I’ve been getting a ton of questions on my tumblr about creepers lately, including wearing them in, caring for them, sizing etc. and as there’s not that much info out there on the topic, I thought I’d make this little personal guide. I’m no expert, but I hope this provides some help! : )
Click here to check out the same black creepers as mine! and click here for the white ones.
Wearing in Creepers *:･ﾟ✧
Here are my first pair of black suede Demonia creepers. After 6 months wear, they now feel like sneakers and are pretty damn worn in. When these were new, they were super stiff, felt awkward to walk in, and I had bruising on my feet where the top of the tongue is, near where the bow on the laces is tied. The heels also rubbed slightly and I had a bit of blistering on my pinky toes. This took almost a week to be completely gone and for the awkward feeling to disappear. Once everything’s softened, including the sole (which makes it a bit bendier so you can walk more normally), they’re completely comfy.
As for my white leather Demonia creepers, they were SO. FREAKING. PAINFUL. I had blistering and the bruising on the top of my foot was so bad that I winced every time I took a step. However, I suffered through the pain and wore them to uni/out and about for roughly a 4-5 days, then the pain vanished.
Tips for Breaking Them In
- Wear bandaids or medical fabric tape on all pressure points BEFORE beginning to break them in to prevent possible blistering or chafing
- Wear the thickest socks that you can
- The top of the tongue area is the hardest to protect, but layers of bandaids or any kind of padding will make it slightly less painful
- Suffer through the pain, it only lasts for a few days and no longer than a week!
This is where my suedes have worn in the most, right on the inner heel. If I don’t wear socks with a fair thickness to them, the peeling fabric is quite uncomfortable. This will likely be the reason for when I must ceremoniously burn this pair and adopt a new one.
More wearing in on the lace area that’s pretty much unavoidable, but completely unnoticeable when they’re laced up.
The inevitable wearing on the piping along the top; for some reason it’s SO delicate. It’s pretty much the best way to determine how old somebody’s creepers are. I’m looking into finding some kind of glue or gloss that can can stop it being damaged so easily in the first place. Has anyone ever tried it?
Creeper Care*:･ﾟ✧
A few items I’ve used to my personal creeper protection and maintenance:
- Water & Stain protector spray for suede shoes (picked this up from a key cutter/shoe repair store)
- Gentle alcohol-free facial cleansing wipes
- Black Sharpie
I recommend applying suede protector to your creepers so you’ll feel a bit safer wearing them on rainy days. For my pair, I used about two coats, waiting for the first coat to dry before spraying the next, and after testing it under a dripping tap I found the water rolled right off.
I find some of the most obvious wear on my white leather creepers is around the ankle-heel area, especially these grey scratches.
Using the facial cloth, this wear can easily be removed at the end of the day that you wear them~ voila! For the really tough scratches, use your fingernail under the layered cloth.
The Sharpie or any black permanent marker can be used to fix the wear on the piping. I personally don’t use this technique much anymore, because it’s not the most effective way of covering the scratches as you can see, but it’s a good quick fix and not visible unless you look closely.
Sizing/Fit Tips *:･ﾟ✧
- Always use the brand’s provided foot measurement size chart if they have one. Buy to fit the absolute closest match to your foot in terms of centimetres.
- TRY BEFORE YOU BUY – I almost bought a size too big, as I suspected buying one size up would be better for my foot length (this is not the case, see the above tip). Try and find stockists for your brand of creepers near where you live, or if it’s not possible, do as much research as you can before you order online.
- The fit of creepers is peculiar, they feel different to any other kind of shoe because the sole is so stiff it doesn’t bend with your foot. After one week of wear this feeling will be gone and your creepers should feel like regular shoes.
That about concludes my post on creeper care!
Click here to check out the same black creepers as mine! and click here for the white ones.
☆ CREEPER F.A.Q. ANSWERS ☆
- You can mend and/or reattach the sole of a creeper with thick heavy-duty glue from your hardware store. Even bring in your creepers to the store and ask the staff which glue would be suitable.
- I do not know which brand of creepers is best, I have only ever owned Demonia brand and they lasted me well for everyday wear for over a year – nothing broke!
- I do not know what the sizing is like for any other brands of creepers.
- Demonia brand is great for narrow and slender feet.
Any questions I receive that are already answered as above will be ignored.
im very new to creepers~ thank you for post! I learned so much!
i totally feel you!! the white colour of my creepers have been rubbed off and some parts at the tongue are grey x_x can't do anything about that though. cool post! thanks for sharing <3 x
clorox wipes are amazing for that!! they can really wipe off any kind of scuff i get on my white patent tuk creepers! 🙂
You can use the shoe shine product that comes in white.. its made for shoes and it basically paints them back..hope that helps 🙂
white out?? lol
Great post, some much good advice! I definitely need to get myself some protective spray for my suede shoes.
this is a great post! Though I never had problems with my creepers..they're from underground. paid alot of them so i guess branding does matter too. First time I wore them they didn't give me any blisters whatsoever. They're amazing! But creepers in general are super comfy
Ugh these are delicious! I'd really love a pair of creepers ,probably do the standard converse logic and have black ones 🙂 ♥ Claire @ Jazzpad
Love this it really helped me, i think mine are a bit bigger than me but i'll just have to wear thicker socks and that xx
Hey i was wondering if im a size U.S woman 9, what size would that roughly be in creeper size? in woman? thanks
I think you'd be a size seven because Im usually a size seven so I bought a pair online in that size and they ended being way too big so I ordered them in size 5 and they fit perfect ! Xx (:
I'm a U.S. women's size 9 and I wear U.S. men's size 6, they fit perfectly.. But I wear TUK so it may vary with other brands. Also, everyone has unique feet so sizing is different for some people.
Hiya ! I'm a junior in highschool,I'm ordering creepers online this year from Hottopic , since they don't have them in the store. They're black with red plaid made by Demonia.. I'm really not sure what size would best suit me. I'm a 7 & 1/2 and I have a wide foot opposed to a longer , slender foot. I've never worn creepers before . 🙁
hello! i'd recommend doing what I said above in my post, being measure your foot and use their size chart to match to your foot length, it's the best way to go 🙂
Ello! I just received a pair of tuk creepers as a gift, they are awesome and I love them so much and they are the same size as all my other shoes (39) but for some reason they feel too small! My toes cramp up, there's not enough space for them to relax as normal, as well as getting squished and blisters on my heals. I haven't read anyone having the same experience, is this normal or is the shoe actually too small? X
Hello! If your toes are cramped up, they are too small. Your toes should not be scrunched or cramped in really any kind of shoe that fits well. Blistering and bruising is common in wearing in creepers as I explained above, but if your toes are curled at the end then they don't fit.
Hello! For example, if i wear a pair of vans that are a women's 8.5 in the US and they fit just right, what size would be best for me? And are the shoes able to fit wide feet? Thank you for your help 🙂
i got a pair of creepers in uk 6 and the length is good but feel that they might expand out and i tried the uk 5 i can feel the my toes against the top of the shoe tho , will they stretch out the size 5?
The platfrom of my creepers are white, do i use that sharpie thingy to keep them white?
Sharpies are permanent black markers.
Ah thanks so much! My black leather creepers came in the mail two days ago and after wearing them yesterday the top of my foot hurts so bad. I guess band aids will do.
Hello i have black sude demonia creepers there are faint white suff marks on the sides of them i have tryed cleaning them but they wont go away they feel rough and slight worn down on the suff marks and could be weather condtitons from outside do you have this problem? or are they just like that is there anything i can do to get rid of them? Xx
Suede scuffs easily and unfortunately that kind of wear can't be fixed! it's all part of owning/wearing them though, and if they're more worn in they will be comfier and have more character, so don't worry about it ^^
Thankx xx did you know there a hidden coffin compartment in the shoe xx
Do the suede creepers stretch?
Hello I have a pair of TUK creepers I love wearing daily because I walk a lot so it's style and function. However on my last walk I seemed to have poked a hole on the bottom., closest to the heel. I was making a popping sound as I lifted my foot. I guess it's hollow inside? I've had them for a month. Tips? Glue the bottom? Should I be worried?
just glue them! go to a hardware store and explain your problem I'm sure they can recommend you a glue thats suitable ^_^
I have black suede creepers. I did the whole water and spray protecter thing, but I got caught on my bike in a huge storm today and they were drenched. I discovered that the shoe is detatching a bit on the back from the heel on my right creeper and on both of them, in the middle, slightly to the top of the sole, there is a big horizontal crack. If I bend the shoe I can slightly see inside of it. These creepers are about 9 months old, they are my favorite pair of shoes, really the only shoes that I wear. I'm really sad. Do you think they're done for, or can they be fixed?
at the end of the day, creepers are a fashion shoe not a super durable/functional shoe. if you're wearing them every day for 8 months along with that water damage, it makes sense they're starting to fall apart. but i think you got great wear out of them! if you really don't want to say goodbye to them just yet, take them somewhere to be mended. or, go to a hardware store and buy some hardcore glue and fix them yourself! i did that with the sole on my 2ndhand nikes. i hope this helps, good luck : )
I just ordered the black leather TUK Mondo Creepers and I love the look of them, but they are REALLY narrow for my foot and just feel really hard on the inside. Did your leather ones stretch out width-wise? Also, I've read A LOT of reviews where people said their TUK Mondos fell apart after like 2 weeks/were overall really cheap. They don't feel cheap to me, but do you think it's worth risking them falling apart after a few months? Thanks. 🙂
I don't know anything about TUK creepers so I can't help you with this one unfortunately 🙁 I think all creepers need wearing-in though.
You should research brands before you buy. T.U.K usually gets ok reviews. They do break easily (WHICH SUCKS CUZ THERE EXPENSIVE). They usually last about 3 to 5 months before the shoe starts to separate from the sole. I suggest going to the hard ware store and getting wood glue or something that will stick. I personally don't buy T.U.K anymore (I HAVE ONE PAIR … THERE TOO LOSE AND I AM NOT A FAN OF HOW THEY FIT). I buy mine (3 PAIR … 4TH ON THE WAY)from UNDERGROUND Shoes. It is a UK based site but excellent quality. A little expensive but they last (ABOUT 120 USD). My oldest pare is about 1 and a half. But if you treat T.U.Ks well they should last.
so , if we buy them should we get them the same size we are , one size up , or on side down ? please reply
Are creepers bad for your knees? The soles are so big
I'm so happy I found this. I just got TUK creepers and I've been wearing them around and they hurt and my feet are bruised. I'm a size 9 or 10 so I got a 10 to be on the safe side so they're kind of loose. Even though they're suede they're still KILLING my feet. I'm going to buy a black pair (these are lavender and white) and I was wondering if anyone knew if demonia creepers were more comfortable
can I wear these everyday?
Hi there. After wearing my creepers for some months they are still looking stunning, yet… fortunately the thingies where the lashes-rings are stuck into are broken. Or at least one of them, and it's suede. Now I can't tie my shoe properly anymore (I hope you understand what I mean) Do you have any idea what I can do to that? It would be a pity if I'd to throw them away because of that one thing.
This helped me soooooooo much!!!! I got a pair of underground creepers yesterday, but they didn't fit my feet (i have pretty slim/slender feet) and the heel was to big so the shoe was to big but it was my regular shoe size. Are demonias better for more slender feet? Sorry if I made any mistakes in spelling, Im not english so i hope it's not too hard to read.
Hello, I bought a brand new pair of creepers from Vegetarian Shoes off ebay. I tried them on and they fit great and I walked from my kitchen to my loungeroom in them and I noticed all this black stuff coming off onto the floor, like big chunks of black crumbly stuff. IT WAS THE BOTTOM OF MY CREEPERS! BREAKING APART!! How can I stop this from happening? I paid good money for these and I am very upset. I cannot even walk a few meters without them crumbling and breaking apart. They are literally crumbling away to dirt like material. Please help?
Sole must be made from poor quality material, perhaps foam. If you buy quality creepers such as Demonia brand this will not happen.
I've just had one shoe from a pair of Demonias break its sole in two on the shoes' first outing. Regrettably I bought them from a private eBay seller six months ago so the manufacturer doesn't want to know and there could have been no way the seller knew, as they hadn't been out of their box and looked to be ex-factory perfect – GUTTED! Grrrrrrrrrrrr……
I bought a pair of Demonia V-Creepers and I've owned them for months and they are still MURDERING my heels because the sole is thick and it slips like flip flops on my heelsShould I just suffer through it and it'll stop? I can barely fit my foot at this point with all the cloth stuffed inside my sock heels.
do they stretch????
Ah, I'm so glad I found this post! I bought a pair of TUK creepers the other day and was concerned about them being the wrong size because the heel kept slipping. I tried insoles and heel grips but nothing worked, after reading about the fit I do feel much better about them and am keeping them to work them in rather than take them back. They're a mens size 4 so the actual size isn't a problem, just the thick sole! :'0
Don't buy TUK creepers, they really suck, i have them for like four months and the sole is broken. And they were expensive af
Hiya! I brought some white creepers in a charity shop. I’ve put an insole on and wore thicker socks at the same time but they keep slipping up at the back, any ideas on how to stop it?
@Emily N: Try putting those stick-on heel grips inside your shoes at the back. You can order online or some shoe stores sell them.
Don’t bother with heel grips, my creepers still slip up and down on my heel with them.. Still trying to figure this out since I can’t return them because of wear. I have tried insoles, heel grips, thick socks you name it. Soo frustrating. Try insoles, and thick socks maybe 2 pairs if need be. Good luck!
So i bought a pair of creepers size 8, which is my size, but they fit just enough, they’re a little snug and a little tight will they eventually stretch out? I don’t want to return them, I’m hoping they’ll stretch out a smidge!
I bought Black & Burgundy Suede Pointed Buckle Creepers online. I wear a size 9 1/2, so I ordered size 10. They are too big. I have tried a size 9 in another pair of creepers in store and they are too small.
Heal and other shoe pads and wearing thick socks help, but my heal still pops out when I walk. I ordered some toe inserts online to see if they will help. Has anyone else had the same issue of being in between sizes and what was your solution?
I can’t wait to wear them outside. These are my 1st pair of creepers after wanting a pair for years.
I am having the same problem. I’ve tried insoles, heel grips, and still flopping. I’m in-between sizes too.
I am going to try 2 pairs of insoles with thick socks and see If that does the trick. Definitely forget heel grips, they suck!!
*Update* I decided to throw the insoles, heel grips, thick socks idea out the window and just wear them with fishnets, and guess what? No more slipping! For some reason socks make them slio more.try it!