Should I protect these shoes?

NYCniceguy · Aug 11, 2010

I have been spending increasingly more on nicer shoes, but walking around a lot in New York City is anything but flattering to leather soles. I have never used any sort of sole protection before (topy, toe/heel taps, etc), but am considering them now. This is a new pair of lace-ups I just got:

And this a casual (but still expensive) pair I got only a month ago after a few nights of roaming the streets. Sorry for the Appreciation.

As you can see, both the toe and the heel are getting destroyed pretty quickly, and I haven't even been out in rainy weather yet. There's probably something wrong with the way I walk

. What solutions would you consider?

Jay Gatsby · Aug 11, 2010

I have the same problem. Get toppys put on before you destroy the thread at the toe. The rubbers last a long time in my experience and are entirely worth it.

fxh · Aug 11, 2010

Originally Posted by NYCniceguy

There's probably something wrong with the way I walk

. What solutions would you consider?
IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later. I AGREE

TIP: to embed Youtube clips, put only the encoded part of the Youtube URL, e.g. eBGIQ7ZuuiU between the tags.

Xiaogou · Aug 11, 2010

Since you are in NYC, head over to B. Nelson (VIP). They have done +20 pairs of shoes for me. Get flush mounted toe taps.

http://www.bnelsonshoes.com/

patrickBOOTH · Aug 11, 2010

+1 Topies are nerdy as hell. Just get toe and heel taps. I walk around NYC in nothing except dress shoes and the toe, heel taps work wonders.

lasbar · Aug 11, 2010

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

+1 Topies are nerdy as hell. Just get toe and heel taps. I walk around NYC in nothing except dress shoes and the toe, heel taps work wonders.

Topies are vile and they don't the leather sole to breathe...

Go for toe and heel taps.

srivats · Aug 11, 2010

Originally Posted by lasbar

Topies are vile and they don't the leather sole to breathe...

I see this comment everywhere and it is STUPID. Please stop perpetrating this myth. Leather soles don't "breathe". Topy is a good solution if you don't mind putting rubber on your dress shoes. They certainly help prolong the life of the shoe. If you watch carefully and replace them as they wear out, you don't have to resole your shoes for a long, long time.

Metal toe taps is a great solution too. B Nelson does a great job. Go talk to Nick and ask to see a pair they've done.

Heel taps affect your gait. Do not get them. If you are worried about wearing out your heels, replace your leather heels with all rubber heels.

LanceW · Aug 11, 2010

I had topys put on but after nearly a year, I removed them due to discomfort. My 2 pair with topys were not flexing as comfortably as those without and were creating a pinch on top of my toes.

fxh · Aug 11, 2010

I have had Topy on every single pair of shoes or boots I have had for years and years. It stops wear and provides a non slip surface.

I'm not sure what others are referring to as topy. The topy I use is a brand name, it is applied by a cobbler who prepares the sole and glues the Topy. It does not cover the whole bottom of the shoe. It is beveled off at the edges and set into the sole. It is thin - not paper thin but pretty bloody thin. Unless one looks at the sole you can't tell it has Topy. Most people can't tell even if they look at the sole.

I am yet to have any shoes suffocate due to non breathing through the sole.

My experience is that metal caps can wear quickly on abrasive surfaces like concrete.

NYCniceguy · Aug 13, 2010

How much will Nelson charge for toe taps and for Topys? Is it too late to apply either Topys or toe taps to my Ferragamos (pictured above)?

hst · Aug 13, 2010

My take is it is not too late to apply either topy or toe tap.
I have all my shoes topied.

The Shoe Snob · Aug 13, 2010

I am more of a traditionalist and hate adding rubber or anything to my soles, it changes the way they feel and they way you walk. When a shoe is made there are certain heel to ball-of-foot height measurements that need to be exact for the shoe to be balanced and adding something to the bottom changes that! Get more shoes and rotate them and try to be careful. If you don't find that realistic then buy shoes that come with rubber soles or have a cobbler put on a toe tap that is flush with the sole. Although, this is hard to find in America, example below

bapelolol · Aug 13, 2010

does it matter if you get a full sole topy isntead of leaving the waist uncovered?

Should I protect these shoes?

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Stylish Dinosaur

Stylish Dinosaur

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

Distinguished Member

Well-Known Member

Senior Member

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Similar threads

Featured Sponsor

Definitely full canvas only

Half canvas is fine

Really don't care

Depends on fabric

Depends on price

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON: