Soles of Boots have Rotted

[John Fenna]

I had an old pair of Britorian boots that recently had the same thing happen - but I had not worn them for years as the uppers were splitting, just had them in reserve for garden work.
I just binned mine....

 

[Forest fella]

I've not seen anything like that before,Good olde British Army Quality strikes again

 

[oetzi]

Something like this will happen with all soles sooner or later. Usually beginning 5 years after having been manufactured.
The glue and the softener in rubber and PU-foam detoriate. UV-rays and fumes may hasten this.
It may happen on tour or with boots stored in the basement.
We have lots of customers coming into the shop for a re-sole. The luckier ones didnt experience this while out and in the middle of a tour several days long.
With a quality brand, and a construction based on an insole around which the upper is formed, a re-sole is nearly always an option.

 

[moonvisage]

Well I was that shocked to see how bad the Rot was,I took a picture of them.The Sole just rubbed off.

I do not want to annoy any members who read this thread,by over quoting this picture,but i must thank you for posting this picture.I gave a pair of pro boots to my niece about a month ago,after storing them for a few years.They looked great when i gave them to her,but she told me the soles literally vanished when she walked down the street in them.Her description of the soles,matches the picture you posted.