Ecco review: disintegrating soles 55

I had 2 pairs of ECCO shoes disintegrate. One while I was wearing them going through security at an airport. I had to go through two days with crumbling shoes because all sure does were closed by the time I landed.

These literally could all over the place and made a mess. I didn't know that ECCO had admitted to making defective shoes and had already thrown them out but I did take some photos at the airport.

I've had 3 pairs of ECCO shoes so only 67% were defective. This was an expensive lesson to but better brands.

same thing happened.

Mary M from KS

Well, thank goodness I found this site ( and very easily, I might add, due to the sheer number of complaints about these soles) or I would think I was just the victim of very poor luck and circumstances or that I was somehow capable of ruining very expensive and hypothetically, very good quality shoes, simply by wearing them more than once.

For the third time, I have had a pair of Ecco shoe soles disintegrate, seemingly out of nowhere, but definitely not without being noticed by the people at 1) the wedding of a family member, where large pieces of the soles followed me with every step I took, 2) the solemn religious ceremony where they just cracked in half, making my gait look like I had had far too much to drink, and 3) today, at a formal funeral Mass, where the soles broke off in many, many small pieces, littering the aisle leading up to and away from the casket, in addition to my entire pew.

Each pair of these shoes was approximately 10 years old, but all had been worn infrequently and stored/cared for appropriately. Each pair of these shoes cost over $120.00 10 years ago at Dillard's in Kansas City, when even $50.00 or $60.00 shoes would have been considered somewhat expensive and expected to last the better part of a lifetime.

How is this even possible? Aside from the embarrassment and discomfort I have felt at each instance of my shoes disintegrating and having no option to change them (especially while wearing dress clothes for the occasions) or even hide the mess they were making, I am pretty angry and I feel pretty stupid, as if I should have known this might happen, so it was my own fault. This is why I came home from the funeral and looked up Ecco shoe soles disintegrating. Oh, my, the internet was replete with options for finding the cause for and instances of disintegration.

Frankly, I don't care if there is a known cause, except to say that if Ecco has known this since 2010-ish at least, why were these still made and sold? And really, why do I have to do the work of authenticating this disintegration, dragging myself to Dillard's or the Post Office or anywhere so that Ecco 'believes' that I didn't just pick apart my shoe soles out of boredom? I probably should have just taken a photo of the mess on the floor at the funeral, but that seemed even more tasteless than leaving 'droppings,' as it were, in my wake.

Never, ever again, Ecco, will I spend my hard-earned money on your products. I simply do not have the wherewithal to document this phenomenon right now, so I will just chalk it up to an expensive and embarrassing lesson learned. And I will share that lesson as the need arises, if anyone I know is contemplating Ecco shoes.

I have worn my Ecco lace up boots maybe 10 times in 15 years. They were in an indoor closet under room temp.

I put them on to wear and the right side boot sole dissentigrated. This is the second pair that has dissentigrated after more use than this current pair.

Hydrolysis is not the issue in my case, it appears to be poor quality of materials used by Ecco.

Good luck to those that choose Ecco products...bring a spare pair of shoes!

Had at least six pairs where the sole literally disintegrated and several more where it separated on the bottom layers.

I sent several back and got refunds or credits, but it is horrible to be walking around in a restaurant, club, store, etc. and leaving black tracks.

Also awful to have to limp along because a sole is coming off.

Not spending 100.- or more for shoes that will likely be defective before they are ever worn out.

No more eccos for me. Doesn't happen with Clarks, even though they are not usually as comfortable.

Trying other brands now.

Let's face it, in comparison to other brands Ecco is just crap.

Ecco winter boots for use in temperatures down to –40°(C or F). Wonderful, warm, comfortable leather uppers. Crap midsole disintegrated into black crumbles after a year. Shoe repair expert said they could not be repaired.

I shook out the crumbles and poured in a lot of glue (contact cement, general-purpose glue). This repair kept the soles stuck to the uppers for 2 years of frequent use. Now repeating the glue treatment, though there's less left of the midsole than before. Wish me luck!

Definitely will not buy Ecco again, though.

I'm in a predicament! I prefer the older models made in Slovakia. I just bought a nearly new pair off eBay for $70. They were made in 2009.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/125047534635?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649
As soon as I got them I noticed how sticky they were. I thought maybe the seller cleaned them with a cleaner that left a residue that would wear off quickly. I put them on and walked out to my mailbox and back. During the 50 foot walk the soles fell completely apart by time I got back to my porch. I contacted the seller immediately. Only 52 minutes went by from the time of delivery to me contacting the seller. She is accusing me of soaking them in acid or other chemical. She offered no motive. I googled "ecco soles crumbling" and found this page. I sent her the link and now she is accusing me of switching the shoes. She has the original receipt and can't believe that soles would do such a thing, especially from a respectable company like Ecco. She also said she's not responsible for the shoes after they leave her possession. But I feel that she should have never sold them to begin with. There is no value without soles, especially ones in this bad of condition. I'm not sure what to do. $70 isn't going to make me or break me but I feel I have nothing but trash to show for it. Can I still send them to Ecco? Can I get them resoled?

I bought a pair of boots, loved them, a month later I bought a pair of the track lows. This was about ten years ago, I didn't wear them often, probably a handful of times each year. Last month the soles on each pair fell apart into gooey crumbs. I'm amazed to discover how many people have had this issue over the course of so many years. I'm debating whether it's worth the bother of sending them back or chalk it up to a life lesson. What will Ecco replace them with? Shoes with similar issues?

I just had my 2nd pair of expensive ECCO dress shoes disintegrate on me at a formal event (very embarrassing as pieces just start falling off as I walked). They clearly have a major problem but won't correct it. I don't believe that just 1% fail - that's just BS. I won't be buying any more ECCO shoes.

I have a pair of Ecco loafer type men's shoes with the best quality leather uppers. I can't believe that the quality of the soles came apart as I walked down the aisle at Mass last night. I carefully exited and went home to put on a pair of Johnston and Murphy shoes I has purchased recently. I hope these shoes last longer. These Ecco shoes should last for many years as I don't wear them that often.
If I could have them repaired locally I would certainly have them repaired, but doubt there is a cobbler that would bother even if they could find replacement soles. I would expect a much better quality.
I'm reluctant to go through the packaging and sending process to Ecco.
P.S. they are pricey but I would buy again with a more durable sole.
DaveinAZ

They've had this widespread problem for well over a decade now. Let me just say this, if the soles of your new pair of Ecco shoes can disintegrate, they will disintegrate and disintegrate at the most inopportune time! And you bet they can disintegrate. Hard to believe Ecco continues to churn out shoes with planned obsolescence and they don't even have the decency to put a use-by date on them! Shame!

From all the reads, I’ve picked up one thing ... the shoe gives up at just the worst time possible ... I went camping and hiking with my family and had planned to give my son a great climbing experience in the wadis valleys of the Middle East ... parked got off the car and there ... the soles stayed behind and PU like talcum powder dropped off ... most disappointed ...

We too have stopped buying Ecco shoes. Completely useless ! I buy shoes of good leather quality to last. They are put away clean and dry. It is very noticeable that the Ecco soles collapse but other makes of shoes do not. When it first happened we returned to the Ecco shop in Chichester West Sussex UK but they could give us no information or support. They even said they’d never heard of such a thing occurring !
I now wear Gabor and no longer have the problem.

I bought six pair of ECCO shoes, spread out over a number of years. They all suffered from premature crumbling soles. This more than just a hiccup in their production, and I doubt only 1% of their shoes suffer from this. If so, the odds are astronomical that all six of my shoes were bad.

It's one thing to make a product with planned obsolescence. It's another thing to tell a bold-faced lie.

I have bought numerous pairs of Ecco shoes due to their reputation of being great shoes. That was when I purchased the shoes. shortly after my purchases, one of the pairs sole disintegrated. I contacted Ecco with no luck. I have a pair that the sole has gotten sticky. I carried the shoes to a shoe shop to see about the sole. They told me that there was nothing they could do and that the soles would eventually disintegrate.
This is two pair of Ecco shoes, which are expensive, that I have lost, not only shoes but money I spent to purchase them.
Where do I go from here?
William Vaughn
bvwalk162@gmail.com
[protected]
3346 Berryside Drive, Murfreesboro, tn. 37128

In less than 2 years, with light use, my husband's ecco shoe soles fell apart in his showroom at a gift show! Pieces of his heels were breaking off as he walked around! He walked In the door last night fuming! I honestly don't know how he was even able to walk. An associate proclaimed that they must be Ecco, since he had heard if this happening. On the web, I am reading reports from people all the way back from 2010! How has the company not recalled these defective shoes? They are sending me a postage paid bag to send them back, and will send a voucher for a new pair. They're making it easy, and are trying to avoid the bad press, but it would be more respectable if they would admit fault!

Hi. I bought ECCO Exostrike Dyneema shoes. I don't know how long this Shoe model will last. Does anyone have these shoes? how do you like the quality of these shoes?

Wore my black leather ECCO slip-ons to a funeral today and the soles of the shoes started falling apart. It's like they were on a timer to fall apart or something because I wore them a month ago and nothing happened. The leather tops and inside are in perfect condition, I'd really like to get them resoled if it's possible. Some of the chunks that fell off are all the way to the white insides with the insole taken out. Really embarrassing that this happened and I really loved these shoes, cost over $200 when I got them.

Ecco tracks are having the same problem. The soles on two pair have denigrated or cracked. I'll phone [protected] and see what results I get.

I bought a pair of Ecco boots (ankle) and after only half a dozens wears the heels of one have totally disintegrated.
What’s is happening here, your shoes/boots I’ve bought for years without any problems?
Without any feedback regarding this problem then these will be my final pair from your company.
To add insult to injury the boots cost a small fortune as well! Not impressed at all.

My husband loved the feel of ecco shoes and bought 3 pairs, lace uus one black and one brown and a slip on black at Nordstrom paying full price. All 3 met the same fate. The soles simply fell apart with small pieces coming off. It is appalling, these reputable shoes have suck poor quality soles. He just got annoyed when it happened to his first pair worn fairly new attending an important meeting and had to buy a pair of dress shoes available in town to finish his work. The other 2 just stayed in boxes and soles broke apart in pieces. Interestingly I came across this site and thought I should submit a compaint.

My husband loved the shoes and bought 3 pairs, lace uus one black and one brown and a slip on black at Nordstrom paying full price. All 3 met the same fate. The soles simply fell apart with small pieces coming off. It is appalling, these reputable shoes have suck poor quality soles. He just got annoyed when it happened to his first pair worn fairly new attending an important meeting and had to buy a pair of dress shoes available in town to finish his work. The other 2 just stayed in boxes and soles broke apart in pieces. Interestingly I came across this site and thought I should submit a compaint.

Alas! I join this crowd of very unhappy ECCO shoe customers. I had a wonderful pair years ago that lasted a very long time. Now, within 2 days both my brown leather pair and my black leather pair ( same style which I purchased at very near the same time about 4 years ago) have soles which disintegrated in black crud, soiling our carpet and leaving a trail through our home. I'm just waiting for my current third pair to do the same. Come on, ECCO, you should do better than this!

Same problem as others, leather sandles, crap soles, disintegrating due to oxidation of the material. I think I'll just 'bin em & forget em '
As it sounds like a long haul to satisfaction. :(

I have had the same problem with crumbling shoe soles starting a about 3 years ago. I hadn't worn some of the shoes in a long time and one pair was bought on sale and never worn. What a stick mess. Some of the shoes crumbled and got sticky but others just got sort of a flat tire. I also thought maybe it was an isolated situation where I was somehow storing them improperly. I will count up my many pairs of shoes and give the customer service 800 number a call. I too have stopped buying Ecco shoes which I used to love and were so comfortable.

What was the email address you sent the complaint to? i have just had the same happen to me in the Hairdressers!
i went online and saw all the complaints! This has been happening for years, so how does a big company like this still getting away with it?!

Here in Australia in July 2010 I bought 3 pairs of Ecco shoes at the same visit, all for different weekend purposes: a casual all leather winter sneaker-style, a lightweight suede bowling-style, and a heavier walking shoe with Gortex for wet weather. They were the latest designs so not on sale - and Ecco shoes are not cheap (unless you're used to buying Manolo Blaniks of course). Given I only wore these Ecco shoes on weekends I expected the soles would take time to wear out (eventually, you know, like running shoes do - with wear), not go squishy underfoot and crumble to nothing. All three pairs disintegrated at the same time this year - talk about having a used-by-date! Yes, I had them for 7 years but they were hardly worn and the wardrobe saw them more than my feet. All leather shoes don't disintegrate in the wardrobe! True to form the Gortex upper lasted, as you'd expect...but not Ecco's crappy purpose-built, self-destruct sole. I'm now in the market for replacements and intended visiting an Ecco store this weekend, but given the comments here I won't bother. Thanks to everyone for saving me money and time. Ecco is trashing the name of Danish design - send a complaint to Fred and Mary, who promote their country's design credentials.

Same story with my three ecco dress shoes.beautiful shoes but heels come off n all.when shoes were made in Denmark no such problem but now they are poorly made.what a shame

Same sad tale. My Eccos were comfortable, good looking and the soles came completely unstuck from the uppers. I'm pretty sure I could remedy the situation with duct tape, but then my wife would never be seen with me again. I'm old: my shoes never wear out. My closet is packed with shoes of great antiquity whose soles are still attached to the uppers. On the bright side, $140 is pretty cheap tuition, right? Now I know.

CAUTION: Be careful about taking advantage of EccoUSA's policy of checking your shoes for defects/problems. They will provide you with a free mailer to send your shoes to them for inspection. I did this with my favorite pair of shoes with a note that I wanted them sent back to me since they were in very good condition except for a small sole issue. Instead, they sent me a gift card and destroyed my favorite shoes. They refused to return my shoes. I even wrote to their global headquarters, but received no answer. I wanted them to return my shoes as I had indicated in the note that accompanied my shoes to them or to have them make me a new pair. No response from global headquarters. This was a terrible experience for me with ECCO.

Why can't ECCO just reformulate their soles? I have a pair of 30 year old Doc Martens that will outlive me. These are not shoes you buy at Walmart. ECCOs are supposedly a premium level shoe. It's too bad that there appears to be a built-in self destruct mechanism in these shoes. I'm done with ECCO and moving on to other brands.

I've had three pairs of Ecco's fall apart---mostly sport shoes. While I appreciate having the 800 customer service #...I'm DONE with Ecco. How in the world can a brand with such a well-earned reputation allow this to happen--let alone not seem to care? Bye bye Ecco.

Same experience - called 800 No. - super service - now waiting for mailing bag. Thanks for the tip!

Called customer service at [protected] due to similar described problems. On other sites several postings said that ECCO was not responding to complaints. So I guess something has changed. The representative I spoke with took ownership of the problem. After a brief description of the heal disintegrating the ECCO rep assured me that the defect was theirs to correct.

As noted by Steve in Baltimore, it may help to remain respectful when there is a grievance. Fight the unacceptable standards without losing principles. Win or lose you don't want to feel jaded by the experience. However, I don't think my attitude made much difference here. Clearly, something must have changed or Steve, Tony and I just happened to get the same nice ECCO representative.

I had almost the exact same experience as Steven in Baltimore. My shoes were a few years old, but they are dress shoes and I hardly ever wear them. They fell apart Dec 2015, and now I have some brand new shoes that didn't cost me a penny. Thank you Ecco for standing behind your product.

I had a pair of ECCO shoes made in Denmark that disintegrated at Thanksgiving dinner in 2015. I contacted ECCO in the US at [protected] on November 30th and explained the situation. They sent me a postage paid bag to ship the shoes to NuShoe for evaluation. On December 16th I received an email from NuShoe stating that they were forwarding their evaluation to ECCO and giving a 4 to 6 week processing. On December 27th I received a letter from ECCO agreeing to replace the shoes. They enclosed a gift card for one pair of shoes, not to exceed $150. The card had to be used at their online web store where I found a very nice pair that were on sale at $149.99, marked down from $200.

It probably helped that the shoes had very little wear as I don't have many occasions to wear black dress shoes. I also sent a nice letter along with the claim form.

I am satisfied with the response from ECCO and will continue to buy their shoes.