We celebrate and glorify running shoes at Runner’s World, but we also aren’t afraid to modify and customise them. After all, they’re a tool to help you accomplish your goals. Here are our favourite shoe hacks to make footwear meet our needs.

Lace to Fit

A few years ago, we got shoes that were missing a top eyelet. The heel slipped, so we grabbed a pair of hole-punch pliers and added our own. These pliers are essential for runners who want to adjust the lacing of their shoes to fix fit issues.

Install Drainage

A problem with too many shoes is that when water gets in through the top, there’s no way for it to get out. Break out a 6mm drill bit and add six holes through the thinnest spots on the forefoot. When you run, you’ll pump the water out.

Patch It Up

A common tool for runners until recently was Shoe Goo. Parts were always coming loose on shoes. That doesn’t happen much anymore, but occasionally a rubber patch will work loose. Just add a dab of glue and stick it back on.

Let ’Em Breathe

If you find a new shoe causes blisters on your pinky toe late in runs when your feet swell, or presses a little too much on a bunion. Take a craft knife to the upper and cut a window, or make small slits over the areas of pressure for extra room.

This article originally appeared on runnerworld.com.

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