I was inspired by recent threads...Doc Marten wearers, I need you!

[BearSoFair]

After a couple of recent threads I decided to use some overtime pay to treat myself to a pair of cherry 1460s. I LOVE THEM. But my feet do not! Does anyone have any tried and tested tips to break them in a little easier? Googling throws up everything from simple bending to using a hammer!

Double up on socks is my only tip. And perseverance wearing them for short periods.

Dd wore hers with hiking socks every day, building up from 15mins to a full day over 3weeks. No pain whatsoever. She also built up walking in them in the same way.

I found mine felt like a pair of giant marshmallows after going ice skating for a couple of hours.

Mine are far too wide. Having size 8 feet means they are built on a man's last and hence are like boats. Thick socks is my only option.

In my defence my Doc M's are 25 years old, so they can't be that bad!

I lathered mine in dubbin for a bit and wore thick socks. Then wore them everyday despite the blisters to they were manageable. It was totally worth the bleeding ankles though!

Two pairs of socks, absolutely. As a teen I took out shares in Elastoplast for my ankles as they rubbed for months. Got some a few years back as I was walking a lot in the rain and didn’t care for wellies, read the 2 socks trick, and they haven’t rubbed a bit. Also suggested this to a friend who’s daughter was struggling with Docs and it’s worked perfectly. Two thin pairs, no blisters, lovely cosy feet. Enjoy!

I'll definitely try doubling up on socks!

Longer socks rolled over the top of the boot so they don't rub your ankles. I always wear an insole because the heels are too deep and they rub blisters otherwise. Those stick-in heel grips might help to reduce movement.

My last 3 pairs of size 7s haven't given me any blisters even when new, but then I got one of the super soft pastel pairs and they've been continuous hell. I think I need the men's last rather than the women's.

Ah, there's a fundamental misunderstanding on your part here: you don't wear in DMs like you do with other shoes. The DMs wear in your feet.

I tie mine pretty loosely and leave the last two eyelets undone.
And plasters on the sore bits

Thanks for this, I have a gorgeous patent purple pair that I have been waiting to wear for a shameful 3 years, because they are so painful! Decided this is my year though so two pairs of socks and building up slowly it is!

I found I wore mine once in torrential wet and they obviously got soaked and after that things were a bit better! This is a new pair of the shoe type ones.
My boots I bought second hand from eBay about 10 years ago so all the hard work was done for me! I did this because I was a poor student at the time but I’m glad of it!

I always wear two pairs of socks with docs (mine are a few years old) and basically lots of bending them at the points they hurt and building up your tolerance. I may have also taken a hammer to mine... They are soooooo comfy once you've done it though

Op, today I had the exact same ones delivered, I love them too! I put them on for 10 mins with thick socks, and the painful bit for me is the bony bit on the top of my foot. I'll try the two sock method and and a few more minutes each day, can't wait to wear them properly outside.

I can't remember them hurting when I was a teenager, maybe I've conveniently forgotten that part...

Hmm - this has totally put me off getting any tbh. I am not remotely interested in pain for the sake of fashion, even if it is relatively short-lived pain. I haven't worn shoes that give me blisters since I was a teenager. And as for bleeding ankles-.

• Get some double layer socks (mountain warehouse do them).

• use the wonder balsam on the outside leather

• spray leather softener on the inside and immediately wear them using your double layer socks for a coyote of hours/until they dry.

Repeat a couple of times over the next week and keep wearing with double layer socks for a few weeks.

*couple not coyote

Ah, there's a fundamental misunderstanding on your part here: you don't wear in DMs like you do with other shoes. The DMs wear in your feet.

This is true! I have very little wearing in to do with new ones now as I've been wearing docs for 25 years, clearly my feet have just grown to the shape of docs!

Except for vegan patent ones. They KILL FOREVER.

this is precisely why back in the seventies i wore brogues and not docs, apart from couldnt afford docs all my mates who could were all moaning about how hard they were on feet

@malfoof Yes top of the foot for me too! And the heel a bit too. No rubbing on my toes though so that's something I suppose!

@BearSoFair I thought it was strange about the pain at the top of my foot because I have narrow feet. So far my heels and toes are fine though. I read here the other day about someone who wears them for bed for 80 hrs in total, don't think I can manage that though.

Doubled up on socks, plastered the top of my foot and heel, and braved a 40 minute trip to the supermarket...and the bastard boots rubbed on my toes for the first time! I feel like I'm having to earn the respect of these shoes and prove myself worthy of wearing them I will win!