When we buy a pair of new boots or shoes, it is important that they fit our feet ideally. Otherwise, we can end up with quite painful calluses. But there is one common problem that the owners of new footwear face. It is heel slippage in boots.
This is quite an uncomfortable experience when your feet slip out of the shoes or boots while walking. In extreme cases, your feet can even completely pop out of the footwear leaving your boots behind!
If you have ever faced this issue and you were wondering what causes it and what could be done to prevent and fix this heel slippage, we are here to provide you with a complete guide on how to deal with this problem.
Heel Slippage In Boots. How to Fix
If your boot heel slips, it is quite normal during the breaking period. However, if this period has passed long ago and the problem remains, you should probably think of how you could fix it. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can cope with this issue.
- change your boots to the pair that fits you
- change your walking style
- keep your boots dry
- ensure you lace them properly
And now let us explain each of these points to you in detail so that you can understand them better.
Ensure Your Boots Actually Fit You
This is the most common reason why your boots heels slip. Simply because your footwear is way too big for your feet. Why does it happen? Well, usually because we don’t know the exact shoe size of ours.
So first of all, before you go and buy a new pair of shoes, you need to measure your feet to know what shoe size to look for. You need to measure the length and width of each foot since they are usually not the same. Also, make sure you take measurements at noon time since this is when our feet are the biggest.
There is one more nuance you must be aware of. If you usually order your shoes from a particular brand and you know your size precisely, it does not mean you can buy footwear of the same size from another brand. This is because distinct brands often have rather unique sizing categories.
The best way to figure out whether boots or shoes fit you is to try them on. However, if you buy online, that advice might be a problem. In this case, make sure you will be able to return the footwear back to the store if the pair will not fit you right.
Try to Change the Way You Walk
Your walking style also matters! And by the way, it can be another reason why you have that heel slippage in boots. For instance, if you walk as if you are sprinting all the time, that might be the reason why your feet keep on slipping off your boots constantly.
What do we mean when saying “sprinting”? It is when the balls of your feet touch the ground first when you walk. If you are running the track, that trick will surely help you run faster! But since our footwear normally is not designed for this walking style, you will most likely experience heel slippage.
When we walk properly, our heels must touch the ground first, not the balls of the feet. Only then you roll your feet forwards, and push off with the front of the feet as you raise your feet.
Make Sure You Maintain Your Boots Correctly
In particular, keep in mind that your footwear must always be dry. If our boots get wet, then the feet will start slipping out of them which will result in the irritating heel slippage.
However, if you thought of using a hair dryer for drying your footwear, we must disappoint you. Common blow dryers will only make things worse since they tend to damage the material your boots and shoes are made of.
Instead, better opt for a special boot dryer. They are not as strong as hair dryers so you can safely use them for drying your footwear. Simply turn the appliance on for one or two hours, and wait until your boots are dry again.
As an alternative way (which is also very safe in use), you can always opt for drying your boots in the sun. However, even though this method is well known and it proved itself to be completely safe, it requires sunshine. And there is no guarantee that you have a sunny day when you need to dry your boots. Besides, drying footwear in the sun takes way more time, approximately four hours if the boots or shoes are not too wet.
So if not the sun, scrunched newspapers can also be handy. They work as sponges absorbing the excessive moisture from the inside of your boots. On the other hand, this method requires regular changing of the newspapers, otherwise it will make no sense if you leave those damp pieces of paper inside your boots overnight.
By the way, if you have no old newspapers at home, old towels will also work. Only take those that you will not be using anymore for sure! And simply tuck them into your boots like you would do with paper.
And before you start drying your boots with one of the methods described, remember to take out the insoles and the laces. Like this, you will significantly speed up the drying time!
Related: How to Clean Corfam Shoes?
Make Sure You Lace Them Right
Quite few of us pay attention to how we lace our footwear. But in fact, it also plays an important role in heel slippage!
See, the scheme is very simple: you don’t lace your footwear right which leads to it getting loose on your feet. And as a result, you end up with your feet slipping out of your boots or shoes!
The heel part of the improperly laced boots will simply not be able to match the rise of your feet when you walk. That is because the loose laces give your feet way too much leeway.
How do we lace our footwear correctly? Well, there are a few methods you should try if you want to stop your feet from slipping out of your boots. These lacing methods are called ‘rabbit hole‘, “hiking boot lacing method”, “runner’s tie”, and “butterfly lacing”.
Related: How to Get Spray Paint Off Your Shoes?
Consider Using Lace Locks
This is another way you can opt for if you need to prevent heel slippage. These devices can also be called lace anchors so look for that name, too, if going to buy them.
Some boots (for instance, hiking boots and shoes) already come with these devices installed to solve the lacing issue. However, if your footwear does not have them, they can be easily bought in a store.
To make sure you attach and use them right, we advise you to watch a descriptive video or read a detailed instruction. Because, if used improperly, they will have no use for you.
Make Use Of Shoe Tongue Pads
Boot tongue is needed for ensuring that your feet are snug inside the boots. However, over time, the boot tongues tend to get flatter and lose their fluffiness. It leads to a few millimeters of extra space in your boots.
It may seem to be so little, but those millimeters can be the reason why your feet suddenly start slipping out of your boots. Simply because they now have enough spare space for moving upwards while your boots remain on the ground!
To fix this problem, make use of tongue pads. They must be placed under the boot or shoe tongues to reinforce them when they get worn and flat. By the way, they push down on your feet comfortably, so there is no need to worry about the feet safety.
Make Use Of Heel Grips
This is another way you can fix that annoying boots heel slippage. This option will suit those who are sure that they have the boots of the right size, and for those who have tried several other methods of fixing this issue.
So, if you have recognized yourself in this description, it is time for you to get serious about tackling heel slippage! One easy-to-use option is a heel grip.
This product is used in everything from work boots to high heels! It is supposed to be attached to the top of your boot, providing a sort of a buffer between your heel and the back of the boot.
Heel grips can also be used in boots that are too large for you, for instance, if you have already made the purchase and only then you figured out that your new footwear arrived being bigger than you need.
Some people find them to be irritating and difficult to use, but a lot of others find heel grips very comfortable. So you can always give them a try and see how they will work for you!
Get Tongue Pads
The tongues of your boots are one of the spots that are highly predisposed to wear and tear!
And as the tongue gets loose and worn out, it will simply be unable to hold your foot as tightly as it should to the bottom and back of the boot.
In this case, tongue pads are a great solution to the problem!
You simply need to attach them to the bottom side of the tongue, and they push the heel backward and down. This can help prevent heel slippage as well by simply holding the wheel closer to the back of the shoe.
However, this is also a good solution for reinforcing a worn-out tongue generally.
Try to Wear Non-Slip Socks
If your boots are of the right size and there are no problems with the boot tongues or laces, you might just want to try out special non-slippery socks!
Thicker socks can help provide more traction (just like a heel liner, heel grip, or any of the other inserts above) as well as cushioning to take up some space in the shoe.
So, if your boots or shoes are a little too big and you are sliding around in there while walking in them, consider getting some thicker pairs of socks and see if they solve the problem before you try anything more involved.
Anyway, buying an extra pair of socks is the simplest and the cheapest way of solving the issue and if it works, you will not have to spend extra money on more expensive options.
Non-Slip Feature
When buying boots, pay attention whether they have a non-slip insole feature. If they have it, then you will find an extra lining at the back of the inside of the boots. Such boots will also have extra cushioning in that area for preventing the slippage.
Non-Slip Socks May Help
This is another anti-slippery alternative, by the way, that does not require any boot renovation or remodelling. As you probably know, some socks can be rather slippery on their own causing your feet to slip out of boots or shoes.
This is why we recommend you try out so-called non-slippery socks. You can easily recognize them by the specific pattern at the bottom part which provides the socks with a firmer grip.
The additional benefit of wearing such socks is that they help to reduce the wear and tear of your boots’ heel lining! Anyway, a pair of these socks is better than wearing two pairs of ordinary socks as some people do.
Visit a Podiatrist
What for? See, one of the reasons why your feet keep on slipping off your boots might be that you have some foot issues that need to be corrected. It can be pronation problems or one of your feet is simply bigger than the other. No matter the reason, visiting a doctor is a good idea in this case.
What can the doctor suggest to you? Well, usually it is an orthotic shoe heel slip insert. It helps your feet to fit in your boots way better making you feel more comfy while walking.
So if you tried all of the methods listed above and none of them helped, you should definitely visit a medical specialist to check whether you have any feet issues.
What Is Boot Heel Slippage?
Boot heel slippage is when the heels of your feet slip out of your boots or shoes while you are walking. This is quite normal if your boots are brand new since you need to break them in first, and your feet might be slipping off them for some time. During this period, the footwear is shaping itself to the shape of your feet, so minor flaws are quite all right.
However, if it happens after the break-in period is over, then you definitely have problems. In this case, something is definitely wrong either with the boots, or with the way you are wearing them.
It is not only uncomfortable and embarrassing. Such a boot slipping issue can result in your feet damage and make you hurt.
How to Prevent Heel Slippage In Boots
So how to keep boots from slipping on heels and prevent this from happening? Basically, there are a few common and widely used methods that help in most cases.
- Use non-slippery socks
- Buy boots that fit you perfectly
- Use lace anchors
- Maintain your footwear right
- Try to walk less quickly
However, if those do not work or if you are looking for any additional methods, there are several more that might be less popular but they still can work out.
So first of all, you can try to pulverize your feet with a hairspray. This really prevents slipping, and besides, it can even have a deodorizing effect if the spray has a nice scent. Only spray it over your feet when you have stockings or socks on! Do not apply it on bare skin since this product is made for hair, not the skin!
As an option, if you experience foot heel slippage when wearing brand new boots, you can simply try to give your new pair more time to accept your feet.
Double-sided tape can also be handy, by the way! However, it will lose its grip if your feet start sweating. So, if you are going to make use of this method while you are out somewhere, better keep a roll of extra tape and scissors just in case.
This is an uncomfortable experience when your feet slips out of your shoes or boots while you are walking Some heel slippage is normal, up to half an inch. You can prevent your heel from slipping by attaching an internal tongue pad. Yes, the slippage goes away when the shoe is worn in and there's less resistance.Frequently Asked Questions
⭐ What is heel slippage?
⭐ How much heel slippage is normal?
⭐ How do you prevent heel slippage?
⭐ Will heel slippage go away?
