Do you want to know how to stop shoes from creasing ?
You have come to the right place. If you don’t stop this, they will wear away pretty fast.
But first:
It is normal for your shoe to fold when walking. They do this to conform to your walking style. That is why they crease along the fold lines.
In addition, the more flexible the shoe is the more comfortable it feels. However, it is painful to see your shoe creasing especially if it is one of your best. Of course, creases in shoes are caused by different reasons, as we will find out in this article.
You will only be able to stop your shoe from creasing if you know what causes them. You will discover some things you do that seem normal to you but damage your shoe. You will also discover from this article how to correct the creases if they are not yet severe.
Why is stopping shoe creases so important?
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You see, a creased shoe can be a source of pain when you are walking. The reason for this is that every time your foot flexes, the creased part exerts some pressure on the foot hence causing pain. Therefore, it can be disturbing.
In a nutshell, creases occur because of poor storage of the shoes, wearing the shoes wrongly and not giving them proper care and maintenance.
Why do shoes crease?
It may seem so obvious, but there are many reasons why shoes form creases. Keep reading to see what specifically causes your shoes to form creases:
Shoes crease because the foot bends as you walk
Shoes bend to allow your feet to be flexible when moving. On the same note, the foot bends where the toes joints are, in the metatarsal area.
The rubber in the sole flexes and the upper material contracts to allow your foot to move. At that point, you won’t notice the creases until the shoe is straightened to its original form.
Different shoes crease differently depending on the materials they are made of.
For instance, leather can withstand the pressure exerted when folding. However, in most cases, the creases remain for a long time.
On the other hand, dress shoes also have no problem straightening and you hardly notice the creases after a while.
On the same note, synthetic materials leave the creases, which remain visible for a longer time. The creases may result in cracks in some instances.
Some materials are more vulnerable to creasing
You can manage creases in your shoes depending on the material used to make the shoe and the stiffness of the material.
For instance, the shoes for athletes are made of a well-engineered mesh that can contract and straighten as many times as possible during the running activity. This way, they can last a long time without sustaining damage.
Therefore, such shoes are not vulnerable to creasing. In addition, most of the meshed materials are nylon. Therefore, they straighten out very well.
Generally, creases form when you are walking or running. Therefore, the shoes bend to accommodate the movement of your foot as it flexes.
However, don’t worry about this. You see, the act of bending the shoe is always in the minds of shoemakers. Therefore, they choose material that can allow proper foot movement and bending and still get back to its original position.
When shoes are being made, different parts are fitted with different materials. For instance, where there will be no movement, manufacturers use hard material.
In addition, on areas that will have some movement, the manufacturer uses flexible material. You can therefore predict where a new shoe will crease even before it starts creasing.
Walking and Running Shoes Sustain More Creases
All types of shoes for walking or running must crease. However, the major concern is how long the creases will last. In addition, whether they will damage the shoe will depend on the material used to make it.
Therefore, the shoes crease where the foot moves or bends. It is also possible that shoes from both feet crease in different places, albeit being worn by the same person. In addition, this has something to do with the structural orientation of both feet.
On the same note, you can still find shoes belonging to the same person but from different manufacturers creasing in different places. However, the difference is because of how manufacturers make their shoes and the materials they use.
What is important is that the creased part does not hurt your toes or your foot. It can be difficult to walk with a shoe that is causing you pain.
How To Prevent Creases In Shoes
We have already seen why shoe crease and the mechanics behind it. In addition, you have seen where should dress shoes crease.
The good news is that you can even stop leather boots creasing. Of course, preventing the formation of creases on shoes is easier than waiting for them to occur. Therefore, in this article, we shall not really discuss how to fix wrinkled leather shoes. Rather, we shall look at how to stop leather shoes from creasing.
Some of the methods for how to prevent crease in shoes when walking or running are a bit unorthodox, but hey, they work! Therefore, just keep reading to see a few helpful things that can help you in how not to crease shoes.
1. Using a Shoe Horn to Stop Boot Creasing
Many people damage their shoes right from when they are wearing them. In the same line, they force their foot into the shoe while stepping on it with the heel. Therefore, the heel counter sustains damage in the process.
The best way to wear a shoe, which many people ignore all the time, is using a shoehorn. This item helps your foot to slide into the shoe without having to step on its heel and crushing it. However, this is one of the good habits that can really help to stop shoe creasing.
It is very affordable as compared to a new pair of shoes making it an inexpensive way of saving your shoe.
If you have spent a substantial amount of money on a stylish pair of shoes, you do not want to damage them with the struggle of slipping your foot in. Therefore, you can invest just a little money on the shoehorn. We promise you it will be worth it.
You cannot use the shoehorn on boots. Therefore, it can help in how to keep Jordans from creasing but it might not help with cowboy boots.
2. Choose the right size for your foot
If your shoes are too large at the ball of foot area, they will crease when you walk or run. On the same note, if they are too long, they will crease. In addition, they will crease up even when you stuff them up.
Of course, shoes come in different sizes and this stands for width and length as well. Therefore, you need to know the best size for you.
In addition, you need a size that will not squeeze the foot so much and that will not be too big for you as well. On the same note, a pair of shoes that is too big doesn’t only make you look funny but it also sustains creases fast.
The foot is supposed to help prevent creasing by occupying all of the space inside. Therefore, if your foot leaves too much space inside the shoe, the upper part folds every time that your foot flexes.
How do you know your shoe size? This should be very simple. For instance, when you push your foot inside the shoe, press the front part with your thumb. If you don’t feel your toes, the shoe is too big but if you feel the toes, and you are not squeezed, that’s the right shoe for you.
Secondly, always try stepping on the floor with the shoe to feel it. At the same time, your foot ought to feel relaxed in the shoe once you step on the floor due to weight. On the same note, “listen” to your foot. If the shoes feel easy on the foot, you can assume they fit you.
There is another simple method to use. By this, we mean using the index finger to check whether the shoe fits them. Therefore, just push the foot in front and then fit the finger at the back of the heel. In the same line, if it fits without any pressure, the shoe is too big. On the other hand, if the finger fits tightly in the space between your heel and the shoes, it is the right size.
You can use either method to determine the best shoe for you. Most importantly, know your shoe size and order accordingly.
Use shoe Protectors
Shoe protectors work very well in how to keep leather shoes from creasing. In addition, they keep the upper surface of your shoe always lubricated. Therefore, it is able to get back to its original state after creasing.
Such shoe protectors will not only keep away creases but also increase the lifespan of your shoe. In addition, a very dry shoe will crack and shrink to a point of not fitting you anymore.
However, you will not expect shoe protectors to prevent creases completely but they play a role in preventing creases from damaging the shoe.
Proper storage can stop shoe creasing
You might have noticed that when you remove your shoes, they collapse. The reason is because walking makes them to become thinner and weaker at the point where the shoes bend.
Therefore, you must find a way to store the shoes properly. On the same note, proper storage will help in how to keep shoes from creasing when walking.
For the best storage, invest just a little money on a shoetree. This item comes in the shape of a foot. Besides, it is designed to be tucked in to help your shoes retain their shape.
Therefore, when you remove the shoes, just insert the shoe tree and then leave them. That way, the shoes maintain their natural shape. At the same time, it keeps your house looking organized. Besides, even if a person steps on the shoes by accident, they will still retain their original shape.
If you do not have a shoe tree, just stuff the shoes with old newspapers and rags. This too can help in how to prevent creases in leather shoes.
Conclusion
That is it for how to stop shoes from creasing.
Can you stop shoes from creasing completely, that is, in their entire lifetime? The answer is yes and no.
Here, we have highlighted very important facts in this article that will answer your question. Your shoe manufacturer makes your footwear with the knowledge that your leg must fold when you are walking or running.
Therefore, the material of the shoe will matter a lot. Leather is good but it creases quite fast. However, it is simple to manage the situation using shoe protectors such as we have already discussed.
On the other hand, already existing creases can go away when you iron the shoes. However, this method mostly works for shoes made with fabric material.
In addition, you have to do it with a relatively warm ironing box. On the same note, do not wear the shoes for two consecutive days. When you iron them and leave them to rest a bit, they will be restored to their original form.
When it comes to creasing, you should know that synthetic and plastic materials are also worse because they crease so easily. In addition, they not only crease easily and fast, but they also crack after some time. They are stiff and they may even hurt the foot especially if the shoe is not the right size.
If you know your walking style creases your shoes too much, try to adopt a no crease walk. Okay, old dogs don’t learn new tricks. However, it does not hurt to try, does it?