How to Fix a Broken Sandal

Have you ever been wearing sandals and accidentally pulled the strap right out of the sole as you were walking, and perhaps left yourself with a slight burn between your toes? Don’t freak out as it’s probably happened to the best of us. The good thing to know is there's a way to fix sandals.

As long as you have access to a few simple tools, you can get your sandals back in shape in no time.

If you're wondering how to fix a broken sandal, then we have the answers for you. In this article, we share nine steps you can use to repair a sandal.

The Perfect Fix

Many people enjoy wearing a pair of sandals during the summer season to keep their feet cool and to avoid sweating in warmer temperatures. Increased wear, however, together with the higher temps, might wear down the materials and weaken them ever so slightly.

The quality and durability of your sandals depend on how they've been designed. For example, if you paid five dollars for them down at the dollar store, then there might be less of a chance they'll last than say a $50 pair.

The good news is, no matter the brand of shoe, we've brought you this fix to help in any broken sandal situation. This fix is perfect for cheap flip-flop style sandals, as well as the pricier ones that you just don’t have the heart to throw out. So if you've recently discarded a pair of your favorite sandals to the back of your closet, thinking there was nothing you could do to save them – then get them out.

How To Fix Sandals

1. Get Your Supplies

For the first step, you will need to gather the tools and supplies required to perform the fix. These include the following:

• Hemp, or similarly strong material
• Small screwdriver
• A razor blade
• Super glue
• 3/8 inch drill bit

2. Create New Holes

In the sole of the shoe, you'll want to create two holes – one near where the previous strap went, and the other for the new strap to go through. The small drill bit can be useful for making the holes and is quite easy to do.

3. Connect the New Holes

After you've drilled the new holes, flip the sandal to face the bottom sole. Then, taking the small razor blade, groove out a V-shaped mark between both holes, and try not to cut too thick. The groove will provide a place for the new knot to go and keep it protected from everyday wear and tear underfoot.

4. Tighten the Material Straps

In this step, you'll want to take the hemp material and loop it through the original shoe strap, creating a new hole to work it through. It's important to double your hemp material so that you'll have the loop to go through the hole of the sandal during step 5.

5. Pull the New Strap Through

Once you've sorted out the new strap, you can now push it through the old hole using your center punch. Don't pull the entire strap through though as you will need the loop for step 6.

6. Pull the Loose End of Your New Strap Through

Taking the two strands of material from the loose end of your new strap, gently push them via the second new hole that you created. This will pull them through leaving the loose ends for the next step 7.

7. Thread the Loose End Through the First Loop and Pull Loose Ends Back Up Through the Second Hole

The final loose ends can now be pulled through the loop you created during step 5 and threaded back through hole number two. To finish, the free ends should, therefore, reach from the front of the shoe to the sole and keep the new straps securely in place.

8. Wrap Up Any Loose Ends

Finish by wrapping up any loose ends around the center point of the strap. Then, tightly tie a square knot and cut the excess material off. Apply your super glue to the bottom of the chain knot you just made, and top of the square knot as well as the second hole. This will help to keep the new straps secure in place without a chance of repeating the rip like they initially did. The stronger the glue, the better the chance you have of them lasting.

9. Put Your Sandals On

Once you've let the sandal some time to dry, you'll be able to wear them once again.

Throw or Sew?

Is this fix really necessary? Why not just buy a new pair of sandals? If you're on a budget and looking to save some money, then this fix may be perfect for you. Sometimes you might not be able to purchase the same shoes again as they were a one-off, or are no longer in stock and so this fix can be great if that's your situation.

Can I Perform This Sandal Repair?

This how to repair sandals fix is pretty simple and can be carried out by almost anyone whether they have experience fixing shoes or not. All you need are the necessary tools which aren’t expensive at all, a bit of concentration, and the desire to get your shoes back in working order.

Final Verdict

If you were keen to find out how to fix a broken sandal, we hope we've managed to help you with this article. If you have the right tools and follow step by step, you should be able to salvage a good pair of sandals, and hopefully get some additional years of pleasurable wear out of them.