Do you guys use shoe taps?

[doink]

When I recently had all of my shoes reheeled, I had toe taps put on them.

As for heel taps, I am considering it as well, and will ask about it next time I am in, probably 4-5 months from now.

As for rubber toppies, had it done to one pair, and wish I had not, should have just done toe taps. Next time I am near the new cobbler I am using I'll ask what they can do to fix the other guy's mess.

 

[hermes]

i think that they're technically called 'cleats', that's what the various shoe repair people i've used over the years call them

in any event, i put them on all my leather soled shoes as i tend to wear the outer part of the outside back of my heels fast (i think i must stomp) so it prolongs the life of the heel for me and at $4, a lot cheaper than $30 for reheeling

 

[Stylin-1]

Originally Posted by whacked

Should I get commissions or something?

J/K. Do post some pics of them being worn when you can though.

And I went with black no less. Oh well, figured they'd be good to have, but I'm still looking for a more casual brown lace up, preferably with a traction sole.

 

[Osprey Guy]

When I ask for taps the cobblers all seem to know what I want. But technically, for some unbeknownst reason, the cobblers around here call them "plates"...

I had previously thought that the rubber half-soles I used to get were called "plates"... Apparently I was mistaken. Now I think they're just called "rubber half-soles".

I've always been under the impression that "cleats" were the metal variety of taps that were popular "back in the day"... Among other things, guys used to have cleats put on their beatle boots so that they'd make a distinct (and loud) "tap" sound as they walk through the halls of their school.


Dennis

 

[denimdestroyedmylife]

^ In the book "In Flagrante Collecto" there is a page or two of photos of a collection of antique metal taps for shoes. Very nice!

 

[kbuzz]

Originally Posted by doink

When I recently had all of my shoes reheeled, I had toe taps put on them.

As for heel taps, I am considering it as well, and will ask about it next time I am in, probably 4-5 months from now.

As for rubber toppies, had it done to one pair, and wish I had not, should have just done toe taps. Next time I am near the new cobbler I am using I'll ask what they can do to fix the other guy's mess.


why did you regret the topys?

 

[Garage/Surf Rock]

I had some taps added to the heels of my boots. The taps wore down and I just peeled them off since they were coming undone. However, the nails that were used to hold them on are still in the heels. Do I need to have these removed? I tried to remove them with some household tools but couldn't get them out. Will the nails slowly drive up into the boots and eventually poke my feet or will they wear down as I walk?

 

[HomerJ]

They'll wear down. You're not tapping them again?

I absolutely love taps. I remember my mom had a pair of my shoes tapped when I was a kid. I must've complained bitterly because she never did that again but now that I'm paying a not so small sum for my own shoes, they're a must

 

[Garage/Surf Rock]

Thanks.

I'm thinking of having them tapped again. It was only $5 bucks after all.

 

[DirtyHarry]

Would these be as good as having a rubber sole put on the shoe?

 

[Maharlika]

All my leather shoes have them. I have them replaced every 6 months.

 

[SoCal2NYC]

My Thom Browne shoes have them.

 

[Tarmac]

i don't put them on my own shoes, but I bought a 2nd hand new pair which had been tapped by the previous owner, and they are not bad.

but for some reason I like the feel of slowly wearing leather down.

 

[LabelKing]

I like the metal ones since they make a very obvious noise.

 

[doink]

Originally Posted by kbuzz

why did you regret the topys?

sorry for the late reply.

when he applied them he did something to the foot bed of the shoe and they do not fit as well as it used to. They are also much slippier on certain types of flooring than they used to be.

I also miss the sound of leather on the floor.