Gaynor Minden Shoes

I’ve got a pair of GMs. They are great, but the only problem is that whenever I do a deep plie or a grand plie, the heel starts to slip off. Should I buy Heel Grippers of sew elastics?

Any tips?

June 8, 2007 | In Questions | 8 Comments

8 Comments »

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  1. It depends some ballet schools dont like elastics and if you take part in shows or exams some schemes dislike them! Heel grips are good but my belief is they take a while to get used to. Try tightening the drawstring slightly if u can, see if this works otherwise heel grips it is. Good Luck

    Happy Dancing
    Hannah
    xx-x-x-xx

    Comment by Hannah — June 12, 2007 #

  2. tightening the drawstring can help, but if you pull too tight the drawstring can cause irritation. I’ve never used heel grips, so I can’t say anything about them, but if there is no reason for you not to have elastics, they are usually a good option.

    Comment by Marissa — June 12, 2007 #

  3. Definitely try tightening the drawstring first, but follow your Gaynor Minden Instructions and draw them in line with the shoe. Don’t pull them UPWARD when tightening them! Unlike many shoes the Gaynor Minden drawstring is elastic too and so causes less heel irritation when tightened.

    Next try the elastic, the Gaynor Minden wide invisible elastic is outstanding.

    Third, if they still slip off, then you may have too potential additional issues – either you bought the shoe in the wide shoe width and you need a medium width AND/OR you need to order the shoe with a “sleek” heel which also comes in different widths. The sleek heel tapers back more and is good for people whose heels are more “V” shaped.

    Remember, Gaynor Minden’s have 2951 variations on the theme. You can get 3 different toe boxes in different widths, and still get a narrow width shoe and a different size heel width all in the same shoe. Then there are the 5 variations in the shank strength, the different vamp heights, the different height of the heels, the regular heel vs. the sleek heel, etc., etc.

    Call Gaynor Minden for help, they are really great. They helped us get the exact fit for my daughter. We’re not close to any Gaynor Minden sellers, so we ordered on line using the foot tracing diagram on Gaynor Minden’s web site. The first 2 pairs they sent us (in one order) were close, but not quite right – one pair was a bit too long and the 2nd pair we thought would fit ended up slipping off the heel in class, too, even with the draw string tight and elastic sewn on. But my daughter loved them so much, despite the slipping problem, that she was determined to get them in the right size.

    So we called and talked at length to the very patient and helpful ladies at Gaynor Minden and then based on their recommendations, we ended up ordering four more pairs in a single order that each had slight differences in fit. Once we got them, my daughter tried them on and we figured out what fit best. As per Gaynor Minden’s instructions. we sent the 4 unused pairs back for a full refund without a single hitch. My daughter ended up with the exact fit she needs for her incredibly super high arches- Box 4, medium width, sleek narrow heel, deep vamp, and the hardest shank #5. The new pair feel and look great, and are so quiet!! Also, now that we know exactly what to order, we’ll get all her future pairs with the suede toe tips, so they’ll be even quieter and last even longer. They couldn’t be more ideal.

    A further point. The Gaynor Minden is the only pointe shoe recommended by the American Podiatric Medical Association, which is worth considering if you want a career in dancing and want your feet to last. It may be a little trouble to get the fit you need, but the results are definitely worth it.

    So happy fitting to you and keep trying!

    Comment by Elizabeth — June 19, 2007 #

  4. There is two ways to put elastic on.
    1. in a small loop approx 1″ at the back so you can just thread your ribbons through, and then tie around ankles.

    2. in a large loop to fit firmly across the ankle.

    either one is good, it will secure the shoe (heel) firmly. It just depends on what would suit you or your schools requirements.

    good luck

    Miss j

    Comment by Miss J — June 23, 2007 #

  5. Miss J: a small loop you thread your ribbons through can cause irritation of the Achilles tendon and even tendonitis! I don’t think this can be regarded as a good choice.

    Comment by Marissa — June 23, 2007 #

  6. Let me just say that I did get the heel that is higher, I recently switched from russian shoes, low vamp high heel and at first I was slightly annoyed with the heel slippage, but it’s easily solved with rosin, or water. I was thinking about getting the heel grippers but if you have rosin or a running water tap, I’d save your money.

    Comment by Sarah — February 14, 2008 #

  7. You can try wetting the heel of your pointe shoe. This helps a little bit, but for long term improvement you should buy the heel grippers.

    Comment by Kristen — January 2, 2011 #

  8. Just remember you only get one try. Trailers come in several different widths and lengths.

    Comment by Jeannie Moochler — April 29, 2011 #

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