elliesboy

Well I took the plunge, and after a lot of experimentation with platforms under the toes, I cut 11mm (just under 1/2") off the heels of my 1025 boots. The result - just about perfect! I followed Dr Who 3's instructions and the finished job looks very professional. I can now stand with my legs (almost) straight, and a short walk should be possible with practice. Why do Devious insist on making the heels so long? You would think that feedback from places such as here should have reached them by now. Is there anyone out there who actually gets on with the original length heel?

Thank you Dr Who 3, that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for! I've been trying my boots on for a few days now, and they feel a little different (easier?) each time. I'm inclined to wait a bit and see if my ankle flexibility improves any before I take a saw to them. How much did you take off the heel? 5mm or just under 1/2" would seem right for me at present.

Well I took the plunge and bought a pair of Devious 1025 ankle boots. Very pleased with them, just two things that prospective buyers should be aware of: 1. Despite the appearance, they are not actually lockable. Although the padlocks and keys are real, the strap is only held on at the other end with velcro. So not actually secure. 2. As I suspected would be the case, I found the heels about 1/4" too long. I can't quite stand with my knees straight, which makes standing difficult and walking impossible! By supporting the toes on a couple of magazines, I can stand up straight and they become a lot more comfortable (well a bit!). I'm considering having a go at the heel mod, i.e. shortening them slightly. If there is anyone out there who has done it, what's the best way to get the heel tip off? A straight pull or a twist and pull? And what is behind it? Does the "nail" or whatever holds it to the heel come away with the tip? Answers and suggestions gratefully received!

I'm also looking at buying a pair of Devious ballet boots, probably the 1025 ankle boots. They are a bit more expensive in the UK, but still one of the more reasonably priced brands. Are the heels on all Devious boots too long? In some pictures on the Internet they look OK, but on others (and definitely in one Youtube video I saw) they look miles too long! Has anyone got any first hand experience of the 1025 boots (ankle boots with padlock)? Are the heels OK or too long? Thanks in advance...

Myself and my SO are planning a trip up to London in the New Year. Amongst the sightseeing and other vanilla activities we are hoping to buy my first pair of ballet boots. I'm looking for ankle or calf boots with a padlockable strap. Just a few questions for you good people: What brand boots would you recommend? I'm hoping to actually manage a few steps in them rather than being just for show. I'm aware that they need to be a tight fit, but many manufacturers say to order a size or two larger for very high heels. So, if I'm a UK 9.5 what size should I be looking at? What shops in London would people recommend for such boots? Thanks muchly for your thoughts!

As per dubheii's suggestion, I managed to get some walking stick tips from a local hardware store. They were a bit big to fit tightly onto my heels, so I inserted a piece of rubber hose in each to make a smaller diameter hole. This worked an absolute treat, they are a nice tight fit and won't come off accidentally. I've just tottered my first 0.1 miles in my 5" shoes - I'm aiming to work up to a mile. Much more practice required!

Thanks for your ideas folks! I like the idea of the crutch / cane tips, I'll look out for some next time I'm in B&Q (our equivalent of Home Depot, etc.). I'm not quite ready to hit the real streets in my heels yet - the treadmill is the next best thing, but I don't want to damage it, especially as it belongs to SWMBO...

That's what I'm concerned about - the very high pressure on the tip of a stilletto will damage the belt. What I'm looking for is a way to temporarily widen the base of the heel, to spread the load more evenly. Any ideas?

That video is so cool! With or without heels, I have a way to go before trying that!

Does anybody here wear their heels while using a treadmill? It's a great way to practice and build up some mileage! Just one thing - how are you stopping the heel tips damaging the treadmill belt? Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

It all makes sense now, tallguyinheels, I can see how that stretch is going to help. I will give it a try and report back! C'mon new_look, you can try it too!

Thanks for that - they sound like the kind of exercises I'm looking for! Although I'm having a little difficulty visualising them. Could you possibly post a picture or diagram? As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!

Unfortunately I don't have a pair of ballet heels to stretch in, so I tried Dr Shoe's exercises in my 6" heels. New_look, I think there might be something in it! Rather than say to myself, "Right, I'm going to stand in these heels for 30mins / 1hr / whatever", I took it very slowly. 5 mins standing, 5 mins sitting, 6 mins standing, 5 mins sitting, and so on until I had stood for 10 mins, which is way longer than I had been able to manage before. I put the keys for the locking ankle straps right at the other end of the house, so there was no temptation to take the shoes off during the break periods. I don't know if it's my imagination, but I could swear there's a tiny bit more movement in my toes - maybe my Achilles tendons are giving a bit. Incidentally, once I had finished I tried my old 5" heels on - they felt like a pair of bedroom slippers! It might be a while until I can wear 6" all day, but it is progress!

Thank you both for your replies. Jmc, in hindsight, going for some 5.5" heels would have been the wise thing to do, but the lure of the magical 6" figure was just too much! In fact, due to my shoe size (I had to buy UK11 in order to fit) the height is closer to 6.5". New_look, you have hit the nail on the head, so to speak. My toes simply don't bend that far! I would like to think that if I wore my shoes for long enough, my toes would adapt, but sadly this isn't practical, and after more than a few minutes standing in them, actually becomes painful. However, my ankles can just about cope with the heel height. If anyone has any suggestions for exercises that could be carried out in a "vanilla" environment, e.g. under the desk at work or around the home, I would appreciate it!

Hi Folks, I've been wearing 5" heels for a while now, and have just "upgraded" to a pair of 6" locking ankle strap courts. I thought they would feel a bit higher but nothing prepared me for the difference in sensation with 6" heels! The only problem I'm having is that my toes don't bend up enough to allow the shoe to fit on properly. I think they need to bend up at almost a 90 degree angle. I'm sure a woman or other everyday heel wearer would have the flexibility for this, but as an occasional wearer, I'm struggling! Can anyone suggest any techniques or exercises to overcome this? Thanks in advance!!

Just wanted to say "hi" and how glad I am to find this forum... it's great to know I'm not alone in loving the sensation of wearing heels!