# Squeaky shoes **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 21, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeaky-shoes/579221 "2011-04-21T13:13:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeaky-shoes/579221/1 "2011-04-21T13:13:48Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeaky-shoes/579221/2 "2011-04-22T03:40:40Z")
Two solutions that have worked for me: Baby Powder Baby Oil The oil seems a bit better. -D/a ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeaky-shoes/579221/3 "2011-04-22T13:46:12Z")
**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 ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeaky-shoes/579221/4 "2011-04-22T13:58:27Z")
Mine squeak in D minor! ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeaky-shoes/579221/5 "2011-04-22T14:09:33Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![sparky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2011, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeaky-shoes/579221/6 "2011-04-22T14:47:15Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeaky-shoes/579221/7 "2011-04-24T16:01:27Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2011, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeaky-shoes/579221/8 "2011-04-24T16:30:53Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeaky-shoes/579221/9 "2011-04-25T02:12:20Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > Two solutions that have worked for me: > Baby Powder > Baby Oil Pretend I’m totally dense. What do you do with the baby oil or powder? Rub it into the sole or something? ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeaky-shoes/579221/10 "2011-04-25T22:26:28Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeaky-shoes/579221/11 "2011-04-26T00:54:22Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Pretend I’m totally dense. > > What do you do with the baby oil or powder? Rub it into the sole or something? 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 ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2011, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/squeaky-shoes/579221/12 "2011-04-26T02:16:11Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > 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.