Has anyone here ever returned a pair of shoes because they squeak?
I bought a pair of Merrell’s last night. I just got to work and notice the right one is squeaking. Grrr. Since I commute an hour a day this means I’ll be stuck wearing them until I get home. I wonder if that will mean the shop won’t take them back?
I guess I’ll find out tonight.
Two solutions that have worked for me:
Baby Powder
Baby Oil
The oil seems a bit better.
-D/a
D/a - Do you rub the baby oil in? I have a couple pairs of shoes that started squeak after they got very wet, but they’re still comfortable.
StG
Mine squeak in D minor!
I had some Nike ACG/Gore-tex trail shoes that squeaked so bad I couldn’t stand to walk in them. I returned them and got another pair that squeaked too. They were great shoes, but there was some kind of manufacturing defect. I think it was an air pocket in the sole someplace, and it kind of wheezed in and out every time I took a step.
Well, I ended up not returning them last night because the squeak went away by the end of the day.
Unfortunately, the squeak is back this morning. It is definitely caused by the insole rubbing against the sole. I just read on Zappos that others had the same issue. One guy tried powder, but it puffed out of the seams when he walked (no thanks!).
Maybe I can smear boot grease on the underside of the insole. Other than the squeak, they feel like great shoes.
My WAG is its caused by insufficient glue between outsole and midsole creating a gap that allows the two to rub. I’ve seen it in several brands infrequently, including Merrells. Manufacturing defect. Some companies are quicker than others at resolving those defects. It’s not likely to go away, though, so I would suggest returning them and trying again. If the next pair does it, move on to a different shoe and sent a polite complaint to the manufacturer.
There’s an old wives’ tale that says shoes squeak until they’re paid for. Maybe after you pay the credit-card bill, they’ll settle down?
Pretend I’m totally dense.
What do you do with the baby oil or powder? Rub it into the sole or something?
I’m guessing you would remove the sockliner inside the shoes, shake the powder inside and hope that it works its way down through the nooks and crannies of the midsole.
We’re all dense, except for the things that are obvious to us. 
The inner soul should pull out easily. I coated both the top and bottom of it with a little baby oil. Let it dry. Then put it back in the shoe.
-D/a
Thanks. I have a pair of nice shoes that squeak sometimes. I’ll try the baby oil or powder.
$80 shoes, too. I probably should have exchanged them for another pair.