We’ve all had that tedious day trudging about the workplace breaking in new shoes.  I am here to give your feet a break!  Breaking your shoes in doesn’t have to be a painful ordeal.  Do not try and wear your shoes all day straightaway, gently break them in a few hours at a time and before long they will feel like slippers!

I have recently bought myself a gorgeous new pair of Doc Marten’s and if you have a pair then you will know that they are an absolute bitch to break in.  I am currently plopped in front of the tele watching Tattoo Fixers while breaking them in, so this leads me to my first top tip…

Vaseline

We all know where our sore bits on our feet lie when it comes to breaking in new shoes.  For me, it’s the heel.  The damn Achilles Heel.  You get blisters on your feet due to a lack of moisture in those areas i.e. when friction is caused between shoe and foot that’s when the need for plasters arises.  Use lotion to moisturise before your put om your new shoes or use petroleum jelly – I always  have Vaseline lying around so I prefer to use it.

Stretching Shoes with Chunky Socks

This isn’t everyone’s first go to when it comes to breaking in shoes but it is mine!  If you can stretch your shoes while wearing thick socks sitting in your pajamas in front of the TV then why not?  Wearing your thicker socks in your new shoes allows you to stretch the shoes without getting nasty little blisters that stay with you for weeks.  Avoid wearing them for long periods of time as your feet can get warm and swell and you’ll end up with blisters anyway so every now and then wear them and have a little walk around.  I put a wash on doing this earlier, then gave my feet a break and now I am wearing them again and can feel it working already!

Blow Dry

This tip really would only apply to leather shoes but no, I don’t mean take them to the hairdressers.  Blow drying the ‘tight’ bits of your shoes can help massively as heat can help to soften the harder bits of leather.  Leading on from the last point if your shoes are being stubborn then keeping your socks on with your shoes blast the areas that hurt or rub with a hairdryer.  Normally a hairdryer will help with areas like the big toe or heel!  Keeping the hairdryer far enough away that you don’t burn yourself hold there for around 20 seconds.  Then get up and move around while the leather is still warm and flexible so that the shoe can bend to suit your foot shape.  If you still feel a good bit of rubbing then rinse and repeat!

Thin Ice

Okay, I don’t know why but I didn’t think that this would work.  My friends, it’s a bloody revelation.  I didn’t try this on leather shoes I tried it on new boots however, it worked like a dream.  So, fill two plastic bags/sandwich bags with water (leave a little room at the top) and stuff them into your shoes and put them in the freezer overnight.  Yes the freezer.  The water turns to ice obvy, and then in turn stretches your shoes without need to even put a toe in.  It’s fantastic!

Buy another pair…

They ones you bought hurt like a bitch? Buy more.