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Original poster

Dr Martens

36 replies

bumnugget · 27/10/2018 23:24

Right. My new Dr Martens 1460 Virginias arrived today and I absolutely love how they look...except I can't tell if they need breaking in, or are just too small. Im on the larger side of a size 4, but rarely need to get a 5 these days. After seeing reviews online, I went for the 4 as it sounded like they come up big. Articles online only say how to break them in, not if they will actually fit.

They feel really tight across the widest part of my foot, about where the tongue ends. And they generally feel pretty tight all over. Should I return for a size up, or persevere? How much do they stretch? The last pair I had when I was about 6 and were very comfy 

OP posts:
MiaFarrowsWheelbarrow · 27/10/2018 23:26

Return them for the next size up, you can always wear a thicker sock if you need to.

Original poster
bumnugget · 27/10/2018 23:31

Thank you! Not what I wanted to hear as I am so impatient to start wearing them right away, but that was my initial reaction 😁

OP posts:
GreenTulips · 27/10/2018 23:32

DD is a 5.5 mostly and brought a 5

She's worn them tight for 2 weeks and they now mould to her feet

You can get them stretched at key cutting places for £5 and 24/48 hours

It depends how you feel they will go

Branleuse · 27/10/2018 23:35

Can you try them on anywhere

TidyLike · 28/10/2018 08:32

Go to a shop and try on the next size up.

I have quite wide feet and most shoes I buy are tight across the widest part of my foot. Leather ones always stretch.

astridforty · 28/10/2018 08:43

I bought some after reading the thread on here. I’m always a 6 and have some perfectly comfortable DMs in a 6 that needed no breaking in. I tried the 6 on in the shop, questioned how tight they felt at the bottom of the tongue bit and went to a 6.5. I’ve been wearing them inside and on short outings for a week, I’ve raw heels and a blister on the top of my foot - despite plasters. Thick socks seem to make it worse as there’s not loads of room under the tongue. I’m persevering - and they look great, just slowly torturing me.

Also turns out my other comfortable ones are DM unisex so a more generous fit than the women’s range.

FormerlyFrikadela01 · 28/10/2018 08:44

I'm in the process of breaking in my docs. They were insanely tight over the bridge of my foot So much so I was getting pins and needles in my toes. However with each wear they are getting wider and now this part feels much better.
They do however seem to be finding a new place to rub every time I wear them... but I will persevere.

hammeringinmyhead · 28/10/2018 08:46

That bit at the bottom of the tongue is tight even in the right size. It was the only bit pf my Pascal Virginias that needed breaking in. I sprayed with leather stretch and stuffed with newspaper for a few nights and wore Docs socks. They shouldn't be tight everywhere else though.

PennyMordauntsLadyBrain · 28/10/2018 08:49

@astridforty are they patent by any chance?

I have the classic black patent boots that I got a few years ago and have had the exact same experience trying to break them in. I must have worn them for 100+ hours and they still cut my heels to ribbons.

I commented on a similar thread a few months ago and a number of other posters came on to say that they’d also experienced the same!

RedPandaMama · 28/10/2018 08:50

They need to be tight at first. A lot of people make the mistake with DMs of sizing up because they feel small, then once the leather moulds to their feet, there is too much movement and they feel massive. They need to be tight and breaking in Doc Martens is pain! I'm a 7/7.5 and get a 7. I have 2 pairs. The bit across the top of my foot is painfully tight with new ones I bought last week. I recommend wearing them round the house for as long as you can bear at a time, lace them tightly all the way to the top, ideally when cleaning/putting things away/going up and down stairs to help bend the leather.
I've had a pair for 4 years that are incredibly comfy now, they were painfully tight when I got them and made my toes go numb Grin

ShowOfHands · 28/10/2018 08:57

I have never had a problem with breaking in DMs and have worn them daily for 25 years. I buy them so they fit without causing pain and they break in just fine. My favourite pair I've been wearing for 20 years. I really dont recognise this DMs must hurt at first thing.

ChishandFips33 · 28/10/2018 10:26

My purple Pascals were tight across the bridge too

I have cherry ones too but they were more 'pre-loved' so fit like a glove on first wear

This gave me hope that my purple ones would stretch in time - and they have

Pascals are softer leather I believe than the 1460s so you may need more time.

Do you have a friend that could share the wearing in?

Bluesheep8 · 28/10/2018 10:46

I've got a pair of brand new black patent in a size 6 if anyone wants to buy them? Seriously. I've given up trying to break them in! Any serious offer considered!

GreenTulips · 28/10/2018 10:56

Bluesheep8 take them to be stretched. These places have machines that do it for you.

Bluesheep8 · 28/10/2018 11:05

Thanks greentulips it's not that they're tight, they're just darned uncomfortable and somehow the wrong shape for my feet.theyre actually too big if anything but the 5 made my feet actually go numb!

Jitters22 · 28/10/2018 11:17

I've got about 20 pairs of Docs of varying shapes and sizes, and the sizing is all over the shop.

I'm a 5 - but the 5 vintage sandals I have are like boats on me. Have had to have more holes put in the buckle straps on numerous occasions and are probably going to have to flog them on eBay at some point and try and get a smaller size - although they are rare as Hen's teeth. Likewise I have a pair of size 5 Chelsea Boots which are huge. The only way I can wear them is with very thick socks in winter.

However, as someone up above mentioned I've got some new Purple Pascals size 5 and they are extremely tight.

As regards 'breaking in' - have only ever had that problem with one pair - 'Persephone' (a high heel lace up). They were rigid as hell and so uncomfortable. Gorgeous boots but unwearable, so I ended up flogging them on eBay.

Original poster
bumnugget · 28/10/2018 11:20

Thank you all for the advice, there's some different opinions here! I think I'll keep wearing them at home for a week or two and see how they slacken off, before trying the next size up. My feet are no longer tingling, which is a promising sign I think 😁 sadly all my friends are bigger footed than me, so I have to do this one alone, but I'll try the other tips too ☺️

OP posts:
ChishandFips33 · 28/10/2018 11:34

I had the foot/toe tingling too - still get it for the first 20 minutes or so of wearing but then it goes.

Good luck...hope you get to keep and love them

Fairylea · 28/10/2018 11:40

I think the newer ones (as opposed to the ones I wore 20 years ago) have a really tight bridge across the top of the foot. They’re so painful to break in now Sad wish they hadn’t changed them. I tried and failed miserably with a new pair I got myself and gave up and sold them on eBay!

Notajourno · 28/10/2018 12:27

No keep them as is.

I brought a half size bigger than I would normally as my normally size was very tight. I put it down to weight gain making my feet fatter.

Now they have broken in they feel too big so have to wear thick socks with them.

PartridgeJoan · 28/10/2018 12:54

Mine took ages to break in but once they did they became my most comfortable shoe.

It's common for them to be uncomfortable at first.

PivotPivotPIVOTTT · 28/10/2018 13:02

Does anyone know if they are the same for children? My daughter has been after them since last year so my mum has bought her a pair for her birthday . She has just gone into a size 12 although can still fit in some of her shoes which are an 11. She has a high instep so a bit worried that I should have said to get her a size 13 don't want them to be painful for her.

Original poster
bumnugget · 28/10/2018 20:11

@PivotPivotPIVOTTT I have a feeling the kids ones are softer and comfier, but I'm not 100%

OP posts:
SpiritedLondon · 28/10/2018 20:21

Jesus, if shoes ever made my feet tingle I would never get to the point of wearing them outside. They’re not supposed to hurt you! I have a pair of the more expensive Dr Marten shoes ( that come with a lifetime guarantee) expressly because of how comfortable they were in comparison to the standard shoes. There’s no way in hell im ever going to wear them out but I just can’t stand the prospect of days of agony to get them comfortable. I’m so glad I did... I’ve never had a single blister or moment of pain with them.

TidyLike · 28/10/2018 20:21

To those saying that the patent ones are especially hard to break in ... I bought some in 2013, they cut me up for a while, but they are like slippers now 😊

I once read an interview with some fashion designer or other. She advised people to find a shoe brand that suits our feet, and stick with it. Apparently different brands use different templates for creating their shoes, and some of those may resemble your feet more closely than others. This might explain why some people find Docs hard to break in while others here are saying, 'I've no idea what you're all on about'!

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