Doc Martins

[trampoline123]

After years of wanting, I've finally purchased my 1st pair of DMs ready for winter.

I've heard they can rub so looking for all your DM hacks.

What style did you go for? Some hurt ALOT where as others I've found haven't even needed breaking in.

If they rub, smother your feet and the inside of your shoe/boot with Vaseline.
If they are tight, buy shoe stretchers and shoe stretching spray and twist every day until they fit. I find a warm place is best.

If you're talking about boots I know a lot of people stick a sanitary towel on the heel area to cushion. I think I'd be paranoid about it working it's way out as I walked though 😅

I went for these ones.

I do have some leather stretcher spray actually, just remembered.

I've never had an issue with sinclairs or triumphs. The patent ones... hell!

Haha! Imagine them lifting off and sticking out the top!

Thick socks and wear them around the house to break in.

Do not, I repeat, do not wear them out first time without breaking in (unlikely this moron who decided to wear them for a day walking around Longleat 😩)

Get yourself some gel heel protectors from amazon or similar. Game changer!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cushion-Protectors-DYKOOK-Support-Fasciitis/dp/B0BT1QYDJK/ref=sr_1_11_sspa?keywords=heel+gel+pads&qid=1696237544&sr=8-11-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

I had a hell of a time with my Pascals even though they're meant to be the easier of the lot to break in. Blisters, bruising, bleeding - the lot.

One day they just caved and now they're the comfiest boots I've ever worn and I can walk for miles in them. I'm dreading ever having to break in another pair but I'm hoping I won't have to!

Wear some thick socks with them and little and often for the first few weeks!

Do not make the same mistake I did and wear them for the second time on a city break walking miles and miles😂

@slowsundays you're giving me hope because I've got the Pascal max's and my god they are the most painful thing ever. I've nearly given up on wearing them as I get cuts and blisters every time but I'm going to persevere for a bit longer now you've said that

Get some leather dubbin. Rub into the pinch points like the heel. Put on a hot radiator. Keep working in the dubbin over time. Also, whilst warm, use a wooden hammer or mallet to hit the pinch points. When the leather is sufficiently supple, polish up.

DMs used to be the shoe of choice for London Underground staff until they began putting metal parts in them. My late father-in-law and I used this method in the early 2000s (he was an LU worker back then, I still am).

I think the quality has reduced a lot in recent years though. My DD had a pair of DM Mary Janes and the buckle came off within weeks. DM were not helpful and refused to replace them or offer a refund. We all learned from that.

@Nuca is your pain mostly across the top of the foot too?

2 pairs of socks for 30 minutes twice a day for about 4-5 days. Use a hairdryer to gently heat them and then walk around until they go back to room temperature.

@slowsundays yeah across the arch of my feet and my heels mainly

I’ve literally just bought some today. Apparently best things to do are wear thick socks and walk around the house for 15 minutes at a time, warm with a hair dryer, also use the dubbin or wonder basalm on pinch points like the heel to soften up

but yes I’m a bit apprehensive about my first time wearing them out!!

Second the heel protectors!

Mine are comfy everywhere except the heel where it rubs like crazy. The heel protectors stopped that completely and I'm able to walk around all day in them now. I'm hoping with time they will sofen up and I won't need them forever

I have three pairs of docs and the only ones I’m struggling with are the “made In England” ones, I’ve bought their double doc socks which are supposed to help , I’ve put wet newspaper in them and tried stretching them! I am still struggling with them but they are getting better, I also just walk around the house in them, I daren’t go out in them just yet

I think the quality has reduced a lot in recent years though.

If you have money to spend you can still get boots from the English factories DM used to use. They are sold as Solovair. They are expensive, which is presumably why DM moved production overseas, but they are the closest you can get to what DMs used to be like, because they are made on the same equipment.

Thick socks and take out the inner sole while you wear them in.