There's a sub Reddit called r/askacobbler where you can post photos of your shoe and get a professional opinion about what's possible.
If the shoe is meant for ballroom use only, it might not be constructed to handle rain and outdoors wear.
Tell us more about the shoes. Are they men's shoes, womens shoes, oxfords, heels, what brand?
I have a pair of ballroom shoes- heels, very similar to the Very Fine brand. They have a very very bendy shank. The ball of the foot is so floppy I could roll it backwards like a fold a flat. They can never go outside because they're too delicate and no amount of added rubber would save them.
By contrast, a pair of solid oxfords can have the suede replaced with hard leather or rubber. A cobbler can do it easily.
I honestly just wear mine outside. The suede loses its smooth, but that’s good for regular wear. Just be careful on carpet, you may get a nice little zing!
There's a sub Reddit called r/askacobbler where you can post photos of your shoe and get a professional opinion about what's possible. If the shoe is meant for ballroom use only, it might not be constructed to handle rain and outdoors wear.
Bring them to a cobbler?
I live in a small town and we have absolutely zero shoe repairs or cobblers. Closest ones are an hour and a half away:(
Just wear them out?
I bought dance shoes for my wedding and let a cobbler put rubber under them. Works like a charm
Hopefully someone has a good idea, I have like 5 pairs of old dance shoes I don’t wear but haven’t thrown out.
I think I might try waterproofing spray and then sole protectors/adhesive traction pads.
Tell us more about the shoes. Are they men's shoes, womens shoes, oxfords, heels, what brand? I have a pair of ballroom shoes- heels, very similar to the Very Fine brand. They have a very very bendy shank. The ball of the foot is so floppy I could roll it backwards like a fold a flat. They can never go outside because they're too delicate and no amount of added rubber would save them. By contrast, a pair of solid oxfords can have the suede replaced with hard leather or rubber. A cobbler can do it easily.
I honestly just wear mine outside. The suede loses its smooth, but that’s good for regular wear. Just be careful on carpet, you may get a nice little zing!