WWYD - new sandals and bad blisters?

[Intensiv14]

New M&S sandals, had the black ones last year worn without issue, new tan ones worn for first time and have rubbed very large (and bleeding 😢) blisters on both feet.
Such a shame as I love the look and fit, but I don’t think I can stand to try and break them in!
WWYD, try to break them in or forget them and look for an alternative?

Leave them a week or so for your feet to heal, then next time you wear them grease the affected areas liberally with a clear lipbalm/ Chapstick. Don't wear them for any long walks to start with, but they'll soon soften and wear in.

Let them heal and then try Lanacane Anti-Chafing Gel. I use it whenever I buy new sandals.

I have those! Haven’t worn them yet so thanks for the warning.

The leather backs are quite hard @KatPurrson

I think when you first start wearing sandals again after the winter, your feet take a bit of time to warm up to them.

I agree with the chapstick. Also wear them with socks around the house/garden as much as you can to help soften them up.

Compeed anti chafing stick (Boots do a similar one) is my go to for when I wear sandals. I wore Birkenstocks recently without this and was lucky not to get blisters.

I’d wear them about the house with socks on to soften the back.

Compeed stick! On both the shoe and skin where it rubs. Wear them little and often around the house to try and break them in. Worth a go if you love them

Put a bit of moisturiser or chapstick on the leather where it rubs, to soften them a bit. And give your feet time to heal then wear them for short amounts of time.

I love my Compeed sticks, a staple of spring/summer sandals weather. I literally don’t know how I coped without them.

I think it depends on your feet and past experience.

For me, sandals are either comfortable and fine from the start or will never be comfortable no matter how much I try to break them in

But some people seem to always need to break in shoes/sandals

Compeed and persevere. Your feet have presumably all softened over winter. I have the classic haviana blisters from yesterday. Every bloody year.

Oh, my mum used to stand on the backs of shoes like that to break them. I might try that. I also have a compeed stick lurking somewhere I think. Used that before on a pair of trainers that started rubbing my heels on holiday.

Thanks all!
im going to buy a compeed stick now… I’ve never heard of these so I’m glad I started the thread. I’ll also try socks in the house after they’ve healed. Currently got blister plasters on and Birkenstocks.

Compeed also do blister plasters so it might be worth getting a pack to stick in your bag just in case.