Heels on new shoes painful to walk on

[AlSailor]

I got a pair of new leather soled shoes (good-year welted suede bals from J. Press), and the heels are just painful to walk on after a couple of hours of wearing them. They are comb leather/rubber heels, somewhat high.

Now, I know, leather soles may need some "break-in" period (though some people disagree). But this probably only applies to soles/uppers, not heels?

Will there be any change in the heel area?

 

[grimslade]

Originally Posted by AlSailor

I got a pair of new leather soled shoes (good-year welted suede bals from J. Press), and the heels are just painful to walk on after a couple of hours of wearing them. They are comb leather/rubber heels, somewhat high.

Now, I know, leather soles may need some "break-in" period (though some people disagree). But this probably only applies to soles/uppers, not heels?

Will there be any change in the heel area?

The heels are what they are. They're not going to break in. You could try insoles or heel inserts.

But wait, one point of clarification--do you mean the bottoms of the heels, or the sides, where they grab the ankle?

 

[philosophe]

Originally Posted by grimslade

The heels are what they are. They're not going to break in. You could try insoles or heel inserts.

But wait, one point of clarification--do you mean the bottoms of the heels, or the sides, where they grab the ankle?


If the latter, using some moleskin (the drugstore kind) for a few days might be just the thing to protect your skin while the shoe molds to your foot.

 

[AlSailor]

No, I mean the bottoms of the heels

 

[Tarmac]

sounds like the heel does not fit.

You need the shoe to support all the way up your heel sides, not just on the bottom. Needs to "hug" in order to fit. If it's just on the bottom it's like standing on a wooden plank.

 

[AlSailor]

Originally Posted by Tarmac

sounds like the heel does not fit.

You need the shoe to support all the way up your heel sides, not just on the bottom. Needs to "hug" in order to fit. If it's just on the bottom it's like standing on a wooden plank.

So you think the heels are too lose? It does feel like standing on a wooden plank.

 

[grimslade]

Originally Posted by AlSailor

So you think the heels are too lose? It does feel like standing on a wooden plank.

I'm not sure that's the explanation. I suspect you may just not be accustomed to the hardness of a stacked leather heel. That's why I suggest an insole or heel cushion.

 

[philosophe]

Have you pulled up the insole to make sure there's nothing unusual about the inside of the shoe? If everything looks normal, trying a padded insert sounds like the next step.

Do you normally wear leather dress shoes?

 

[stickonatree]

maybe you're not used to it?

 

[TomW]

AlSailor,

It would be helpful if you could tell us what shoes you wear on a regular basis. If your previous shoe wardrobe is comprise mostly of trainers, rockport, merrell, etc. your feet will need to adjust to the lack of soft padding. The muscles in your feet will adapt rather quickly and the pain will ease. Don't wear the new shoes for more than a few hours at a time initially to allow time for the necessary adjustment.

If the pain continues, and you have other leather soled shoes, then the shoe is responsible... if these are your only such shoes, you should have your feet evaluated by a podiatrist as you may need custom inserts.