Why do my shoes develop holes after one wear? :(

[roughshod]

Help! The last two pairs of shoes I bought have worn through at the toes after just one or two wears. Now 4 yo DD is being bullied at preschool by the children of shallow people because her mummy has shabby shoes (whole other topic and whingefest from me).

Anyway. I need new shoes regardless, and am dependent on mail order as I take EE width and have moved to the back of beyond.

What are these wearing-out shoes made of, what is this construction style called (so I can avoid it), or, what keywords can I look for that will be safe from this?

It looks as though both pairs of shoes are made of some very thin layer of outer material (fabric? leather?) over a thin layer of fabric, over something harder and more robust (leather?).

So the outer thin coloured layer and the support fabric are being worn through far too easily at the toes, and it's impossible to make the shoes look decent once that has happened.

The second pair was from Hotter and the first from Clarks. I'd had similar shoes from Clarks for the previous three or four years with nothing of this sort. Having said that, whatever old material they used was hard around the heels and took many wears to break in (but nice robust toes), whereas the new design is a dream of softness (and flimsy toes). I decamped from Clarks when the sales lad said that the problem must be my walking style.

Anyone know? Thanks :)

I have no clue I'm afraid but just wanted to say what bitches, how horrid for you.

And Clarks should know better quite frankly. They used to really know their stuff.

Someone will be along soon to advise properly. Good luck.

Shoes that develop holes after one or two wears should be promptly returned to wear you bought them for a full refund, they are not fit for purpose.

Do you have curvy toes with toenails that point upwards at the end like a ski jump? My DBro does and he eventually slices through most shoes with them! Not after one or two wears, but he buys heavy leather boots. He also doesn't cut his toenails often enough...

Agree with gobblingknob.

Get a refund. You've been unlucky.
The salesman should never try to fob you off with "your walking style" WTF? I remember returning a pair of walking shoes because they developed a hole in the bottom after just a couple of weeks. The assistant asked me what I'd been doing and I said I'd been hiking around the countryside a couple of times. When she told me that these walking shoes were only really meant for tarmacced surfaces I flipped and made a bloody big scene in the shop. She quickly changed her mind and I got a refund.

Shoes ARE becoming more flimsy - I can't find anything suitable for dd from Clarks as they are all very flat, soft leather like ballet shoes which offer no ankle support. I now get her feet measured there and shop online. I look for robust soles, ankle support and leather uppers.

I agree that you need a sturdy shoe. Have you tried DMs? They don't just do boots but shoes and sandals too and that is bloody good leather that lasts years.

And I would target the parents of these children and bloody well confront them too - how dare they bully your child because of your shoes! I would be hopping mad.

'gobblingknob'?

Could be something in how you walk, see a podiatrist in case you excessively pronate or something. I have wide feet with high insteps. I buy cheap shoes & walk miles, my shoes last reasonably well.

at 4yos noticing the condition of adult footwear.

ps: I buy bloke shoes, now, and styles with very wide toe area (Hushpuppies).

How can shoes develop holes after 1 wearing?
How far do you walk and in what conditions? eg is it s stroll or a 3 mile walk over rough ground?

I think you need to be honest and ask if the shoes you choose are right for the type of walking you do.

Also- are they the right siz? You should have at least 1cm from the end of your big toe to the end of the shoe- or your big toe willrub and may wear a hole in the shoes. This also happens if you have upturned toes which catch the top of the shoes ( from inside.)

This happens to my shoes now and then as I have turned up big toes, but only after literally years of wear.

Are you sure the shoes are the right size? Are your toenails too long? Remember your feet move forwards into your shoes when you walk. If you have tried a bigger size and they are far too long, then you have been unlucky with poor shoes. But check the size first. How do you know you have wider feet? If you've been measured by Clarks then ignore that. :)

Did you really mean after one or two wears, and not after one or two years?

What sort of holes and where? Are the tips of the toes becoming scuffed on the outside, or is the hole being created from the inside? Even if you had upturned toes and the nails were rubbing against the shoes, surely you would feel that?

Am typing one-fingered due to bf DS so v quick thanks for all suggestions :) and apologies for garbled post

Re: preschool, not clear which child(ren) they are; this suburb has a bit of a reputation for pretentious mums w/ boob jobs :( though some lovely people too. Fortunately managed to get DD enrolled in school up the road where we can't afford - there they are posh mums with baggy jumpers and no makeup and noone batted eyelid at my hippy scruffdom. Not living in the UK, which makes this more possible.

Feet not normal, have had past surgery for bunions and back injury affects gait, but don't think that's main issue as never had problem like this

Wear is on outside so walk along street/playground/park has worn patch on outside, impossible just to polish as it;s worn through fabric. Sort of front/top of toe, I guess bumping things in grass such as small stones.

Yes, one wear for one pair, two or three wears for second. Strolling on pavement, playground with soft surface, walk across grassy park.

Should have got refund, true :( Was distracted by moving o'seas and head not screwed on and now too late

DH thinks prob new cheap manufacturing process, suggests getting some custom made (think can be done locally), will also check out DMs.

Thanks again! :)