Sometimes last year, i bought a suede shoe(heel) to wear for my grandma’s burial, the only time i wore the shoe before the burial was when i wanted to show my friends.
On the day of the ceremony, i got all dressed up and had my heels on, we finished the service and at the burial ground i started feeling discomfort. I never took it serious, i felt maybe i buckled it so tight, i loosened the buckle and i was still feeling the pain, i checked and found out that my skin got peeled.
I couldn’t walk well with it again, i had to quickly take it off and get a flip flop. The part of my skin that peeled didnt get to cover up as soon as i expected, it became worse that i could not wear any other cover shoes. It took some weeks before it got healed.
A friend saw my leg and asked what happened, i explained and he told me since its a new shoe, you don’t just break in!
No matter how expensive, high quality or how comfortable a pair of shoes is, there’s almost no way to avoid the break-in period. While there may be a few exceptions in the case of sandals, virtually all shoes, including comfortable shoes for women and men, will be at least a little stiff the first few or more times you wear them.
There are some things to consider before breaking in;
1.Did you buy the right size? If not, you could find your toes feeling pretty pinched no matter how much you try to break in your new shoes.
2. Are the shoes right for your feet, good for your foot shape, foot problems, etc.?
3. Are there any spots inside the shoe that have an uncomfortable seam If so, breaking in the shoes will not help.
How Long Does it Take to Break in Shoes or New Shoes?
First of all, the time it takes to break in new shoes will depend on a number of factors. What is the quality of the shoe? What kind of material are they made from? Do they fit well already and just need a bit of stretch?
Also, keep in mind that the longer you plan to wear the shoes, the more comfortable they will be. And that could mean that it’ll require more time breaking them in!
There is no pain quite like sore, blistered, pinched feet at the end of a long day wearing the wrong shoes. Stiff, non-broken-in shoes can also cause heel slips out of shoes, blistering your feet and making it difficult to walk.
The aches and pains associated with a new pair of shoes can be brutal. This is why I want to teach you how to break in shoes and avoid painful blisters, ingrown toenails, overpronation, unnecessary rubbing, sore feet, and heel pain. No matter what they say, pain is never fashionable!
HOW TO BREAK IN NEW SHOES
1. How To Break In Leather Shoes With A Blow Dryer
Leather shoes are known for being possibly the most comfortable type of footwear. When the material finally softens and molds to the natural shape of your foot, you can say hello to years of footwear bliss. But the first time you pull them out of the box and slip them on, maybe not so much.
Did you know you can break in dress shoes, wedding shoes, patent leather pumps, suede flats, leather boots, and other new leather shoes in just a few minutes with a blow dryer?
Leather softens with heat, allowing you to expedite the break-in process and get the job done in the comfort of your own home.
Here’s how to break in leather shoes with a hairdryer:
#Put on your new shoes.
#Turn on the blow dryer and aim the hot air at your shoes, holding it about 8 to 10 inches from the leather.
#Heat up the areas that are particularly tight, but don’t hold the hairdryer too close. Otherwise, you might burn your shoe or yourself!
#Work your way around the entire uppers of each shoe, focusing on any particularly tight spots around your heels or toes.
#Once the leather warms up and softens, stand up and walk around your home for 15 minutes or so.
Your shoes should be less tight and more comfortable overall. You can always repeat the process to break them in a little more before heading out to an event.
2. How To Break In New Shoes With Ice
Another option is the ice method, breaking in new shoes with ice seems strange and what’s even stranger? Putting them in the freezer! But trust me, it works.
Instead of heat, it relies on the expanding effect of freezing water to break in new shoes from the inside. Bear in mind that the process may get the material slightly wet, so it’s best for nylon or mesh sneakers, running shoes, waterproof booties, or other water-resistant footwear.
Here’s how to break in new shoes with ice:
#Fill two resealable plastic bags about halfway with water, though you just want to make sure they’re large enough that they’ll put enough pressure on your shoes when they expand.
#Seal the bags, making sure to remove all air from the inside.
#Put the baggies inside each of your shoes.
#Put your shoes in a larger resealable freezer bag (or each in their own bag if they don’t fit in one). This will help protect them from moisture. Seal the larger bag and place it in your freezer.
#After about four hours, the water inside each shoe should be frozen into solid ice. It should have also expanded, which puts pressure on the inside to break them in like a shoe stretcher.
#Remove your shoes from the freezer, and take the baggies out. Once your shoes have thawed out a bit, try them on.
Since the ice expanded into the contours of the shoe cavities, they should take on the right shape and feel comfortably broken in.
3. For Best Results, Slowly Break In New Shoes
To get the best results, wear a new pair for short periods the first couple of weeks, but wear them often. You might put them on for an hour the first day, then bump it up to two hours the next, and so on.
Breaking in new shoes should be a gradual process. Remember: slow and steady wins the race!
If you try to break in new shoes too quickly, you could risk damaging them. And then they’re no good to anyone.
Another good tip is to bring a pair of sneakers, folding flats or other comfortable shoes with you. That way, when your new shoes start killing your feet, you have something else to change into.
4. How To Break In New Shoes With Thick Socks
Wearing thick socks or multiple pairs of shoes can also help break in new shoes quickly. So, putting on thick socks will help expand out your shoes even more. Don’t have thick socks, no problem! Just double or even triple pairs of thinner socks.
You can even try this with sandals and other traditionally sockless styles. Wearing them around for a few hours at home can go a long way.
Furthermore, one of the best times to try the sock method is at night. After walking around all day, our feet are at their biggest in the late afternoon or evening.
5. How To Break In Heels Using The Potato Method
If you’ve got a fresh pair of high heels you’re pretty sure will hurt your feet until they’re properly broken in, try the potato method. It might sound odd, but this technique can actually be really effective in how to make shoes not hurt heels.
Here’s how to break in heels with a potato:
#You’ll need one large potato. It should be slightly bigger than the cavity of the shoe but not too big, as you don’t want it to warp the toe box.
#Peel it and dry it off with a towel to remove as much moisture as possible.
#Put the potato inside your shoe and leave it for 12 to 24 hours.
#Remove the potato and place it in the other shoe, leaving it for the same amount of time.
#When you try on your heels, they should be stretched ever so slightly and much more comfortable than they were initially.
Since potatoes vary in shape and size, you’ll want to use the same one for each shoe. For this reason, the potato break-in method takes a couple of days.
6. Break In New Shoes By Wearing Them At Home
You are in the safety and comfort of your own home. Wear them for as long as you can stand. This way, you can take them off anytime you think it’s getting too much to bear.
But don’t get to the point of hobbling. There’s no judgment at home for taking your shoes off and finishing the day in bare feet!
Avoid these things while trying to break in new shoes
1. Applying rubbing alcohol on your shoes. Alcohol can leave unsightly marks on nice leather shoes, as well as rob the leather of its natural oils.
2. Hitting the shoes with a hammer or another hard object. Hammering the backs of shoes could work, but at what cost? Is it worth it to have broken-in shoes that are actually broken?
3. Having someone with bigger feet break your shoes in. Having someone with bigger feet break your shoes in is immoral and ineffective. Not only are you placing the burden of pain on another person, you’re also letting the shoes conform to his or her feet, not your own! Avoid.
I hope this post about how to break in new shoes has given you many ideas. Including info on how to break in new shoes of all kinds.
