Metal plates on shoes

[watchingdetails2002]

Hi, I am new to this forum. My question or topic for discussion is on metal plates on the heels of shoes. The reason I ask I was recently at the shoe repairshop getting new heels on many of my shoes. The cobbler suggested I try using metal plates on the heels to see if they will protect them.I told him I would think about it and get back to him. So I am curious about what others think and if anyone out there uses them. I know of one person who does and he likes them. Thanks for your respones.

 

[hermes]

do you mean those little metal or rubber or plastic heel plates about the size of a thumb that go on the back of your heel?

if so, i have them on all my shoes, albeit i get plastic ones given i had one shoe repair person give me metal ones once and i was sounding like a tapdancer

they do help protect the heel and the plate wears out rather than the heel

good for people like me who are rough on their shoes or stomp when they walk or bear most of their walking weight on their heel

 

[RIDER]

Greetings - What you are referring to are called "taps" and, if you are wearing a "better" shoe are not necessary. All good shoes are made with a built up heel base of leather with a rubber or combination leather/rubber toplift that is easily replaced - in fact designed to be. Unfortunately, many brands now substitute a one piece plastic heel which is hollow and, if this is the case, could use some extra protection. Another point - one of the many features of a well made shoe is it's balance and the addition of sole/heel treatments can throw off this detail. I tell my customers every day to forget about adding things to the shoes and to drop them off every couple of months for me to refurbish properly.

 

[jrh]

J M Weston places recessed metal plates regularly into the toe area of the sole. On some of their shoes the also place metal plate inserts on the heal, where the rubber insert would normally go.

I have both on my Weston shoes and have mixed feelings about the metal plate on the heal. Surely it lasts longer then rubber. But it can be slippery on polished floors. They also make the sound of a tap shoe, which can be bothersome.
The plates on the toes area of the sole are great. They are not the same as nailing in a tap onto of the sole. These are recessed.

A fine company such has Weston must have a reason for the metal inserts on the heals. Does anyone have an answer?

 

[shoefan]

Some makers (e.g. JM Weston) offer metal plates for toes and heels in which the metal is inserted into the sole; for the heels, this is in lieu of the rubber quarter. I also believe that some shoe-repair stores offer this option. Certainly, these metal inserts would be very durable; others on this forum have said, however, that they make alot of noise when walking, akin to taps on tap shoes (for obvious reasons). So, it's a trade-off. Also, on wet/slick surfaces, the metal will give much less traction than the rubber, so you have to be a bit more mindful of where you're walking.

 

[Tom]

I had metal taps put on my motorcycle boots (lot of foot drag on a motorcycle in the city), they were so slippery I removed them.

-Tom

 

[watchingdetails2002]

Thanks for your advice and experienced knowledge. You need to know that I am on the Island of Guam ( roots can be found in Colorado).So it is important to preserve my dress clothes since they are difficult to replace out here. So that is why I wanted to know about the taps. I might consider the plastic ones. All concrete and asphalt here, has coral in it. It makes them both like broken glass.We all go through tires and shoes like they are made of paper. But I must continue to wear a tie to work which means dress shoes.