So you were excited to walk in your new boots but soon realized that your heel is slipping slightly. You just experienced heel slippage. This is an uncomfortable and risky experience where your heel glides up the boot, and it may sometimes pop out wholly.
Causes of Heel Slippage in Boots
Heel slippage is a common problem with new boots. At this time, the boot is still adjusting to the contours of your foot. The boot cover is also stiff, so it does not bend with your foot movement.
The slippage reduces if you wear the boots repeatedly. This is called breaking the shoe, which refers to the decline in the rigidity of the outer sole, which makes them easy to bend and fit your foot’s contours. However, if the slippage persists, there could be another problem. Here are some things you can try to fix the slippage:
Table of Contents
How to Fix Heel Slippage in Boots
Select Well-Fitting Boots
Wearing loose-fitting boots is the most common reason for heel slippage. Fix it by selecting boots that fit your feet well. That does not mean you wear tight boots as you will be uncomfortable and may harm your foot.
Insist on trying out your boots before buying them to ensure they are the right size. If you are buying them from an online store, ask if they accept returned merchandise. That way, should you feel they are too tight or loose, you can ask for a replacement.
Walk Properly
Maybe that has caught you by surprise since you imagine you learned how to walk years ago. But, yes, you could be walking wrongly, leading to foot slippage. Do you walk on your middle foot or ball area? That is wrong. Always let your heel touch the ground first and launch your foot from the heel to the toes.
Wear Non-Slip Socks
Non-slip socks will keep your foot fixed in the boot always. Start using them when your boots are still new, for the outer sole to accommodate their thickness when expanding.
Should the boots still feel loose, try wearing two pairs of socks. This will keep your feet cozy and in place.
Use Inner Soles or Lining
These must be non-slip pads or linings. Besides adding to the cozy feel of your boots, they also make your foot fit more tightly into the boot.
If the toe area is already tight, place the lining or inner padding below the heel. Remember to replace them when you notice they are thinning out. Also, check that they are comfortable for your feet for them not to injure your feet.
Lace-Up and Use Lace Locks
Loose laces give your feet leeway to slip out. Tie your laces properly using a lacing style that remains intact longer. And if it still does not work, reinforce the laces with lace locks.
Insert Tongue Pads
The tongue-like flap that comes between your laces and your foot is the shoe tongue. As your boots age, the tongue loses its fluffiness creating some space for the foot to move in the boot.
Counter this by placing a shoe tongue pad to tighten the boot. And since the tongue pad will also wear out with time, replace them regularly to retain their effectiveness.
Maintain Your Boots Properly
Wet boots will slip more than dry ones. Ensure your boots are dry before wearing them. Should they become wet in the day, find a place where you can dry them with a hairdryer. However, avoid drying them this way often as the hairdryer makes the boots’ outer cover degenerate.
Consult a Podiatrist
Have you considered that persistent heel slippage could be because you have a foot complication? Probably, one foot is markedly bigger, or you are suffering from pronation problems. A podiatrist should give you a correct diagnosis.
One solution the specialist may recommend is the use of orthotic heel slip pads. These are custom-made to correct any foot problems over time so that the heel slippage can eventually stop even when you do not use inserts.
Use Double-Sided Adhesive Tape
When you need a quick-fix solution, use double-sided adhesive tape. As you may have guessed, they will stick your socks to the inner sole, preventing too much heel movement.
This technique is popular with people who do high-movement activities on a stage, such as dancing and acting. It may save you the embarrassment of a boot flying across the hallway.
Unfortunately, it works for as long as your feet remain dry. The moment you start sweating, the tape ceases to work as it loses its adhesiveness.
Use Hair Spray
This is another makeshift solution you can try at home when your adhesive tape runs out. Since hair spray is sticky, it will glue the socks to your boots’ inner lining, preventing the heel from slipping.
But again, just like with the adhesive tape, it ceases to work the minute you begin to sweat. Use it when you know you will not be doing high-movement activities that may make you sweat a lot. You can also use it when stepping out for a short while to avoid your feet sweating a lot and slipping.
Conclusion
Heel slippage refers to instances when your foot slips up your boot, sometimes coming off, leaving the boot behind. This commonly happens when your boots are new, in which case you have to patiently wait for the boot to adjust to the curves of your foot.
But if the slippage continues, you could try some measures like wearing non-stick socks, ensuring the boots are dry, and inserting inner non-slid pads. Lacing your boots and locking the laces also prevents heel slippage.
Should you need a quick-fix for your heel slippage, try double adhesive tape or hair spray. You can consult a podiatrist to check your feet and see if there is an underlying condition causing persistent slippage. The specialist may custom-make your inner soles to remedy and defect on your foot and cure the slippage permanently.