breaking-in new shoes - any tips?

headintheclouds

Hi,

This might not sound like money-saving but it is a waste of money when I buy shoes that I wear once and get blisters so bad I don't want to wear them again, so I thought I'd ask for tips.

I'm not talking about 4-inch heels or anything like that, just normal, flat, leather shoes. They always feel comfortable when I try them on, but when I wear them, they blister my heels. This has happened with the last couple of pairs I've bought.

What do you do to soften up the backs and make them wearable? I don't want to have to cross the pain barrier again.

My feet would be really grateful for any advice!

Thanks.

squeaky

What I normally do with new shoes is to wear two thin pairs of socks and wear the shoes around the house.

At the first tiniest little sign of discomfort I take them off, and then go a couple or threre days before wearing them again.

Repeat until they feel comfortable and then you can wear them when going out.

(The usual blister points are because you're squeezing your toes, or the top edge of the side or heel. Toe squeezes - ya got the wrong size; sides or heels - you can often work these by pressing in and working those edges back and forth to ease their stiffness.)

I'm sure we've got other threads about the place on breaking in new shoes, so if I find one I'll link to it back in this post...


How to avoid blisters in new shoes

My new shoes are rubbing me, Help!!

Fen1

You could try placing raw potato peelings inside the shoe overnight. This works on leather as the chemicals in the potato 'relaxes' the leather.

If this is a recurring problem for you, you might benefit from going to a podiatrist to check your heels: you might have a gait problem that is causing the rubbing motion in your shoes. OR, you mighty need to try a different type of shoe that has extra room around the back. You could try someone like Hotter:
http://www.hottershoes.com/hottersite/pages/home/default.asp?gclid=CN3s4t726o0CFQhOMAodnywlww

Skint1

My wife lets my daughter break them in.

newlywed

A tip from the telly - Jimmy Choo - I think - was to rub candle wax into the bit where it rubs. Just get a tealight or something and rub it on. It coats the bit that's rubbing and makes it slide a little instead.

Works on my sandals every year but you may have to re-do it in a few weeks when the wax wears away.

wendym

Soap is good for softening leather - ideally use a wet bar of soap rubbed onto the bit you need to deal with, then work the leather by hand. Repeat this over a few days.

You can also try wearing a plaster on your heel while wearing them in at home.

miffyhugmuffin

My grandad always used butter on his leather shoes to soften them - he said it was an old army trick they would use on their army boots in WW11.

suep

I agree with Squeaky, I always wear any new shoes around the house until they've broken in. When I lived at home with my Mum and sister we were all the same size and used to take turns wearing each others new shoes around the house, they broke in much faster that way.
sue

headintheclouds

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I've tried plasters but they always end up creasing and causing more problems. I think the problem is friction and just hard leather rather than the shape of my feet, which are, of course, beautiful , so I will get out the candles, soap, vaseline and potato peelings and see whether I can soften up the heels. Unfortunately I don't have anyone who can wear them in for me (sounds a bit harsh on your daughter, Skint1!).

Thanks again.

Skint1

headintheclouds wrote: »

(sounds a bit harsh on your daughter, Skint1!).

How ? My daughter is 17 years old and they both wear the same size and style.

rustyjemma

Not money saving but life saving is the shoe stretcher spray, its 3 quid ish from clarks. Im sure there are equivelants around.

Its turned my new riding boots from only being worn for less than 5 mins before feet die (blisters & to sore to stand) to soft & heavenly 2 hour walks. Just need to up that again now.