Out here in these streets, sometimes you want to give up on your feet. Wear and tear on your good shoes can hurt your feelings and wallet. What happens to your shoes when the heels start to lean or break off? You probably bury them in the closet with the sound of a death knell.

So sorry for your loss. What if there was a way to protect the bottoms of your shoes? What if you could do something about asphalt assaults on your precious, hard-earned footwear? There is and you can. Libby Kane shares a secret that may have been eluding many of us: a cobbler.
 
Nope, not peach! For a few bucks, a shoe cobbler will place taps on the toes and heels of your shoes. Not to be confused with the taps that go click-clack for tap dancers, these are for regular shoes. Taps made of either plastic, rubber, or metal are nailed into the soles of shoes, and absorb the abuse of the ground beneath. Save those high heels and dress shoes, folks!
 
This all depends on your gait and how you wear out your shoe. You may experience wear in the front or toe area, and with others most of the force is on the heel. It could be a fast or slow wear-down process. With a toe tap placed on the tip of a shoe, it prevents it from wearing down and eventually damaging the upper part of the shoe.
 

When taps are placed on the heels, they can help thwart the leaning and cracking that we see in our beloved heels. Altogether, the taps increase the life of the shoe by preserving the sole, and therefore the comfort of your feet.
 
Those who are in the know also share that plastic taps last longer, but metal ones are smaller and less conspicuous for the wearer. One of the things Libby also mentions is that taps can’t be used on sneakers because of their soles. Taps are for solid-soled shoes only.
 
Going to visit a professional will normally run you between $4 and $12 per trip, but metal ones can cost more. It’s a cheap solution and can save you in the long run. If you’d rather avoid a pro, you can pick some adhesive taps up online or from a drug store. Some like the DIY version, while others think they are unreliable and will cause slipping.
 
Either way, it’s highly suggested to install the taps before you wear new shoes for the first time. Though you may think that breaking them in will help a shoe repair shop to identify your wear patterns, the pros generally know where and how to add these. The key is to find a reputable cobbler.
 
No more doing battle with pavement and floors that wreak havoc your soles. Savvy men and women have been doing this for ages, and now you can too. Try this tip and like Libby, share it with friends and family who may also ask: “What are those?” Be the knower.
 

Are you interested in trying these? Have you ever used shoe taps on your shoes? What’s your strategy for using taps with your favorite footwear? Tell us in the comments!

Source:
Business Insider
The Hanger Project