Tap shoes: heel tap question

[BrexitSucks]

I had to quickly buy a pair of tap shoes for DD (adult shoe size 5). The shoes came with only toe taps. I was told that a cobbler could fit rear metal taps to the shoes... er, any cobbler? Do I phone them first to make sure they know how? I watched a Youtube video & decided it wasn't an "at home" job to fit rear metal taps. I assume you have to buy the rear taps separately to supply to cobbler, but from where, and how do I know which are the right kind to buy?

Any help appreciated!

I used to (a good 10 years ago) get them done at Timpsons. Dance shop sold heel taps. Some might even fit them...

If you can buy them, timpson can fit them (says cobbler DH)

Try eBay if needed, loads of little bits there?

I'd like to support our local cobbler. Maybe I can get DH to ring them tomorrow (I am WAY too busy with work tomorrow).

All the dance wear shops are very inconvenient, so I would like to buy taps online. But how do I know which sort to get. It's a low heel shoe and this is the right shape. Are the shapes very standard?

Teen DD is amazed at how fit tapdancing is going to make her

ps: thanks 4 replies

Would suggest taking shoes in to cobblers and asking advice. Independents will each have their own thoughts on what is required, may even have access to the bits needed.

Is she at a school/club? Mine preferred you to have horse shoe shape as a beginner, but the ones you posted are louder, so more fun!

Dd has tele tone heels and toes on her tap shoes if that helps you work out what to buy

Apologies I see your link those are the same Ines my daughter has. Make a lovely sound

Cheers.

Our cobbler already had the heel taps. Perhaps contact first to check. They only had basic horseshoe taps, so if we'd wanted something different we'd have had to supply them ourselves

Get Capezio or Bloch teletones - dance shop will advise size or contact the online retailer & they'll know if you tell them the shoe & size. I always got a wee local cobbler to do them, they knew what they were doing & it's a pretty quick easy job for them. Much cheaper than Timpsons or the like.

I bought heel taps from the same shop as the shoes and put them on myself.

Apologies, saw you know what kind. They come in about six sizes so you're best to check. Think maybe there might be a size chart online somewhere. You need them to fit right to the edges & take up most of the heel.

Oh Figleafs... I bought heel taps online before I saw people post that sizing can be tricky.

Local cobbler says heeltaps I bought are too small; due to hollow shoeheels, I need exactly right size. Which could be a 6 or a 7. He couldn't say. Getting to dance shop is very inconvenient. I guess phone other cobblers in case one has taps, then plan C is the inconvenient dance shop (phone first to make sure they even have sizes 6 or 7 in stock) but will they let me take the taps out of box to check the size is good(?-- ask that too). Then sometime between now & September to get the actual heel taps fitted on.

Buying a £35 pair brand new online with full set of taps might have been excellent value after all!

First World Problem, I know...