix and prevent toe holes in Vans shoes:

The easiest, yet most effective way to fix and prevent toe holes in Vans shoes is to insert hole-prevention patches. Not only do they prevent toe holes from happening, but they can also fix and patch any toe holes in your Vans shoes instantly.

There are, however, other traditional methods like using Shoe Goo or using old shoe insoles for patching. In this post, we explore how you can fix and prevent toe holes in Vans shoes.

How to Fix Toe Holes in Vans Shoes

Whether you have big toes or bunions, toe holes in Vans sneakers happen to a lot of people, especially if you wear them for skateboarding often. Here’s how to fix them.

You can fix the holes in Vans shoes by applying Shoe Goo on the holes, which acts as rubber cement and fills any holes on the shoes completely. Alternatively, you can use old skateboard shoe insoles to patch the holes from the inside.

Let’s explore both options in greater detail.

1. Fixing Toe Holes With Shoe Goo

For those who don’t know, Shoe Goo is a brand of adhesive and sealant intended for the repairs of footwear. It bonds, protects, and rebuilds which are perfect for patching holes in shoes.

The best part is, it is waterproof so the bond remains secure even when exposed to water.

You can buy Shoe Goo on Amazon right here. Once you have your Shoe Goo ready, here are the steps to apply Shoe Goo on your Vans:

1. Clean the surface until clean and smooth – Before you apply Shoe Goo, make sure that the shoe surface is clean and free of dirt. Use scissors to snip off any loose strings or excess fabric. This will allow the goo to stick better and last longer on the shoes.
2. Open the cap and apply Shoe Goo on the hole – Once the shoes are clean and smooth, open the cap and apply a medium amount of Shoe Goo along the hole.
3. Use an ice cube to smoothen the Shoe Goo – This may seem unorthodox, but an ice cube can smoothen the Shoe Goo along the shoe surface. You can use your fingers, but ice cubes help keep the mess off your fingers and apply the goo more cleanly.
4. Let the Shoe Goo dry for 24 hours – Once the Shoe Goo is properly applied, allow it to dry for at least 24 hours. Congratulations, your Vans shoes are now ready to wear.

You will be surprised that after the Shoe Goo has dried, it will completely fill the holes in your Vans shoes. Sure, you can apply 2 coats of Shoe Goo just to be safe, but one application is all you need.

Shoe Goo is basically like rubber cement, which is durable, but you won’t feel like anything is there. In fact, after testing Shoe Goo for several weeks, the toe holes have not been reopened.

PRO TIP: We recommend putting a little Vaseline in the cap before storage, so it won’t be glued shut next time you try to open it again.

2. Fixing Toe Holes With Old Shoe Insoles

For those of you who don’t like the feeling of Shoe Goo, another trick you can do to fix toe holes in Vans is to patch them with a piece of insole from old and unused skate shoes.

Every skateboarder has an extra pair of shoes that have many holes and have broken down already. If you don’t wear them anymore, you can use the insoles to fix your current shoes.

Take out the insole from an old skateboarding shoe. Cut a little circle out of it which is big enough to cover the toe hole on your current Vans shoes.

You can either glue or not glue the patch, but the key is to insert the patch from the inside. Once your foot is inside, it should hold the piece of insole firmly without the need for glue.

However, if you want to make the patch permanent, just glue it to the piece of insole from the inside. The patch feels just like shoe material, so you won’t notice the patch at all.

How to Prevent Toe Holes in Vans Shoes

Once you’ve fixed the toe holes in your Vans shoes, it’s a good idea to prevent them from happening again in the future. Here’s how:

The most effective way to prevent toe holes in Vans shoes is to insert hole-prevention patches. These patches are very easy to apply and do a great job of preventing toe holes in canvas and suede shoes, like Vans.

Out of all the products we’ve tried, the patches from Shoefix created the best results.

Since they are made of a high-quality material used in luggage production, these patches can withstand the wear and tear of most sneakers and prevent toe holes from happening.

Moreover, the strong adhesive and simple design make them easy to insert. You don’t need to use threads and needles to stitch them.

They can also be cut into smaller pieces so you can apply them to any part of your shoes, including the heels which are prone to cause painful heel blisters.

Overall, the Shoefix toe hole prevention patches will ensure that you can wear your Vans for longer without having to worry about blowouts or expensive replacements.

Here’s how to apply the patches:

1. Start by removing the laces – If your Vans shoes have laces, remove them for an easier installation. Laces can get in the way of your hands so it’s best to remove them unless they are Slip-On Vans.
2. Remove the insoles – Once the laces are gone, remove the insoles so they don’t get in the way of the patches.
3. Peel the back of the patch – The patches are equipped with strong adhesive on the back. Peel the back of the patch so it is ready to be installed.
4. Insert the patches carefully – By pushing the patch into the shoe with the adhesive side up, insert the patch carefully to the toe box area. If the patch is too big, cut it in half into 2 oval patches to cover the areas where you need them to be.
5. Push the patches into the toe box – Once the patch is properly aligned, push it into the toe box area.
6. Apply gentle pressure – Move your hand back and forth while applying gentle pressure to allow the patch to adhere to the toe box. Doing so also ensures that the toe box area is completely covered.
7. Reinsert insoles and laces – Once you’ve applied the patches on both shoes, reinsert the insoles and laces. Congratulations, your shoes are now protected from toe blowouts!

The best part of these patches is that they don’t make your Vans shoes feel tighter. It can feel awkward at first walking around with your toes slightly pressed down, but once you get used to it, your Vans shoes will feel like new after a couple of weeks!

You may also want to read:

• How To Break In Vans Shoes
• Do Vans Shoes Stretch?
• Why Do Vans Shoes Fall Apart?

Bottom Line

And there you have it, the complete guide on how to fix and prevent toe holes in Vans shoes.

As tough and durable as Vans shoes are, they can tear from the inside as time goes by, especially if you wear them often. But by applying the tips we have shared with you, your retro Old Skool Vans should last longer than they should.