Clarkd3 Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 Hi I've been reading threads about how to break in soft blocks but what I really don't understand is why don't manufacturers sell them already soft and quiet? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 Good question 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 (edited) Surely it's a matter of 'breaking them in ' being different for each dancer in just how broken in is 'ready' ... Pointes are a funny item in that i cant really think of any other product that is is not only 'some assembly required' but requires you to source your own bits to do this ... ( vs. something you make up from components ). Edited February 4, 2017 by mph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrancingMum Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Just been speaking to DD's friend who was bemoaning the fact that after two years she still doesn't feel her soft blocks are broken in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moomin Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Isn't the idea that they are hard to mimic pointe shoes? I've never worn them but do no breaking in with pointe shoes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLou Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Dd de-shanks old pointe shoes and uses those as soft blocks, so they are already broken in. It’s time-consuming, but she seems to think it’s worth it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Isn't the idea that they are hard to mimic pointe shoes? I've never worn them but do no breaking in with pointe shoes! AIUI they have a couple of purposes 1. get people back used to full soles after having been 'allowed' split soles 2. get used to the toe box - if you've never worn pointes or soft blocks have you ever worn steel toecaps shoes / boots and compare that to ordinary shoes / boots, the centre of gravity and 'feel' moves a bit ... the fact they look like pointes and therefore are 'pretty' is a side effect ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Dd de-shanks old pointe shoes and uses those as soft blocks, so they are already broken in. It’s time-consuming, but she seems to think it’s worth it. probably worth the time spent to remove the shanks and make good vs the cost of buying and then breaking in new demis ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moomin Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 (edited) I can't honestly say I dont feel any different dancing in split sole or full sole. I can see why soft pointes are used as the precursor to doing the entire class in pointe shoes as the balance etc is different. I would have thought that being really soft would negate some of the benefit though, although would be comfier! Edited February 4, 2017 by Moomin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 The problem we found with deshanking old pointe shoes is that they're too big.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 I can't honestly say I dont feel any different dancing in split sole or full sole. i think it will depend on the shape of your foot and to some extent the brand of shoes , i find that it feels like my big toes are sliding off the soles in the pair of full sole soft shoes i have compared to split soles ... i'm hot sure how much of the idfference is psychological and you can;t really blind people to it ( i suppose you could make a split sole shoe with extra material in the sole to make the sole behave more like a full sole) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahw Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 I can't honestly say I dont feel any different dancing in split sole or full sole. That's interesting because as a fairly unskilled observer I can see who is in which type.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarkd3 Posted February 4, 2017 Author Share Posted February 4, 2017 We've had no luck with de-shanking pointe shoes, they always end up too big or so messy in the inside that they're too uncomfortable to wear! I do get that every dancer has a different requirement for the degree of softness etc but think the manufacturers could sell a soft block shoe with options of differing softness! We've just come home from our local shop with beautiful new shoes and husband thinks dd has lost the plot attacking them!!! Why do shoes give up when you're weeks away from important events too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cara in NZ Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 The problem we found with deshanking old pointe shoes is that they're too big.... We put a pair of insoles in after deshanking, which also helps them be a bit more comfortable. But yes, DD ended up having to put her Ouch Pouches back on as the box was so hard! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadBallerina Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 I usually de shank my shoes (I find old freeds are the best) and then put them inside a sock each and put them through the washing machine which shrinks them a bit as well so they're not too big xx 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueLou Posted February 12, 2017 Share Posted February 12, 2017 We put a pair of insoles in after deshanking, which also helps them be a bit more comfortable. But yes, DD ended up having to put her Ouch Pouches back on as the box was so hard! Dd also puts an insole in, and sometimes wears thin trainer socks with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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