Shoes rubbing - recommend please?

jenniewb

OP, Compeed make a silicon tube which you rub over the insides of your shoes (or could be meant for rubbing on the outsides of your feet but I use it the former way and it works well for me). They sell them in larger Boots and larger Superdrug stores and possibly larger supermarkets. Well worth what they charge for it as the stick lasts for years. Not so great for putting over blisters themselves so make sure your skin is protected and covered when applying if you already have formed blisters.
https://www.compeed.co.uk/compeed-footcare/anti-blister-stick


I also find wearing in my shoes for a bit to soften the leather helps- wear shoes on the next fastening down and wear with thicker socks inside for a while (may take as much as a week or two) before wearing outside or just wear out every day but take a spare pair of shoes that don't rub, switch your footwear just when things get painful- before any blisters have started to form.


Make sure you wear any plasters over blisters- blister plasters are good for wearing when you have shoes that rub but when you want the blisters to heal and are not wearing new shoes, wear normal fabric type plasters so any build up of fluid can drain and the blister is not disturbed. If you find any broken skin keep the plasters on when at home but if not then try to leave the skin to breathe when you get home at night- this helps things heal faster as air speeds things up. The only caveat on that as I said is broken weeping skin.


PS, Personal tip? When you have a blister, put on a blister plaster, then cover with a fabric plaster to prevent the blister plaster rubbing off and if the fabric plaster still rubs off, put on an additional plaster over this. I do this because I get fed up with blister plasters rolling up into a ball and not protecting the blister from further rubbing! Ideally I'd stay clear of the new shoes until they've broken in and follow the advice above, but I have the patience of a gnat.

Beenie

This won't help the OP, but I use those wooden shoe 'stretchers' on all my new leather shoes.

It makes the leather 'give' a bit and I never have to go through a blister stage.

Also very useful if you have a bunion as they can stretch that area too, otherwise it's agony!

Kim_kim

Beenie wrote: »

This won't help the OP, but I use those wooden shoe 'stretchers' on all my new leather shoes.

It makes the leather 'give' a bit and I never have to go through a blister stage.

Also very useful if you have a bunion as they can stretch that area too, otherwise it's agony!

Mine is the opposite! One shoe is always a tiny bit big.

Hedgehog99

Gabor are a good brand, so they should be OK in the long term.

I find plasters & the silicone pads just make my skin more vulnerable because the skin stays moist.

If you go to a pharmacy (preferably a more traditional one) with a decent foot health section, you might be able to get some chiropody felt. It comes in various thicknesses. The instructions say cut to size & stick to your feet (but that gives me the same problem as plasters). However, the best think is to buy the fairly thick stuff and stick it in your shoe either side of where your foot rubs, i.e. to hold the vulnerable area of your foot away from the shoe so it cannot rub. You might want to chamfer the blunt edges of the felt with fine scissors so that it is less likely to catch as you put your shoes on/take them off, or start to peel off during use. Done well, the felt you stick in should last several weeks before you need to renew it and one pack has enough for several applications.

Also, try "footsies" of either stocking-type material or the fine knitted version - all should hide well in your shoes, but help your feet.

Kim_kim

Hedgehog99 wrote: »

Gabor are a good brand, so they should be OK in the long term.

I find plasters & the silicone pads just make my skin more vulnerable because the skin stays moist.

If you go to a pharmacy (preferably a more traditional one) with a decent foot health section, you might be able to get some chiropody felt. It comes in various thicknesses. The instructions say cut to size & stick to your feet (but that gives me the same problem as plasters). However, the best think is to buy the fairly thick stuff and stick it in your shoe either side of where your foot rubs, i.e. to hold the vulnerable area of your foot away from the shoe so it cannot rub. You might want to chamfer the blunt edges of the felt with fine scissors so that it is less likely to catch as you put your shoes on/take them off, or start to peel off during use. Done well, the felt you stick in should last several weeks before you need to renew it and one pack has enough for several applications.

Also, try "footsies" of either stocking-type material or the fine knitted version - all should hide well in your shoes, but help your feet.

I think people keep giving me the traditional cures for new shoes that are stiff or too tight.

I suffer this problem repeatedly in court shoes, because one foot is slightly smaller than the other & so moves within the shoe.

I don't get the problem with boots, because the top of boots keeps my foot clamped down against the sole & so it doesn't move & rub.
I don't get it with sling backs as I tighten the strap.

It's not plasters I need it's something to stop movement - I knew there were all sorts or silicone gel things to stop this hence me asking for a recommendation.

I am not waiting for the leather to soften up, so it's not really a brand or leather issue.

jenniewb

Oh and one more thing to add; if you repeatedly have this problem, try to stick to leather shoes (leather inner/lined and outer sole not just outer sole). Shoes made up of natural fibers will give over time where as man-made fabrics will not do this. It means that given time, leather for example will mould to your feet where as man-mades wont. If you can get hold of some saddle soap from a cobblers you can help the stretching but that compeed stuff I mentioned also helps.

sheramber

Kim_kim wrote: »

I'll try that, plasters never work for me, the rub, rubs them off.

That's why I wanted recommendations for the silicone things.

I'll try any insole, any particular type?

How does an insole make a show that's a bit long shorter?

do a Google search for 'insoles for shoes too big'.

Kim_kim

jenniewb wrote: »

Oh and one more thing to add; if you repeatedly have this problem, try to stick to leather shoes (leather inner/lined and outer sole not just outer sole). Shoes made up of natural fibers will give over time where as man-made fabrics will not do this. It means that given time, leather for example will mould to your feet where as man-mades wont. If you can get hold of some saddle soap from a cobblers you can help the stretching but that compeed stuff I mentioned also helps.

I only buy plastic shoes & as I expressed before, I really DON'T need to stretch them!

Treasurequeen

I have the same problem I use Profoot Mole Skin Comfort Padding it costs around £2.90-£3.00. You put it on the shoe where it rubs or causes friction.

Blether

Buy suede heel grips and put one in the shoe that is too big. You can get them in one of the pound shops. Have used this solution for years and is comfortable and long lasting.