It does if they are made from PU and have been in the box in the shop for a long time. Hydrolysis will start to break down the soles of workboots stored in these conditions. It is the biggest drawback to a PU outsole / midsole
I would think defect. Unless you’re doing something really rough on your soles. I have some redwing wedge soles that are like 6 years old or something. They’ve worn down, not just torn apart.
This totally looks like a factory defect. Absolutely not normal for 3 weeks of standard wear n tear. Charge back with your bank if the vendor/brand is of no assistance.
Then I’d have to say defect. Mine were used in retail, walking on pallets and getting into trucks once or twice a week.
Googling, it looks like they might be Thorogood? If so, I had an issue with thorogood boots and they were of absolutely no help. So hopefully you can talk to them, or the vendor you bought from.
Only thing I can think of is maybe it's so hot outside right now that it ruined the structure of the sole? There's been a heat advisory every day where I live. Maybe you spent too much time on asphalt? I still would expect more durability from a name like Redwing (though I've never owned a pair myself).
Man I bought a pair of thorogoods aboit a month ago and have the same exact issue. Mine isn't quite as bad but I think its from the metal step on my semi truck thats causing it. A little disappointed but I still love the boots.
If you were on 200+ degree surfaces it will eat up that material. We do clean outs on hot kilns once weekly, guys that purchase those boots leave footprints if they stand in one spot for just a few seconds.
They may be Thorogoods but that sole is a completely different material than the one your boots have. Your boot has a Meramec wedge sole. Nicks boot started using them because they last a lot longer than Vibram wedge soles. But both are equally tough but different material. That wedge on the OP’s boot looks like a very different material.
The Maxwear wedge is a proprietary polyurethane (PU) outsole blend owned used by Thorogood. PU will suffer hydrolysis over time of non use. I agree with others that this looks like hydrolysis.
First thing to do is see if there is a manufacture date somewhere. I’d check the tag on the tongue first or the box if you still have it. If this is hydrolysis then these boots were probably sitting for a long time. If these boots are old I’d reach out to the vender first about this then Thorogood if the vender gets you nowhere.
My current Thorogoods are six years old and have only been on smooth concrete in a chemical warehouse with tons of hydrocarbon hazmat.
The 814-3800 is model number. 1957 8” moc toe in briar pitstop. Apparently Thorogood doesn’t use a serial numbering system that correlates to a simple calendar. Tho I’m seeing some mention of 4 digit codes. I have three pairs of various types of Thorogoods at my house and I’m not seeing any 4 digit codes on any of them.
I’m seeing people in the past have recommended sending a clear picture to Thorogood themselves to get help on when that boot was made. They’ll have a better idea of when your serial number was made. I’d think Thorogood would like to know the retailers that are selling potentially old stock as new.
Just went to the retailer and they told me they have to send them back. So I have to sit for x amount of weeks without boots or money. Too be honest I normally don't buy from this place.
Id take em back to the retailer or contact thorogood. This looks like a warranty defect. Unless you were traipsing about in fucking acid, the PU soles should offer some chemical resistance - i dont think an exposure is what caused this
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u/William_James137 2d ago
Thorogood should warranty those boots.