Non-Slip Spikes for Work Boots

Adding carbide steel spikes gives boots sure traction on snow and ice. I was not impressed with available spiked boots and spike strap-ons, so I bonded the soles of a pair of golf shoes to the bottoms of an old pair of work boots. To see my related instructables, including how to waterproof leather boots, click on "unclesam" just below the title above or in the INFO box to the right. On the new page that appears, repeatedly click "NEXT" to see all of them. Ethics Statement: Boots shown are made from the hide taken from an animal that most likely did not provide express written consent; however, no Shinola was harmed during the documentation of this project.

Step 1: Components and Tools

Components

1 Pair old work boots having rubber soles: rubber cleats worn off, heels worn down, but uppers serviceable.

1 Pair soles from golf shoes that have metal spikes molded into them. (Golf courses now ban metal spikes, so most modern golf shoes accept plastic spikes that screw into threaded recesses manufactured into the bottoms of their soles. Plastic spikes do not provide traction on snow and ice. A search of golfers' closets and flea markets should yield a pair having the metal spikes. Metal golf spikes that would auger into the bottoms of any pair of shoes having thick rubber soles were commonly available years ago, but I could not find them during recent internet searches. If they could be found, it would only be necessary to screw some into the rubber soles and heels of the work boots, which requires a special tool).

1 Tube, 3.7 oz (110 ml), of shoe adhesive, such as Super Goo or ShoeGoo, sold at True Value hardware and stores that sell athletic shoes.

Tools

1 length of wood that will fit inside a boot, as an aid to clamping

1 saw that will cut off rubber boot heel

1 electric sander having coarse paper, or wood rasp

1 flat stick for shaping glue squeeze-out: popcicle stick

several clamps for holding golf shoe sole onto boot sole while goo is setting up

Step 2: Sole Searching

Saw off the heel from each work boot even with the bottom of its sole. I used a band saw freehand.

Smooth the cut area and remove remaining vestiges of cleats from the sole. I used a stand belt sander.

Cut and peel the shoes from the soles of the golf shoes and scrape away any loose debris.

Step 3: Stick With Me

Place piece of wood inside boot. Goo sets quickly, so first practice a clamping strategy using the dry shoe soles.

Trace the outline of a golf shoe sole onto its matching boot sole, then remove the golf sole and spread a thin coat of goo along that drawn outline. Apply a bead of goo along the outer edge of the golf sole and add an extremely generous amount anywhere inside it that will contribute to its bonding to the boot sole. Place the golf sole onto the boot sole, apply the clamps gently and spread any goo that squeezes out in a way that it will contribute to the bonding. Allow the goo to set at least 48 hours before removing the clamps, and wait several days before wearing the boots.

Step 4: Finished Boot

See my instructable for waterproofing leather boots. Be sure not to wear the spikes where they might do damage, and carry a change of footwear for use when you are no longer in danger of slipping.
Uncle Sam

Comments

[TheGreatBeagle]

Another thing that might be useful: When I was in the service I worked for an officer who had transferred in from Germany. He had had a German cobbler double the thickness of the soles on his jump boots by adding a Vibra-type hiking boot sole and heel over the regular sole and heel. To do this he merely screwed them on with small brass screws; easy to re-sole, too! Jus' sayin', but what the hey! Glue and screw - can't be a bad combination.

[acheesecake]

brilliant idea, have seen screw in cleats/spikes in fishing shop catalogues they do them to give grip to waders etc

[unclesam]

cake, could you supply me with the names of the fishing shops/catalogs so I can pursue the screw-in spikes, or the name of the manufacturer of the spikes? Thanks, awfully, the only screw-in metal golf spikes I found required a shoe that had the threaded sockets built into them, and I did not know that spikes were offered for fishing waders.
Thanks, unclesam

[acheesecake]

try fishingmegastore.com they have "stillwater wader studding kit", it is british company but assume they will do international shipping TBH they just look like hex head self tapping screws so might be cheaper to buy box of them lol.
there is another instructable that directs to a website skyrunner.co/screwshoe.htm that suggests using hex head screws too, hope this helps

[unclesam]

cake, thanks for the response. The commercially sold studs that look like self tapping screws are usually carbide or have carbide flakes on their heads for longer wear. For infrequent use, the hardware store screws would do just as good. I worried that their screw threads would be too long, go through into the inside of the shoe. I have since found a U.S. source for a screw-in carbide stud that has a much broader thread and does not intrude so far into the sole. It is intended for Corfam or other synthetic soles. I think they were originally designed for golf shoes, but they are no longer allowed on golf courses in U.S. except by the pros. They can be seen at waderstuds.com, which includes a list of retailers. They offer two lengths of stud protrusion, but with the same shallow penetration of the sole. The price seems reasonable enough, and I will order some if the golf shoe soles eventually fall off my old work boots.
unclesam

[kickspike]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAgxUoMOXWQ
Kickspike traction technology on ice! 

[unclesam]

Kickspike, awesome demonstration, kickspikes solve the problem I have of needing to change out of my spiked boots when I find myself on clear ground or getting in my car to drive. Kickspike seems to be originally aimed at golf, but I see tremendous potential for non-slip winter walking and working. So far I can find no where to buy boots or shoes that include the kickspike technology. The kickspike.com web page seems to be nothing more than a place to park the domain name, contains no useful information or links, no purchasing information.
Unclesam

[kickspike]

We are in the middle of liscence talks as we speak with 5 of the largest boot companies.  They are in R&D prototype process and will be out next winter!  Thank you for the possitive feedback!

[meddler]

This is a good idea. I saw a documentary a long time ago with some American students in Africa. The desert wore the soles of their boots down so bad they glued new soles made from tires on the bottoms.