This is so funny because when I was a child in the 1970s putting heel and toe guards (“taps”) on your shoes was completely normal. We had like, one pair of shoes, one pair of sneakers, one pair of snow boots, and maybe a pair of flip flops in the summertime. Today that’s what a lot of people buy every month.
School shoes, other shoes, football boots, trainers (sneakers), walking boots - 5 seasons type to also deal with limited snow... ... then once older and working, the school shoes became three pairs of "work" shoes - one of which would be steel soles and toe caps (less need to gyms in those days when carrying a kilo or more per foot) and the trainers split into one trainer and one running and no football boots. Ah, the 70 (the 80s even)... ... I was fifty odd before the first pair of flip-flops... ... 'hot' beach sand and similar required them. Kids of today, just no idea : )))))
@@timbushell8640 I remember when I was about 13 and my parents finally started making a little more money we got “nice” boots and my sister loved hers so much she slept with them.
I would wear shoes until they got holes in them (upper would fail) or the counter would break through and cut into my ankle. I don’t think I’ve ever had soles fail on me
I went to the cobbler every few months to fix my shoes so that he started to recognize me. He started to mock me by saying "buy new shoes, I cant be constantly fixing them" He even told my mom. Then he moved and his wish came true. Now another cobbler sees my shoes every few months.
I cut strips off the sides of old bicycle wheels. They are 1-2 mm thick and reinforced with what appears to be nylon threads. Glue them on, when the glue is dry, trim them. Work fine, very grippy, cost me naught and the tires are upcycled. The amazon ones you bought might last less but they'll work. If they feel too high because of an extra mm, sand them down.
Hi! Wanted to suggest that perhaps a call to a podiatrist/physiotherapist/sports medicine/orthopaedic doctor would be able to provide a different perspective (since the two you called are BOTH chiropractors) so a variety of opinions would definitely help strengthen your case even further!
Agreed also I feel calling chiropractors ‘doctors’ and putting their credentials in such small print is perhaps a little misleading. Otherwise enjoy the content!
You can also use storm sure glue. Which turns into rubber. Turn your shoe upside down (use a jar or something to keep it straight), masking tape the outer edge. Spread the glue so it’s even, leave to set for 24hrs, and fixed! I’ve been doing for years now and it’s a great solution!
Another Canadian here! I always go to the cobbler to fix my shoes. I am pretty sure the non-adhesive one has been used on my shoes before. What my cobbler did was plane the backside to match the missing angle of the shoe. So the heel gaurd looks like a thin wedge from the side. This helps keep my pronation correct. Then he used some other adhesive to stick it on. Hope more Millennials pick up the habit of fixing their things!
I have always overpronated badly and it affected my running so I spent quite a lot of time teaching myself to mid-foot strike when running. It takes effort to do but it is possible. It now comes naturally and as a bonus it also seems to wear my shoes out a lots less. Plus it is also a lot better for your overall musculoskeletal health to not heal strike as this sends the full force of your foot strike all the way up to you hips.
I spent 4 years in high school perfecting my mid-foot strike, really saves the shoes. My bf has a pair from 2013 that he used for running and now just uses for everyday walking.
It does feel odd for a while, but you get used to it if you are consistent. I'm now trying to teach it to my 8yo daughter which is way harder than trying to do it yourself!
As a kid my parents would have as we call them 'seggs' put on the heels of my shoes, on the heel, they were metal and I loved the sound they made, as a teen would put them on myself hammering them on while balancing my shoe on a milk bottle!
Am I the only one who thinks the worries about this impacting health are a little extreme? It looks about 2-3mm tall, much less than many actual heels.
I assume the concerns are based on it not being centred on his heel. It may cause a slight tilt of the foot when walking. But yeah, humans are more resilient than most people give us credit for
Nah if u run with bad shoes u could bust your ankle over time, and as an animal I'm always running lol. I need heel guards so bad because I always trip in my boots.
I am mostly barefoot in nature so I am very glad to have that minimalism aspect of not needing shoes. makes my feet and posture stronger, all my muscles in fact are stronger because of that. I live in the amazon jungle, Ecuador :) Only on occasional rainy time I wear rubber boots when it gets muddy and slippery or if I go into deep jungle or spiky areas.
Amazing, here I México City we have many cobblers that do exactly this and more! You can basically have your shoes fixed for years and years, my dad has done this for ages and I'm starting to do it myself.
I had no idea! Do people use these on running shoes? If I'm running regularly, the same spots (actually near the centre of the shoe) wear out pretty quickly...
I’d be hesitant to recommend that just because if your struck point is the heel and you out the hard plastic on there it will be less grippy. Could be dangerous in that circumstance?
running shoes are the ones I really am not sure are repair-able (there are specific materials designed to support your foot in running and running shoes are meant to be replaced after a certain # of miles. changing the materials probably isn't advisable).
Hi Kurtis, I’d recommend you look for a Vibram cobbling store. Here in Paris, they have a location where they do running shoes specific sole swaps with good vibram outsoles. Perhaps they have such stores over in Canada, or if not, I’m sure you could a sport-oriented equivalent cobbler.
If you can afford it, I would recommend over time taking all your shoes to a cobbler and asking them what they could do to make them last longer! It’s usually not too expensive and they pretty much know how to make any kind of shoe last forever lol
I’ve had trainers resoled entirely (they were really well made leather upper). Feels safer for my knees/ankles/back than patching up overworn soles as the integrity is gone in a bigger way than the heel.
In the past month I have spent less on getting three (3) articles of clothing, two (2) with specialty materials, and the same number of watches repaired to nearly perfect quality for less than $100 by visiting local specialists! The mom and pop repair shop is a wonderful place with wonderful people. I have definitely fallen off of the devour and dump consumer lifestyle thanks to the pandemic.
I always get toe and heel guards installed on my dress shoes, never seen them on vans though. Anyway, if you are concerned about the additional height, a good cobbler will cut out a section of the existing sole when installing them so they are completely flush if you ask them for it.
Oh yay! I have a favorite pair of shoes and was dreading the day they die bc I haven't been able to find the same style. This has made me think about ways I can hold onto them longer. Thanks!
Another option is minimalist shoes with zero drop! Especially the ones like Xero shoes, which are only a millimeter or two thick. It feels to your foot like you’re not wearing shoes at all, so it trains you to walk properly!
Heal and toe guards are often used in dress shoes, there are metal ones that cobblers can put on when resoling resolable shoes. In my instance for sneakers and casual shoes I often wear the uppers out (puncture holes in them) more often than the sole. Edit: the ones I’ve seen for dress shoes have the adhesive to hold it down while the cobbler puts in nails to hold it down better.
I have some advice: I recommend getting a good year welted pair of leather boots. They might be a bit pricey but they can last you for many years. I recommend the brand “Thursday boots” they have great boots for a very affordable price!
Great video as always. Mending is always my first option. I've got a cobbler in my neighborhood and forever I've taken my shoes and bags to mend. Sometimes for a couple of euros I get a bag back to new. Cobblers here in Spain also mend zips, belts and also they stain shoes, bags and so on. I've taken my shoes in last month and had them completely resoled for 19 € the pair, he uses vibram soles so now they're brand new and they will probably last another couple of years in perfect shape. It's also important to take care of them on a daily basis : keep them clean, dry, put them away properly, etc. It makes such a difference. Take care. Keep safe 💚
Have done this in the past on my dress shoes. Mostly because they cost more than my casual shoes and I don't want to be in a situation to get new dress shoes time and time again. Great idea to do this also with casual shoes!!!
I'm always on the lookout for Patagonia stuff second hand now because of your channel and in the past few months I've picked up two patagonia shirts for 3 bucks 😎😎
Cobblers can do a lot for you. I had a pair of steel toe boots and the fabric between my foot and the steel wore through and they were able to put a piece of leather in the toe to make it last longer and more comfortable
Actually, the wear on the bottom of your shoe is an indicator of how your walking is flawed. So if the guard is slightly elevated on the spot that you wear out (obviously no more than 1 or 2 mm) it might compensate your issue.
I was thinking about going to cobblers/tailors in general since I'm starting a new job. I'm disabled but high functioning and want to be more responsible with my purchases. I really love supporting local businesses when I can and this helps on a social-economic level.
Thank you! My gait means I’m constantly wearing out heels on the outside so always opt for dress shoes with a stacked heel where a whole layer can be replaced, but I didn’t know there was an option for sneakers! If anything a freshly replaced heel makes my gait better and more aligned than when its ground off on one side!
Adding shoe goo might help with salvaging the heels of those vans. Skaters use shoe goo on high friction/easily damaged parts of shoes to protect them before they are worn and repair cracks and tears
2:36, dirty shoes on the bed🙈 And why does no one wear sandals in NA😯 Btw my takeaway from this video is that I should continue to walk as bare foot as possible. Inside my home, in my village and on my porch!
@@vtcs1963, even those two months I see most people wear shoes(at least the younger gen). And I see the same in the South too, where it's more than 2 months.
@@Sivah_Akash i guess it depends where you work. I couldn’t wear sandals when I worked in a hospital but now I can wear whatever I want. I wear sandals from the first warm day to the last! But of course I’m not the younger generation. My sons all have and wear sandals though. And flip flops. They love flip flops.
I have so many shoes that have been in my life for over a decade. I recently found a local cobbler in Denver so I think it’s about time these kicks get some love!!
I can confirm that the first time I walked or ran barefoot (forces you to go toes first) my calves went sore. But not anymore. Also, great info from the chiropractors
@@LeahandLevi I would suggest buying (or making) a pair of actual, honest-to-bob single-layer moccasins or get a pair of "barefoot" style shoes like creek wadering "slipper" or such that leave your foot largely uncushioned and much more 'in touch' with the surface you walk on. Your gait will automatically adjust to a midfoot version, because heel striking and other shoe-enabled gait issues are actually far more painful in shoes that more accurately mimic being barefoot. If you've ever tried walking barefoot across gravel you'll know what I'm talking about - the shift from a heel strike to a careful midfoot touchdown is automatic. You can use those to more easily and quickly train your gait, rather than trying to learn in regular shoes without that sensory feedback.
I’ve honestly never seen or heard of the heels of shoes wearing out like that. With my shoes, what usually happens is the top begins to separate from the sole in the front of the shoe. So I use shoe goo and glue them back together (so I can keep my shoes as long as possible).
With vans this happens for most of them with the flat waffle sole. The only thing that differs is the amount of time it takes. I've had them for 5 years before they start looking like that. Others can only make them last a year
Most people pronate. In fact not pronating is so uncommon that when I was studying anatomy my legs were used as the class example of having “normal” legs - most people by the time they get to be in their 20’s or so are knock-kneed because of it. I’m a psychiatrist now and I would never have remembered that except for the fact that I was the class leg model. So consider yourself special! I don’t wear out my shoes in that pattern either and actually neither do my children, which makes me think it’s genetic.
Can you put on these heel guards after your shoes have already worn out some? I feel like that would combat the “off balance” thing because then the guard would basically just fill the gap you’ve already worn out in your shoes...
5:16 Those heel guards are NOT crap bro. I been using them for YEARS. I also use them on my Timberland boots to prevent the heel from uneven wear. And I have no complaints whatsoever. I simply glue them on. They last a long time before they need replacing. I get them from T3mu
i had the same problem with walking and my feed always buckled inwards leading to my shoes being very worn out and broken at on specific point on my shoe. (btw no idea if understand what I want to desribe) Then I got soles with a footbed for my vans and chucks. after adjusting to it, I stopped walking buckled inwards and my shoes are worn out less/ waaaayyy later and my friends and family say that it improved posture/walk. Greetings from Germany.
I recently got some cheap very flexible canvas sneakers at Target on clearance for $12. I always wear the heel corner on my vans and wear the soles down walking a lot so I didn't want to use these new thin sneakers for walking shoes, but my vans fell apart, so I did. The amazing thing is I am not wearing the heel corner down on these thinner shoes because they allow my foot to roll naturally so my foot lays down straighter, they are also not wearing down as quickly as I feared because of the natural foot roll. My feet have had lots of dance and gymnastics training so they are more natural barefoot type feet even though I am older now. But it could be we are really screwing up our feet and knees by having wrong type shoes. I am still glueing my vans back together because nearly worn out vans are the best.😃
Both of my legs are turned slightly so that my toes point out instead of straight ahead and I think this causes me to walk more on the outside edges of my shoes. So I'm glad to know these things exist because I have a couple of pairs of inexpensive shoes that still look decent, but the outside corner of the heel is collapsing. And it's getting hard to find shoes that aren't weird in the toes now--like they're literally cutting corners--so I feel the need to make the shoes I do have last longer.
I'm going to have to take a look at my shoes but usually when I have to buy new ones I have no grip on the bottoms at all. Not because the heel/toes broke down. Sometimes the inside cloth heel breaks but I still wear those
Considering buying these now, however it might too late for my current trainers. Just like yours, hey are in good condition except for the outer heel. I already put sole protectors on my formal heels and boots. Saves them.
I've been walking in barefoot zero drop shoes for about 10 years, and it takes a LONG time to get used to walking differently. The more you can walk around on hard surfaces actually barefoot, the easier it will be to relearn to walk. You just can't heel strike constantly without it hurting if you are barefoot on concrete, your body will have to adjust. Your knees and back will thank you for it.
I was so shocked to see you actually have a local shoe cobbler! They're such an endangered species these days, that when most people hear the word cobbler they just think of the food. Your video made me curious so I did some research and found that I have local cobbler too! Such a tiny obscure shop without so much as a social media profile to advertise their existence! Thanks for reminding me that these types of businesses still exist!
These seem simple and awesome. I've replaced so many shoes over the years that could have had their life extended by these. Unfortunately, my local cobbler just permanently closed (lack of business because covid). There's one other in town, but they have a reputation for being...aggressive.
I was going to start working at my local cobbler but they suddenly shut down n i was so disappointed, even though the one shoe repair I've ever done (the Jordans that I did a video on) wasn't that good tbh.
Hi they sell some at Walmart where they have the shoe polish and laces. They are also the ones with adhesive back and also tacks(small nails) for more support they cost about 1-2 dollars
I have the same exact issue and these seem like a very good solution to keeping shoes longer. I will look with my local cobbler to see if they have the same plates or maybe I will import them and DIY them on my shoes.
@@LeahandLevi I will! I have never seen of these but until very recently it was the first time I had dress shoes and leather boots that had their heels completely replaced, even in the case of one piece rubber soles and it is great to keep shoes that you love longer! Love your videos, best regards from Mexico!
I am thinking of doing this for my samba sneakers but a little bit apprehensive on using nails on the outer sole. Would super glue alone work in keeping them stay on?
Might want to look into getting a nicer pair of welted leather shoes. More expensive at the initial purchase, but they're seriously better for your feet and will outlast just about anything in the long run because of resoles/heels
Omg i still remember times (mostly as a kid) when we would bring our old shoes to cobbler to put heal guards or completely replace the outer sole. Crazy that people stopped wearing their shoes to the point it needs repair.
I've pretty much completely worn out a pair of Dr martens shoes in a year and a half just going to school and back. the soles a pretty much flat and work down in the middle and the back is kinda wonky now
Thought I’d share another trick for the shoes you can’t resole! I’ll pick up a tube of “Shoe Goo” once I get a bit of wear happening, give them a good deep clean so the stuff will stick, then put on a layer just like a heel guard. Nice part about using the stuff from the tube is you can better fit the wear pattern of your shoes, and if you have any other repairs to make then that’s what the product was designed for anyways. Canadian tire is usually a place to find it, but lots of places sell it. I don’t sell the stuff or anything like that, it’s just something I’ve been doing for awhile now. Ive stretched an extra 2 years out of the sole of my favourite boots where the uppers are great still but the shoe goo keeps the sole going! I’ve even matched the tread pattern on a pair of hiking boots that I melted a bit of a hole in near the campfire, and haven’t had any issues with them since!
I wouldnt say theyre very stylish, but since i started wearing dress shoes that cost a bit more than the sneaker i used to wear, i have however added these to Dr. Martins and rubber soled boots. Theyre 100% worth it. If your shoes are valuable or you have sentamental value then keep them protected
Hey, so if you nail them in. My concern is water sipping in thru them. I had pair and i nailed the heel guard. But the water would get thru. Can you give some options. I would appreciate if you got back to me.
Great video I like how much work you put in to this video I don't really have this problem in any way but I don't really use this type of shoes I want in work type of shoes blundston i have two pairs of them and I switch anly because the inside of the shoes start wearing of but probably I was able to still use it
10:34 "people need to go to the chiropractors" is a worse conspiracy than "heel guards are bad for the health". "We are supposed to be barefoot" is another bad one though. "Natural" is not the same as "good".
Interesting that zero drop thing. My doctor told me that we should wear a tiny heal, no more than 3 cm, cause we shouldn't put our weight on the heel, we should put the weight in the mid /front part of the foot, that if we would walk barefoot, we would naturally tend to walk on our tips... Ok, I wrote that comment before you talked about walking on the midsection /spring of the foot, so it actually tends to be the same idea, just interpreted differently :)
Wow, I never knew these existed. Great tip! Like, I used to get my high heels fixed but not my sneakers. I'm a notorious heel striker as well, so will definitely check my local store as well!
Try " barefoot shoes " Walking the same way you would wall in normal shoes will hurt after a time and you will ajust to fix it and it will become your default gaet
These are used a lot on shoes that can be resoled for example a Good Year Welt. GW shoes are a little more expensive but they can be resoled multiple times. It's cheaper to have that heel guard replaced than have the whole sole or heel replaced. There are sneakers that have a stitched sole that can be replaced but are less common and about twice if not three times more expansive than a $90 sneaker but you are getting a much higher quality sneaker. For people who wear out the toe area of their shoe tend use toe taps and they are usually made out of metal. Don't worry about your shoe being "slippery" just by adding a heel guard on an all rubber bottom shoe. There are leather sole shoes that have been used for many years and are still used today. They are slippery when new but once they begin to scuff on the bottom they gain some grip. They'll never be as grippy as rubber bottom shoes but they aren't as bad as people would think.
Sneakers are usually not produced with repair in mind, they were originally cheap casual sporting shoes, classic shoe and boots are more repairable, since there is a separate heel that you can have swapped out once it wears out, the sole is entirely replaceable and the upper should survive multiple resoles, you could look into Goodyear welted footwear, trenton and heath is a nice channel where they upload shoe repair videos. A good pair of shoes should easily last 10+ years and look good if you take care of them
I always learn something I never would have otherwise when I watch your videos. Thank you!
Thanks for being a part of the team!
and the amount of details is very useful! thanks
This is so funny because when I was a child in the 1970s putting heel and toe guards (“taps”) on your shoes was completely normal. We had like, one pair of shoes, one pair of sneakers, one pair of snow boots, and maybe a pair of flip flops in the summertime. Today that’s what a lot of people buy every month.
School shoes, other shoes, football boots, trainers (sneakers), walking boots - 5 seasons type to also deal with limited snow... ... then once older and working, the school shoes became three pairs of "work" shoes - one of which would be steel soles and toe caps (less need to gyms in those days when carrying a kilo or more per foot) and the trainers split into one trainer and one running and no football boots. Ah, the 70 (the 80s even)... ... I was fifty odd before the first pair of flip-flops... ... 'hot' beach sand and similar required them. Kids of today, just no idea : )))))
@@timbushell8640 I remember when I was about 13 and my parents finally started making a little more money we got “nice” boots and my sister loved hers so much she slept with them.
I would wear shoes until they got holes in them (upper would fail) or the counter would break through and cut into my ankle. I don’t think I’ve ever had soles fail on me
Doctors advise wearing multiple shoes to prevent nail fungus from developing. So every day a pair of different shoes
We've become a "throw away" society.
I went to the cobbler every few months to fix my shoes so that he started to recognize me. He started to mock me by saying "buy new shoes, I cant be constantly fixing them" He even told my mom. Then he moved and his wish came true. Now another cobbler sees my shoes every few months.
You’d think that its good for business lmao
@@kcap4288 Right lol.
"Hahaha you need to use my business every month!" A cringe idividual
this can be done for shoes that cost 500 dollars. Cheap shows are not worth being repaired.
how much are your shoes worth and how much does it cost to repair?
"Falsely fanatical" is just beautiful. I love it.
OMG BOB AND BRAD. I'm so glad you included them. They are, after all, the two most famous physical therapists on the internet.
I cut strips off the sides of old bicycle wheels. They are 1-2 mm thick and reinforced with what appears to be nylon threads. Glue them on, when the glue is dry, trim them. Work fine, very grippy, cost me naught and the tires are upcycled. The amazon ones you bought might last less but they'll work. If they feel too high because of an extra mm, sand them down.
Hi! Wanted to suggest that perhaps a call to a podiatrist/physiotherapist/sports medicine/orthopaedic doctor would be able to provide a different perspective (since the two you called are BOTH chiropractors) so a variety of opinions would definitely help strengthen your case even further!
Agreed also I feel calling chiropractors ‘doctors’ and putting their credentials in such small print is perhaps a little misleading. Otherwise enjoy the content!
Yeah, I completely checked out when I did not see a medical degree. Also, I feel like this would be super loud compared to rubber.
Heel taps for the win! I would highly recommend adding them to dress shoes as soon as you get them. Adds years and slows the need for resoling.
Yes! I originally put them on my leather boots and shoes but I only just realized that we could do this on sneakers. 👍🏼
Yes I used these “Taps “ for years on work shoes 👠
You can also use storm sure glue. Which turns into rubber. Turn your shoe upside down (use a jar or something to keep it straight), masking tape the outer edge. Spread the glue so it’s even, leave to set for 24hrs, and fixed! I’ve been doing for years now and it’s a great solution!
Another Canadian here! I always go to the cobbler to fix my shoes. I am pretty sure the non-adhesive one has been used on my shoes before. What my cobbler did was plane the backside to match the missing angle of the shoe. So the heel gaurd looks like a thin wedge from the side. This helps keep my pronation correct. Then he used some other adhesive to stick it on. Hope more Millennials pick up the habit of fixing their things!
Thanks for sharing your experience! That sounds like a more complicated fix but a solid option for most people!
we call heel guards "taps" where I live. They're pretty common on mens' dress shoes but I hadn't thought about them for sneakers!
Yeah and apparently they’ve been around for ages!
I have always overpronated badly and it affected my running so I spent quite a lot of time teaching myself to mid-foot strike when running. It takes effort to do but it is possible. It now comes naturally and as a bonus it also seems to wear my shoes out a lots less. Plus it is also a lot better for your overall musculoskeletal health to not heal strike as this sends the full force of your foot strike all the way up to you hips.
This is great to here because I'm honestly starting to feel like a bit of a crazy person haha. My walk feels so awkward right now. 😂
I spent 4 years in high school perfecting my mid-foot strike, really saves the shoes. My bf has a pair from 2013 that he used for running and now just uses for everyday walking.
It does feel odd for a while, but you get used to it if you are consistent. I'm now trying to teach it to my 8yo daughter which is way harder than trying to do it yourself!
Wow that’s crazy. 😳
I have NEVER heard of 'heel guard' until this video. Thank you so much!! Most of my shoes got thrown away due to the wear on the heel.
As a kid my parents would have as we call them 'seggs' put on the heels of my shoes, on the heel, they were metal and I loved the sound they made, as a teen would put them on myself hammering them on while balancing my shoe on a milk bottle!
Am I the only one who thinks the worries about this impacting health are a little extreme? It looks about 2-3mm tall, much less than many actual heels.
I assume the concerns are based on it not being centred on his heel. It may cause a slight tilt of the foot when walking. But yeah, humans are more resilient than most people give us credit for
Those people give far too much credit to shoe manufacturers.
@@aj7058 yeah, most treat it like a product, not a health item.
Ur not the only one. I think it's hella overrated...
Nah if u run with bad shoes u could bust your ankle over time, and as an animal I'm always running lol. I need heel guards so bad because I always trip in my boots.
Thanks for the deep dive..! Thanks to the Cobbler and the doctors for offering the wisdom to the community. They are nice.
Honestly I was so blown away haha
I am mostly barefoot in nature so I am very glad to have that minimalism aspect of not needing shoes. makes my feet and posture stronger, all my muscles in fact are stronger because of that. I live in the amazon jungle, Ecuador :)
Only on occasional rainy time I wear rubber boots when it gets muddy and slippery or if I go into deep jungle or spiky areas.
Amazing, here I México City we have many cobblers that do exactly this and more! You can basically have your shoes fixed for years and years, my dad has done this for ages and I'm starting to do it myself.
I had no idea! Do people use these on running shoes? If I'm running regularly, the same spots (actually near the centre of the shoe) wear out pretty quickly...
I’d be hesitant to recommend that just because if your struck point is the heel and you out the hard plastic on there it will be less grippy. Could be dangerous in that circumstance?
I'd recommend getting a gait analysis done at your local running shop
running shoes are the ones I really am not sure are repair-able (there are specific materials designed to support your foot in running and running shoes are meant to be replaced after a certain # of miles. changing the materials probably isn't advisable).
Hi Kurtis,
I’d recommend you look for a Vibram cobbling store. Here in Paris, they have a location where they do running shoes specific sole swaps with good vibram outsoles.
Perhaps they have such stores over in Canada, or if not, I’m sure you could a sport-oriented equivalent cobbler.
Not recommended for running shoes.
If you can afford it, I would recommend over time taking all your shoes to a cobbler and asking them what they could do to make them last longer! It’s usually not too expensive and they pretty much know how to make any kind of shoe last forever lol
Yes! Great recommendation!
Yep, and they will tell what kind of shoes/soles/heels to buy that do last longer with some care.
I’ve had trainers resoled entirely (they were really well made leather upper). Feels safer for my knees/ankles/back than patching up overworn soles as the integrity is gone in a bigger way than the heel.
In the past month I have spent less on getting three (3) articles of clothing, two (2) with specialty materials, and the same number of watches repaired to nearly perfect quality for less than $100 by visiting local specialists! The mom and pop repair shop is a wonderful place with wonderful people. I have definitely fallen off of the devour and dump consumer lifestyle thanks to the pandemic.
I always get toe and heel guards installed on my dress shoes, never seen them on vans though. Anyway, if you are concerned about the additional height, a good cobbler will cut out a section of the existing sole when installing them so they are completely flush if you ask them for it.
Oh yay! I have a favorite pair of shoes and was dreading the day they die bc I haven't been able to find the same style. This has made me think about ways I can hold onto them longer. Thanks!
Yesssmam! Thanks for commenting!
Another option is minimalist shoes with zero drop! Especially the ones like Xero shoes, which are only a millimeter or two thick. It feels to your foot like you’re not wearing shoes at all, so it trains you to walk properly!
At 5:50 minutes, Levi, Shoes come in different sizes.
Shoe devices are difficult to order online.
Visiting a shoe repair is the better option.
This video came out at like the best time because I also have a pair of vans from 2015 that need a bit of a makeover
Heal and toe guards are often used in dress shoes, there are metal ones that cobblers can put on when resoling resolable shoes. In my instance for sneakers and casual shoes I often wear the uppers out (puncture holes in them) more often than the sole.
Edit: the ones I’ve seen for dress shoes have the adhesive to hold it down while the cobbler puts in nails to hold it down better.
I have some advice: I recommend getting a good year welted pair of leather boots. They might be a bit pricey but they can last you for many years. I recommend the brand “Thursday boots” they have great boots for a very affordable price!
Great video as always. Mending is always my first option. I've got a cobbler in my neighborhood and forever I've taken my shoes and bags to mend. Sometimes for a couple of euros I get a bag back to new. Cobblers here in Spain also mend zips, belts and also they stain shoes, bags and so on. I've taken my shoes in last month and had them completely resoled for 19 € the pair, he uses vibram soles so now they're brand new and they will probably last another couple of years in perfect shape. It's also important to take care of them on a daily basis : keep them clean, dry, put them away properly, etc. It makes such a difference. Take care. Keep safe 💚
That’s so great! Thanks for sharing this!
@@LeahandLevi thank you! A great pleasure to do so xx
Have done this in the past on my dress shoes. Mostly because they cost more than my casual shoes and I don't want to be in a situation to get new dress shoes time and time again. Great idea to do this also with casual shoes!!!
I'm always on the lookout for Patagonia stuff second hand now because of your channel and in the past few months I've picked up two patagonia shirts for 3 bucks 😎😎
Cobblers can do a lot for you. I had a pair of steel toe boots and the fabric between my foot and the steel wore through and they were able to put a piece of leather in the toe to make it last longer and more comfortable
Some cobblers will not do it on sneakers . I was denied service on shoes like this video, told me no lol
Actually, the wear on the bottom of your shoe is an indicator of how your walking is flawed. So if the guard is slightly elevated on the spot that you wear out (obviously no more than 1 or 2 mm) it might compensate your issue.
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I have to say, great job on the video Levi. Probably your 'best quality' video I can recall. Kudos!
You can also get metal toe plates put on by cobblers. They look super rad too!
I was thinking about going to cobblers/tailors in general since I'm starting a new job. I'm disabled but high functioning and want to be more responsible with my purchases. I really love supporting local businesses when I can and this helps on a social-economic level.
Thank you! My gait means I’m constantly wearing out heels on the outside so always opt for dress shoes with a stacked heel where a whole layer can be replaced, but I didn’t know there was an option for sneakers! If anything a freshly replaced heel makes my gait better and more aligned than when its ground off on one side!
Yes! On my older leather boots I’ve replaced the heel a number of times now but for sneakers you can’t do that!
My problem is the cloth yes u can resew it but then it rips what do i do after that
How is every Levi video just a vibe?
Traveler SIZE # 6 - your Allbirds have three nails in the heel plate vs the adhesive version - which do you recommend?
Orthopedic inserts can help with evening out the wear on shoes and with foot/back pain!
Adding shoe goo might help with salvaging the heels of those vans. Skaters use shoe goo on high friction/easily damaged parts of shoes to protect them before they are worn and repair cracks and tears
2:36, dirty shoes on the bed🙈
And why does no one wear sandals in NA😯
Btw my takeaway from this video is that I should continue to walk as bare foot as possible. Inside my home, in my village and on my porch!
Yes! Barefoot whenever possible!
@@LeahandLevi, ya more environment friendly and natural 😂
Of course we wear sandals - for the two months a year when it makes sense.
@@vtcs1963, even those two months I see most people wear shoes(at least the younger gen). And I see the same in the South too, where it's more than 2 months.
@@Sivah_Akash i guess it depends where you work. I couldn’t wear sandals when I worked in a hospital but now I can wear whatever I want. I wear sandals from the first warm day to the last! But of course I’m not the younger generation. My sons all have and wear sandals though. And flip flops. They love flip flops.
I have so many shoes that have been in my life for over a decade. I recently found a local cobbler in Denver so I think it’s about time these kicks get some love!!
That’s so great! I hope you get many more years out of them!
My shoe guy puts nylon heel guards on my birkenstocs!
I can confirm that the first time I walked or ran barefoot (forces you to go toes first) my calves went sore. But not anymore.
Also, great info from the chiropractors
That’s good to know, I thought maybe I just had baby legs haha
@@LeahandLevi I would suggest buying (or making) a pair of actual, honest-to-bob single-layer moccasins or get a pair of "barefoot" style shoes like creek wadering "slipper" or such that leave your foot largely uncushioned and much more 'in touch' with the surface you walk on. Your gait will automatically adjust to a midfoot version, because heel striking and other shoe-enabled gait issues are actually far more painful in shoes that more accurately mimic being barefoot. If you've ever tried walking barefoot across gravel you'll know what I'm talking about - the shift from a heel strike to a careful midfoot touchdown is automatic. You can use those to more easily and quickly train your gait, rather than trying to learn in regular shoes without that sensory feedback.
Glad to help. You're not alone!
You have no idea how bad I needed this video thank you so much
I’ve honestly never seen or heard of the heels of shoes wearing out like that.
With my shoes, what usually happens is the top begins to separate from the sole in the front of the shoe. So I use shoe goo and glue them back together (so I can keep my shoes as long as possible).
My shoes always wear in that corner. Guess your walking style is different.
With vans this happens for most of them with the flat waffle sole. The only thing that differs is the amount of time it takes. I've had them for 5 years before they start looking like that. Others can only make them last a year
Most people pronate. In fact not pronating is so uncommon that when I was studying anatomy my legs were used as the class example of having “normal” legs - most people by the time they get to be in their 20’s or so are knock-kneed because of it. I’m a psychiatrist now and I would never have remembered that except for the fact that I was the class leg model. So consider yourself special! I don’t wear out my shoes in that pattern either and actually neither do my children, which makes me think it’s genetic.
Can you put on these heel guards after your shoes have already worn out some? I feel like that would combat the “off balance” thing because then the guard would basically just fill the gap you’ve already worn out in your shoes...
Commentary for the algorithm!
Added a like and reply for tge algorithm 😉
5:16 Those heel guards are NOT crap bro. I been using them for YEARS. I also use them on my Timberland boots to prevent the heel from uneven wear. And I have no complaints whatsoever. I simply glue them on. They last a long time before they need replacing. I get them from T3mu
i had the same problem with walking and my feed always buckled inwards leading to my shoes being very worn out and broken at on specific point on my shoe. (btw no idea if understand what I want to desribe)
Then I got soles with a footbed for my vans and chucks. after adjusting to it, I stopped walking buckled inwards and my shoes are worn out less/ waaaayyy later and my friends and family say that it improved posture/walk.
Greetings from Germany.
I recently got some cheap very flexible canvas sneakers at Target on clearance for $12. I always wear the heel corner on my vans and wear the soles down walking a lot so I didn't want to use these new thin sneakers for walking shoes, but my vans fell apart, so I did. The amazing thing is I am not wearing the heel corner down on these thinner shoes because they allow my foot to roll naturally so my foot lays down straighter, they are also not wearing down as quickly as I feared because of the natural foot roll. My feet have had lots of dance and gymnastics training so they are more natural barefoot type feet even though I am older now. But it could be we are really screwing up our feet and knees by having wrong type shoes. I am still glueing my vans back together because nearly worn out vans are the best.😃
The Amazon heal guards are great I love them I have them on all 400 pairs of shoes
This was incredibly well put together! Loved the attention to body mechanics :) thanks!!
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
Both of my legs are turned slightly so that my toes point out instead of straight ahead and I think this causes me to walk more on the outside edges of my shoes. So I'm glad to know these things exist because I have a couple of pairs of inexpensive shoes that still look decent, but the outside corner of the heel is collapsing. And it's getting hard to find shoes that aren't weird in the toes now--like they're literally cutting corners--so I feel the need to make the shoes I do have last longer.
I'm going to have to take a look at my shoes but usually when I have to buy new ones I have no grip on the bottoms at all. Not because the heel/toes broke down. Sometimes the inside cloth heel breaks but I still wear those
Considering buying these now, however it might too late for my current trainers.
Just like yours, hey are in good condition except for the outer heel.
I already put sole protectors on my formal heels and boots. Saves them.
Hey Levi. I went to podiatrist. Got an insole to correct my walk/posture. Now I don’t wear my shoes out. ;) just FYI
I've been walking in barefoot zero drop shoes for about 10 years, and it takes a LONG time to get used to walking differently. The more you can walk around on hard surfaces actually barefoot, the easier it will be to relearn to walk. You just can't heel strike constantly without it hurting if you are barefoot on concrete, your body will have to adjust. Your knees and back will thank you for it.
I was so shocked to see you actually have a local shoe cobbler! They're such an endangered species these days, that when most people hear the word cobbler they just think of the food. Your video made me curious so I did some research and found that I have local cobbler too! Such a tiny obscure shop without so much as a social media profile to advertise their existence! Thanks for reminding me that these types of businesses still exist!
Would you suggest putting these on Birkenstocks and Canadian West boots?
Great video, I never thought about this issue before 😆
Thanks for making it happen. 🙋🏻♂️
These seem simple and awesome. I've replaced so many shoes over the years that could have had their life extended by these. Unfortunately, my local cobbler just permanently closed (lack of business because covid). There's one other in town, but they have a reputation for being...aggressive.
I was going to start working at my local cobbler but they suddenly shut down n i was so disappointed, even though the one shoe repair I've ever done (the Jordans that I did a video on) wasn't that good tbh.
Hi they sell some at Walmart where they have the shoe polish and laces. They are also the ones with adhesive back and also tacks(small nails) for more support they cost about 1-2 dollars
I got them installed on all my formal shoes.
I have the same exact issue and these seem like a very good solution to keeping shoes longer. I will look with my local cobbler to see if they have the same plates or maybe I will import them and DIY them on my shoes.
And see what your cobbler thinks! They’re super knowledgeable people and might have another recommendation based on your specific circumstance. 👍🏼
@@LeahandLevi I will! I have never seen of these but until very recently it was the first time I had dress shoes and leather boots that had their heels completely replaced, even in the case of one piece rubber soles and it is great to keep shoes that you love longer! Love your videos, best regards from Mexico!
did you get that flannel at h&m? i have one that looks exactly like it and its one of my fovorites.
Hi sir , did you nail the heel guard on those white soles. It looked like the heel guard was nailed?
I am thinking of doing this for my samba sneakers but a little bit apprehensive on using nails on the outer sole. Would super glue alone work in keeping them stay on?
Might want to look into getting a nicer pair of welted leather shoes. More expensive at the initial purchase, but they're seriously better for your feet and will outlast just about anything in the long run because of resoles/heels
My local cobbler is hesitant on nailing the heel guards because of potentially poking your heel.
have the nails ever been a problem with tsa at the airport?
Omg i still remember times (mostly as a kid) when we would bring our old shoes to cobbler to put heal guards or completely replace the outer sole. Crazy that people stopped wearing their shoes to the point it needs repair.
11:54 These guys are great! Lots of valuable advice from them
hello, what material/type of heel guard did you use? ty
I've pretty much completely worn out a pair of Dr martens shoes in a year and a half just going to school and back. the soles a pretty much flat and work down in the middle and the back is kinda wonky now
I had no idea these things existed, great video! Thanks
Thought I’d share another trick for the shoes you can’t resole! I’ll pick up a tube of “Shoe Goo” once I get a bit of wear happening, give them a good deep clean so the stuff will stick, then put on a layer just like a heel guard. Nice part about using the stuff from the tube is you can better fit the wear pattern of your shoes, and if you have any other repairs to make then that’s what the product was designed for anyways. Canadian tire is usually a place to find it, but lots of places sell it.
I don’t sell the stuff or anything like that, it’s just something I’ve been doing for awhile now. Ive stretched an extra 2 years out of the sole of my favourite boots where the uppers are great still but the shoe goo keeps the sole going! I’ve even matched the tread pattern on a pair of hiking boots that I melted a bit of a hole in near the campfire, and haven’t had any issues with them since!
I wouldnt say theyre very stylish, but since i started wearing dress shoes that cost a bit more than the sneaker i used to wear, i have however added these to Dr. Martins and rubber soled boots. Theyre 100% worth it. If your shoes are valuable or you have sentamental value then keep them protected
Hey, so if you nail them in. My concern is water sipping in thru them. I had pair and i nailed the heel guard. But the water would get thru. Can you give some options. I would appreciate if you got back to me.
What is the name of the thing that is installed against the heel of the shoe?
Wow , alot of work That deserves respect,❤
Great video! I was wondering how your allbirds dasher shoes soles are holding up? I notice they have uneven toe to heal leveling.
Do u guys know what type and length of the nail do they use?
Great video I like how much work you put in to this video I don't really have this problem in any way but I don't really use this type of shoes I want in work type of shoes blundston i have two pairs of them and I switch anly because the inside of the shoes start wearing of but probably I was able to still use it
10:34 "people need to go to the chiropractors" is a worse conspiracy than "heel guards are bad for the health". "We are supposed to be barefoot" is another bad one though. "Natural" is not the same as "good".
Interesting that zero drop thing. My doctor told me that we should wear a tiny heal, no more than 3 cm, cause we shouldn't put our weight on the heel, we should put the weight in the mid /front part of the foot, that if we would walk barefoot, we would naturally tend to walk on our tips...
Ok, I wrote that comment before you talked about walking on the midsection /spring of the foot, so it actually tends to be the same idea, just interpreted differently :)
Wow, I never knew these existed. Great tip! Like, I used to get my high heels fixed but not my sneakers. I'm a notorious heel striker as well, so will definitely check my local store as well!
Glad I could help!
Try " barefoot shoes " Walking the same way you would wall in normal shoes will hurt after a time and you will ajust to fix it and it will become your default gaet
These are used a lot on shoes that can be resoled for example a Good Year Welt. GW shoes are a little more expensive but they can be resoled multiple times. It's cheaper to have that heel guard replaced than have the whole sole or heel replaced. There are sneakers that have a stitched sole that can be replaced but are less common and about twice if not three times more expansive than a $90 sneaker but you are getting a much higher quality sneaker. For people who wear out the toe area of their shoe tend use toe taps and they are usually made out of metal. Don't worry about your shoe being "slippery" just by adding a heel guard on an all rubber bottom shoe. There are leather sole shoes that have been used for many years and are still used today. They are slippery when new but once they begin to scuff on the bottom they gain some grip. They'll never be as grippy as rubber bottom shoes but they aren't as bad as people would think.
Props for Showing Bob and Brad!
Secondly, is there such a thing as a casual sneaker that is designed to be resoled? Or can be resoled by default?
Thanks, I will visit my local cobbler soon!
Amazing video! I've always believed in cobbler, as you said; they know what they talk about!!! ❤️❤️ Keep they instructive video going.
Thanks Emma! Glad you enjoyed the video!
@@LeahandLevi glad you understood my message with all the typos. Lol
I really love that you actually called two Dr. to prove a point!! 😁
When he asks if this is the right kind of guard: no
When he asks if the guards are bad for you: no
I love how they all just give a flat out answer
Looking at the posture of your ankle. You will benefit from arch support. It will help alleviate your pronation.
I use orthopaedic shoe inserts. Works both for my feet and for my shoes. No hard skin on my heels and less wear and tear on the shoes.
You can use Goop on your old shoes to attach the amazon rubber heel guard to fix it.
Sneakers are usually not produced with repair in mind, they were originally cheap casual sporting shoes, classic shoe and boots are more repairable, since there is a separate heel that you can have swapped out once it wears out, the sole is entirely replaceable and the upper should survive multiple resoles, you could look into Goodyear welted footwear, trenton and heath is a nice channel where they upload shoe repair videos. A good pair of shoes should easily last 10+ years and look good if you take care of them
Yes! I’m hoping to get a pair of welted boots this season!
I want to know how to attach the guards myself. They both were good choices.
Do they come in white?