Heel protectors...help?? [Archive]

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blu

07-31-2007, 10:12 PM

anp73ga31

07-31-2007, 10:39 PM

So...I bought a new pair of latin shoes (yay!)...and I'm trying to get the heel protectors on...and it just won't happen. Is there a trick I'm missing?? It's a 2.5" heel with a heel protector designed for a 2.5" heel (supposedly).

Help? I'm afraid I'm gonna break the shoe... :confused:

Edit:

Okaaay, so the original heel comes off first? Or did I just break my shoe? Haha. If the heel is supposed to come off...which is better, putting on the heel protector or just leaving on the original heels?

Thank you!

I'm assuming you mean the plastic heel protectors. If that is the case, the original heel is supposed to stay on. I used to have a really hard time with a set of heel protectors on my latin shoes that were also 2.5. This will sound silly but it helped to breathe on it a little to warm it up, and also to try to stretch it with your fingers. Other than that its just trying again and again to walk it on, side by side. Luckily for me, my current set of heel protectors go on easy. I actually think its because I had the heels redone(I had worn them down dancing before I got protectors) and the guy who did it made them a hair smaller than the original heels. But it sounds like you will have to get a shoe person to fix your heel...I have standard shoes too and the heels always stay on as far as I know...

blu

07-31-2007, 10:47 PM

I'm assuming you mean the plastic heel protectors. If that is the case, the original heel is supposed to stay on. I used to have a really hard time with a set of heel protectors on my latin shoes that were also 2.5. This will sound silly but it helped to breathe on it a little to warm it up, and also to try to stretch it with your fingers. Other than that its just trying again and again to walk it on, side by side. Luckily for me, my current set of heel protectors go on easy. I actually think its because I had the heels redone(I had worn them down dancing before I got protectors) and the guy who did it made them a hair smaller than the original heels. But it sounds like you will have to get a shoe person to fix your heel...I have standard shoes too and the heels always stay on as far as I know...

:( Dang. Oh well...I'm sure It'll be okay, the heel just pops right back in...

latingal

08-01-2007, 12:02 AM

Welcome to DF blu.

The flare heel protectors are the hardest to get on. I normally warm the plastic with my fingers and then use a flat nail file to lever the second edge of the protector over the edge of the heel (being careful not scrape the heel with the rough edge).

blu

08-01-2007, 12:46 AM

Joe

08-01-2007, 06:39 AM

Flare or slim?

lil glam gal

08-01-2007, 06:57 AM

why can't they just heel protectors already stretchy so you can put them on easy lol

fascination

08-01-2007, 07:09 AM

b/c they would come off when dancing

lil glam gal

08-01-2007, 07:41 AM

oh so thats why they have to be stiff :)

Josh

08-01-2007, 10:15 AM

So, if it looks like it just won't fit, perhaps it's a heel protector for a different style of 2.5" heel...

blu

08-03-2007, 09:51 PM

Joe - they are flare heels.

haha, lil_glam_girl, that's exactly what I was thinking...

Josh...I dunno, I bought the ones that were supposed to fit... (I guess that doesn't mean much though) :)

Regardless, they are on the shoes now...but they keep sliding off. I think I tend to walk on the outer part of my foot...as my heels are always worn down on only one side, haha. Which makes for some serious balance issues, I think...

Thanks for all the answers. :)

sewbusy

08-04-2007, 07:39 PM

Almost every shoe company has heel protectors that just fit their heel styles. I know all flare heels look the same, but they aren't If it won't go on, don't force it. You need to match brand and heel style to the protector. (Or take your shoes with you to a vendor at a comp. and he/she can fit one to it) Best of all, the company you bought the shoe from can give you the product code of the protector that will fit your shoe.
And just for free, I always glue a piece of leather to the bottom of the heel protector. Makes those heel leads in smooth, uh, smooth. Some even come that way, now.

elle

08-05-2007, 05:08 AM

Instead of warming with fingers, it's possible just to put the heel protectors in warm (or pretty hot) water. Maybe I am not saying anything new, but just in case...

elisedance

08-05-2007, 05:30 AM

elle - thats what I do, go to the washroom and leave them in as hot water as i can get.

However, I have definitely had two different kinds (actually I have both right now) - a hard one (that lasts a bit longer and is H*** to get on the heel without warming) and a soft one which is quite easy to get on at room temperature, although it still needs some coaxing. I think this one comes from Supadance but am not sure.

so if anyone is reading this and wondering what all the bruhaha is about - you probably have the soft kind

One more thing: some heels simply do no fit. My chinese shoes heels are too large and needed a piece of suede glued on. Once I figured this out I put the heel protector people out of business (they are rediculously expensive). These suede pieces last for ever just about and when they do need changing (usually because they came off practicing on carpet) I just cut out a new pair from a piece of sole suede that I keep in the bag. By the way, mine are standard shoes.

samina

08-05-2007, 06:11 AM

elise -- when you glue your suede on, in what shape do you cut it?

elisedance

08-05-2007, 09:15 AM

elise -- when you glue your suede on, in what shape do you cut it?

I cut it exactly the same shape as the heel - but with about a mm overhang on the back and sides. That makes it last longer and protects the underlying rubber heel - I have not tried this yet on flare or (harder still) slim heels yet but I surely must - just need some new shoes first :)

black_light

08-30-2007, 05:05 AM

I bought new shoes, with the hard kind heel protectors. I put them on, eventually.
Now, after a few practices, I took a look at the heel, and saw that the heel tip (the plastic one, that is actually a part of the heel) is loosen, so it goes out and back into the heel pretty easily. I can't take it out completely because of the heel protector. To take the heel protector off I'll probably need to cut it. (and that's the only pair I got.)
What do you think, should I keep dancing with a loosen heel tip, or cut the heel protector and glue the tip back? (or maybe replace it with a new tip?) Is dancing with a loosen heel tip can damage the heel?

Thanx,
BL

Joe

08-30-2007, 06:18 AM

waltz
tango
foxtrot
?

fascination

08-30-2007, 06:23 AM

cut the heel protector off...they are cheap and easily replaced...get the actual plastic heel part repaired...any cobbler can do that if you can't do it yourself with glue....

fascination

08-30-2007, 06:23 AM

waltz
tango
foxtrot
?VW, QS:rolleyes:

black_light

08-30-2007, 08:16 AM

waltz
tango
foxtrot
?

actually, latin. ;)

Laura

08-30-2007, 09:42 AM

Is dancing with a loosen heel tip can damage the heel?
I had a pair of Standard shoes that had this problem. Eventually the heel top broke off inside the heel protector, and the heel protector (with tip inside) would no longer stay on the shoe. So, I need to take this pair to a shoe repair place to get new heel tips installed (this will cost me about $8, so it's not a disaster).

black_light

08-30-2007, 11:08 AM

After a long struggle, I took the heel protector off, and the tip out of it. I glued it back, hopefully it will last.
The reason I was unsure about the glue was that at the vendor's website it said that if the tip falls down, you should put a new one and not to use the old one again. Do you have an idea why? :confused:

fascination

08-30-2007, 11:38 AM

likely b/c it is only temporary solution, the duration and timing of which can't be determined