New shoes may lack traction.
Few things make someone feel confident like a pair of new shoes. Until the unworn soles cause them to slip, of course. Many shoes develop better traction over time, as wear erodes the sole, allowing it to grip the ground effectively. Though slippery new soles may seem like the hidden cost of a new pair of shoes, wearers can treat new footwear several ways, to minimize the chance of slips and spills.
Scuffing
Scuff the soles intentionally before wearing the shoes for the first time. Put the shoes on and walk to a concrete surface, like a driveway, sidewalk or paved road. Walk in halting, little steps while scuffing the bottoms of the shoes against the abrasive surface. Thirty to 60 seconds of intentional scuffing should texturize the soles enough that they are no longer prone to slipping. Excessive force is unnecessary. The scuffs do not need to be deep gouges.
X Marks the Spot
Get a large pair of scissors. Standard household scissors are suitable, as are kitchen shears. Hold the scissors wide open and steady them in that position. Turn the shoe over so that the sole is facing up. Carve an X-shape in the broadest part of the sole. Apply pressure relative to the thickness of the sole. The scissors should cut the surface, but not through it. Do not press them into the shoe with such force that they cut into the sole.
Duct Tape
Tear a piece of duct tape that is shorter than the most broad part of the sole. Affix the tape to the bottom of the shoe. The tape will provide enough texture and traction to keep the shoe from slipping. Use a piece of duct tape that is smaller than the width of the sole so that the sole erodes around the tape. This will allow the wearer to remove the duct tape for aesthetic purposes, without the slippery quality of the sole returning in the tape's absence.
Adhesives
Apply an anti-slip product to the sole of the shoe. Many footwear and foot care manufacturers market products to remedy this problem. Some wearers may dread the thought of inflicting damage on a new shoe intentionally, even if it is only the sole. Most anti-slip products are adhesive patches, like stickers for the sole of a shoe. Use small coin-sized products and place them sporadically on the sole so that the surface wears naturally around the adhesive patches. Once the sole is sufficiently worn and textured, you can remove the adhesives for aesthetic purposes, if you desire a clean sole.
