Breaking in dr martens

[NantucketNightbird]

I've got a beautiful pair of red floral velvet docs. I've never worn them properly before but just walked home from the school in them. Bloody hell my heels are in pieces and I looked pissed staggering home. Is this normal, is there a knack to it? More importantly what is best to buy to put on the bleeding heels. All I had in the house was looney tunes plasters the really thin type that you peel the paper off the top of.

[CMOTDibbler]

Hydro colloid plasters and then double layer running socks over a layer of boots blister prevention stick. My fave double layer socks are the 1000 mile ones

[Annarose2014]

Yes this is normal! (Memories of every second girl in my school crippled from breaking in DMs)

It's one of the reasons I haven't bought a pair as an adult. Too much initial shredding of the poor heels.

[NantucketNightbird]

Thank you, will head to boots once I have picked up from nursery, will it get better? Or will I always have to wear plasters etc? Is it normal they are too pretty never to wear again

[NantucketNightbird]

Sorry xpost with Anna, so this will pass?

[Creatureofthenight]

I think I read in a Caitlin Moran column that she reckons the best thing to do is bash them all over with a hammer.
When I got my first pair I used some stuff called saddle soap, I think? Haven't had a pair for ages but considering getting some, so shall watch this for new techniques!

[Annarose2014]

Yeah it passes after a week or so and then they're great. But my God , the first day is grim.

[NantucketNightbird]

How the heck am I going to suck this up for a week!

[PitilessYank]

I just wear new Doc Martens in short bursts for the first few weeks rather than all day.

I have a friend who used to drive over hers in her car.

Ever since the company started manufacturing most of their boots/shoes in China, the quality has dropped. I bought a pair from the Made in the UK line recently and there was a notable difference.

[Annarose2014]

Just plaster the shit out of your heels, wear 2 pairs of socks, and (I remember this trick from school) if you're wearing them for the day bring a small light 2nd pair of shoes with you to pop on if in utter agony.

[nattyknitter]

Use a new dry bar of soap to coat the insides.

With plain leather ones, I would have said stand in a bath as hot as you can bear with the water level over the boots and flex them back and forth, then get out, stuff them with newspaper and leave to dry naturally (Military trick). However the velevt has me therwise stumped.

[MamaLazarou]

DH has just broken in his first pair of DMs. He says the trick is to wear them often but for short periods of time, until the heels soften up. His took just over a week to become the most comfortable shoes ever.

I do wish i could wear DMs. I have long feet and they make me look clowny.

[CreamCrackerundertheSettee]

You need those blister plasters that are like soft plastic and adhere to your heel. You wear them till they fall off. I can't remember the name but they are in a green plastic box. I never break in a new pair of shoes without them!

[CreamCrackerundertheSettee]

Compeed heel plasters

[Knackeredknitter67]

You can buy leather stretching spray. Spray the insides and then wear them for an hour tops. Do this every day for a week or so. While wearing them make sure you walk around as normal, including up and down the stairs.
Occasionally, when not wearing them, bend them back and forward, and sideways, at the heel.
I also only buy the Made in England ones, much better.

[ItGoesWithoutSaying]

My DH puts a thing called "dubbin" on new DMs. I think this would only work with leather, not velvet.

I have a velvet pair also but they wore in easily - just thick socks for the first few wears. I think, however, my feet had already been worn in by the previous leather pair I had!

[outputgap]

I broke in some made in England leather dr martens by wearing them in the house for 10 minutes at a time and then building up. Bringing blister plasters with me everywhere when I started to wear them out, and using Dr marten balm to soften the leather. Could you use the balm on the inside of your shoes?

[ifigoup]

I still have calluses on the backs of my heels from breaking in my first pair of DM boots 22 years ago. It was SO worth it, though. In the end I actually stood on the backs of my boots from the top to break down the stiffness a bit. They're indestructible; you won't damage them. This accelerates the wearing-in process.

[BadgersBum]

Mine actually hurt more on the backs of my calves, where the boots finish. Any tips for breaking this bit in please?

[AYD2MITalkTalk]

I wear heat holder thermal socks over my normal socks

Solovairs are better than Docs.

[NantucketNightbird]

Mine aren't leather this is a pic of them (not my leg). I think I'm going to charity shop them the pain is that bad.

[AYD2MITalkTalk]

If they're a size six I'll have them

[ThornyBird]

These are my babies. They are the comfiest shoes I own and I wear them a lot (walked 8 miles yesterday). It took weeks to wear them in. I wore double layer walking socks and initially just wore them round the house for an hour or so a day. Slowly upped it and then wore them out with a spare pair of shoes for a day, with a couple of days break in between.

Now I wear them daily with no issue. I never actually got blisters because I did it so slowly. I also 'dubbined' them so they are completely waterproof (although they need redoing). DD has 2 pairs (black for school and cherry) and needs a new school pair. It will take her until after Easter to break in the new ones! Go slowly - it's worth it

[NantucketNightbird]

They are a size 3
Ok so slowly does it, the walk home was 1.5 miles so probably not the best idea for first proper use. I have blister plasters on. One has burst the other is good for squishing about.

[BeyondBootcampsAgain]

You need two pairs of socks. Then the one rubs against the other, not against your foot :)

[Annarose2014]

Gosh they're flipping gorgeous though. Please persevere - they're too nice to give up on!