How can I make my pointe shoes last longer?

Question

I am currently using chacotts, and will be moving up onto a hard shank(sp?). I dance for about 1/2 hour on Mondays and Thursdays, and then with rehersals and other things that require me to wear them throughout the week as well- times varying. I seem to go through a pair of shoes every 3 months. What can I do to make my pointe shoes last longer?

Answer 1

Darn them- Do LOADS of small stitchs on the part you go up on--- takes ages but worth it

You can buy little suede patches to stick on (some Bloch shoes come with them on as standard)

Answer 2

when you first get them, put jet glue all over except on the outside. it sounds wierd, but it seals the fabric or something, making it stronger lol. try these guys, they helped me out a lot!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JQ93yhbw...

Answer 3

i would always air dry your shoes after a class. don't just pack them away in your bag. get the suade patchs for the toes of your shoes (stops the shoes from fraying and you from slipping on the floor), burn the ends of all your ribbons with a match. will melt the end and prevent from fraying. and if your shoes start getting dirty coat in calomine lotion. you can keep repeating to make them clean. just give them a good banging after cause they will create a massive mess when you first use them. the loose and excess powder will come off! if they go soft at the toe harden them with shellac (a resin). like it has already been said 3 months is really good for a pair of shoes. the principles in the Australian ballet go through 6 pairs in a week! happy dancing and hope this was some help! =)

Answer 4

just buy 2 pairs of shoes and rotate them in the week 1 day= new pair, other day=dancing shoes

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Actually, three months is a really good lifespan for a pair of pointe shoes.  If you're dancing seriously - and it sounds like you are - you won't be able to keep the shank intact for much longer than that, especially as your feet get stronger.

If it's the toe of the shoe that's wearing out and becoming soft, Jet Glue is your answer.  It's available at pretty much any craft store.  Pour a little bit into the box (not too much - just enough to coat the inside of the shoe's tip) and swirl to make sure it's even.  Then leave the shoes leaning up against a wall, toes down, until the glue has hardened.  You can put in two or three coats, waiting for each to harden before adding the next layer, and it will keep the boxes intact for a while longer.  I always had much better luck with Jet Glue than shellac, which is another commonly suggested method.  You can also paint Jet Glue along the shank of the shoe for extra stiffness, but that doesn't last long at all and is really only an emergency measure for performance.

Finally, the best thing you can do to extend the life of the shoes overall is to let them dry out thoroughly between uses, since moisture is mostly responsible for the softening of a shoe.  Take them out of your dance bag as soon as you get home and let them air-dry.  You'll also have better luck if you buy two pairs of shoes at a time and alternate wearing them, so that each pair has adequate time to dry between uses.

Hope that's helpful!