Gorilla Glue Vs. Shoe Goo

It feels awful when you are in the middle of the party, and your heels break, or you are at your work, and the shoelace is worn out. When we love a particular pair of shoes, we want to wear them a lot. Wearing a shoe regularly can cause a tear in the shoe fabric, or the shoe’s sole may break. To avoid this situation, keep shoe glue in your bag always. With the help of shoe glue, you can quickly fix your shoes instead of throwing your old pair and buying a new one.

You can find many options in the market regarding shoe glue. Every glue in the market is made with a different formula and better in one way or another. There arises a question, which shoe glue to choose for repairing your damaged shoe? The answer is right here in this article. We will compare two mainly used footwear repair glue that includes gorilla glue and shoe goo. Both footwear repair glue is used for the same purpose depending on the situation.

Gorilla Glue works effectively on challenging parts like heels of the shoe that need toughness. You can apply Gorilla Glue on skate shoes and boots as well. On the other hand, Shoe Goo works best on the softer fabric of the shoe-like sole and covers big holes in the shoe’s heel. You can use Shoe Goo to repair casual shoes, rubber shoes, and office shoes.

Gorilla glue is an industrial adhesive made with polyurethane. It is used as an all-purpose glue. The handiest glue you should have in your bag. It binds almost everything, from soft fabrics like leather, rubber, paper to rigid materials like wood and plastic. The colorless glue that is heat and water-resistant can bind everything that comes in direct contact with heat or sunlight. Its water-resistant quality makes it durable. Be careful while using this glue because of its expansion features. It usually expands after drying.

On the other hand, Shoe Goo is explicitly made for binding footwear, but you can also use it for multi-purposes. Shoe Goo gives you the perfect finish as it is also colorless. It works best on softer parts of the shoe like the upper area, the tip, and the shoe’s inside. Due to its flexibility, you can quickly move or flex your shoe, which also provides you with more significant movement than Gorilla Glue. It is easy to apply and does not expand on drying.

Durability And Color

You might not have to deal with all this repairing if you would have used some shoe protector such as suede protector for your shoes.

In terms of durability, both adhesives work almost the same. Gorilla glue is more durable because of its water-resistant nature. Gorilla Glue is more substantial than Shoe Goo but has less flexibility. Whereas Shoe Goo is more flexible, it turns with your shoe, and you can bend your shoe easily. Both adhesives are colorless on drying. You will not see a difference in appearance after using these shoe glues. Both give your shoe a complete finish and keep your shoe fabric from bulging.

Easy To Apply

Gorilla Glue and Shoe Goo are both easy to apply. It is hard to apply multiple layers of gorilla glue, whereas it is easier to apply various layers of Shoe Goo. It is easier to apply Shoe Goo directly via a squeezable tube. Gorilla glue has different sizes, but you can always choose a squeezable tube of this adhesive for easy and direct application.

Drying Time

Shoe Goo takes 24 to 72 hours to dry, so if you are in a hurry, it is not suitable to use Shoe Goo. If you are not in a rush to wear the desired shoe, repair your shoe one week before using it. In this way, Shoe Goo will dry properly. Whereas Gorilla Glue dries quickly, and you can easily use it when you have no time to repair your broken shoe. It usually takes a couple of hours to dry.

If you want to speed up the drying process of Shoe Goo, use a hairdryer with minimum speed. There must be a distance of 6 inches between the hairdryer and your shoe. On the other hand, you can not speed up the drying process of Gorilla Glue because it takes a few hours to dry completely. Place it near the fan for fast drying.

Water And Heat resistant Nature

Gorilla Glue is more temperature and water-resistant than Shoe Goo. By temperature resistance, it means that you can use this glue if the weather’s hot or cold. It will not affect the repair of your shoe. Water-resistant means that if exposed to water, it will not break. The water resistance property does not mean that you can apply Gorilla Glue to a wet area. For any glue, you must first clean the surface and then use it. However, Glue works best when the surface is dry.

When To Use Gorilla Glue Vs. Shoe Goo

Both types of glue work almost the same with some noticeable differences. Which one to choose for your shoe depends upon the part of the shoe that you want to fix. Gorilla Glue works best on the stiff and rigid parts of the shoe, whereas other softer parts of the shoe need to be fixed with Shoe Glue. You need to be very careful while using Gorilla Glue, as it is hard to apply, and it expands after drying that can cause splits and leaks. On the other hand, Shoe Glue is easy to use and does not expand.

Repairing Heels

The shoe heel is the rigid part of the shoe that does not break or crack easily. When it comes to the high-heeled shoe, your weight is shifted to the heels. Heels usually last a little longer than the entire shoe. If your heel is broken and you do not want to throw your shoe, Gorilla Glue is your go-to option as Gorilla glue provides rigidity and firmness and is an adhesive suited for complex areas.

In contrast, Shoe Goo is better for flexible and softer parts of the shoe. If you use Shoe Goo for repairing heels or swing dance shoes, you will feel flexibility and less steadiness in your heel area while going uphill or downhill. It will make your walk uncomfortable. You can use Shoe Goo to fill the holes in the heels of your footwear.

Repairing Soles

Soles are the softer part of the shoe that gives flexibility and strength to your shoe. They are attached at the bottom of the shoe and balances the pressure of your foot. If the sole of your shoe is broken, Shoe Goo is what will help you in this case. It is made with SPC adhesive, which provides flexibility and is perfect for binding sole with your shoe. On drying, Shoe Goo gives your sole a complete bending movement, so you feel comfortable while wearing your shoe.

On the other hand, Gorilla Glue is a better option for hard surfaces. It is not suited for softer parts because it gives rigidity after drying. If you repair your shoe sole with Gorilla Glue, you will notice little or no flexibility. Hence it is not suitable for your shoe sole.

Repairing Shoe Box Area

The first thing that needs your attention for repair is the shoebox. It is made with flexible and soft material. That is why Shoe Goo is a better option to repair the shoebox. It has no absorption property, and it stays on the surface. In contrast, Gorilla glue absorbs into the soft material without staying on the surface. It gives no flexibility on drying and is better for rigid surfaces.

Repairing Skate Shoes

Skateboards are used aggressively. Therefore, the chances of wear and tear are higher than in other shoes. Since skate shoes are expensive, buying them or changing them often can be difficult for you. Instead, you can repair a tear or scratch on the skate shoes by using adhesive glue. Which adhesive glue to use depends on the part of the skate shoe that needs to be repaired. You can repair the damaged parkour shoes with gorilla glue as well

If you want to repair large holes in the skate shoes, Shoe Goo will be a better option for you. If the problem is small, the shoe part is stiff or rigid, or you want to bind two surfaces together, Gorilla Glue will be a better choice. Apply a Gorilla Glue and spread it evenly to repair a damaged area. Let it dry for some time, and your skate shoes are new again. If you frequently do jumping rope, here are the best jump rope shoes you can check out.

Repairing Boots

Boots serve the purpose of heavy-duty. Therefore, they are made of tough and rigid materials. They do not damage easily, but if they wear out, you can quickly fix them with Gorilla Glue, giving toughness and adhesion to your boats. As Gorilla Glue is water and temperature resistant, so you can use your boots in rainy and hot weather. The Gorilla Glue will not be affected by hot or cold weather. .

Repairing Leather Shoes

Leather shoes are made with animal hide and are therefore soft and delicate. They can wear out very quickly, even after taking proper care. Leather shoes are costly, and buying an expensive shoe, again and again, can cost you a lot. Do not throw your leather shoe if you notice a slight tear and scratch. You can repair it with adhesives.

In this scenario, both the adhesives work very effectively. It is up to you which glue you want to use. There is no hard and fast rule to use either Gorilla Glue or Shoe Goo. Whatever is available at your home, apply it on the leather shoe. Apply a good amount of adhesive and spread it evenly. Give proper time to dry. After drying, you will not notice any layer of glue on your leather shoes because both the glues are colorless in nature.

How to Remove Shoe Goo Vs. Gorilla Glue

If you have accidentally placed Shoe Goo on your shoes, remove it as soon as possible before it becomes permanent. Use a dry cloth and moisten it with acetone (nail polish remover). Rub the moistened cloth on the shoe, wait till acetone gets absorbed by the glue. After that, use a paper towel and rub the Shoe Goo with it. The glue will roll with the paper towel away from the shoe surface. For hardened Shoe Goo, use a paint scraper and a fine razor blade.

For removing Gorilla Glue, use a butter knife to lose the glue from the shoe’s surface. Then, use a fine razor blade to remove the lump of the adhesive. Now, remove the remaining part of the glue left by rubbing acetone (nail polish remover) on the shoe’s surface.

FAQs

How long does Shoe Goo take to dry?

Shoe Goo drying time is between 24 to 72 hours. If you need to fix a worn-out shoe, repair it one week before wearing it. Since the proper time for drying Shoe Goo is necessary to make you feel comfortable wearing your damaged shoe. You can also speed up the drying process by using a hairdryer.

Can we use Gorilla Glue for repairing shoes?

Yes, you can use Gorilla Glue for repairing complex parts of your shoe. Gorilla glue is an adhesive that has versatile properties. It is helpful for hard materials like wood and metal. Its heat and water-resistant feature make it more favorable than any other adhesive in the market.

Which shoe glue is best for Skate shoes?

Skate shoes are used aggressively; that is why they are made with tough substances. For providing firmness and toughness, Gorilla glue is a better option to choose. Skate shoes wear out very rarely, but if they do so, use a good amount of Gorilla Glue and spread it evenly. Give a proper amount of time for drying, and you are good to go.

Conclusion

Here is a review of the comparison between two adhesive glue. Both Gorilla Glue and Shoe Goo work effectively depending on the fabric on which you are using. Gorilla Glue is an adhesive that is used for indoor and outdoor purposes. You can use it on hard materials like wood, rubber, and plastic. In comparison, Shoe Goo is helpful for soft and flexible fabrics like the tip, sole and upper area of the shoe and is made explicitly for repairing footwear. You can use these adhesives depending on which part of the shoe you want to fix.