When Boots Die Quietly, Part 2: Eight Years Later
A good eight years ago, in January 2016, two pairs of boots fell off my feet: the polyurethane (PU) midsole had simply crumbled – a well-known phenomenon even with high-quality (hiking) boots.
Eight years later, I have new experiences. I had bought new boots at the time, including a new pair of Australian Redback boots. They held up well too – until this week. Suddenly I had a lot of air under my heel. The midsole was gone.
So, according to the literature (depending on the storage conditions), eight years seems to become more and more brittle from the inside within seven to ten years, regardless of whether the shoes are used or not, and without this process being noticeable from the outside. ) and, in my experience, the usual service life for boots with this cushioning technology.
However, I cannot confirm the optimistic note that Wikipedia brings up at this point: According to the manufacturer, the material of the cushioning wedges has been improved over the past few years to such an extent that it now lasts the life of the shoe. Well, not necessarily.
(Thomas Wiegold)