About the Tuff Toe Pro Pitcher's Toe Protector for Cleats
Tuff Toe Pro is a pitcher's toe protector you apply yourself: a two-part polyurethane coating that bonds to the toe of a cleat and cures into a tough, flexible layer. Every baseball and softball pitcher drags the toe of the back foot through the dirt on each delivery, and that drag wears through the toe of a cleat long before the rest of the shoe is done. A Tuff Toe Pro coating takes the wear instead, and it is designed to extend the life of a cleat up to three times. One kit covers the toes of two cleats with a standard application, in Black, Royal, Scarlet or White to match your shoes.
A Coating, Not a Snap-On Guard
Tuff Toe Pro is not a pre-formed plastic toe cap that comes in left and right sizes. It goes on as a thick liquid and cures in place, so it follows the exact shape of your shoe and there is no size to choose. It applies to any new or used cleat, and with proper surface prep it bonds to leather, rubber, vinyl, cloth, canvas, cork, wood and steel. Once cured it is abrasion, chemical and water resistant, and it stays flexible enough to move with the shoe through a full delivery. Putting it on a new pair of cleats, such as the Verdero Classic II Mid Metal Baseball Cleats, before the first bullpen keeps the toe from ever wearing through.
How Tuff Toe Pro Is Applied
Plan on a few minutes of work and a day of curing. Have a marker, masking tape and sandpaper on hand.
- Mark the area. Outline the part of the toe you want covered. Look at where your current cleats are worn to see where your foot drags.
- Prep the surface. Clean the area and sand it well. Good prep is what makes the bond hold.
- Equalize the cartridge. Push material out of both sides of the two-part cartridge until both extrude evenly. Uneven parts will not cure properly.
- Coat the base first. Apply material to the base of the toe and smear it evenly with the stick provided.
- Build the toe. Apply material to the toe from the corner down, then remove any tape right away.
- Rotate. Hold the cleat toe-down and rotate it for 1 to 2 minutes so the material spreads evenly and does not run.
- Let it cure. It is about 80 percent cured after 90 minutes and fully cured in 24 hours.
Every pitcher drags a little differently. Pitchers who wear through the side of the toe as well as the tip can extend the coverage, and a double layer on the standard area adds durability. One kit yields enough material for two double-layered standard applications.
Picking a Color
Choose Black, Royal, Scarlet or White to match your cleats or team colors. White looks sharp on white cleats but tends to yellow over time, so pitchers who want a clean look for the whole season often pick a color that matches the shoe's trim instead.
Who Tuff Toe Pro Is For
- Baseball and softball pitchers who drag the back toe on every pitch
- Parents tired of replacing cleats halfway through the season
- Pitchers breaking in a new pair of cleats who want them to last
- Players with a favorite pair of cleats that is starting to wear at the toe
Tuff Toe is used by pitchers from Little League World Series teams up through NCAA programs and Major League Baseball clubs. Find more pitching gear and small accessories in our baseball accessories.
Tuff Toe Pro Specifications
- Brand: Tuff Toe
- Product: Tuff Toe Pro pitcher's cleat toe protection
- Sport: baseball and softball
- Material: two-part epoxy and polyurethane, abrasion, chemical and water resistant
- Coverage: toes of two cleats or shoes with a standard application
- Bonds to: leather, rubber, vinyl, cloth, canvas, cork, wood and steel, with proper prep
- Cure time: about 80 percent at 90 minutes, full cure at 24 hours
- Colors: Black, Royal, Scarlet, White
- Package: 9 x 7 x 1.25 inches, about 4.5 ounces
- Warranty: full season or 3 months, whichever comes first, when applied according to the directions
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it fit my cleats?
Yes. Because it is applied as a liquid and cures in place, it is not sized. It applies to any new or used cleat, and with proper prep it bonds to leather, rubber, vinyl and cloth uppers.
How many shoes does one kit cover?
One kit covers the toes of two cleats or shoes with a standard application. Most pitchers only need it on the drag foot, so a kit can protect two pairs.
How long before I can pitch in them?
It is about 80 percent cured after 90 minutes, and fully cured in 24 hours. Give it the full day before a bullpen or game.
Do I need an applicator gun?
No. A separate applicator gun is available to make the job easier, but it is not required.
Is there a warranty?
Yes. Tuff Toe is covered for a full season or 3 months, whichever comes first, against peeling, cracking or otherwise failing, as long as it was applied according to the directions.
