Dr Martens

[bumnugget]

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 

My daughter has Dr Marten school shoes for the first time ( a Mary Jane style with a strap). She is a 13 on one foot and a 13.5 on the other so we bought a size 1. She hasn’t complained of any pain and they are far more rugged than the Start Rite shoes she’s had previous years.

The kids ones are bloody brilliant. Much more padded, softer and comfier than adults. I only wear kids ones now!(size 5 so I can )

I would never wear a pair of shoes i had to break in to the extent that they started off actually givig me circulation problems in my feet - ie tingling.
I consider breaking in, as them becoming from normal, to very comfy, but if your shoes are actually uncomfortable, making you tingle and feel actually too tight, then they ARE too small. You cant just return a pair of shoes youve been wearing for a week, even in the house. Thats gross

I have never had a problem breaking in Dr Martens beyond the usual stiffness around the ankle. My feet are quite narrow though. I'm a size 51/2 and buy size 5. I usually stick to Made in England boots, so that may explain why.

I have heard the vegan boots are easier to break in, and I think it's the Virginia leather Pascals that are also softer.

I have the world's most awkward feet meaning I've never owned a pair of shoes that didn't need some breaking in to some extent. Today I wore some boots I've had for 3 years. They are well worn and I've been wearing them at least twice a week since the beginning if September... 8ve been treated to a great big blister on my little toe today for some strange reason.

Like I said... world's most awkward feet.

Branleuse

If you have wide feet you have to break in every pair of shoes!!

Lucky you eh?

I do have quite wide feet at the front and narrow ankles, so there are actually very few styles of shoes I can actually wear. Im sure if I forced myself to suffer through pain, eventually maybe my feet would callous up and I would get used to foot pain, but I think its a bit weird to suggest to people that pain is a normal part of new shoes. Its not and you are damaging your feet.
Some shoes will not suit the shape of your feet, even in the same brand.
I have some dr martens i needed a 7 for and some a 6 and some styles I just cant wear at all because they rub. Thats the same brand.
These shoes are making OPs feet TINGLE. They are cutting off circulation

This thread has inspired me to crack open my (worn in, super comfortable) patent DMs for the first time this year

Love them @TidyLike !

Already the boots have loosened off and fit me now, after a couple of days of wearing two pairs of socks with them. I'm glad I didn't go up a size, I imagine they'd have been sliding around on my feet and really annoying me!

If you get fitted in a DM shop they advise getting the length right even if the boot feels small as it when it breaks in it will stretch to fit.
I have my Union Jack DMs that I bought in 1977, size 5 patents which still hurt, but my size 4 saddle leathers that I bought recently have moulded perfectly in about a dozen wears.