How To Prevent Toe Holes in Shoes

Getting toe holes in your favorite pair of shoes can be an absolute nightmare. I love my shoes and take care of them every chance I get. But even I have to deal with this issue from time to time. So, is there a way to prevent it? Or are all shoes doomed to get toe holes sooner or later?

The truth is, preventing toe holes in shoes is quite possible. And in most situations, you can prevent it just by shopping smarter. A lot of the time, toe holes form in shoes that you bought without checking the size properly. Rough use can also lead to toe holes in some cases.

Practicing a bit of caution in how you buy or use your shoes can absolutely help prevent it from happening.  In this article, I will share some tips and tricks to help minimize the chance of toe holes forming in your shoe.  

Why Do My Shoes Get Holes in The Toe?

I believe the first step to solving the problem is to understand why it is happening in the first place. If your shoes are constantly getting holes in the toe after a couple of months of use, there might be several reasons behind it. And identifying the exact reason will get you one step closer to preventing it.

Once you figure out the reason behind the entire shoe-hole-situation, the rest of the road won’t seem as hard.

Here are the major causes of toe holes in shoes:

• Toe holes are mostly caused due to increased friction between your toe and the toe box area of the shoe.
• Another common reason for toe holes to appear is if you use your shoes in rough conditions. Wearing the same pair of shoes for a long time can also lead to toe holes.
• If the shoe itself is not made with durable materials, it is very natural for toe holes to occur.
• Some people are born with a bigger toe. This can be a probable reason behind toe holes in shoes.
• If you do not cut your toenails regularly, they can get quite long and sharp. It will cut into the inside of the shoe over time and form toe holes.

How Do You Stop Toes from Making Holes in Shoes?

Now that you understand the probable reasons behind toe holes in shoes, you can take the proper steps to prevent it. When I shop for shoes, there are certain features I check to make sure I will not have to deal with toe holes. There are also some personal hygiene practices that you should do to prevent it.

A combination of smart buying habits and hygiene practices will help in handling the shoe-hole problem.

Here are a few simple solutions to prevent toes from making holes in shoes.

1. Buy shoes with hole resistant patches

Toe holes in shoes are pretty common unless the manufacturer of the said shoe takes steps to prevent it. You can find many shoes in the market that come with special inserts to protect your shoe from getting toe holes. It is always a good idea to check if your shoe has these inserts.

Even if it does not, make sure you take your shoe to a cobbler the moment you buy it to get it installed. It will reinforce the front part of your shoe and make it highly resistant to any friction damage. This means you will no longer have to worry about toe holes any time soon.

2. Check the material quality

You should also check the quality of the material used to make the shoe. Whether you are going with a leather shoe or a converse, the material needs to be durable. Otherwise, it will start to lose its integrity as you wear it. After a while, the toe box will start wearing out.

If you buy a leather shoe, you need to apply conditioner to it from time to time. It will keep the leather strong and resistant against any sort of friction damage. Always use high-quality conditioners on your shoe. Make sure you avoid applying any cheap, knock-off conditioners as they can negatively impact the durability of the shoe.

3. Check the Size

If the shoe you buy is too small for your feet, then toe holes will happen sooner or later. In my experience, this is the number one reason behind this problem. So you should always check the size properly before buying a pair of shoes. Getting the right size will help your shoes last longer.

If you have a larger toe, then consider buying a shoe with a larger toe box. This will give you a buffer space between your toe and the toe box of the shoe keeping the friction to a minimum. As a result, the chance of toe holes forming in your shoe will be reduced drastically.

4. Wear good quality socks

Socks are not only comfortable to wear, but also help reduce the amount of friction inside the shoe. It can act as a buffer between your toe and the toe box of the shoe preventing any sort of toe holes from forming. But you do not want to use low-quality socks as they would just get ripped over time.

If, for some reason, you hate wearing socks, then try wearing toe pads. Personally, I find it weird, but a lot of people use it. It is essentially a small fabric that goes on your toe the same way as socks. For those who do not like wearing socks with their shoes, this can be a valid option.

5. Trim your toenails

If your toenails are abnormally large, toenails will form in your shoes. The edges of your nails will constantly rub against the inside of the toe box weakening the fabric. Sooner or later, the material of the shoe will start to wear out, and toe holes will appear in your shoe.

You always want to keep your toenails trimmed. Not only will it make your shoes more durable, but also prevent foul odor from coming out of the shoe. Besides, longer nails can also ruin your socks. It can also lead to ingrown toenails which can hurt a lot.

6. Switch your shoes

You do not want to keep wearing the same pair of shoes everywhere you go. Every shoe has a limit to how much it can take. And if you wear the same pair every single day, it will wear out sooner rather than later. So you want to switch between a couple of shoes.

Ideally, you do not want to wear the same pair of shoes for more than two days in a row. Personally, I rotate between at least five pairs of shoes. I know, it is a bit of an overkill, but I love my shoes. As long as you switch between two or three shoes every week, you should be able to keep toe holes at bay.

7. Protect and maintain your shoes

You want your shoes to last? Well, make sure you put in the work. If you are careless with your shoes, it is natural for toe holes to form. Ideally, you should take some time out of your busy schedule each month to sit down with your shoes and clean them by hand.

If you are the adventurous type, make sure you are buying shoes that can handle rough conditions. Not all shoes are made equal. Some shoes might be great for hiking or skating, whereas others might get damaged easily. You need to understand the limits of the shoe that you are wearing.

What To Do When I Get Toe Holes in Shoes

If you do end up with toe holes in your shoe, you have two options. You can either fix it or you can throw it away. Whichever way you want to go is entirely up to you.

You can take it to a professional shoe luthier. He should be able to patch it up along with fixing the inside lining of your shoes if needed. A professional cobbler can also enhance the durability of your shoe by reinforcing the stitching of the shoe.

However, I always recommend buying a new pair of shoes if it gets toe holes. If it got holes in the first place, this means it might not be the right shoe for your feet. There might be size issues, or your feet might require a bigger toe area. Besides, if the stitching falls apart, it will be quite embarrassing for you. Now, that’s just my take, you can always go for restoration as well.

Final Thoughts

Nobody wants their shoes to get toe holes. It is not only embarrassing but also makes your toe vulnerable to injury. But there are ways to make sure this never happens to your shoe. Hopefully, my handy tips on preventing toe holes could help you understand how you can keep your shoes safe and durable. Good luck!