The joy of getting new shoes can certainly put a spring in your step - but when the rubbing and blisters make an appearance it can take some of the shine away. Although you might be really excited about giving your new shoes their debut, for the sake of your toes, think about breaking them in first.
Breaking in shoes is a process that can require time and patience, but we promise it’s worth it. It can prevent discomfort from blisters, pinched toes and rubbing. Our comprehensive guide for breaking in shoes should help take some of the mystery away and ensure that you’re good to go.
How long does it take to break in new shoes?
Although you might be looking for a quick fix, breaking in shoes does have a few steps. Depending on the type of shoe style, material and how often you wear them, shoes can take between 3 and four weeks to loosen up and feel like you’ve found your groove.
Step by step guide for breaking in new shoes quickly
Choosing the right shoes
The first step to breaking in shoes is to make sure you’ve got a proper shoe fit in the first place. Shoes that are too loose, too tight, too big or too small can all cause rubbing which leads to blisters. Make sure you’re measuring your feet at home, or in a shoe store properly before purchasing a new pair:
1. Find out the length of your feet by standing flat-footed against a wall, then measure from the wall to the end of your longest toe.
2. Then measure the width across the ball of your foot by stepping onto the tape measure or ruler.
3. Use these figures to find the right shoe for you that won’t cause blisters, cramped toes or even joint pain.
Preparing your shoes
Before slipping your feet into your box fresh shoes, you’ll need to do a bit of preparation to make the breaking in process easier. Massaging areas of the shoe that feel tight can help to loosen the material, whilst shoe inserts like adjustable shoe trees can also give you a bit of extra room.
If your shoes are made of leather, then you can often apply leather softener or shoe conditioner to help with the flexibility, although make sure you do a spot test first to check that it doesn’t leave a mark on your brand new shoes. Bend and twist the shoes where you can, focusing on the areas that have caused blisters or pinching.
You can also stretch your shoes with a hairdryer. Wear thick socks and aim the dryer at the spots that are feeling tight. Remember to keep moving the nozzle around so that it doesn’t cause any heat damage. Once you’ve stretched out the tight bits, you’re ready to move onto the next step of the breaking in process - wearing your shoes.
Wearing your shoes
If you’re breaking shoes in for a specific event then you’ll need to work on breaking them in during the lead up. Wearing your shoes around the house in thick, chunky socks will not only help to stretch them out, but will also help protect your toes and heels from blisters.
Start off by just wearing them around the house for a few minutes at a time, and each day work up to having them on for an evening. This extra time will help the shoes get used to your feet and strides, making sure that any tight spots are worked on and loosened. Wearing cushioned insoles will not only help with the stretching, but will also keep your feet comfortable, cosy and dry, depending on the type of footwear you’re breaking in.
How to break in different types of shoes
How to break in running trainers
There’s no need to try and set a PB when it comes to breaking in running shoes. Slow and steady wins the race. It’s not just blisters and rubbing that you’re trying to avoid, it’s injury and joint pain too. Start off by wearing your running shoes around the house, before trying them on the treadmill, then go outfor a short, slow jog for a couple of miles. It can only take up to 10 miles to get your running shoes broken in properly, but remember there’s no need to rush.
How to break in boots
New boots can take up to 100 hours to break in properly. As with our previous advice, don’t try to do this too quickly, your feet won’t like it. Instead, break up the process into a couple of hours each day around the house with chunky socks on. If you’re going to wear them out of the house, it might be worth taking a change of shoes until they’re fully broken in, then if you get too uncomfortable you can switch.
How to break in heels
Heels make you walk tall, but you don’t want to be hobbling around. Push and pull the backs of heels to loosen them and make the material softer, bend and twist them and wear them around the house with socks on. Although it’s not a high fashion look on the high street, it’s fine when no one can see.
How to break in canvas shoes
Canvas shoes are a spring and summer staple, but you don’t want to miss out on the sunshine if your feet are hurting. To break in canvas shoes you’ll want to dig out those woolly winter socks. Wear them around the house, tying your laces as tight as you normally would, which will help to break in the laces and the canvas upper. Each time you wear these shoes they will soften up a bit, so the more you wear them round the house, the comfier they’ll be when it’s time to head out.
Additional tips and tricks for breaking in shoes
Looking for more tips for how to break in shoes. Here are a few more. As with the other methods, make sure you’re spot testing and checking the material of your shoes can handle it before diving in:
1. Shape insoles with a spoon - press the back of a tablespoon into the insole where the ball of your foot usually sits. This can help insoles break in faster as it replicates the movement of the ball of your foot pushing down as you walk.
2. Ice them - Sounds strange but putting your shoes on ice can help. Fill two secure freezer bags with water, seal them carefully and then push them into the shoes. When you put them in the freezer the cold will cause the water to turn to ice and expand, pushing out the material and stretching it.
3. Tie your laces tighter - tying your shoe laces tighter than usual will help to speed up the breaking in process. Pair with chunky socks and walk round the house to stretch out the material - but beware of blisters.
Common new shoe problems
When you’re breaking in new shoes the thing you need to look out for is rubbing, as this will lead to blisters. If you do find yourself with blisters then they can be easily treated. Blister plasters are readily available in chemists or high street shops - in fact there are some blister pads that you can wear to prevent them forming in the first place while you break in your shoes.
Summary
Breaking in shoes may seem like a hassle, but it’s actually easy to do. Not only will it loosen your shoes and make them more comfortable in the long run, it’ll help prevent rubbing and blisters taking the shine off your new shoes. By following our simple advice, you’ll be stepping out in confidence in your brand new kicks in no time.
