Wonderful advice. Several years ago I started to buy more expensive shoes so that I can have better quality. I quickly learned that these three areas were the most important for me to pay attention to in order for the souls to last longer. Conditioning and polishing was also extremely important. Again, great video.
From the many years of owning high end shoes and wearing them daily, I can vouch for the sole protector. Where I live my cobbler uses Toppy brand, and I have never worn a sole protector out! As for the heel protectors, I would recommend the rubber ones vs the steel ones as the steel ones can make clicking noises while walking on hard surfaces, and can also loose grip when wet.
The latest trick of the shoe industry is to produce shoe soles that look high quality but already after six weeks, the heel of the shoe has worn off at an angle. The cobbler says, oh, no, better you throw these shoes out and buy a pair of new ones.
For the extra sensitive: if you put sole protectors up front, perhaps better to add the same thickness to the heels-- or else the front of the shoe tends to eventually flip up upon use, because the original balance is lost.
I can vouch for sole protectors. I have a pair of Florsheim Imperial Clayton's that NYC cement chewed into post-haste! I took it to a cobbler to get the heels replaced and he recommended Vibram sole guards installed. 10 years later the same sole protectors are on there going strong! While I don't walk around / commute into NYC anymore I still think it was a great investment. My Allen Edmond Cliftons are 1/2 that age w/o protectors and already need the soles replaced.
Really enjoying your channel.. thank you for your work! We had a great Cobbler here in Boulder, but he and the family are now semi-retired. They did a great job. There is another place here but they don't conduct themselves very professionally. Sad that a city of 100,000 people cannot sustain a great craft. Thanks for all you do.. Frank from Boulder, Colorado
I love all these suggestions ... Dosent affect how a person walks .... Provides protection and like he said better traction. Yes I like leather bottom for dress shoes but they stain and slip to easily and for what it's worth no one will even notice the bottom and less chance of slipping especially on certain surfaces. A cheaper way to prolong life of the soles
Several brands which sell high-quality shoes/boots now offer the same pair of them with a dainite sole or their own in-house rubber sole. That is the way forward. Yes, leather soles probably look better on formal shoes like a cap-toe oxford, but once you wear this type of shoe on the street the sole starts to wear out or collects small stones which make it vey annoying.
Great preventions, however, I’ve just found out (thanks to my friendly cobbler), you can very easily replace the toe part of the sole. He took off less then two inches at a sharp angle and glued fresh leather on there at the opposite angle. It’s like a tiny half resole job and was very affordable. And I think it will last long enough for the rest of the sole to wear out, so next time I’ll do a full resole. It’s the same with the heels, like you said in the beginning, you can easily have those top rubber/leather parts replaced (to your taste as well) and for the price, you get the best and most beautiful result and has the most elegant look in my opinion. Thanks for the video and keep up the great work! Ps some brands put brass nails at the toe area, is that pure esthetics or does it prevent wear?
Hello, and thank you for these useful insights on shoe care. I have a practical question. We generally agree that we should not wear the same pair of shoes twice in a row. Is this only referred to two days in a row? For example, if I have a meeting in the morning, let's say from 8:00 to 12:00, and then I get back home and take the shoes off, should I wear the same pair for an evening meeting the same day, or should I wear another pair? Thank you!
Good rubber soles also tend to be thicker, making them look less dressy. Also, I find rubber soles less flexible, making walking a bit less comfortable.
Volker Baaske I prefer leather soles on oxfords and dress shoes. For boots I’m open to either Vibram (mini lug, typically. I’d like to try a wedge sole eventually) soles or leather depending on the style. Rubber and plastic additions make the shoe look and possibly feel cheaper.
Because your shoes can essentially ast forever if you keep putting sole protectors on and the shoes are well made to start with. They'll never wear out.
My big issue with rubber sole savers is that it you like to dance. The rubber prevents you to glide across a nice wood dance floor. The rubber tip will also hinder the glide across the floor.
I do get rubber sole protectors put on my leather soled shoes for all the reasons you mention. But i have noticed that almost every manufacturer advises against this saying it puts unnecessary stress on the shoes construction. I can't say I've had any issues though.
TheDavecroft That’s odd that manufacturers would say that because we’ve NEVER seen any issues with shoes with sole protectors. If anything, they’re usually in better shape than shoes without them. I have them on a few pairs of mine as well, and they’re in great shape.
Back in high school, I was in the army cadets. Our uniform shoes were brown cap toe Oxfords with toe taps and horseshoe shaped heel protectors both in steel. Pros- made a great noise stomping up and down the asphalt on our drills; made great skates on the school verandah. Cons- sometimes you lose traction on the run up to skate , with rather painful results. Then if you're not careful when coming to attention, that heel thing will skive off a strip from your ankle.
I've had plastic and metal guards. Plastic is cheaper, but wears out faster. Also, they seem to get pulled off the shoe more quickly with the first uneven sidewalk that the tip of your shoe gets caught on. The metal guards hold up much longer but they are very noisy, which could be annoying...unless you're a tap dancer [I'd get a few semi-annoyed looks from people when walking down the tile hallway at work]. Plus, they could be a little slippery, depending on the surface. I'd opt for plastic...less expensive and not noisy.
Toe taps seem like a great idea, but I’ve always been concerned they would scratch the wooden floors in my home. So my question is, are toe taps safe for use on nice residential oak flooring?
Respect to the other answer, but if they were my own nice expensive floors, then I'd stay with the rubber ones and try to ensure that any tack heads are recessed. Or just stay with re-heeling occasionally in glued on rubber.
It depends on if the tap gets damaged and has a sharp edge on it. From the factory they look well-rounded and smooth. Perhaps it may be time to switch to a "no outside shoes in the house" rule and get yourself a nice pair of slip-ons for in the house?
My local shoe repair people frustrated me by telling me I would need a full resole in order to have simple toe taps put on. Pure liars. What brand of plastic toe taps do you recommend? Thank you.
As always, great video. One thing I use is metal heel plates as opposed to plastic. That said, they are somewhat noisy and slippery on certain surfaces, but last far longer than plastic. I seemed like I was replacing plastic ones every few months and when I started using metal ones, I haven't replaced them in 2 years. I have 5 pair of work shoes, so am wearing each pair one time a week. I certainly realize that others may have different preferences. Merry Christmas to you and your family in advance.
Great stuff, as always! I’ve also noticed quite a bit of wear on the back heel upper (right side) from all the business travel driving I do. Do you get those wear spots in your shop often? If so, what’s your typical fix? (Dye, cream, wax, etc.). I guess I should wear driving Mocs and change to my regular shoes at my destination (which is the logical fix). But am curious what you do for lazy guys like myself! Thank you.
great video, one question for the length of nails for the heel taps, in case the heel is 20mm high, how long should be the nails? Be 19mm or shorter ? Thank you in advance.
Ok Trenton but if you have to put rubber protector to your leather soles, if is not better to buy the shoes with rubber, or any other sole option instead of leather?.
I have always been putting the plastic protector "cleat" on my heels. Very necessary and I can do it myself. Just purchase them and the suitable nails. Pry off the worn ones and nail in the new ones. I got mine at a cobbler shop in Chicago.
Hi! We may do that in a future videos. Repair prices are definitely one of those things that vary from city to city (cost of living), but we may start referencing a price range, as to what we charge. Thanks!
Trenton & Heath, thank you for such great videos. When my cobbler sent me back my shoes perfectly half-soled (I picked out Vibram Ariel in rich brown), he not only did a fine job on the sole edge and heel dressing, he gave them a finishing touch using hot wax. They are glorious to look at. I would love to learn how to do this. Are you familiar with this technique, and is it something a regular person could learn? I’d love to hear any thoughts you have. Thank you!
The metal heel pieces certainly do. Can make a sounds like the click-clack of ladies high heels 👠 I don't like that sound and would urge anyone to get the rubber ones instead.
I have safety concerns about metal heel taps on leather soles. Do feel having the 1/4 rubber in the corner provides much better traction on wet surfaces while retaining the look of a (mostly) leather sole
I think the cover that protect the shoe when walk out in dirty street that can be removed or dispose after got home bigger market than shoe market and save a good shoe longer paper coat rubber is best
One needs wear the brand new shoes for at least month bfr adding rubber protection pads. Brand new shoes need time to adjust itself to the feet & get its own shape, some mfr even don't advise installing ones.
ker der I’m not so sure about that. I’ve put SP’s on many, many new shoes, including several of my own, and we’ve never had anyone come back complaining. When a shoe breaks in, it’s generally the uppers and the cork/insole; not so much the bottom of the soles. I’ve heard that about manufacturers. That one baffles me because, as someone who has worked on thousands of shoes from cheap to super expensive, I don’t see the reason.
The heel of my fav pair of shoes is wearing down. But I bought them for $10 and was surprised when they lasted longer than the interview I bought them for, so unless I start getting real crafty with some felt, I'm not sure I can do much without exceeding the shoes' value haha.
@@willisix2554 exactly. I spent the same value of my shoes on repairing them. At first i was should i not just buy new. Best thing i did was get them repaired they are better than when i bought them
If using a sole protector and metal toe tap is there still the need to route out space for the tap? Basically shaping the toe area of the sole protector around the toe tap. New to leather soles.
Thanks for the video! I’ve had the Vibran half soles and they made my shoe stiff and less flexible to the point that I have lots of heel slip. Maybe they were too thick? Are there sole protectors more flexible than those?
Oh definitely! The Vibram half soles are exactly that…soles. Sole protectors are very, very thin pieces of rubber that protect the soles you currently have on the shoes. You usually won’t even know they’re there.
@@TrentonHeath Appreciate the quick reply. Totally makes sense, as they are around 3mm thick. My cobbler went gung go! Now I know to ask for the thinner material. Have you ever used thin sole protector material for a toe saver?
Are you able to resole Clark's chukka boots that have the original rubber style sole? Are does buying a rubber style sole mean its toast once the sole wears down?
All my shoes (Birkenstock or ugg brand) wear out within 3 months or less on the outside mostly heel / side area. I’ve had them all resoled so many times. How can I keep them from wearing down on the outside soles since I walk on the sides of my feet more from previous broken foot injury.
Do sole protectors/toe taps make the shoes more difficult to walk in? My husband is concerned this may be the case. He's a size 12 and being big & tall he wears through soles so fast!
No because the tap serves the same purpose as the protector. Plus the glue won't stick. I guess you could put on a sole protector and then put the toe tap on top of the sole protector...not the other way around.
Do you tend to countersink the holes on the Lulu plates? Getting the right size screws with the right head profile is difficult and my local cobbled uses a larger screw that fills the hole, but leaves the heads proud to the point where he has to grind down to flush them up. Have seen some other cobbled intentionally enlarge the countersink to prevent this.
Many years ago I took in a pair of shoes in to have heel protectors put on . The cobbler basically cut out a piece of the heel block and inserted a piece of metal. I wasn't pleased because I sounded like a tap dancer when I walked . Was this an old school approach for heel protection and do any cobblers still do this today ? Love your videos BTW.
Once I’ve put the plastic toe taps ,can I take them off an put the metal ones?will the holes from the nails be a problem when putting the metal ones ? I have Allen Edmonds shoes with plastic toe taps but am thinking on replacing them with metal ones. Thankyou for your time .
Do the quality sole-savers come in any fun colors? FYI , I'm glad I watched this video. Now in my search for a shoe to fit my weird feet I know they can be upgraded to have rubber so I don't need to get rubber from the factory.
Go for rubber protectors, folks, because if your shoes are made for walking and your typical daily promenade isn't limited to home-automobile-office, you will notice wear rather soon, especially if you're a big guy and walk on abrasive surfaces. The metal inserts though being wear resistant will make you sound like a horse on a concrete. Also, check out wear patterns of your shoes for overpronation (foot rolls inward) or suppination (foot rolls outward) and consult a doctor for getting ortholics if needed.
Hi. Do these heel protection make the shoe sound like tap dancing? Lol. Also, I was told by a few people that an extra rubber sole protector on a leather sole may throw out the balance of the shoe, and perhaps also ruin the pure leather look. What is your opinion?
I have a shoe question about non-leather soled shoes. I never buy them because I think they are impossible to repair. Is this true? For example: the bottega veneta lugg boots, .... once those wear down can you ever fix them?
I love your videos. I only recently discovered your RUclips channel and in just a month and a half, you have increased my knowledge of shoe care tenfold.
I assume you’re referring to metal heel taps instead of the plastic ones? Yes, you can definitely use those too in order to prevent your top lifts/heel pads from wearing down faster. They’re louder than the plastic ones, but they last longer.
One reason people wear out shoes unevenly is due to spinal and muscular imbalances. As a chiropractor I check these imbalances on all patients. A good orthotic may be helpful for some people too.
Does anyone know what the name of the glue is used by cobblers to attach taps to the heel? I walk quite a bit and need to do this myself. If yes please share. Thanks
I have a question re lug-soled shoes + boots: Are there any preventive measures I can take to keep their soles in top shape? Does anyone make a toe guard for lug soles? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thx!
Usually the more layers of leather between your foot and the ground, the better feeling the shoe. The sole is just one more layer after the insole and midsole, which ideally should be leather and usually is on leather sole shoes.
I avoid leather soles like the PLAGUE. That said, I found a pair of cowboy boots that I had to have and they have leather soles. Looks like it's time to get this done...
I feel like I'm missing something. You pay extra money to have leather soles, and then you stick bits of hard plastic or cheap rubber on the bottom to protect them. So, you can't see or feel the leather sole, so what is the idea? I'm missing something right? (Though cutting the toe leather off to insert something to protect the toe leather from wearing down, that's not me missing something. That's something else. )
The hard plastic and metal are in areas that don't flex, so a person shouldn't feel a difference. It's not "cheap rubber", it's use-specific quality rubber. The shoes still have the flex and feel of the leather sole, just with added traction. It is also an enabler for those who don't have as much disposable income to be able to wear proper fitting quality shoes for everyday use without compromise, increasing their quality of life and ensuring foot health If a person is trying to show off his leather soled shoes, he wouldn't wear them in a low-traction environment without galoshes. Hopefully that info helped
@@corpsiecorpsie_the_original Thanks for the response. I'm honestly not a troll, I'm genuinely curious. I still feel I'm missing something. Are these custom made shoes that have to be made with leather soles, so the sole protectors are needed to make them practical? I think I'm struggling to understand why they're not made with rubber soles with reenforced heels and toes to begin with. Is the leather sole supposed to be covered up by design? Is the analogy more like putting a pillowcase on a pillow rather than shrink-wrapping a new sofa?
Does using the tacks on the toe and heel protectors damage the shoe in any way? I bought the same guard plastic ones and the tacks that came with it seem quite long-- I don't know if it's alright for the tacks to go into the welt.
@@TrentonHeath Follow-up question 2 years later! What size tacks do you guys use for the plastic toe taps? I have some 1/2" ones but they seem like they're too long and will come out the other side
interesting video. Are there any particular recommendations for areas of high wet weather such as PNW? I am always a little worries about too much rain and wet walking around in nice leather shoes and frankly i dont really sport particularly nice shoes specifically as i am nervous they wont do well in the local climate.
Great to see people looking after things rather than throw away buy new.
Wonderful advice. Several years ago I started to buy more expensive shoes so that I can have better quality. I quickly learned that these three areas were the most important for me to pay attention to in order for the souls to last longer. Conditioning and polishing was also extremely important. Again, great video.
From the many years of owning high end shoes and wearing them daily, I can vouch for the sole protector. Where I live my cobbler uses Toppy brand, and I have never worn a sole protector out! As for the heel protectors, I would recommend the rubber ones vs the steel ones as the steel ones can make clicking noises while walking on hard surfaces, and can also loose grip when wet.
huntebj Definitely agree! 👍🏻
huntebj lose
Great video! Do they make leather sole protectors ?
The latest trick of the shoe industry is to produce shoe soles that look high quality but already after six weeks, the heel of the shoe has worn off at an angle. The cobbler says, oh, no, better you throw these shoes out and buy a pair of new ones.
I would think that the metal would scrape floors.
For the extra sensitive: if you put sole protectors up front, perhaps better to add the same thickness to the heels-- or else the front of the shoe tends to eventually flip up upon use, because the original balance is lost.
Honestly, if you are new here, these guys are so awesome at answering questions! Just ask!
I can vouch for sole protectors. I have a pair of Florsheim Imperial Clayton's that NYC cement chewed into post-haste! I took it to a cobbler to get the heels replaced and he recommended Vibram sole guards installed. 10 years later the same sole protectors are on there going strong! While I don't walk around / commute into NYC anymore I still think it was a great investment. My Allen Edmond Cliftons are 1/2 that age w/o protectors and already need the soles replaced.
Really enjoying your channel.. thank you for your work! We had a great Cobbler here in Boulder, but he and the family are now semi-retired. They did a great job. There is another place here but they don't conduct themselves very professionally. Sad that a city of 100,000 people cannot sustain a great craft. Thanks for all you do..
Frank from Boulder, Colorado
I love all these suggestions ... Dosent affect how a person walks .... Provides protection and like he said better traction. Yes I like leather bottom for dress shoes but they stain and slip to easily and for what it's worth no one will even notice the bottom and less chance of slipping especially on certain surfaces. A cheaper way to prolong life of the soles
Several brands which sell high-quality shoes/boots now offer the same pair of them with a dainite sole or their own in-house rubber sole. That is the way forward. Yes, leather soles probably look better on formal shoes like a cap-toe oxford, but once you wear this type of shoe on the street the sole starts to wear out or collects small stones which make it vey annoying.
Great preventions, however, I’ve just found out (thanks to my friendly cobbler), you can very easily replace the toe part of the sole. He took off less then two inches at a sharp angle and glued fresh leather on there at the opposite angle. It’s like a tiny half resole job and was very affordable. And I think it will last long enough for the rest of the sole to wear out, so next time I’ll do a full resole. It’s the same with the heels, like you said in the beginning, you can easily have those top rubber/leather parts replaced (to your taste as well) and for the price, you get the best and most beautiful result and has the most elegant look in my opinion. Thanks for the video and keep up the great work! Ps some brands put brass nails at the toe area, is that pure esthetics or does it prevent wear?
So you’re saying no need for either toe or heel protection?
Now this video will save me some money 💰 never tough about that , thanks , im getting it done today!
Hello, and thank you for these useful insights on shoe care. I have a practical question. We generally agree that we should not wear the same pair of shoes twice in a row. Is this only referred to two days in a row? For example, if I have a meeting in the morning, let's say from 8:00 to 12:00, and then I get back home and take the shoes off, should I wear the same pair for an evening meeting the same day, or should I wear another pair? Thank you!
What's the point of purchasing shoes with leather soles, when they have to be "enhanced" with rubber and plastic?
Leather molds better to the foot. A thin sole protector gives the best of both worlds. Some folks love them and some hate them.
Most quality shoes are made just with leather soles.
Good rubber soles also tend to be thicker, making them look less dressy. Also, I find rubber soles less flexible, making walking a bit less comfortable.
Volker Baaske
I prefer leather soles on oxfords and dress shoes. For boots I’m open to either Vibram (mini lug, typically. I’d like to try a wedge sole eventually) soles or leather depending on the style. Rubber and plastic additions make the shoe look and possibly feel cheaper.
Because your shoes can essentially ast forever if you keep putting sole protectors on and the shoes are well made to start with. They'll never wear out.
May i know some options for female heels perse, thanks for sharing this
My big issue with rubber sole savers is that it you like to dance. The rubber prevents you to glide across a nice wood dance floor. The rubber tip will also hinder the glide across the floor.
You and your brother are the best!
I do get rubber sole protectors put on my leather soled shoes for all the reasons you mention. But i have noticed that almost every manufacturer advises against this saying it puts unnecessary stress on the shoes construction. I can't say I've had any issues though.
TheDavecroft That’s odd that manufacturers would say that because we’ve NEVER seen any issues with shoes with sole protectors. If anything, they’re usually in better shape than shoes without them. I have them on a few pairs of mine as well, and they’re in great shape.
TheDavecroft cause you’ll buy less shoes if they last longer.....
Manufacturers don't want their products modified so that in the instance a modification does something bad their product isn't negatively stigmatized.
Could you possibly discuss in one of your videos what can be done if a shoe is severely waterstained?
Richard Nathan Daniels Definitely!
@@TrentonHeath also if you want a pair to work on I'm in Nashville. :) I should call you and discuss my options too.
Richard Nathan Daniels Definitely...any time! We’re always looking for different shoes for our videos. Email us or stop by. 👍🏻
I personally enjoy having heel taps. They don't just protect your heels, but also make noise when you walk... LIKE A BOSS.
Back in high school, I was in the army cadets. Our uniform shoes were brown cap toe Oxfords with toe taps and horseshoe shaped heel protectors both in steel. Pros- made a great noise stomping up and down the asphalt on our drills; made great skates on the school verandah. Cons- sometimes you lose traction on the run up to skate , with rather painful results. Then if you're not careful when coming to attention, that heel thing will skive off a strip from your ankle.
I've had plastic and metal guards. Plastic is cheaper, but wears out faster. Also, they seem to get pulled off the shoe more quickly with the first uneven sidewalk that the tip of your shoe gets caught on. The metal guards hold up much longer but they are very noisy, which could be annoying...unless you're a tap dancer [I'd get a few semi-annoyed looks from people when walking down the tile hallway at work]. Plus, they could be a little slippery, depending on the surface. I'd opt for plastic...less expensive and not noisy.
... unless the noise is added bonus for you (it is for me) :)
Seriously, great video! I wish I know this years ago.
Toe taps seem like a great idea, but I’ve always been concerned they would scratch the wooden floors in my home. So my question is, are toe taps safe for use on nice residential oak flooring?
Used to have toe taps on my military jump boots. Never did any damage to the wooden barrack floors that I noticed.
Respect to the other answer, but if they were my own nice expensive floors, then I'd stay with the rubber ones and try to ensure that any tack heads are recessed. Or just stay with re-heeling occasionally in glued on rubber.
It depends on if the tap gets damaged and has a sharp edge on it. From the factory they look well-rounded and smooth.
Perhaps it may be time to switch to a "no outside shoes in the house" rule and get yourself a nice pair of slip-ons for in the house?
very helpful, thank you! now i know what to ask for when I go to my shoemaker
Enjoy taking in the information provided. Thank you 🙏🏼
can you over condition or over polish a shoe? say you put on a layer of Saphir cream every two weeks or so, is that too much?
My local shoe repair people frustrated me by telling me I would need a full resole in order to have simple toe taps put on. Pure liars. What brand of plastic toe taps do you recommend? Thank you.
Traveler & Guard are two widely available options.
How much for the heel guards ?
I buy them on eBay or Amazon.
Wish I had known this when the soles on my Georgia boots separated, I tossed them and they fit so good. 😢
As always, great video. One thing I use is metal heel plates as opposed to plastic. That said, they are somewhat noisy and slippery on certain surfaces, but last far longer than plastic. I seemed like I was replacing plastic ones every few months and when I started using metal ones, I haven't replaced them in 2 years. I have 5 pair of work shoes, so am wearing each pair one time a week. I certainly realize that others may have different preferences. Merry Christmas to you and your family in advance.
Where do I get those sole and heel protectors? Thanks
What about metal heel taps/guards over heel pad?
Great stuff, as always! I’ve also noticed quite a bit of wear on the back heel upper (right side) from all the business travel driving I do. Do you get those wear spots in your shop often? If so, what’s your typical fix? (Dye, cream, wax, etc.). I guess I should wear driving Mocs and change to my regular shoes at my destination (which is the logical fix). But am curious what you do for lazy guys like myself! Thank you.
I love you guy's! Can you do a video with ugg boots ,restore and prevent. Please.
great video, one question for the length of nails for the heel taps, in case the heel is 20mm high, how long should be the nails? Be 19mm or shorter ? Thank you in advance.
Ok Trenton but if you have to put rubber protector to your leather soles, if is not better to buy the shoes with rubber, or any other sole option instead of leather?.
I have always been putting the plastic protector "cleat" on my heels. Very necessary and I can do it myself. Just purchase them and the suitable nails. Pry off the worn ones and nail in the new ones. I got mine at a cobbler shop in Chicago.
Can you talk about your pricing for various repairs that you've received in your videos? @Kavalier 😀
Hi! We may do that in a future videos. Repair prices are definitely one of those things that vary from city to city (cost of living), but we may start referencing a price range, as to what we charge. Thanks!
Sean Hames a
@@TrentonHeath that is a double butyl sole that shoe has, isn't that too oily for the sole protector to adhere to properly?
Thank YOU!!
Should I use Saphir Reptan to polish my Ostrich shoes?
Doesn't the heel tap create an uneven heel to step on?
I think the 1st mm wears of much faster then the 5th and so on.
Do these plates damage hard wood floors? I have some on some boots I want to start wearing to line dance, but I don't want to ruin hard wood floors 😮
Can we use those protectors on dress shoes that have rubber soles, specifically at the heel ?
Bernard Tan Yes, they can also be applied to rubber soles. Your shoe cobbler will need to use threaded nails in order to attach them.
@@TrentonHeath Ok thanks I hope our shoe repair guys here in Phililppines have them.
Trenton & Heath, thank you for such great videos. When my cobbler sent me back my shoes perfectly half-soled (I picked out Vibram Ariel in rich brown), he not only did a fine job on the sole edge and heel dressing, he gave them a finishing touch using hot wax. They are glorious to look at. I would love to learn how to do this. Are you familiar with this technique, and is it something a regular person could learn? I’d love to hear any thoughts you have. Thank you!
Do the metal toe pieces make a sound when walking on wood flooring and other indoor hard surfaces?
The metal heel pieces certainly do. Can make a sounds like the click-clack of ladies high heels 👠
I don't like that sound and would urge anyone to get the rubber ones instead.
I have safety concerns about metal heel taps on leather soles. Do feel having the 1/4 rubber in the corner provides much better traction on wet surfaces while retaining the look of a (mostly) leather sole
I think the cover that protect the shoe when walk out in dirty street that can be removed or dispose after got home bigger market than shoe market and save a good shoe longer paper coat rubber is best
To start I Love your videos but I do have one question. Do the plastic toe plates change the way you walk?
One needs wear the brand new shoes for at least month bfr adding rubber protection pads. Brand new shoes need time to adjust itself to the feet & get its own shape, some mfr even don't advise installing ones.
ker der I’m not so sure about that. I’ve put SP’s on many, many new shoes, including several of my own, and we’ve never had anyone come back complaining. When a shoe breaks in, it’s generally the uppers and the cork/insole; not so much the bottom of the soles. I’ve heard that about manufacturers. That one baffles me because, as someone who has worked on thousands of shoes from cheap to super expensive, I don’t see the reason.
Hmmm...shoe manufacturers don't want you to use these? I wonder why ;-)
The heel of my fav pair of shoes is wearing down. But I bought them for $10 and was surprised when they lasted longer than the interview I bought them for, so unless I start getting real crafty with some felt, I'm not sure I can do much without exceeding the shoes' value haha.
Actually the value of a shoe, is how much you value it, so if you like it fix it and wear it what's the problem?
@@willisix2554 exactly. I spent the same value of my shoes on repairing them. At first i was should i not just buy new. Best thing i did was get them repaired they are better than when i bought them
Can you get brass toe caps ?
Lee Davis Yes, you can get Lulu’s and Triumph’s, which are two higher end brands of toe taps. Triumph’s are brass coated.
When would one prefer a metal toe protector? When is it desirable to use a hard rubber protector?
Random question... is there a way to take the shine off a black cowboy boot ( as they seem to all have it) off without ruining the leather?
Great video as always guys! Will there be a video showcasing the install if LuLu toe taps? 😀
what's the point of protectors if you have to tack drive them into the sole
Surprised & glad to see the Vibram leather-coloured protector. That would be my choice.
In theory, home many times can you apply sole protectors to the same stitched leathersole?
Numerous times
@@TrentonHeath that's why I prefer this approach for as much as possible instead of changing the leather sole, which I don't like
Does putting on the toe plates ruin sole? Can you resole them after the toe plates wear out?
Great video 👌. Who says one cannot learn something new everyday 😊.
If using a sole protector and metal toe tap is there still the need to route out space for the tap? Basically shaping the toe area of the sole protector around the toe tap. New to leather soles.
Do you not use metal heel protectors? They're quite common in Britain.
Thanks for the video! I’ve had the Vibran half soles and they made my shoe stiff and less flexible to the point that I have lots of heel slip. Maybe they were too thick? Are there sole protectors more flexible than those?
Oh definitely! The Vibram half soles are exactly that…soles. Sole protectors are very, very thin pieces of rubber that protect the soles you currently have on the shoes. You usually won’t even know they’re there.
@@TrentonHeath Appreciate the quick reply. Totally makes sense, as they are around 3mm thick. My cobbler went gung go! Now I know to ask for the thinner material.
Have you ever used thin sole protector material for a toe saver?
Where i can find those plastic protectors with adhesive?
christianumk3 plus We buy ours in bulk, so I’m not sure, other than perhaps Amazon or at a local cobbler.
@@TrentonHeath thanks
Google, try it it's all the rave....
@@ramaporiver803 - Responding politely would have been better.
Are you able to resole Clark's chukka boots that have the original rubber style sole? Are does buying a rubber style sole mean its toast once the sole wears down?
While I appreciate a cobblers skill, the rubber taps can be purchased on eBay, Amazon, etc, for DIY installation as needed.
All my shoes (Birkenstock or ugg brand) wear out within 3 months or less on the outside mostly heel / side area. I’ve had them all resoled so many times. How can I keep them from wearing down on the outside soles since I walk on the sides of my feet more from previous broken foot injury.
Great info!
Do sole protectors/toe taps make the shoes more difficult to walk in? My husband is concerned this may be the case. He's a size 12 and being big & tall he wears through soles so fast!
Sole protectors make no difference to walking in the shoes. Identical to the leather soles. Toe taps don't either but its a personal preference
Hi, excellent video. What do you recommend to remove polish buildup from the metal buckles? Ty
How to put the sole protector on your shoe?
Does it make sense to install metal toe and heel taps, and then, put the sole protectors over them? is it possible? what are your thoughts?
No because the tap serves the same purpose as the protector. Plus the glue won't stick. I guess you could put on a sole protector and then put the toe tap on top of the sole protector...not the other way around.
Do you tend to countersink the holes on the Lulu plates? Getting the right size screws with the right head profile is difficult and my local cobbled uses a larger screw that fills the hole, but leaves the heads proud to the point where he has to grind down to flush them up. Have seen some other cobbled intentionally enlarge the countersink to prevent this.
Many years ago I took in a pair of shoes in to have heel protectors put on . The cobbler basically cut out a piece of the heel block and inserted a piece of metal. I wasn't pleased because I sounded like a tap dancer when I walked . Was this an old school approach for heel protection and do any cobblers still do this today ? Love your videos BTW.
Once I’ve put the plastic toe taps ,can I take them off an put the metal ones?will the holes from the nails be a problem when putting the metal ones ?
I have Allen Edmonds shoes with plastic toe taps but am thinking on replacing them with metal ones.
Thankyou for your time .
Do the quality sole-savers come in any fun colors?
FYI , I'm glad I watched this video. Now in my search for a shoe to fit my weird feet I know they can be upgraded to have rubber so I don't need to get rubber from the factory.
Go for rubber protectors, folks, because if your shoes are made for walking and your typical daily promenade isn't limited to home-automobile-office, you will notice wear rather soon, especially if you're a big guy and walk on abrasive surfaces. The metal inserts though being wear resistant will make you sound like a horse on a concrete. Also, check out wear patterns of your shoes for overpronation (foot rolls inward) or suppination (foot rolls outward) and consult a doctor for getting ortholics if needed.
Hi. Do these heel protection make the shoe sound like tap dancing? Lol.
Also, I was told by a few people that an extra rubber sole protector on a leather sole may throw out the balance of the shoe, and perhaps also ruin the pure leather look. What is your opinion?
Ahhhhh......no, and no
Are those AE Leeds?
Anon Ymous Yes, it was a pair a customer brought in.
I have a shoe question about non-leather soled shoes. I never buy them because I think they are impossible to repair. Is this true? For example: the bottega veneta lugg boots, .... once those wear down can you ever fix them?
I love your videos. I only recently discovered your RUclips channel and in just a month and a half, you have increased my knowledge of shoe care tenfold.
Same here
Anyone know if you can use all 3 simultaneously
THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATIVE VIDEOS.
BY THE WAY IS IT FUNCTIONAL TO PUT METALIC HEEL PROTECTORS THANK YOU.
Now I know that I know very little about shoe maintenance 😂
What about metal top lifts?
I assume you’re referring to metal heel taps instead of the plastic ones? Yes, you can definitely use those too in order to prevent your top lifts/heel pads from wearing down faster. They’re louder than the plastic ones, but they last longer.
One reason people wear out shoes unevenly is due to spinal and muscular imbalances. As a chiropractor I check these imbalances on all patients. A good orthotic may be helpful for some people too.
That is a great shirt.
Does anyone know what the name of the glue is used by cobblers to attach taps to the heel? I walk quite a bit and need to do this myself. If yes please share. Thanks
I have a question re lug-soled shoes + boots: Are there any preventive measures I can take to keep their soles in top shape? Does anyone make a toe guard for lug soles? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thx!
Do you repair Edward Green shoes or Gaziano?
Y Liberal We’re repaired quite a few Edward Greens. Haven’t had a chance to work on any G&G’s.
the metal ones also make noise, it used to embarrass me as a kid.
So why buy leather bottom shoes if you are just throwing rubber on?
Usually the more layers of leather between your foot and the ground, the better feeling the shoe. The sole is just one more layer after the insole and midsole, which ideally should be leather and usually is on leather sole shoes.
How many miles do those goodyears last
Jack White If he keeps them rotated, probably good for 50k. 👍🏻
I avoid leather soles like the PLAGUE.
That said, I found a pair of cowboy boots that I had to have and they have leather soles. Looks like it's time to get this done...
I feel like I'm missing something. You pay extra money to have leather soles, and then you stick bits of hard plastic or cheap rubber on the bottom to protect them. So, you can't see or feel the leather sole, so what is the idea? I'm missing something right?
(Though cutting the toe leather off to insert something to protect the toe leather from wearing down, that's not me missing something. That's something else. )
The hard plastic and metal are in areas that don't flex, so a person shouldn't feel a difference.
It's not "cheap rubber", it's use-specific quality rubber. The shoes still have the flex and feel of the leather sole, just with added traction. It is also an enabler for those who don't have as much disposable income to be able to wear proper fitting quality shoes for everyday use without compromise, increasing their quality of life and ensuring foot health
If a person is trying to show off his leather soled shoes, he wouldn't wear them in a low-traction environment without galoshes.
Hopefully that info helped
@@corpsiecorpsie_the_original Thanks for the response. I'm honestly not a troll, I'm genuinely curious. I still feel I'm missing something. Are these custom made shoes that have to be made with leather soles, so the sole protectors are needed to make them practical? I think I'm struggling to understand why they're not made with rubber soles with reenforced heels and toes to begin with. Is the leather sole supposed to be covered up by design? Is the analogy more like putting a pillowcase on a pillow rather than shrink-wrapping a new sofa?
@@seanhannagans - these shoes are not custom made. They're off the shelf ready-to-wear
Does using the tacks on the toe and heel protectors damage the shoe in any way? I bought the same guard plastic ones and the tacks that came with it seem quite long-- I don't know if it's alright for the tacks to go into the welt.
Jeff LiOn Hi! Nope, they won’t hurt them at all. They’re so thin that it won’t do any harm.
@@TrentonHeath Follow-up question 2 years later! What size tacks do you guys use for the plastic toe taps? I have some 1/2" ones but they seem like they're too long and will come out the other side
Can you put all 3 on the same shoe?
Yes
interesting video. Are there any particular recommendations for areas of high wet weather such as PNW? I am always a little worries about too much rain and wet walking around in nice leather shoes and frankly i dont really sport particularly nice shoes specifically as i am nervous they wont do well in the local climate.
Rubber soles would do you good
Thanks for the great info!
What about blakey's.
Barry Barrett We don’t currently carry Blakey’s, but they are a good, reputable brand.
Put sum of the steel heel savers on a pair of my ostrich cowboy boots ouch..clunk clunk .I pulled them off.
is it weird to call those "little plastic things" Toe and heel taps ? i mean they are the same things they use in tap dancing