stiff birkenstocks?

[ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts]

My new birkies are really stiff. I wore them for the school run today and have two massive blisters on the top of my feet where the strap has rubbed.

Is there a way I can soften them up quickly?

Has anyone else's been like that?

Mine were absolute hell on day2, I couldn't face wearing them, hurt too much. Day 3/4 uncomfortable and now they are broken in, they are the most comfy things ever!

No idea how to soften any quicker. Try wearing round the house with socks, so they don't rub until they are softer?

Whenever I get a new pair I wear them in the house for a few days, I'm in and out all day so they're never on for long. After the first week I venture outside with them & never had a problem.

I think the answer is to slowly break them in

Has anyone had the problem of old birkenstocks giving blisters on the footbed??

I've not had any problems with mine ever, and wore mine again after winter a couple of months ago. It was agony, by the end of the day had awful blisters and sore feet. Tried them again on the weekend for a 40min walk, and same thing. Are they past their best when this happens (they're about 4-5yrs old now)? Or do my fee have to get used to them again?

i love birkies, but they always take a week or so of light use to break in.

to break them in, i wear them around the house all day with extra thick hiking socks.

If it's the leather that feels stiff you could try holding them over a boiling kettle. The steam can help soften the leather.

I usually wear them in the house first.

Wear them with wet socks in the house, it softens the leather

i have a Madrid and a gizeh and it has happened with both although the gizeh are last year's pair so technically shouldn't still be stiff. my feet look like they've been hacked and i don't know what i can do about tomorrow's school run.

how tight should the buckle be? on the second hole they're too tight but the third is too floppy.