Toe taps

Originally Posted by ajv

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A steel toe tap put in by a true cobbler will be screwed in and not nailed. And if done properly, the cobbler normally takes the equivalent of the tap's thickness off the sole.

because of that it will be very easy to take off the toe tap, but at the same time very damageable to the sole..........

The problem is that outside of NYC it is often difficult to find "true cobblers" who do this kind of work.

I went into Anthony's near Union Square in San Francisco (which is supposed to be one of the better shops in town) last week to have this type of toe tap put in a new pair of shoes I picked up, and they told me that this was something that they simply didn't do. I guess I could send my shoes off to NYC to have this done, but I guess I'm too lazy--I ended up just getting the nailed-in kind.

Originally Posted by East Oakland

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The problem is that outside of NYC it is often difficult to find "true cobblers" who do this kind of work.

I went into Anthony's near Union Square in San Francisco (which is supposed to be one of the better shops in town) last week to have this type of toe tap put in a new pair of shoes I picked up, and they told me that this was something that they simply didn't do. I guess I could send my shoes off to NYC to have this done, but I guess I'm too lazy--I ended up just getting the nailed-in kind.

I am shocked to hear that there isn't a good cobbler to be found around SF. Over here in Europe every major city has at least one or two.....

Yes, in SF there are several shoe repair places that can do a decent job of applying a Topy or heel taps, but I too cannont find a true "cobbler". I want metal tips on a pair of tan suede EGs and can't find a place I feel comfortable leaving them at.

Does anyone know where in Belgium this can be done? I also wear the toes extremely fast (and I hardly ever walk). Two cobblers I talked to have never even heard of toe taps.

edit:
4 have never ever seen it, and one said it wasn't possible to do that on goodyear welted because of the stitching (he also said that he could not put dainite soles on goodyear welted)... So everyone is clueless.

How much longer does a metal tap protect the toe compared to a topy placed on the sole?

Same question for plastic Kiwi toe tap - will they outlast a rubber topy?

Originally Posted by furo

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How much longer does a metal tap protect the toe compared to a topy placed on the sole?

Same question for plastic Kiwi toe tap - will they outlast a rubber topy?

should be equal, more or less. given that the metal is flush with the sole.

i'll tell you in a few years, when i have the exact result. my rubber toes are just a few weeks old.

first i didn't like them at all, but yeah, they work. will deceide occassionally, but the tendency is towards the metal ones.

no idea about the kiwi. from my gut feeling, they shouldn't hold up that well, but we are talking not about a reasonable amount of time.

imo, it's more about the skill of the cobbler/shoemaker.

Originally Posted by fritzl

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should be equal, more or less. given that the metal is flush with the sole.

i'll tell you in a few years, when i have the exact result. my rubber toes are just a few weeks old.

first i didn't like them at all, but yeah, they work. will deceide occassionally, but the tendency is towards the metal ones.

no idea about the kiwi. from my gut feeling, they shouldn't hold up that well, but we are talking not about a reasonable amount of time.

imo, it's more about the skill of the cobbler/shoemaker.

That's good to know

For those guys out there like me, who wear down the toes much much faster than the balls of the feet, and do NOT use topys or taps, what do you use as the trigger to replace the sole? When the toe is worn down into the stitching?

Originally Posted by furo

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That's good to know For those guys out there like me, who wear down the toes much much faster than the balls of the feet, and do NOT use topys or taps, what do you use as the trigger to replace the sole? When the toe is worn down into the stitching?
honestly, 98 of my shoes are wood pegged, so i don't have a benchmark on this. most important is the fit. so you walk down the soles consistently. it takes some experience to get this right. same applied to me from discussions with my shoe guys, they have a thin layer of leather glued over the open channel. this is easy to replace and doesn't cost a fortune.

Does anyone have a recommended place in Manhattan to get these embedded-sole toe taps? It seems like these are pretty prevalent in the UK, but I've yet to see anyone post about the best NYC option.

I know that Nick at B. Nelson has been trying to get them for a while now. Hopefully that will happen soon.

Originally Posted by furo

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That's good to know

For those guys out there like me, who wear down the toes much much faster than the balls of the feet, and do NOT use topys or taps, what do you use as the trigger to replace the sole? When the toe is worn down into the stitching?

When the area under the ball gets spongy that you can press it with (and it gives) with your fingers, it is time to replace the sole, toe taps or not.

Originally Posted by srivats

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When the area under the ball gets spongy that you can press it with (and it gives) with your fingers, it is time to replace the sole, toe taps or not.

correct

I tend to wear at rear corner of the heel and was getting ready to use those curved rubber taps but I am worried that they'll create a bump in my walk, like the feeling of having a big rock stuck in your tire.

The imbedded ones look nice, but I worry about handing over an expensive ass shoe to have part of the sole dug away and the taps placed in them.

As far as metal goes, unless I am going to do some tap dancing ala Gregory Hines, then that's a no. I have memories of my father having metal taps put on shoes and he sounded horrible, people would look at him.

I'm willing to try the rubber taps that Vox photographed on a cheaper shoe to see, but dunno if anyone in the DC area can be trusted.

Anyone know a DC area cobb who wont wreck my ****?

Imbedded metal hardly makes a sound if it makes a sound at all. At least, in my experience.

Originally Posted by NOBD

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Imbedded metal hardly makes a sound if it makes a sound at all. At least, in my experience.

not on the toe, but the heels are clicking strongly