best way to break in shoes?

adelphi · Mar 5, 2008

any other way than wearing them and going through the pain?

upnorth · Mar 5, 2008

lend it to your brother or cousin for 2 weeks.

Epaulet · Mar 5, 2008

Rub some mink oil or leather conditioner into them. Sit down in front of the TV for 20 min - bending and working them back and forth with your hands. This has helped me out a lot with certain boots.

Also, it seems like the shoes soften up quite a bit if you wear them out in a light rain.

The Deacon · Mar 5, 2008

I broke in my slighty narrow 12D Polo Darlton shells by wearing them to work and then inserting shoe trees that slightly stretched them. I repeated this after five wearings over 5 weeks and now they feel great.

gdl203 · Mar 5, 2008

Buy shoes your size?

hossoso · Mar 5, 2008

Originally Posted by gdl203

Buy shoes your size?

+1. nuh-doy...

amlai · Mar 6, 2008

Originally Posted by adelphi

any other way than wearing them and going through the pain?

Depends on what part is hurting. If you need to slightly stretch out an area, a common trick that is used by shoemakers is to take a smooth wooden broom handle and by using light pressure, use it to strech out an area. If the rear edge of the shoe is cutting into you, you can also use that broom handle and rub the edge lightly, pressing outwards.

DeadDJ · Mar 6, 2008

Soccer method brah. Get them soaking wet and wear 'til dry. Those things will be form fitting. Otherwise just wear them around the house, works fine for me. How painful is it? Are you breaking in heels?

brad-t · Mar 6, 2008

Isn't soaking leather in water not good for them?

Sauwan · Mar 6, 2008

Originally Posted by gdl203

Buy shoes your size?

Unless these are athletic shoes, this really is your solution...

If they are athletic shoes though, wear them around the house for a few days until they match the contours of your feet. Or just put up with a blister or three.

DeadDJ · Mar 6, 2008

Originally Posted by Uncontrol

Isn't soaking leather in water not good for them?
Yeah, I was joking. That water soak thing is what I used to do with soccer cleats. Did work like a charm though.

Somehow I'm doubting he's asking for athletic shoes. However I really am curious as to what he's wearing that's so painful that he can't just wear them around. Even my first pair of crappy quality cowboy boots weren't that bad (I learned the hard way that cowboy boots when purchased correctly will be too small then stretch to your foot).

The Deacon · Mar 6, 2008

Originally Posted by gdl203

Buy shoes your size?

So, bespoke might be one's only option if one buys one's size and occasionally has even slight fit issues with one's size?

IUtoSLU · Mar 6, 2008

Originally Posted by The Deacon

So, bespoke might be one's only option if one buys one's size and occasionally has even slight fit issues with one's size?

No. I don't know why, but whenever anyone asks a fit question on these boards, 12 people answer with "bespoke is your only option". (although this time the only one mentioning bespoke is the OP)

Just wear the shoes around the house for an hour a day until they no longer hurt. An hour will do enough to begin to break them in, but it will minimally hurt your feet. After a week or two they won't hurt.

amlai · Mar 6, 2008

Even with bespoke, you still need to break in the shoes. I got the tricks that I posted before from a bespoke shoemaker. The shoemaker told me to wear my bespoke shoes normally 2-3hrs per day the first week and to not take any long walks.

gdl203 · Mar 6, 2008

Originally Posted by The Deacon

So, bespoke might be one's only option if one buys one's size and occasionally has even slight fit issues with one's size?
There shouldn't be any fit issues if (a) you buy your size, i.e. right length and width, and (b) you correct minor fit problems with a tongue pad. I don't believe in "breaking in" a pair of shoes. They should fit comfortably from wear 1. Everything else IMO is just BS invented by salespeople to convince you that you should buy shoes that don't fit

best way to break in shoes?

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