Years ago, after reading on BF about the possible need for a tire boot, I thought I was pretty clever in cutting some 2" squares from an old tube and carrying them for emergency booting. I did not yet understand that a boot needs to be NON-stretch material.
Well, one day 20 miles from home, I rode through some harmless looking debris in the bike lane, and found a massive chuck of glass that sliced open the sidewall. I replaced the tube, and put my improvised tire boot inside. Upon pumping up the tire, the "boot" bulged out through the cut.
It looked bad, but I did make it home.
I now carry the Park TB-2 boots. A year ago, I had to use one. The cut was so bad I could shove my whole thumb through, and I didn't think a boot would work. But it did!
