Because of their delicate nature, pointe shoes never last as long as we would all like. There are some measures, however, that should at least extend their longevity:

Moisture is the number one factor that contributes to pointe shoe breakdown, and the key therefore is that after you are finished wearing them, you need to dry the shoes out as thoroughly as possible. This gives the glue used in the shoe more time to re-harden, strengthening the shoe before it is used again.

To best allow pointe shoes to dry out between uses, store pointe shoes in a mesh bag that provides for as much airflow as possible. Be sure to keep them separated, and don’t “tuck” one shoe inside the other as we sometimes see dancers do. That may make them easier to store, but it makes it more difficult for them to dry. Also be sure to remove any toe pads that you may be using, as they too make it harder for the shoe to thoroughly dry.

For dancers that use pointe shoes on consecutive days, they should really have multiple pairs available so that one pair can be used while the other pair is still drying out.

Finally, as a shoe starts to break down, you might also consider products designed to “re-glue” the shoe. We carry Jet Glue which is made for this purpose. Some dancers that start to identify where their shoes typically soften or break down even apply this type of product to a brand new shoe, reinforcing such spots proactively.