I just received my first pair of Gaynor Minden pointe shoes in the mail a few days ago and sewed the ribbons and elastic on. I have not danced or worked in them much yet except to test them out. The fit is great and I don't need padding in these except a toe cap and may possibly need some tape where an area is rubbing a little near my little toe! I am surprised at how stiff the shanks are! I got the supple shank. I have very high arches and bendy feet and I tend to roll way over the box in everything but Russian Pointe/R class shoes, so I was surprised at the stiffness in these. It is still very workable but I would not want to go any stiffer in this shoe for myself. I could even go down a stiffness. I like to really articulate my feet through pointe. I do love that I am right over the box in these though! Not too far over and not too pulled back.
I'm so glad you got them and like them! I'm still trying to find a pair of Gaynors that work with me with their new manufacturer (it's been almost a year of trying at this point! lol) But they're a great company. Keep me posted on how you like them!
@@ashleygriffin I just did a video of my feet in Gaynor Minden Europas. Its only been a half hour of playing around in them so far but I am still really liking them. I feel like they have a weird look on my foot though as the box is so straight when I am on pointe or my foot is pointed. It doesn't quite follow the natural line of my foot. But they function and fit very well. I would likely go down to a 3 box in my next ones, possibly a lower vamp but I would need to get fitted in person if I make these changes as I am not confident with the difference in 3 versus 3+ or high versus low vamp. The high vamp works fine for me, its more the aesthetics of it. I knew the 3+ box is similar to Russian Pointe Rubin and Almaz which i am very familiar with so I felt safe choosing that, but I do have slight pain in big toe with this (and did with RP Almaz and Rubin too). I am thinking I need more tapered toe area for my style of foot which compresses a lot in toes and a little in metatarsal when on pointe. For me the supple shank feels a lot like Russian Pointes at that sweet spot so I think that is ok, just bothered by that "straight" look in the box on pointe or with pointed foot. I'm hoping to get feedback from others on my video as sometimes its hard to see things when it's your own foot. I'm not that experienced with pointe shoes/work. I did four years pointe in the mid to late 1980s and the choices then sucked lol. I quit ballet from age 20 until age 45 (now 52). I had to stop pointe for a few years due to shin and problems in right metatarsal (stress reaction but not fracture). Coming back I have been more slow and methodical about it and really trying a variety of pointe shoes that are more supportive than what I started with. I like how soft GM are compared to Russian Pointe which are rock hard and brutal on the feet until they break down and in. Then I get a week in that sweet spot and then bam they are dead lol. I look forward to these lasting a while and love no breaking in!
@@naturebound2901 I'm so glad they're working well for you! Yeah, sometimes it can be tricky to find shoes that both fit well and look good... I'd highly suggest getting a full fitting from a great fitter (Josephine and her team at The Pointe Shop are brilliant!) It makes a huge difference.
I just received my first pair of Gaynor Minden pointe shoes in the mail a few days ago and sewed the ribbons and elastic on. I have not danced or worked in them much yet except to test them out. The fit is great and I don't need padding in these except a toe cap and may possibly need some tape where an area is rubbing a little near my little toe! I am surprised at how stiff the shanks are! I got the supple shank. I have very high arches and bendy feet and I tend to roll way over the box in everything but Russian Pointe/R class shoes, so I was surprised at the stiffness in these. It is still very workable but I would not want to go any stiffer in this shoe for myself. I could even go down a stiffness. I like to really articulate my feet through pointe. I do love that I am right over the box in these though! Not too far over and not too pulled back.
I'm so glad you got them and like them! I'm still trying to find a pair of Gaynors that work with me with their new manufacturer (it's been almost a year of trying at this point! lol) But they're a great company. Keep me posted on how you like them!
@@ashleygriffin Will do! Thanks for the video!
@@naturebound2901 Of course! Can't wait to hear! And feel free to subscribe - more coming :)
@@ashleygriffin I just did a video of my feet in Gaynor Minden Europas. Its only been a half hour of playing around in them so far but I am still really liking them. I feel like they have a weird look on my foot though as the box is so straight when I am on pointe or my foot is pointed. It doesn't quite follow the natural line of my foot. But they function and fit very well. I would likely go down to a 3 box in my next ones, possibly a lower vamp but I would need to get fitted in person if I make these changes as I am not confident with the difference in 3 versus 3+ or high versus low vamp. The high vamp works fine for me, its more the aesthetics of it. I knew the 3+ box is similar to Russian Pointe Rubin and Almaz which i am very familiar with so I felt safe choosing that, but I do have slight pain in big toe with this (and did with RP Almaz and Rubin too). I am thinking I need more tapered toe area for my style of foot which compresses a lot in toes and a little in metatarsal when on pointe. For me the supple shank feels a lot like Russian Pointes at that sweet spot so I think that is ok, just bothered by that "straight" look in the box on pointe or with pointed foot. I'm hoping to get feedback from others on my video as sometimes its hard to see things when it's your own foot. I'm not that experienced with pointe shoes/work. I did four years pointe in the mid to late 1980s and the choices then sucked lol. I quit ballet from age 20 until age 45 (now 52). I had to stop pointe for a few years due to shin and problems in right metatarsal (stress reaction but not fracture). Coming back I have been more slow and methodical about it and really trying a variety of pointe shoes that are more supportive than what I started with. I like how soft GM are compared to Russian Pointe which are rock hard and brutal on the feet until they break down and in. Then I get a week in that sweet spot and then bam they are dead lol. I look forward to these lasting a while and love no breaking in!
@@naturebound2901 I'm so glad they're working well for you! Yeah, sometimes it can be tricky to find shoes that both fit well and look good... I'd highly suggest getting a full fitting from a great fitter (Josephine and her team at The Pointe Shop are brilliant!) It makes a huge difference.