How can you tell when your pointe shoes are dead?

Question:i've had my pointe shoes for about one and a half years and i'm not sure if they are dead and i would like to know some of the signs that can indicate whether they are wearing out or not

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: i've had my pointe shoes for about one and a half years and i'm not sure if they are dead and i would like to know some of the signs that can indicate whether they are wearing out or not

MY LORD!!!!
I go through pointe shoes about every two months!!
You need new pointe shoes when you can feel the floor through your box.
You also need new ones if the box,even when you're not wearing them, is able to squish and bend.

I'd say that after a year and a half, it would be safe to say that you need a new pair.
BUT that depends on how often they are used, if you haven't used them for 9 months say, then you might not, but if you use them once a week or more every week then you should get new.
It also can depend on how strong your feet are, if you are really light(in weight) and you have a shank that's too hard for your feet, then you might not be too bad off.
But if your not light as a feather, and you have a shank that's good for your strength, then you should get new.

Hope this helps,
Kay

You should get new pointe shoes when either you outgrow them or when the box, shank or platform become so soft that you cannot stand in the shoe properly.

holy crap! that is a long time. i went thru new shoes every month. some performers go thru several pairs a week. its basically when the arch is shot. you must not dance that much and maybe shouldn't be on pointe just yet.

You'll know! And after a year and a half, if youre questioning it, safe to say theyre dead. It will be harder to roll up, and the box won't support you en pointe anymore. The crowns will also feel very soft. You'll know that you don't feel safe and supported by the shoe anymore. When you're putting more effort into staying up than actually dancing, time for a new pair. The life of a pointe shoes is really only a few hours of intensive center work.

When the blocks in your pointe shows strart to grow soft and fall apart and the sides are ripping, it's time to bury the shoes and get some new ones.