How to wear in Dr Martens?

[confusedandemployed]

I've recently taken possession of the most beautiful boots in the world (see pic), but by Christ they are murder! I'm trying to wear them at home all day, but am having to do so with the laces laced only halfway up and the side zips down. They are rubbing my heels like buggery! Does anyone have any tips for breaking them in, especially as they are glittery so the dubbin / softening wax is presumably a no go?

[Kittykatmacbill]

I don’t have the breaking in problem with dms - I have funny feet, I have to get really odd running shoes and can’t wear heels. I would say from you picture you need to do them up properly (ie tightly) so they don’t move about then go some walks.

[princessbear80]

At the weekend I took delivery of my first pair since being a teenager. They are so uncomfortable I’m sending them back!

[BillywigSting]

Also get some compeed blister plasters (have to be compeed the knock off ones don't have the staying power). The biggest ones you can find.

You will go through them quite fast but the boots just shred those to peices instead of your ankles.

Also yes to double socks. And knocking them into submission with a hammer (ballet dancers also use that trick on pointe shoes to break them in)

[CtrlAltDelight]

I've got these shiny ones that I have never, ever managed to break in - I must have had them 10 years or more now.

They aren't leather (more... plasticy) so none of the usual tricks seem to work. I have no idea what I would wear them with any more. But I don't want to be defeated by shoes.

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

I've got similar CtrlAltDelight mine without the checked pattern, they are plain pink patent. Got them half price years ago and still haven't broken them in. Get blisters every time I wear them. Have debated selling them, don't want to admit defeat and they do look nice.

[SymphonyofShadows]

With Docs it really does depend on what they are made from. There are loads of different leathers and fabrics, check their website as it gives details for each style. The Softy T ones can be worn out of the box, as that’s the same leather as the children’s boots. I’ve got two pairs of brogues in the same style but different colour that had completely different wearing in times, white ones with a red heart on top took ages, but the black with a leopard heart took no time using the Compeed trick. I’ve got loads of pairs but I’ve got one pair of creepers that are made of evil.

[Catmar]

Slightly off topic but for anyone who's interested the Virginia leather ones are super soft and comfy straight out of the box.

[IDrinkAndISewThings]

@whifflesqueak what shoe size are you? You could corner the market as a DM 'breaker-inner' and charge a small fortune for your services!

[FredaFox]

@HMArsey www.drmartens.com/uk/en_gb/p/22650001these are mine, got them last week, I'm a 5.5 as a rule but they didn't do that size so went with a 6. I could have squeezed the 5 but didn't want to risk it.

[Gilead]

I have about ten pairs 😊. Hammer method is pretty effective for leather ( including Mary Janes). But not so sure about non leather ones.

[NoClueWithStyle]

A long time ago when I was a student, a fellow student had a selection of Dms that she wore all the time. My feet were in ribbons from a new pair of docs.
She swore that the shoes had to be work for 80hrs before they stopped causing blisters. So she wore for for 80hrs before ever taking a step in them!
How?

She sat on the edge of her bed every night and put them on, slept her 8 hrs while wearing them and took them off as soon as she woke up in the morning. She swore blind she never had a blister caused by new docs.

I tried it, and just couldnt sleep while wearing them. But I persevered and got many a comfy mile out of my docs in the end.

[Pinkdoor]

Well I've been bashing the heel of my docs with a hammer and it just seems to spring back up!

[Moonshake]

I took a hammer to my Dr Martens mary janes heel and it worked. I proper bashed them as well, I certainly got my revenge for the month of pain they caused me! I can wear them no probs now.

[Pinkdoor]

Did you bash them all over?

[Gilead]

Just the heel.
You can google too, there are loads of hits on how to break in doc Martens.

[Gilead]

www.wikihow.com/Break-in-Your-Doc-Martens

[slavetothemoney]

I've just bought some navy pascal boots.
I wore them for 3 hours yesterday and not a single rub or blister and my feet usually hate new shoes/boots and protest quite harshly!

Hoping I got lucky as I adore them and don't want to have to confine them to the wardrobe out of fear of pain!

[chroniccreative]

Rub vaseline into the heel, and leave overnight then wear with two pairs of socks. Repeat until comfortable. It should take a week. I bought the lazy oaf heart ones and they've taken just under a week to wear in

[zinrepus]

I'll admit I never got to a point where I was comfortable wearing the low Doc trainers/canvas shoes. But hiking socks. I'd wait until your bleeding feet are fixed (or use the godawfully expensive blister plasters) and then hiking socks (WICKING ONES) and a day of walking in a city, with plans to stop at cafes and restaurants to give your feet a rest. Maybe with the bail-out of taking a bus home.

I've got their Chelsea boots and stupidly went into London for a day, but with the hiking socks all was more or less fine. For reference, I can't wear ballet flats without tights because my feet blister too badly...

[HMArsey]

Thanks @FredaFox, I'm a size 5.5 too. I like the smooth brogue shoes and also some of the chelsea boots.

[BrennieGirl]

Is DM balm the same as dubin?

I got a new pair last year. I find them very tight where the tongue is stitched to the shoe. I had them stretched at the cobblers. It made a bit of difference but not enough to make them comfortable.

[Lovemusic33]

Mine took 2 years to wear in, they still occasionally give me blisters, we have a love hate relationship.

[FredaFox]

@HMArsey I went in for Chelsea boots but they just looked huge on my feet so they suggested the brogue boots which were better as they have laces so I can pull them in a bit (I have narrow feet)

[HMArsey]

Ah, I have wide feet, and chunky legs. Some tall Chelsea boots are too tight on the ankle for my porky legs.

[MoltonSilver]

"Chunky Glitter is a synthetic material coated with super sparkly glitter."

No amount of balms, rubs, vaseline, hammer hitting, wet newspaper etc is going to soften them if they're not leather.

I'd suggest returning them.