10 Ways to Stop Shoes Slipping

A comparison of DIY hacks and products

If you have narrow feet, half-sizes or own an extensive collection of shoes, the chances are that you have experienced shoe slipping. Walking out of your shoes at every step is not exactly glamorous, not to mention irritating and dangerous!

 

Shoe lovers often bemoan the lack of a working solutions to shoe slipping but fear not! We have summarised and compared all of the best ways known to womankind to stop shoe slippage. Everyone is different so you may have to try a few of these solutions to see what works for you.

 

The first 5 in the list are DIY hacks, tips and tricks. The latter 5 are products. Our top recommendation is, of course, ShoeStix but if one of the free solutions works for you then that’s great!

1. Spray Hairspray on your feet

As strange as it may sound, many women swear that spraying hairspray on their feet, makes their feet sticky and therefore keeps their shoes in place. According to some YouTubers, celebrities even use this trick when walking the red carpet!

 

Pros
Cheap/free to try
Appears to work for many women

 

Cons
The back of the heel can still rub and become blistered
Reports of smelly feet as a result…

2. Talcum Powder

If you think your shoes are slipping as result of sweaty feet, it may help to put some talc inside your shoe before putting them on. It will absorb the sweat and, hopefully, reduce shoe slippage.

 

Pros
Cheap/free to try
Improve foot and shoe smell

 

Cons
Limited reports of it helping to stop shoes slipping
The back of the heel can still rub and become blistered

3. Use double-sided tape

You may have heard that Jessica Alba told New York Magazine “I stick every shoe to the bottom of my foot with double-stick tape”.

 

This technique is very popular and generally works. It’s certainly worth trying if you have some fashion tape around. The shortfall is that the stick wears off causing the tape to scrunch up and ride out of the shoe. It works, but may take some regular adjusting!

 

Pros
It’s good enough for celebs like Jessica Alba!
It is good at reducing shoe slippage

 

Cons
One time use
Stickiness quickly fades, particularly when you sweat
Tape can scrunch up and fall out

4. Stuff your shoes with cotton wool or fabric 

If you think your shoes are slipping as result of sweaty feet, it may help to put some talc inside your shoe before putting them on. It will absorb the sweat and, hopefully, reduce shoe slippage.

 

Pros
Cheap/free to try
Improve foot and shoe smell

 

Cons
Limited reports of it helping to stop shoes slipping
The back of the heel can still rub and become blistered

5. Wear shoe liners/invisible socks

Most of you will own a pair of “invisible” socks, also known pop socks or shoe liners. Obviously you can’t get away with wearing them with all shoe types but when you can, they can help to reduce shoe slipping. They won’t always help but it’s worth checking.

 

Pros
You probably already have them

 

Cons
Can’t be used with all shoes
Sometimes ineffective at stopping shoe slipping

 

6. Try tights with built-in Sole Grips ★★★☆☆

This Hello article reported that none-other-than Kate Middleton uses these £5 John Lewis tights to keep her shoes in place. This solution has mixed reviews with similar M&S version achieving 3/5 stars in reviews. Many of the reviews praise the quality of the tights but not necessarily their ability to keep shoes in place. Here is a pricier option from the States. Having said that, if they’re good enough for a Princess, it’s got to be worth trying for a fiver!

 

Pros
Erm, Kate Middleton.
Only £5

 

Cons
Mixed reviews
Tights only

7. The dreaded Heel Grip ★☆☆☆☆

Ah, the heel grip. Some people say they work… but not many. Heel grips stick to the back of the shoe to pack-in and cushion the heel. The idea is that it tightens the shoe fit and reduces rubbing on the achilles. Unfortunately, they simply do not stop shoe slipping at all for most people. They do help a bit if your shoes are rubbing at the back. However, they will inevitably unstick from the shoe, roll up into a little ball and end up on the floor.

 

Pros
Cheap
Can sometimes help with heel rubbing

 

Cons
Cheap for a reason
Do not stop shoe slipping
Often slide out of the shoe

8. Shoe liners, insoles and pads ★★☆☆☆

The wide range of shoe liners, insoles and pads all work in the same way: like heel grips, they cushion and pack in the foot to reduce movement. Many of the solutions in the picture work really well at improving comfort, reducing pain and sometimes stopping blisters. They’re not so great at actually stopping shoes from slipping. So, for the purpose of this list they get a modest 2 stars out of 5.

 

Pros
Can be cheap
Improve comfort

 

Cons
Like heel grips, rarely stop shoes from actually slipping

9. Shoe Fillers ★★★☆☆

Shoe fillers are the shop-bought version of number 4 on our list: stuff your shoes. You use them to fill the front of the shoe if you find that there is space around your toes. The idea is to prevent the foot from sliding forward, and consequently, prevent the foot lifting out of the shoe when you walk. There are many variations on Amazon.

 

It has good and bad reviews in equal measure. Some say that the material hurts their toes but the overall consensus is that it’s no more effective than the DIY solution discussed at number 4. As one Amazon reviewer put it: “Could just as easily stuff a bit of foam in the end of my boots for the same effect.”

 

Pros
Reasonably cheap
Do work for some people

 

Cons
Can move around inside the shoe
Can hurt toes
Little more effective than stuffing your shoe yourself

10. ShoeStix ★★★★★

ShoeStix combine the benefits of using double-sided sticky tape with the comfort and reliability of insoles. This dual-action makes ShoeStix unique. The double-sided sticky insole sticks to the sole and back of the shoe. When you put your foot inside the shoe, the insole sticks firmly to your sole and wraps around the back of your heel. Amazon reviews for the new product are strong. They also offer a money-back guarantee if the product does not work for you. Available here.

 

Pros
Exceptional at keeping shoes in place
Long-lasting, transferrable and  reusable
Money-back guarantee

 

Cons
At £6.99, they are a little more expensive than some alternatives
Known to be slightly less effective with tights