VFF classics heel tab removal

[moosepaws]

I was so thrilled with how comfy my VFF sprints were, I went out an bough a pair of classics.  Unfortunately, I found the heel tab intolerable, no matter how loose the bungee was.  The only way to avoid the Achilles-stabbing was to flex my ankle the whole time, which was not only annoying, but also prevented me from that mid/forefoot strike I'd come to love.  So, it had to go!  I wanted the classics for casual wear, and kept the sprints for running.  So, disabling the bungee wasn't an issue.

In case anyone else runs into this problem, I detailed the mod:

See following replies for the rest!  (too much for 1 post!)

-Jess

[moosepaws]

Steps 1 & 2 (matches the pictures!)

1.) Mark how much of the tab you want to remove.  I would recommend that you mark both shoes before you proceed, so they can be the same!
2.) Excise the yellow footbed fabric away from the rubber tab, to below the line you made.  A steady hand and a very sharp x-acto or straight razor works well. 

[moosepaws]

3.) Cut away the rubber tab along the line, being careful not to cut the yellow fabric.
4.) Super glue the yellow fabric down to the rubber for a finished look

[moosepaws]

5.) If your feet don't stretch the bungee too far, you can leave them as is.
6.) If you don't like the look, or your feet stretch the bungee and the adjuster presses against your heel, you can add velcro to hold the bungee tail down.

[moosepaws]

7.) The Velcro tie-down in use.
8.) Another option - remove the adjuster all together!  You could still velcro the tail down, but I got sick of picking up dog hair with the velcro, so I cut it off. 

Hope that helps!

-Jess

[MegM]

Thanks for sharing this!

I am debating doing this... trying to build up the courage

[meriellyn]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I would love to have a pair of Classics but that darn tab is what has stopped me from getting them.

[runnerbean]

i've done the deed and chopped off the tab....*sighs* so much more comfy

[hippierunner]

That's a good idea.  It looks a lot cleaner keeping the leather like that.  The heel tab never bothered me but it's cool to see a new take on the heel mod!

[bbeaton]

wow you put way more work into it than I did.  5 minute mod at most to my smartwool classics.  Chopped off the bungees, chopped off the tabs with the fabric.  Two pieces of moleskin and a bit of gorilla glue to cover up the rough edge.  Your mod looks very clean though, mine looks utilitarian!

[Mr. Leigh]

Just wondering if the heat gun trick, similar to the morton's toe mod might work for the heal tab on these classics.  Anyone have any thoughts on this?  I was thinking that if heat were applied to the back side, rubber side, of the tab, it might be able to be bent backwards eliminating the need for full removal.

[n.vodden]

Just wanted to say thanks Moosepaws for the instructions on how to do this!

I've got grey/orange Classics and the heel tab was never a problem, but my new Smartwool Classics have  a much stiffer ecostep rubber and I found the heel tab a problem from day 1. After being rubbed the wrong way several times, I decided to take the plunge and modify them following your instructions and it was a doddle!

The rubber shelf left behind after removing the tab had a hard edge due to the hardness of the material, so I used a modelling scalpel to radius the edge of it, cutting a smooth curve out so it has a nice depression once the grey suede-like material was glued back in place. Here's how it turned out!





Also removed the elastic as I found it unneccessary and comfort improved vastly on my original Classics after removing it as well.

[Mr. Leigh]

Nice work n.vodden.  Your version of this mod looks great.  I am hoping that once I get into my Smartwools, (currently shelved due to partially missing big toe nail) the heel tab won't bother me.  If it does, I have other mod plans before getting the exacto knife out.  I am a little nervous cutting on my VFFs. 

[Goat]

8.) Another option - remove the adjuster all together!  You could still velcro the tail down, but I got sick of picking up dog hair with the velcro, so I cut it off. 

Hope that helps!

-Jess

Were you able to remove the adjuster without destroying it so it could be used again? I've wondered about taking it loose, but don't want to tear it up in case I want it back on the shoe again at some point. Thanks.

[Mr. Leigh]

wow you put way more work into it than I did.  5 minute mod at most to my smartwool classics.  Chopped off the bungees, chopped off the tabs with the fabric.  Two pieces of moleskin and a bit of gorilla glue to cover up the rough edge.  Your mod looks very clean though, mine looks utilitarian!

Care to share a few pics?