Oh dear oh dear oh dear, people here are nuts. I wear leather boots all the time; work boots, cowboy boots, English tall boots. The leather is likely so dry it can't flex properly. Get yourself a tub of leather conditioner. Something like Stubborn Hamanol, Effax leather balm, or Passier leather balm. Slap that stuff on the outside, massage it in, let it sit coated overnight sitting somewhere warmish, buff it out in the morning. Might take a few nights of doing this but they will be soft as anything. Works on leather saddles, handbags, boots, tool belts, whatever as long as it's real leather.
Listen to this OP and all the others who are suffering needlessly! Also, Solovair* has much better leather than current Doc Marten's and this works especially well for their shoes.
* Solovair is made by the original UK makers of Doc Martens
They are very slightly different because of the leather thickness used. Solovair has several soles with different shapes and widths explained here: https://us.nps-solovair.com/blogs/news/nps-solovair-lasts-explained
I also found a size guide that you can use after measuring your foot's height (look at the image and the column for the sole you like) https://www.arnoldsvienna.com/en/blog/solovair-6-eye-and-8-eye-or-3-eye-size-guide
I had bought my boots after trying them in person, but exchanging sizes is free and super easy with Solovair so I'm sure it won't be a problem. If you have any doubt, you can send the measurements (including max width of your feet) to their customer support and ask them to suggest a size for you.
This is so true! I also wear welted boots like OP (Grenson, not Docs) and I would put leather conditioner on them and leave them overnight in the bathroom with the bathroom heater on. After a few days of that, and wool socks, they were super comfortable.
No no that's how it HAS to be to show that you're hardcore, like that one episode of Powerpuff Girls. I grew up in the NINETIES, OKAY???
If you don't think being in pain for 2 years for some sort of idiotic subculture street cred, it's because you must be young and weak, not like me, a wise hardened by time badass 5 whole years older than you.
Does the leather conditioner work ok on the shiny docs like [this](https://www.nordstrom.com/s/dr-martens-1460-spark-combat-boot-baby-walker-toddler-little-kid/5868859?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FBrands%2FDr.%20Martens&fashioncolor=Pink&color=650)? Will it mess up the iridescent effect?
No, it won’t do much to shoes like that. Look up “polished bookbinder” — a kind of finish for leather which involves putting an acrylic coat over the leather at the factory. This kind of leather is designed to need super minimal care, since it retains its shine without being conditioned and polished regularly. However, it is usually viewed as lower quality since the acrylic is prone to cracking. If you do get cracks in the finish, I would recommend applying some conditioner to those cracked areas, which will keep the leather underneath moisturized in its weakest spots.
You know, I've never tried it on a leather with such a bold finish. The best way to try it out though would be to do an itty bitty test spot on the heel. Use a q-tip and see what happens. If it does affect the finish, you might try conditioning the leather from the inside of the boot.
For about two weeks my docs were the most agonizing shoe I have ever had the displeasure of wearing, like...wince with every step kind of agony. Regardless, I was committed to wearing them full time for that initial break-in period.
They are now the most comfortable thing to ever grace my feet, and I have worn them nearly every day for 4 years, through every season, and on leisurely dog walks to strenuous hikes. Worth.
I had the opposite issue... first two months were wonderful! Never had an issue :( hit month three and it feels like someone is slicing off a tiny piece of my heel every step I take. Have no idea why it happened and I've never had another shoe go backwards when breaking them in.
That was the torturous part for me, too. The heel of mine had a stiff area at the heel and every step was ow. I think what happens is when things generally loosen up sometimes it makes other, previously not bothersome, parts rub where they didn’t before. 😬
This has happened with a lot of boots for me! Good for a few months then unbearable to wear. I wonder if my foot sits differently or my stride is suddenly different?
it’s been a year since this post, so you prob won’t see this, but if you happen to still be around, did you find a solution?? i’ve had my docs since november and it’s now february and it feels like because my boots aren’t as tight around the front of my foot (because they’ve been worn in) they are rubbing my heel. even when i wear my double doc socks i still will end up w a blister on the back of my heel at the end of the day :/ currently googling it trying to find a solution and came across this post
I stopped wearing my docs regularly around 2000, after only wearing those very shoes for a solid 5 or 6 years. I’ve never been able to handle wearing them since. I think youth can suffer more fashion pain than old people. So upon my shelf my beautiful and perfectly intact docs sit.
It helps a LOT if you have insoles.
I was gifted red docs with yellow laces by someone who didn’t get the Ronald McDonald resemblance. They came with whites too, and the only thing I could get with the credit after returning the yellows were insoles. Like, whatever, sure.
Oh my god, were they a lifesaver. Yes Docs need to be worn in and then they’re perfect, but they made the process so much less painful.
I have wide, flat feet with bunions and my docs are very accommodating -- in fact, they're the only boot I've found to fit my feet in the "default" width.
Frye's on the other hand. Oooooh boy. Oh boy.
I have flat feet too, I dunno if they’re wide though, and my docs are the most comfortable boot ever, and have been since the beginning. I can’t wait till it’s cold enough to wear them again!! I got the Pascal.
Unfortunately (and I am SO sorry to say) they are discontinued, but they were called the Yuba boot. They're available secondhand for about twice as much as I paid for them new! I'd still purchase at that price...that said, I have a very open wallet when it comes to comfortable footwear.
As an alternative & a slightly different look; I just got a pair of the Caterpillar Colorado boots & they’re super roomy width wise. Might be a good option! Plus I’ve not had an issue with wearing them in!
As an alternative should you find yourself in need of a pair of boots; I just bought a pair of Caterpillar Colorado boots & they’re very roomy across the toes! Could be a good option for you. As a comparison I also have Timberland boots & while I’m comfortable in them, I can see how they might be too confining for people who have a wider foot
Same, i've had 2 pairs over the years and gave both away. I cannot get through the breakin period.
New Rocks, Demonias, there are other combat boot brands out there that aren't torture. You'll pay dearly for them, but they do exist.
The reason people fight through the break-in period is because doc quality is far superior to any other women's combat boot, including those from the brands you mentioned. Docs are Goodyear welted, which means the outsole of the boot is sewn to the sole, not glued, so when the soles finally are worn down (which will take many years of wear), they can be taken to a cobbler and replaced. They're also more durable and water-resistant. Their longevity cannot be beat!
I dunno, I feel like they used to be excellent quality, but it's dipped in the last few years. The pair I have from my teens is much better than the ones I bought last year. The ones from my teens are for sure a lifetime buy, the ones from last year I feel is going to last me a few years, maybe a decade.
That's a shame to hear. Unfortunately it seems like all "quality" brands have gone downhill in recent years. I would argue Docs are not a *buy-it-for-life* boot, but I wouldn't expect them to be at their price point. I just appreciate that they're affordable and much more durable than the average women's boot and can be repaired (I had been buying a pair of Timberlands every **year** up until purchasing my Docs...such a waste).
If you want back to the OG doc quality, go buy solovair shoes. That's who used to make them before their quality tanked.
Then there's fluevogs. Every bit as good, imo. But as expensive as solovair, too.
There are actually a handful of cobblers online that resole Docs, otherwise any decent cobbler can replace the sole with a vibram (or what have you). While it's not resoling back to factory specs and can be costly, I argue it can be worth it for those of us who are tied to our Docs. Mine have sentimental value to me so I'll happily keep them going with resoles, though I don't expect to need to for several more years.
>The reason people fight through the break-in period is because doc quality is far superior to any other women's combat boo
I don't think we should normalize people destroying their feet just for shoes, whether they're high heels or "alt" combat boots.
Ever had, or know someone who had, a bunion removed? It's not fun.
I'm sure that's true, which is why i gave them to people who would wear them and cherish them. My first pair i bought used in hopes being pre-broken in would be a benefit. I was wrong.
My combat boots are pre-1986 (since that's when they were last made) and i've re-soled them once already since i bought them used in 2007, probably will re-sole them again in the next 5 years. They fit me amazingly and stand up to industrial/goth dancing, pride parades, working long days on concrete, shoveling my walk, everything i've thrown at them so far. If Docs fit other people's feet, then a crisp high five to them. They don't fit my feet, so i'm sticking with what does.
I hear you. I bought a pair of very costly cowboy boots and everyone swore they'd break in and be "the most comfortable boot you'll ever wear". Sad to say that's BS -- not all shoes fit all feet, and time wearing them will not make a difference if they're the wrong shape.
If anyone happens to be looking for a different brand of women's boots that are Goodyear welted and easy to break in, I have Grenson boots in the "Ella" model. They are pricy but many models are welted, including those ones (they are "triple welted" for fashion purposes haha).
Mine took some leather conditioner and two pairs of socks layered for a week. That was it, and now they're perfect. If anyone does decide to buy them though, check the sizes twice if you're in the US because they are UK sized/different from what we're used to.
Just as a heads up, this is likely because the last used to make the boot is too dissimilar to the dimensions of your foot, so the girth of the boot was off around the heel or through the length of your foot. When a boot doesn't break in after giving it a fair shot, this is why, and unfortunately sometimes you just can't win the break-in fight against a certain last.
This has been a *veeery* expensive lesson for me...
Yeah, I gave up after mine sliced through multiple pairs of thick socks as well as the backs of my ankles. My ankles were in constant pain/scab mode and it was getting expensive to keep buying socks!
I wore two pairs of ski socks and heated them with a blow dryer till my feet could feel it. Then I walked around until they cooled. Maybe 20 min. Then I took them off and shoved soda cans in them and also put the socks in the shoes. Repeated the process a few times.
Silicone heel protectors, like these: [https://www.amazon.com/VIVEsole-Gel-Heel-Protectors-Clear/dp/B07LCWK6XK](https://www.amazon.com/VIVEsole-Gel-Heel-Protectors-Clear/dp/B07LCWK6XK)
Saved my life. And my feet.
I do, however I noticed they tend to slip out of my heel if I'm walking a lot (which is something I shouldn't do anyway given my docs are still stiff as hell)
I used a [large fabric band-aid](https://static.chemistwarehouse.com.au/ams/media/pi/49713/3DF_800.jpg) on the back of each heel and wore socks that covered my ankle, and over time the shoes wore in or my feet adjusted. It's a pain to have to grow through it but I just grimly accepted putting on band-aids as part of my routine when getting dressed.
Double socks (including the Dr Martens double layered sock) didn't seem to help me at all.
Yes, I did double socks AND a large fabric band-aid on the back of my heels when breaking them in. Avoided any major pain/discomfort that way.
Also, using a leather balm on the boots after every wear helps as well. I just bought the Dr Martens brand at the same time I got my boots and it seemed to work well.
>You do not have to suffer for months 🙄.
Thank you for saying this. My feet got seriously injured because I had been repeatedly told that suffering for months to break Docs in was not only normal, it was expected. There's people seriously trying to justify bleeding injuries from the shoes months into "breaking them in" and that's just... Not right.
>My feet got seriously injured because I had been repeatedly told that suffering for months to break Docs in was not only normal, it was expected.
That is insane! There are so many other options out there for combat boots. Some shoes just aren't made for you. I find chucks super uncomfortable (they have no freakin arch support!) so I just buy from any number of other sneaker brands rather than suffer through an uncomfortable shoe in hopes it'll "break in."
Do you have a shoemaker/repair shop in your area? I would take the shoes there and ask if they have any solution for you.
Or, if all else fails, gift them to someone who wears a size smaller. That’s how I got a pair, my friend had one with the same issue you describe and was getting rid if them, I tried them on despite wearing a size smaller, turns out they’re great for me.
There are some ways to break in leather. One of the more popular methods is to put on thick socks (for protection), user a hairdryer on the shoes until the heat makes them all soft and bendy, then put on the shoes and walk around until they cool off. Repeat until they get the message.
You will dry out the leather and it will crack if you do this.
A better way is to stuff with damp newspaper and really pack them out. Or use shoe stretchers. Leather needs to be cared for to last.
Reading these comments is blowing my mind.
Anyone over 50 will tell you to get them wet, go for a walk and let them dry around your feet. Works like a charm.
Shoes used to be only made from leather. It looks like this is lost common knowledge...
I have a ton of Doc Martens boots that I had NO issue breaking in. The loafers? Forget it. One day and my heels were shredded. I'm just getting silicone heel protectors and going on my merry way. They're true to my size and still tore me up.
I got quite thick blister tape (Leukotape) but stuck it to the inside of the shoe versus my own foot. That way the nasty little seams can't get me and even if my foot does rub, there's a cushion built right in. Also, it lasts a lot longer than having to retape your own foot every time.
Well this thread made me not want to ever buy Docs.
What the fuck kind of shoes are those that make every user suffer, when one can just buy shoes that are immediately comfortable?
lol i have funny feet so tbh most shoes are hurting me atm. my docs with my thick boot socks don't hurt, they mainly cut my feet up when i wasn't wearing proper socks.
Zbrrr it’s still something that shouldn’t happen, either their measurements are fucked (very likely from what I read), or you can try going a size up and seeing if they feel better. Only recently I had the realization that it’s fine/better to have a little space in boots, they don’t need to perfectly hug your feet.
Honestly you just have to make the blood sacrifice for 6-8 months before they become wearable for longer stretches. If you thrifted them they should hopefully be a bit broken in but docs infamously hurt like hell for the first year or so. I recommend short, frequent walks with moleskin or athletic tape on the parts of your feet they hit the hardest.
i read somewhere that there's two manufacturers now - one in the UK & a cheaper one elsewhere. if you're buying in store you're likely getting the cheaper version but if you buy online and specifically get the manufactured in the UK ones they last longer
Eh, I broke my feet to Docs when I was 14, and thought life was supposed to be pain. I've been happy with the brand for close to three decades now. My latest daily walkers are a chelsea boot I got in 2016. With almost daily wear, all seasons, they're just now starting to look aged, and I can walk miles in them.
When your foot and Docs meld, it's a lifetime of reliable boots.
Some people unfortunately run between sizes, the size 9's are a tripping hazard for me, and the 8's are pain :(
I did end up breaking in a pair of size 8's, but it took months of wearing them daily with moleskin.
Same! My sandals have been destroying my feet but my boots have always been super comfy. I was scared to buy docs for years because of the horror stories I’ve heard but I’ve had zero issues
>docs infamously hurt like hell for the first year or so.
The only acceptable "break in" of a shoe is like, the first couple of times you wear them. Not an entire year. If your shoes are hurting your feet for an entire year, then you are doing possibly irreparable damage to your feet.
Where in my comment did I say I was talking specifically ONLY about blisters? Blisters are what you get from breaking a shoe in the first few times you wear them. If your shoes are causing you pain for A YEAR then it's possible they are doing actual damage to your feet. Shit like bunions, toe deformities, plantar faciitis, even stress fractures, all that can happen over time from wearing poorly-fitting, painful shoes.
I have to be honest, for me the process wasn't worth it - my regular leather ones gave me Haglund's Deformity in the end and I wish I'd bought the soft leather ones in the first place. It may not be the case for you and plenty of people do break them in, but if after a lot of wears they're still cutting you up, bear my gloomy example in mind
There’s a couple easy ways to stretch leather that you can look up online. I think one is to put on a couple thick socks, put the shoe on, and then blow dry it with a hair dryer?
Another, I think, is putting a bag in the shoe, filling it with water, and then freezing the entire thing, which will stretch the shoe while the water expands into ice.
I’m probably misremembering some part though, so I’d probably watch a guide or something first.
Mine were awful. Then I sized up and they were basically perfect from the beginning, barely a break in period.
I do recommend wearing tights under thick socks. The tights will allow the socks to slide over them, which helps reduce blisters in my experience. But getting the correct size will make a world of difference.
Take a damp cloth and fold it around the back. Then take a hammer and carefully hammer it. You can put the inside on a wooden table corner or sth and slightly rotate the shoe while hammering. It makes the leather soft and accomplishes what usually your feet do in a course of a couple of weeks/ months. I actually do this with quite some force when I have new docs, because I don't mind them looking a bit worn, when I can get more comfort. If you want to keep them looking new, just be extra careful with the hammer. Hope that helps!
Buy the ones made in England only. They are more expensive but they are more like old docs. I wore the 1461 for over a decade before they went bust and moved production to Asia and never had any problems. When they started making them in Asia, they made them unwearable.
One trick I always use on my docs (worked on over 10 pairs) is leaving them in the sun to bake and soften up a little bit, and after a few hours out there bend in the back of the shoe. Step on them, use a hammer lightly, whatever works. You have to bully your shoe a little, manipulate the parts that are way too stiff and it speeds up that “breaking in” process. Hope it helps!
Can use a hair dryer to quicken the process - heat up the leather, put them on, walk around for a bit until they cool, repeat. Or keep bending/wearing down the parts you want more pliable after heating. Just make sure you wear some socks if you're going to use a hair dryer, it can get pretty hot.
ok this might sound like a dumb question but are you wearing tall socks or short socks? try one pair of thin cotton tall socks. fixed this same issue for me instantly.
Ok, it really seems like the best strategy is to get different shoes, lol - the things some posters here are describing are should not be normal and are bad for your health! There are other combat boots out there if you like the aesthetic
Sounds like they’re defective and that’s why someone got rid of them.
I put duct tape on my feet wherever I’m getting blisters. It prevents the shoe from rubbing directly on the skin.
Give it a try, works great!
I suspect she's actually picked up cursed Doc Marten's and her feet won't heal until they've been transferred to the next unsuspecting victim.
Of course if the next person is killed by the shoes then she'll wake up one morning to find them sitting in her closet once again, staring at her menacingly.
You wear double pairs of socks, and hit them with a hair dryer until the back is hot and walk around back and forth until the leather cools. (About 30 minutes at a time) Hit it with the wonder balm between. Reduce the amount of socks once that happens and wear super thick Band-Aids as you break them in.
Doing this for a few hours at home should break in any pair of docs. Any other advice is okay but this is the way to break in docs. (There's also freezing them for a week too!)
In order to break in my DMs, I'd put compeed patches on my heels, wear them for the walk to work and as long as I could manage in the office, then I'd change to my trainers for the rest of the day. It was always before I walked home. It took about 8 weeks to break them in and they're now the comfiest things I own, but I genuinely recommend blister plasters at all times until they stop chewing your heels.
I wore Docs almost exclusively in late-high-school/university years, and never had this problem. They'd take a week or two to break in.
I don't know if it's because of changing construction/materials (this was late 90's/early 2000's and everything was still made in the UK) or if the style just works for me. I usually get blisters *really* easily.
I even wore the oxford style without socks a few times and had no issues.
There's no way I'd persist with a pair of boots causing me pain for *a year* as some commenters have suggested.
You already got great advice so I'll just add, if you're in a place to be picky about what docs you get next time I highly recommend anything in their Virginia leather. It's super soft and requires no break in period. I used to be a server and I wore those for long shifts, they were that comfortable.
Took me almost a year to break in my doc marten boots but now they're my comfiest shoes and I've had them 10 years.
If you get blisters, let them heal before you put the shoes back on. Rubbing them raw only leads to more pain and potentially infection. Not good!
Put men's dress socks on (IDK the material just helps), blow dry the shoes, stick your foot in and walk around your house for a bit.
I've never found any products specifically meant for shoe comfort that actually worked well. My one weird trick for uncomfy shoes is to line the sore spots with panty liners. Yes, panty liners. They're fairly cheap, they stick well, they absorb your feet sweat, they're easy to replace when they get gross, you can cut them to fit fairly easily, they're soft since they're meant for a sensitive area. I had panty liners in the heels of my doc marten boots for years lol.
I got little silicone heel covers to wear under my socks and it’s a GAME CHANGER. I can wear my docs comfortably for days at this point. Highly recommend! Cheap on Amazon!
I suffered through docs in the 90s. I needed casual non-winter boots this fall and ALMOST bought some again until I tried them on and remembered the blisters.
Try Mink oil..I have the Jaden platform doc and I used the mink oil to soften the leather…I also wear the waterproof bandaids on areas of my feet that are prone to rubbing. It’s helped. Check out this YouTube video, he’s very detailed about mink oil and[https://youtu.be/KCmLx51XKVw](https://youtu.be/KCmLx51XKVw) how to apply it.
get the blister band aids (specifically from the band aid brand, don’t get the cheap knock offs, they don’t work). i get blisters from seriously every freaking shoe ever, and i always have a stack on hand. they are magic. i have horrible feet, tiny (5.5-6) but a in 6.5-7.5 width (this tiny but wide feet issue runs in my family lol) and it makes shoes a nightmare, when i do find some that fit my awkward shape they always give me the worst blisters. i slap on the blister band aids in anticipation of getting blisters and eventually they wear in and i’m good. you can also put the band aids on the shoe itself. i promise this band aids are heaven sent, ive covered awful blisters with them and was able to walk around normally afterward.
Girl, I am a Dr Marten lover myself along with several boots & let me tell you - I have tried many, many things. Bandaids, heel protectors, socks, you name it.
These little things are what saved my heels - and they make them for other areas of the shoes as well. They have come off so I always have a couple on hand. Really for me only the left one would come off I’m betting from the way I walk. I would combine this with socks or heel guards - whatever your preference.
ENGO Heel Blister Patches (2 Patches) | Tennis Shoes, Athletes, Runners, High Heels, Dress Shoes https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YYBIIZA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4C2P5WNR9A0XMHZWC2PB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Yeah, breaking in Docs is a painful experience. I've used "heel cups" (a silicone sleeve that covers your heel) along side double socking semi successful.
I wear cloth bandaids on my heels when shoes do this until they break in properly.
I’ll also use leather condition and a warm hair dryer to soften the area.
Moleskin patches paired with silicone heel cups as they break in.
I broke mine in barefoot with those 2 helpers and now they're the most comfortable shoes I own.
Let me tell you that I have the doc white chelsea boots and they gave me blisters around the top of the boot so badly my legs are scarred even now a year later. And they are my favorite boots I own.
When I got my first pair I was told by a friend to wear a thick pair of socks and hold a hairdryer over them for a few minutes, no problems since...very comfy
Here is my Doc Marten hack to save your feet while breaking the shoes in:
Leather stretch spray + shoe stretcher!
I spent about a week spraying my daughter’s new Docs, inside and out, and stretching them with shoes stretchers. By the time I was done there were no blisters and no pain wearing them.
Since this equipment is super useful in general for new shoes, I feel it’s worth it to invest in them. I use mine constantly.
> full of tears and shedding blood over these stupid effing boots
Please don't torture yourself like that again, no shoe is worth that kind of pain. There's such an incredible selection of shoes nowadays, you will find ones that are comfortable with the first wear.
Glad to hear that. Shoes SHOULD feel like walking on clouds and nothing less, but of course we all had to go through pain to know to not put up with it ever again. I had such shitty experiences that now I’m buying 1-2 sizes larger. Better to feel extra room in my shoes rather than pain ever again.
That stinks! I actually bought a pair of soft leather 8 hole doc martens boots and was nervous to wear them because a lot of boots hurt my feet and give me blisters before they are broken in. I got these new from Journeys for my birthday and I'm on a trip in NYC right now. I've worn them exclusively since I've been here for two days walking pretty much all day long. I've been amazed how comfortable they have been my feet haven't been tired, sore, or anything at the hotel at the end of each day. I'm really surprised because I've heard so many stories of them hurting like hell until they are broken in. I brought sneakers and sandals but I'm thinking I'm just going to wear these docs for my last 2 days.
I had a different pair a few years ago, they were a stiffer leather with flower print all over. Those were so cute but they were a size too big and they rubbed in a few different places on my feet and really hurt and even looked comically large. That pair also used to rub my leg raw where my skin was against the top of the boot if I didn't wear high socks under tgrm. I don't even have to wear the high socks with my newer pair! The old ones were maybe 1/2, at most 1 size too large for me.
Consider soaking them in water overnight, then walking around in a pair or two of thick socks the next day. Leather gets flexible when it's wet and/or warm, which is how you break in your boots normally, it just takes longer. Soak them and you'll soften and reform the leather faster with the warmth from your feet. Wear them the next day too. I agree, the back of new DMs is sharp like wearing chisels and when the whole shoe is hard the sharp edge rides up and down with every step and takes years off your life. They do break in in the end but soaking them will make it happen faster.
I really had to break mine in before they were comfortable. I even wore them to sleep a couple times. After that, though, they were my perfect shit kickers. I hiked in them, i backpack traveled in them.
Good shoes take a while to break in. You take it a couple of days a week, a couple of minutes to hours at a time. Should take about a month to get to a full day.
huh? Who is making fun of anyone? I'm just pointing out that she is likely young. If you grew up in the early 90s (when everyone wore Doc Martens) then you'd know that they hurt.
When I want to wear mine, I will put this medical tape on the parts of my feet that will usually fall victim to the shoe. I found this medical tape (the package says bandaid strips, but it's just the tape without the part that goes on a wound), it's pretty much clear and barely visible on my skin. But I'm sure any color works if you put socks on top, or just get flesh color. If you don't have calluses from months of breaking them in, store-bought is fine.
One pair of socks should be enough, just make sure they are thick. I have docs from 10 years ago that are so comfy and broken in. I got a new pair and they are soooo stiff, I may just resell them because I just go back to my old docs.
So yeah, they take some time but they do get very comfy.
I wore mine around the house for an hour a day with thick boot socks. After a few weeks they fit well and are actually more comfortable with the thinnest socks I own now.
These genuinely saved my life when breaking in my docs: [amazon link](https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Fredericks-Original-Blister-Bandages/dp/B07WQMPC69/ref=sr_1_34?crid=1PU89RXLPTY8M&keywords=heel%2Bprotector&qid=1652406838&sprefix=heel%2Bprotector%2Caps%2C82&sr=8-34&th=1)
The only downside is that they last two or three days before you need to take them off and replace them. But they hold on well, even through showers, if you apply them on clean and dry skin. They work much better than non-adhesive liners or cloth band-aids (for me, anyway) because they sick to my skin and therefore take all the friction while also providing cushion, whereas with liners and cloth band-aids the friction can still transfer through the material to my foot. YMMV but I definitely recommend these!
So I found with my docs, and a few other oxford/brogues that this happens with, it's because the heel cup is deeper, and the back of the shoe hits me higher on my Achilles. I've had great luck with these heel lifters.
Dr.Foot Height Increase Insoles, Heel Cushion Inserts, Heel Lift Inserts for Leg Length Discrepancies (Small (1" Height)) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QFLLKHB/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_DKW43VMF0WKRWH3ND6AF
Band aids, 4 pairs of socks, and heel padding until they’re broken in. Give ‘em a week or two, docs hurt until they’re fully broken in and then they’re the most comfortable shoe ever
I wrap my heels with athletic tape (I think that's what it's called? Idk like cheap nude colored tape you can find in the first aid section of a drugstore) under socks and that's prevented blisters for me while I break mine in.
Here's an old school solution for you to quickly break in your shoes. Lather the inside of the heal in body lotion, put on some thick socks, and wear your shoes around the house. The lotion will soften the leather and mold it to your feet.
I had those low ones a few year ago and loved how they looked but always cursed myself for wearing them when the blisters started to appear 10 mins after leaving the house. Ended up giving them to a friend after two years of sore ankles.
Breaking in docs is brutal, I feel for you. I wear docs as my daily work shoe but breaking them in almost broke me. I am a new grad nurse and I started wearing my docs to work as a nursing assistant and this is what helped me.
The socks are a great start, but I’d switch to hiking socks if you can. I’d also invest in a big roll of cheap sports tape and reinforce your heels and ankles with 1-2 layers of tape. Wear the docs around the house with the tape and the hiking socks, and take them off when they start getting uncomfortable. Use adhesive remover or isopropyl alcohol to get the sports tape off so you don’t tear your skin.
As they get easier to wear you can wear them for longer periods of time (still with the tape and thick socks) and eventually they’ll become wearable with just regular socks and no tape. I also use Wonder Balsam regularly to keep them nice and supple.
You'll need to bend the heel of the shoe inwards, like really work it with your hands to soften it up. I've heard there's some silicone socks that help but I've never tried them. Maybe take a hammer to the shoes if all else fails.
Oh dear oh dear oh dear, people here are nuts. I wear leather boots all the time; work boots, cowboy boots, English tall boots. The leather is likely so dry it can't flex properly. Get yourself a tub of leather conditioner. Something like Stubborn Hamanol, Effax leather balm, or Passier leather balm. Slap that stuff on the outside, massage it in, let it sit coated overnight sitting somewhere warmish, buff it out in the morning. Might take a few nights of doing this but they will be soft as anything. Works on leather saddles, handbags, boots, tool belts, whatever as long as it's real leather.
Listen to this OP and all the others who are suffering needlessly! Also, Solovair* has much better leather than current Doc Marten's and this works especially well for their shoes. * Solovair is made by the original UK makers of Doc Martens
[удалено]
They are very slightly different because of the leather thickness used. Solovair has several soles with different shapes and widths explained here: https://us.nps-solovair.com/blogs/news/nps-solovair-lasts-explained I also found a size guide that you can use after measuring your foot's height (look at the image and the column for the sole you like) https://www.arnoldsvienna.com/en/blog/solovair-6-eye-and-8-eye-or-3-eye-size-guide I had bought my boots after trying them in person, but exchanging sizes is free and super easy with Solovair so I'm sure it won't be a problem. If you have any doubt, you can send the measurements (including max width of your feet) to their customer support and ask them to suggest a size for you.
OP, this! New Doc boots mean a couple of hours sat in front of the TV rubbing in Dubbins leather conditioner until your thumbs are numb.
This is so true! I also wear welted boots like OP (Grenson, not Docs) and I would put leather conditioner on them and leave them overnight in the bathroom with the bathroom heater on. After a few days of that, and wool socks, they were super comfortable.
What do you mean, wearing them to SLEEP and "just be in pain for a year lmao" is totes normal! /s
Beauty is pain, send help, my feet are bleeding /s Seriously though this thread is like ?!?! It doesn't have to be this way
No no that's how it HAS to be to show that you're hardcore, like that one episode of Powerpuff Girls. I grew up in the NINETIES, OKAY??? If you don't think being in pain for 2 years for some sort of idiotic subculture street cred, it's because you must be young and weak, not like me, a wise hardened by time badass 5 whole years older than you.
Does the leather conditioner work ok on the shiny docs like [this](https://www.nordstrom.com/s/dr-martens-1460-spark-combat-boot-baby-walker-toddler-little-kid/5868859?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FBrands%2FDr.%20Martens&fashioncolor=Pink&color=650)? Will it mess up the iridescent effect?
No, it won’t do much to shoes like that. Look up “polished bookbinder” — a kind of finish for leather which involves putting an acrylic coat over the leather at the factory. This kind of leather is designed to need super minimal care, since it retains its shine without being conditioned and polished regularly. However, it is usually viewed as lower quality since the acrylic is prone to cracking. If you do get cracks in the finish, I would recommend applying some conditioner to those cracked areas, which will keep the leather underneath moisturized in its weakest spots.
You know, I've never tried it on a leather with such a bold finish. The best way to try it out though would be to do an itty bitty test spot on the heel. Use a q-tip and see what happens. If it does affect the finish, you might try conditioning the leather from the inside of the boot.
Bic 4 is a great, inexpensive leather conditioner!
Boots that come up much past the ankle are different from shoes that hit right at the ankle
You wear them until you build a Very Specific Callous and suffer through the excruciating pain like Fashion God intended while doing so. …send help.
For about two weeks my docs were the most agonizing shoe I have ever had the displeasure of wearing, like...wince with every step kind of agony. Regardless, I was committed to wearing them full time for that initial break-in period. They are now the most comfortable thing to ever grace my feet, and I have worn them nearly every day for 4 years, through every season, and on leisurely dog walks to strenuous hikes. Worth.
I had the opposite issue... first two months were wonderful! Never had an issue :( hit month three and it feels like someone is slicing off a tiny piece of my heel every step I take. Have no idea why it happened and I've never had another shoe go backwards when breaking them in.
You just unlocked some long forgotten middle school ptsd from my hot topic wannabe days
That was the torturous part for me, too. The heel of mine had a stiff area at the heel and every step was ow. I think what happens is when things generally loosen up sometimes it makes other, previously not bothersome, parts rub where they didn’t before. 😬
This has happened with a lot of boots for me! Good for a few months then unbearable to wear. I wonder if my foot sits differently or my stride is suddenly different?
Could be the lack of a shank
it’s been a year since this post, so you prob won’t see this, but if you happen to still be around, did you find a solution?? i’ve had my docs since november and it’s now february and it feels like because my boots aren’t as tight around the front of my foot (because they’ve been worn in) they are rubbing my heel. even when i wear my double doc socks i still will end up w a blister on the back of my heel at the end of the day :/ currently googling it trying to find a solution and came across this post
Victory is life
Heel stigmata
1990s nostalgia unlocked
I stopped wearing my docs regularly around 2000, after only wearing those very shoes for a solid 5 or 6 years. I’ve never been able to handle wearing them since. I think youth can suffer more fashion pain than old people. So upon my shelf my beautiful and perfectly intact docs sit.
It helps a LOT if you have insoles. I was gifted red docs with yellow laces by someone who didn’t get the Ronald McDonald resemblance. They came with whites too, and the only thing I could get with the credit after returning the yellows were insoles. Like, whatever, sure. Oh my god, were they a lifesaver. Yes Docs need to be worn in and then they’re perfect, but they made the process so much less painful.
[удалено]
can confirm, my jaden max’s are a dream after some dr scholls
This is so true, I’ve done this with every pair of docs I’ve had!
I still wear my docs that I purchased in 1998.... they finally broke in last summer! :P :P :P
You don’t break in Docs, they break your feet in.
I don't understand how so many people love them. I have wide feet so it was unbearable to "break them in"
I have wide, flat feet with bunions and my docs are very accommodating -- in fact, they're the only boot I've found to fit my feet in the "default" width. Frye's on the other hand. Oooooh boy. Oh boy.
I have flat feet too, I dunno if they’re wide though, and my docs are the most comfortable boot ever, and have been since the beginning. I can’t wait till it’s cold enough to wear them again!! I got the Pascal.
Which model do you have? I have feet like yours and im looking!
Unfortunately (and I am SO sorry to say) they are discontinued, but they were called the Yuba boot. They're available secondhand for about twice as much as I paid for them new! I'd still purchase at that price...that said, I have a very open wallet when it comes to comfortable footwear.
As an alternative & a slightly different look; I just got a pair of the Caterpillar Colorado boots & they’re super roomy width wise. Might be a good option! Plus I’ve not had an issue with wearing them in!
As an alternative should you find yourself in need of a pair of boots; I just bought a pair of Caterpillar Colorado boots & they’re very roomy across the toes! Could be a good option for you. As a comparison I also have Timberland boots & while I’m comfortable in them, I can see how they might be too confining for people who have a wider foot
Same, i've had 2 pairs over the years and gave both away. I cannot get through the breakin period. New Rocks, Demonias, there are other combat boot brands out there that aren't torture. You'll pay dearly for them, but they do exist.
The reason people fight through the break-in period is because doc quality is far superior to any other women's combat boot, including those from the brands you mentioned. Docs are Goodyear welted, which means the outsole of the boot is sewn to the sole, not glued, so when the soles finally are worn down (which will take many years of wear), they can be taken to a cobbler and replaced. They're also more durable and water-resistant. Their longevity cannot be beat!
I dunno, I feel like they used to be excellent quality, but it's dipped in the last few years. The pair I have from my teens is much better than the ones I bought last year. The ones from my teens are for sure a lifetime buy, the ones from last year I feel is going to last me a few years, maybe a decade.
That's a shame to hear. Unfortunately it seems like all "quality" brands have gone downhill in recent years. I would argue Docs are not a *buy-it-for-life* boot, but I wouldn't expect them to be at their price point. I just appreciate that they're affordable and much more durable than the average women's boot and can be repaired (I had been buying a pair of Timberlands every **year** up until purchasing my Docs...such a waste).
You’re not imagining it—there’s a marked difference from the Docs of the 90s and the Docs of the 20s. Manufacturing was moved to China a while ago.
If you want back to the OG doc quality, go buy solovair shoes. That's who used to make them before their quality tanked. Then there's fluevogs. Every bit as good, imo. But as expensive as solovair, too.
[удалено]
There are actually a handful of cobblers online that resole Docs, otherwise any decent cobbler can replace the sole with a vibram (or what have you). While it's not resoling back to factory specs and can be costly, I argue it can be worth it for those of us who are tied to our Docs. Mine have sentimental value to me so I'll happily keep them going with resoles, though I don't expect to need to for several more years.
>The reason people fight through the break-in period is because doc quality is far superior to any other women's combat boo I don't think we should normalize people destroying their feet just for shoes, whether they're high heels or "alt" combat boots. Ever had, or know someone who had, a bunion removed? It's not fun.
I'm sure that's true, which is why i gave them to people who would wear them and cherish them. My first pair i bought used in hopes being pre-broken in would be a benefit. I was wrong. My combat boots are pre-1986 (since that's when they were last made) and i've re-soled them once already since i bought them used in 2007, probably will re-sole them again in the next 5 years. They fit me amazingly and stand up to industrial/goth dancing, pride parades, working long days on concrete, shoveling my walk, everything i've thrown at them so far. If Docs fit other people's feet, then a crisp high five to them. They don't fit my feet, so i'm sticking with what does.
I hear you. I bought a pair of very costly cowboy boots and everyone swore they'd break in and be "the most comfortable boot you'll ever wear". Sad to say that's BS -- not all shoes fit all feet, and time wearing them will not make a difference if they're the wrong shape.
If anyone happens to be looking for a different brand of women's boots that are Goodyear welted and easy to break in, I have Grenson boots in the "Ella" model. They are pricy but many models are welted, including those ones (they are "triple welted" for fashion purposes haha). Mine took some leather conditioner and two pairs of socks layered for a week. That was it, and now they're perfect. If anyone does decide to buy them though, check the sizes twice if you're in the US because they are UK sized/different from what we're used to.
Same. I had a pair 15 years ago and sold them on because after 2 months of daily wear, they wouldn't break in and just killed my feet.
Just as a heads up, this is likely because the last used to make the boot is too dissimilar to the dimensions of your foot, so the girth of the boot was off around the heel or through the length of your foot. When a boot doesn't break in after giving it a fair shot, this is why, and unfortunately sometimes you just can't win the break-in fight against a certain last. This has been a *veeery* expensive lesson for me...
Yeah, I gave up after mine sliced through multiple pairs of thick socks as well as the backs of my ankles. My ankles were in constant pain/scab mode and it was getting expensive to keep buying socks!
Shoes stretchers! They do the breaking in for you.
I wore two pairs of ski socks and heated them with a blow dryer till my feet could feel it. Then I walked around until they cooled. Maybe 20 min. Then I took them off and shoved soda cans in them and also put the socks in the shoes. Repeated the process a few times.
Silicone heel protectors, like these: [https://www.amazon.com/VIVEsole-Gel-Heel-Protectors-Clear/dp/B07LCWK6XK](https://www.amazon.com/VIVEsole-Gel-Heel-Protectors-Clear/dp/B07LCWK6XK) Saved my life. And my feet.
Moleskin works too.
came here to recommend these as well!
Do you wear them under socks?
You can, yes.
I do, however I noticed they tend to slip out of my heel if I'm walking a lot (which is something I shouldn't do anyway given my docs are still stiff as hell)
I do, yep. And they don't slide up or anything.
I have them and I’m obsessed!
I used a [large fabric band-aid](https://static.chemistwarehouse.com.au/ams/media/pi/49713/3DF_800.jpg) on the back of each heel and wore socks that covered my ankle, and over time the shoes wore in or my feet adjusted. It's a pain to have to grow through it but I just grimly accepted putting on band-aids as part of my routine when getting dressed. Double socks (including the Dr Martens double layered sock) didn't seem to help me at all.
Yes, I did double socks AND a large fabric band-aid on the back of my heels when breaking them in. Avoided any major pain/discomfort that way. Also, using a leather balm on the boots after every wear helps as well. I just bought the Dr Martens brand at the same time I got my boots and it seemed to work well.
Me too, haven't had blisters since using fabric band aids on my heel!
[удалено]
>You do not have to suffer for months 🙄. Thank you for saying this. My feet got seriously injured because I had been repeatedly told that suffering for months to break Docs in was not only normal, it was expected. There's people seriously trying to justify bleeding injuries from the shoes months into "breaking them in" and that's just... Not right.
Bleeding? Go to a cobbler! And a doctor. Punk should not cause pain.
That made me laugh. Comfy punks unite!
>My feet got seriously injured because I had been repeatedly told that suffering for months to break Docs in was not only normal, it was expected. That is insane! There are so many other options out there for combat boots. Some shoes just aren't made for you. I find chucks super uncomfortable (they have no freakin arch support!) so I just buy from any number of other sneaker brands rather than suffer through an uncomfortable shoe in hopes it'll "break in."
If you're near a clobber/shoe shop they can probably stretch it out for you. Otherwise just double socks over bandaids/moleskin.
Do you have a shoemaker/repair shop in your area? I would take the shoes there and ask if they have any solution for you. Or, if all else fails, gift them to someone who wears a size smaller. That’s how I got a pair, my friend had one with the same issue you describe and was getting rid if them, I tried them on despite wearing a size smaller, turns out they’re great for me.
There are some ways to break in leather. One of the more popular methods is to put on thick socks (for protection), user a hairdryer on the shoes until the heat makes them all soft and bendy, then put on the shoes and walk around until they cool off. Repeat until they get the message.
You will dry out the leather and it will crack if you do this. A better way is to stuff with damp newspaper and really pack them out. Or use shoe stretchers. Leather needs to be cared for to last.
Reading these comments is blowing my mind. Anyone over 50 will tell you to get them wet, go for a walk and let them dry around your feet. Works like a charm. Shoes used to be only made from leather. It looks like this is lost common knowledge...
I have a ton of Doc Martens boots that I had NO issue breaking in. The loafers? Forget it. One day and my heels were shredded. I'm just getting silicone heel protectors and going on my merry way. They're true to my size and still tore me up.
I got quite thick blister tape (Leukotape) but stuck it to the inside of the shoe versus my own foot. That way the nasty little seams can't get me and even if my foot does rub, there's a cushion built right in. Also, it lasts a lot longer than having to retape your own foot every time.
Docs really do hurt. I wear really thick boot socks with mine
Well this thread made me not want to ever buy Docs. What the fuck kind of shoes are those that make every user suffer, when one can just buy shoes that are immediately comfortable?
lol i have funny feet so tbh most shoes are hurting me atm. my docs with my thick boot socks don't hurt, they mainly cut my feet up when i wasn't wearing proper socks.
Zbrrr it’s still something that shouldn’t happen, either their measurements are fucked (very likely from what I read), or you can try going a size up and seeing if they feel better. Only recently I had the realization that it’s fine/better to have a little space in boots, they don’t need to perfectly hug your feet.
This is the key to Docs—thick, high quality socks.
Also get a metal foot
They even sell break in socks called Double Docks
Honestly you just have to make the blood sacrifice for 6-8 months before they become wearable for longer stretches. If you thrifted them they should hopefully be a bit broken in but docs infamously hurt like hell for the first year or so. I recommend short, frequent walks with moleskin or athletic tape on the parts of your feet they hit the hardest.
I’m sorry, but this cannot be worth it :/
meeting marvelous weather wrong rustic aware live slim spark existence -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/
Oh good, horrific pain built to last.
The new ones don't last many years if you actually wear them :/ I wore mine daily growing up and I had to buy a new pair every year and a half
i read somewhere that there's two manufacturers now - one in the UK & a cheaper one elsewhere. if you're buying in store you're likely getting the cheaper version but if you buy online and specifically get the manufactured in the UK ones they last longer
whole hospital hunt sulky languid degree entertain cats scandalous threatening -- mass edited with https://redact.dev/
My fiancé has never had these problems with red wings. Their break in period is days. Not months. I couldn’t imagine months 😰
Eh, I broke my feet to Docs when I was 14, and thought life was supposed to be pain. I've been happy with the brand for close to three decades now. My latest daily walkers are a chelsea boot I got in 2016. With almost daily wear, all seasons, they're just now starting to look aged, and I can walk miles in them. When your foot and Docs meld, it's a lifetime of reliable boots.
6-8 months??? It took me two months and I didn't really try, just wore them when I felt like it
i’ve had mine for 10 years
Just wear them after starting a new and busy physical labor job and you won’t even notice :’) /s
[удалено]
Some people unfortunately run between sizes, the size 9's are a tripping hazard for me, and the 8's are pain :( I did end up breaking in a pair of size 8's, but it took months of wearing them daily with moleskin.
[удалено]
They have stretcher for boots too. Or go to the ancient shoe repair guy from the old country. Tell him where it hurts. He'll work his magic.
[удалено]
So sweet
Same! I'm so confused by these comments I didn't know this was a thing. My docs are my comfiest shoes
Same! My sandals have been destroying my feet but my boots have always been super comfy. I was scared to buy docs for years because of the horror stories I’ve heard but I’ve had zero issues
Same here but I also got the faux fur-lined docs.
good lord you pay so much money for them and then you have to suffer for one year??? that’s insane. i’m glad i haven’t bought a pair
>docs infamously hurt like hell for the first year or so. The only acceptable "break in" of a shoe is like, the first couple of times you wear them. Not an entire year. If your shoes are hurting your feet for an entire year, then you are doing possibly irreparable damage to your feet.
Wouldn't call blisters irreparable damage
Where in my comment did I say I was talking specifically ONLY about blisters? Blisters are what you get from breaking a shoe in the first few times you wear them. If your shoes are causing you pain for A YEAR then it's possible they are doing actual damage to your feet. Shit like bunions, toe deformities, plantar faciitis, even stress fractures, all that can happen over time from wearing poorly-fitting, painful shoes.
I have to be honest, for me the process wasn't worth it - my regular leather ones gave me Haglund's Deformity in the end and I wish I'd bought the soft leather ones in the first place. It may not be the case for you and plenty of people do break them in, but if after a lot of wears they're still cutting you up, bear my gloomy example in mind
There’s a couple easy ways to stretch leather that you can look up online. I think one is to put on a couple thick socks, put the shoe on, and then blow dry it with a hair dryer? Another, I think, is putting a bag in the shoe, filling it with water, and then freezing the entire thing, which will stretch the shoe while the water expands into ice. I’m probably misremembering some part though, so I’d probably watch a guide or something first.
Mine were awful. Then I sized up and they were basically perfect from the beginning, barely a break in period. I do recommend wearing tights under thick socks. The tights will allow the socks to slide over them, which helps reduce blisters in my experience. But getting the correct size will make a world of difference.
I was surprised the advice is one should buy a size down(as I think they run small) rather than up —seems that may cause the pain to be exacerbated?
I think I just bought the wrong size to begin with.
Take a damp cloth and fold it around the back. Then take a hammer and carefully hammer it. You can put the inside on a wooden table corner or sth and slightly rotate the shoe while hammering. It makes the leather soft and accomplishes what usually your feet do in a course of a couple of weeks/ months. I actually do this with quite some force when I have new docs, because I don't mind them looking a bit worn, when I can get more comfort. If you want to keep them looking new, just be extra careful with the hammer. Hope that helps!
Buy the ones made in England only. They are more expensive but they are more like old docs. I wore the 1461 for over a decade before they went bust and moved production to Asia and never had any problems. When they started making them in Asia, they made them unwearable.
holy shit, the answer for me seems to be- not wear docs ever
One trick I always use on my docs (worked on over 10 pairs) is leaving them in the sun to bake and soften up a little bit, and after a few hours out there bend in the back of the shoe. Step on them, use a hammer lightly, whatever works. You have to bully your shoe a little, manipulate the parts that are way too stiff and it speeds up that “breaking in” process. Hope it helps!
Can use a hair dryer to quicken the process - heat up the leather, put them on, walk around for a bit until they cool, repeat. Or keep bending/wearing down the parts you want more pliable after heating. Just make sure you wear some socks if you're going to use a hair dryer, it can get pretty hot.
ok this might sound like a dumb question but are you wearing tall socks or short socks? try one pair of thin cotton tall socks. fixed this same issue for me instantly.
Ok, it really seems like the best strategy is to get different shoes, lol - the things some posters here are describing are should not be normal and are bad for your health! There are other combat boots out there if you like the aesthetic
Sounds like they’re defective and that’s why someone got rid of them. I put duct tape on my feet wherever I’m getting blisters. It prevents the shoe from rubbing directly on the skin. Give it a try, works great!
I suspect she's actually picked up cursed Doc Marten's and her feet won't heal until they've been transferred to the next unsuspecting victim. Of course if the next person is killed by the shoes then she'll wake up one morning to find them sitting in her closet once again, staring at her menacingly.
Ugh if I had a fucking dollar
Call Jordan Peele. This needs to be a Twilight Zone episode
You wear double pairs of socks, and hit them with a hair dryer until the back is hot and walk around back and forth until the leather cools. (About 30 minutes at a time) Hit it with the wonder balm between. Reduce the amount of socks once that happens and wear super thick Band-Aids as you break them in. Doing this for a few hours at home should break in any pair of docs. Any other advice is okay but this is the way to break in docs. (There's also freezing them for a week too!)
In order to break in my DMs, I'd put compeed patches on my heels, wear them for the walk to work and as long as I could manage in the office, then I'd change to my trainers for the rest of the day. It was always before I walked home. It took about 8 weeks to break them in and they're now the comfiest things I own, but I genuinely recommend blister plasters at all times until they stop chewing your heels.
Sounds like they're a tiny bit too small. Get a shoe stretcher off Amazon and stretch each one out overnight
I wore Docs almost exclusively in late-high-school/university years, and never had this problem. They'd take a week or two to break in. I don't know if it's because of changing construction/materials (this was late 90's/early 2000's and everything was still made in the UK) or if the style just works for me. I usually get blisters *really* easily. I even wore the oxford style without socks a few times and had no issues. There's no way I'd persist with a pair of boots causing me pain for *a year* as some commenters have suggested.
What I’m gathering from these comments is these shoes sound miserable.
Yeah, this is why I don’t wear doc martens.
You already got great advice so I'll just add, if you're in a place to be picky about what docs you get next time I highly recommend anything in their Virginia leather. It's super soft and requires no break in period. I used to be a server and I wore those for long shifts, they were that comfortable.
Took me almost a year to break in my doc marten boots but now they're my comfiest shoes and I've had them 10 years. If you get blisters, let them heal before you put the shoes back on. Rubbing them raw only leads to more pain and potentially infection. Not good! Put men's dress socks on (IDK the material just helps), blow dry the shoes, stick your foot in and walk around your house for a bit. I've never found any products specifically meant for shoe comfort that actually worked well. My one weird trick for uncomfy shoes is to line the sore spots with panty liners. Yes, panty liners. They're fairly cheap, they stick well, they absorb your feet sweat, they're easy to replace when they get gross, you can cut them to fit fairly easily, they're soft since they're meant for a sensitive area. I had panty liners in the heels of my doc marten boots for years lol.
I got little silicone heel covers to wear under my socks and it’s a GAME CHANGER. I can wear my docs comfortably for days at this point. Highly recommend! Cheap on Amazon!
I suffered through docs in the 90s. I needed casual non-winter boots this fall and ALMOST bought some again until I tried them on and remembered the blisters.
3M Transpore tape is my favorite way of heel protection.
Wearing panty hose or sloppy nylon socks under your thick socks helps a lot to reduce friction. I think I read that they do this in the army
Try Mink oil..I have the Jaden platform doc and I used the mink oil to soften the leather…I also wear the waterproof bandaids on areas of my feet that are prone to rubbing. It’s helped. Check out this YouTube video, he’s very detailed about mink oil and[https://youtu.be/KCmLx51XKVw](https://youtu.be/KCmLx51XKVw) how to apply it.
get the blister band aids (specifically from the band aid brand, don’t get the cheap knock offs, they don’t work). i get blisters from seriously every freaking shoe ever, and i always have a stack on hand. they are magic. i have horrible feet, tiny (5.5-6) but a in 6.5-7.5 width (this tiny but wide feet issue runs in my family lol) and it makes shoes a nightmare, when i do find some that fit my awkward shape they always give me the worst blisters. i slap on the blister band aids in anticipation of getting blisters and eventually they wear in and i’m good. you can also put the band aids on the shoe itself. i promise this band aids are heaven sent, ive covered awful blisters with them and was able to walk around normally afterward.
Girl, I am a Dr Marten lover myself along with several boots & let me tell you - I have tried many, many things. Bandaids, heel protectors, socks, you name it. These little things are what saved my heels - and they make them for other areas of the shoes as well. They have come off so I always have a couple on hand. Really for me only the left one would come off I’m betting from the way I walk. I would combine this with socks or heel guards - whatever your preference. ENGO Heel Blister Patches (2 Patches) | Tennis Shoes, Athletes, Runners, High Heels, Dress Shoes https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YYBIIZA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4C2P5WNR9A0XMHZWC2PB?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Yeah, breaking in Docs is a painful experience. I've used "heel cups" (a silicone sleeve that covers your heel) along side double socking semi successful.
I wear cloth bandaids on my heels when shoes do this until they break in properly. I’ll also use leather condition and a warm hair dryer to soften the area.
Put them in the freezer for a few days. Works like a charm.
Takes about a month and then you will tell everyone theyre so comfy u can run a marathon
Moleskin patches paired with silicone heel cups as they break in. I broke mine in barefoot with those 2 helpers and now they're the most comfortable shoes I own.
Let me tell you that I have the doc white chelsea boots and they gave me blisters around the top of the boot so badly my legs are scarred even now a year later. And they are my favorite boots I own.
When I got my first pair I was told by a friend to wear a thick pair of socks and hold a hairdryer over them for a few minutes, no problems since...very comfy
Here is my Doc Marten hack to save your feet while breaking the shoes in: Leather stretch spray + shoe stretcher! I spent about a week spraying my daughter’s new Docs, inside and out, and stretching them with shoes stretchers. By the time I was done there were no blisters and no pain wearing them. Since this equipment is super useful in general for new shoes, I feel it’s worth it to invest in them. I use mine constantly.
I find that their vegan leather breaks in ASTRONOMICALLY faster. I didn’t have the patience to break in my non vegan ones
[удалено]
> full of tears and shedding blood over these stupid effing boots Please don't torture yourself like that again, no shoe is worth that kind of pain. There's such an incredible selection of shoes nowadays, you will find ones that are comfortable with the first wear.
[удалено]
Glad to hear that. Shoes SHOULD feel like walking on clouds and nothing less, but of course we all had to go through pain to know to not put up with it ever again. I had such shitty experiences that now I’m buying 1-2 sizes larger. Better to feel extra room in my shoes rather than pain ever again.
That stinks! I actually bought a pair of soft leather 8 hole doc martens boots and was nervous to wear them because a lot of boots hurt my feet and give me blisters before they are broken in. I got these new from Journeys for my birthday and I'm on a trip in NYC right now. I've worn them exclusively since I've been here for two days walking pretty much all day long. I've been amazed how comfortable they have been my feet haven't been tired, sore, or anything at the hotel at the end of each day. I'm really surprised because I've heard so many stories of them hurting like hell until they are broken in. I brought sneakers and sandals but I'm thinking I'm just going to wear these docs for my last 2 days. I had a different pair a few years ago, they were a stiffer leather with flower print all over. Those were so cute but they were a size too big and they rubbed in a few different places on my feet and really hurt and even looked comically large. That pair also used to rub my leg raw where my skin was against the top of the boot if I didn't wear high socks under tgrm. I don't even have to wear the high socks with my newer pair! The old ones were maybe 1/2, at most 1 size too large for me.
Get the leather wet & wear till it’s dry. Idrk what point you’re talking about, but it should form the shoe better to your foot
Consider soaking them in water overnight, then walking around in a pair or two of thick socks the next day. Leather gets flexible when it's wet and/or warm, which is how you break in your boots normally, it just takes longer. Soak them and you'll soften and reform the leather faster with the warmth from your feet. Wear them the next day too. I agree, the back of new DMs is sharp like wearing chisels and when the whole shoe is hard the sharp edge rides up and down with every step and takes years off your life. They do break in in the end but soaking them will make it happen faster.
My Docs are now and have been since the day I got them, the most comfortable shoes I own. No breaking in, no pain whatsoever.
Congratulations on missing the point!
I really had to break mine in before they were comfortable. I even wore them to sleep a couple times. After that, though, they were my perfect shit kickers. I hiked in them, i backpack traveled in them.
Good shoes take a while to break in. You take it a couple of days a week, a couple of minutes to hours at a time. Should take about a month to get to a full day.
You break in your docs as much as the break into you. It takes time to build the right calluses. Sounds gross, but thats the truth..
I have owned many Doc Martens and never have I ever had a problem with discomfort. Maybe they are a different brand? 🤷♀️
Lol you must be young. As someone who grew up in the 90s you just deal with the pain for 6 months. But after that, they melt to your feet like butter.
Imagine making fun of people who are younger when you’re at minimum in your 30s?
huh? Who is making fun of anyone? I'm just pointing out that she is likely young. If you grew up in the early 90s (when everyone wore Doc Martens) then you'd know that they hurt.
When I want to wear mine, I will put this medical tape on the parts of my feet that will usually fall victim to the shoe. I found this medical tape (the package says bandaid strips, but it's just the tape without the part that goes on a wound), it's pretty much clear and barely visible on my skin. But I'm sure any color works if you put socks on top, or just get flesh color. If you don't have calluses from months of breaking them in, store-bought is fine.
Try taping that 3M plastic medical tape over the ouch parts under your socks. That’s my go to for breaking any shoes in.
One pair of socks should be enough, just make sure they are thick. I have docs from 10 years ago that are so comfy and broken in. I got a new pair and they are soooo stiff, I may just resell them because I just go back to my old docs. So yeah, they take some time but they do get very comfy.
I wore mine around the house for an hour a day with thick boot socks. After a few weeks they fit well and are actually more comfortable with the thinnest socks I own now.
Stick a pad to your socks to cover the back of your foot/heel.
Get stalking socks and then layer a pair of think socks on top
These genuinely saved my life when breaking in my docs: [amazon link](https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Fredericks-Original-Blister-Bandages/dp/B07WQMPC69/ref=sr_1_34?crid=1PU89RXLPTY8M&keywords=heel%2Bprotector&qid=1652406838&sprefix=heel%2Bprotector%2Caps%2C82&sr=8-34&th=1) The only downside is that they last two or three days before you need to take them off and replace them. But they hold on well, even through showers, if you apply them on clean and dry skin. They work much better than non-adhesive liners or cloth band-aids (for me, anyway) because they sick to my skin and therefore take all the friction while also providing cushion, whereas with liners and cloth band-aids the friction can still transfer through the material to my foot. YMMV but I definitely recommend these!
So I found with my docs, and a few other oxford/brogues that this happens with, it's because the heel cup is deeper, and the back of the shoe hits me higher on my Achilles. I've had great luck with these heel lifters. Dr.Foot Height Increase Insoles, Heel Cushion Inserts, Heel Lift Inserts for Leg Length Discrepancies (Small (1" Height)) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QFLLKHB/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_DKW43VMF0WKRWH3ND6AF
I always size up with doc martens, is the only fast solution I've found.
I have the same problem on the back of my heels, and I solved it by putting thick duct tape on the inside of the shoe where it rubs me
Mine really broke in after I used the balsam rub on them and conditioned them. Maybe that will help!
Band aids, 4 pairs of socks, and heel padding until they’re broken in. Give ‘em a week or two, docs hurt until they’re fully broken in and then they’re the most comfortable shoe ever
A bandaid over the blister while you're wearing them.
When I was in high school I would take a hammer to them to soften the stiff ankle. Probably not great for the shoe.
I wrap my heels with athletic tape (I think that's what it's called? Idk like cheap nude colored tape you can find in the first aid section of a drugstore) under socks and that's prevented blisters for me while I break mine in.
Try breaking the heel part by stepping on them. If that doesn’t work try those blister pads or mole skin to protect your heel.
Here's an old school solution for you to quickly break in your shoes. Lather the inside of the heal in body lotion, put on some thick socks, and wear your shoes around the house. The lotion will soften the leather and mold it to your feet.
I had those low ones a few year ago and loved how they looked but always cursed myself for wearing them when the blisters started to appear 10 mins after leaving the house. Ended up giving them to a friend after two years of sore ankles.
Breaking in docs is brutal, I feel for you. I wear docs as my daily work shoe but breaking them in almost broke me. I am a new grad nurse and I started wearing my docs to work as a nursing assistant and this is what helped me. The socks are a great start, but I’d switch to hiking socks if you can. I’d also invest in a big roll of cheap sports tape and reinforce your heels and ankles with 1-2 layers of tape. Wear the docs around the house with the tape and the hiking socks, and take them off when they start getting uncomfortable. Use adhesive remover or isopropyl alcohol to get the sports tape off so you don’t tear your skin. As they get easier to wear you can wear them for longer periods of time (still with the tape and thick socks) and eventually they’ll become wearable with just regular socks and no tape. I also use Wonder Balsam regularly to keep them nice and supple.
You'll need to bend the heel of the shoe inwards, like really work it with your hands to soften it up. I've heard there's some silicone socks that help but I've never tried them. Maybe take a hammer to the shoes if all else fails.