Do the shoes feel too big

Are the shoes tight on the length or are they comfortable

Do the shoes feel too wide

Please take your shoes off and point your toes. If you are curling your toes that is incorrect technique and will cause the shoe to have a space in the toe area. Always  keep your toes straight when you point as that strengthens the arch of the foot and stretches the tendons.
 

Finally when we send a shoe we can never determine the exact fit as we are not there and so the estimate of the fitting is based on trial and error. Normally we get it right but with all the fitting variables the actual fitting is down to the dancer and it is the dancer of course that will have to make that final buying decision. These shoes are soft leather and will conform to the shape of your feet when they have been worn for a little time but saying that we still need input from the dancer to work out whether or not the shoe fits in the first place when they receive it. It is of course reasonable to understand that we are happy to exchange shoes that have not been worn of course or shall, we say that are in a resalable condition. If the shoes are not fitting and you have worn them, the first thing is to offer them within the class and then reorder from me

Fitting Hullachan Shoes please follow these fitting instructions. Pull shoe on but do not pull over heel just yet Using the more flexible looser shoe not tightened by the heel, pull in the front of the shoe across the toes and pull the lace up to the last set of loops if Irish Shoes/ or Eyelets if Scottish Shoes now pull on the heel Cross the laces and go through the second set of eyelets nearer the back loop pull the heel up tight using the laces. Please the foot on the floor to get a good purchase bring each lace on the same side to the first eyelets nearer the front loops lace through each eyelet one at a time pull up the arch on the outside pull up the arch on the inside. Make sure both arch lulls are pulled as high as you can. Lace to be timed on top and excess lace cut or tucked into one side. Notes: A: If cutting the lace, you can either burn the end or dip the ends onto clear nail varnish to stop unravelling. Do not tie around the arch or the ankle.. Tying around the arch can  damage the arch muscles and reduce blood flow to the toes. Tying around the ankle can compress the Achilles tendon. B: The reason I request you not to pull the heel on prior to lacing is that it makes it a lot easier to pull the sides of the shoe at the front of the shoe over the foot when the shoe is not tightened by being initially on your heel. C: The Hullachan has four 'PULL UPS' . The lacing pull up over the toes , the second pull up the heel with the  back loops, the third and fourth are the left and right side pulls to make the shoe fit hard against the arch. Do these four pull-ups and your shoes will look wonderful on your foot and you will get the very best out of Hullachan. D: Do not fit shoes too small as on smaller childrens feet they simply do not have the strength to stretch the leather and they will damage their feet. We make Hullachan in a leather that is slightly pre-stretched for the normal life of the shoe. (See Aftercare) E: Do not use elastic laces on dance shoes as these act like a cheese cutter because dancers will pull elastic so tight as to make the elastic very thin and then it becomes dangerous. This means that delicate nerves, blood vessels and muscles are being compressed into and onto a tiny area each time the elastic is pulled tight where it touches the skin. This will also damage the top of the feet, the arch and the Achilles Please note that with these last two items, it is very important to identify when a shoe is causing damage to the dancers feet. These can be sore arches, sore toes, pain under the feet, around the heel and on top of the foot. If you do not pay attention to these signs then the long term damage can be irreversible.

Always pull the heel up tightly when your laces are thru' the back loop and then pull the sides up when the side eyelets are laced.

Always pull the heel up tightly when your laces are thru' the back loop and then pull the sides up when the side eyelets are laced.

Please click the start arrow
This is a streaming video so please wait a minute or two
for the video to start after pressing the start arrow

Dancers have trusted us with the health of their feet for over 10 years and we continue to uphold and respect that trust. The special Hullachan styling is unique in the dance world.

The foot has 125 thousand sweat glands and that can produce half a litre of perspiration when wearing your shoes at a competition. Its natural but the shoe will still be wet so the constant wetting and subsequent drying of the shoe will take its toll on the shoe itself. Your Hullachan will therefore need some form of after care treatment. Never put your shoes away after a competition and only see them again when you next dance.  You will need to air and dry the shoes between uses.

Drying shoes after use:

Make sure the shoes are dry before you treat shoes. Hang the shoes in a warm area but not on a direct heat such as a radiator.

Cleaning the leather:

Use a shoe cream to feed the leather once a week.

Stitching:

Treat stitching with beeswax once a week. Run the corner of a beeswax stick over the stitching that is in contact with the ground. The shoes components are both stitched and glued so if stitching should wear away the glue will still hold the component onto the upper.

Heel Pads and Insole Pads

The pads are durable but after along and possibly excessive wear, the front sole pads may split. If that does happen within six months, send me a copy of your receipt and I will send you a replacement pad or pads. A shoemaker or competent crafts worker will need to remove the old pads and re glue in the new pads. Only use contact adhesive for rubber. Do not use superglue products as these will melt the pads.

HEEL PADS: You do not need a heel pad to dance. These are for comfort only. Some dances  even take them out as a preference. That is why we do not heavily glue these pads into the shoe. They are lightly glued and may, after a period of time, come loose. Simply glue these back in using a contact adhesive for rubber. We use Bostix cement glue in the UK but you will have different glues in other countries. Read the label, Whatever glue you use DO NOT USE SUPERGLUE TYPE GLUES. These could melt the padding. If you need a replacement pad please email me. 

Optimum wear advice:

Wearing two pairs of shoes are always the best idea as you can alternate between the shoes. This will make the shoes last much longer.

How long will shoes last?

Let me give you some comparisons. A runner will expect a pair of running shoes to last 200 to 300 miles. That can equate to two or three weeks. The shoes look fine but the support will have gone. A ballerina can go through a pair of Pointe Shoes in one performance. Hullachan  Dance shoes are no different depending on the level at which you dance. A novice can expect around four to six months from shoes depending on growth of the dancer. A dancer at championship level will probably go through shoes three times a year or every four to six weeks. After a year your shoes may still look alright but the support may well have gone though and the leather stretched too much. While we do not make shoes in leather that over-stretches the material is never the less organic and as such may eventually breakdown with bacteria from the foots perspiration.

In all instances please read the aftercare advice offered here to make your shoes survive the rigours of dance, practice and competition. These shoes are famous for durability however, Hullachan will offer a 30 day guarantee for normal wear and tear.

We do not cover damage done through wearing on non dance surfaces, stone, gravel or rough floors. We do not cover shoes that have been washed, soaked in water and then dried out under or around heat. We do not cover shoes that are not dried between wears as this will break down the organic elements of the shoes.

(Please read the after care advice offered here)

Soles torn off through being caught on edges of floors are not covered.
Shoes that have been worn outside, washed, altered in any way, are not covered.

Day to day small repairs such as sticking the sole back on if caught on a dance floor etc, by the dancer using a contact adhesive is a normal repair for dancers. Manufacturing faults within this period are covered by Hullachan.

Split insoles within the first six weeks are also covered by supplying a replacement pad or pads that you can insert yourself or at a shoe repair store.

No shoe will be considered unless you can produce a valid receipt from a recognised Hullachan Dealer.

If you have any issues about your shoes please speak to me, Craig.coussins@btinternet.com and I will be very happy to make things better for you if possible

Repairs:

A dancer will possibly have to repair elements of a worn shoe. If using glue do not use the superglue types of adhesive. Only use a contact adhesive, applying glue, waiting until the glue is almost dry and then bonding the leather together.