How Do You Break in New Shoes?
By Pigglies
@Pigglies (9329)
United States
May 16, 2009 7:21pm CST
I was curious to see how other people break in a new pair of shoes. So let me know what your method is and what type of shoes it works for.
I just got a new pair of running shoes. To break them in I first put them on and took them off a few times. Then I ran almost a mile in them. Then I walked all over school in them. And today I wore them out to do errands in and then ran on cement and tried a trail as well. These shoes started off being extremely tight and now they've loosened up a bit. They're still really tight, but not too bad. I'm hoping to eventually be able to run a marathon in them. But I'm not in that kind of shape yet. Actually by the time I get in that kind of shape I might need need shoes.
6 people like this
10 responses
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
17 May 09
To break in shoes I just wear them a lot. I never buy shoes that are too tight. My new shoes must feel okay, not too tight or loose , then I buy them. Usually they are the only shoes I wear so in about two weeks , they are broken in.
1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
17 May 09
These shoes have to be very fitted so I got them tighter rather than looser. For normal walking shoes though I try to just buy the right size. Although it is difficult because often the largest size is a 10 and if my foot slams right up against the end there isn't much I can do about it.
These new shoes definitely couldn't just be worn entirely for 2 weeks straight or my feet would be killing me. But I've noticed that does work when I buy new tennis shoes of the exact same type. As long as I'm not going on a hike in them or something, they'll be fine.
1 person likes this
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
17 May 09
I would think that only way to break in shoes is to wear them. I think the last pair of shoes I got new were really stiff. They hurt the back of my ankle when I wore them. I just pulled at the spot that was bugging me for a while and now I dont notice at all. I was training for a marathon and I did wear out the shoes before the date of the run. I think it is best to have two pair and rotate them so they are both broke in and last long enough.
1 person likes this
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
17 May 09
Ow! That sounds painful.
I will try to get a second pair as soon as I figure out if I like the shoes that I got. They were $95 so I'm not sure when I can afford a second pair, but it should definitely be long before the marathon date!
Thanks for the advice on this!
1 person likes this
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
25 May 09
Usually if its just regular shoes I will wear them out for short periods of time until I break them in...With heels though its a bit different..I'll wear them around the house every day for a few hours until I feel they have become friends with my feet and are ready for the nightlife LOL
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
27 May 09
LOL, you party animal! Hehe.
With regular walking shoes I can usually wear them right away too. I bought some Vans and I noticed the mens shoes feel very comfortable right away, so I just bought mens instead because when I tried on the womens size it was so tight. Even though technically an 8 in mens should be smaller than a 10 in womens.
@revellanotvanella (4033)
• United States
27 May 09
how many shoes are you buying, didn't I answer a discussion about your new shoes earlier?? LOL, me I just bought some new hiking shoes even though I just bought new running shoes because I just do not like them. They stretched out too much and feeling like they slide. I like my new shoes, their new balance hiking shoes and I NEVER get new balance but they were 30$ and the color I liked (still next time I will still get Saucony next time) and I got them slightly smaller and I already broke them in by going for really long walks with the kids. I was dissapointed with my other new ones (Asic GELS X-somethings) because they got a hole in the netting part right over your toe in just 2 months--and I cut my toenails! Those gels I lost interest in though because they make a squishy sound and I always walk past people with them and theirs squish too-
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
27 May 09
LOL, if it is the running shoes I still only have the one pair. I did just buy a new pair of walking shoes though and some black dress shoes since I needed some dress shoes. The walking shoes I didn't need, just got them since they were on sale. I figure my feet don't change size so I can buy a few pairs of shoes at once. Usually shoes last a very long time with me so I'm probably set for 5 years now.
I hate squishy sounding shoes! That is something I always try to avoid.
I bought my running shoes super extra tight because I was afraid of that sliding around thing too. But they're still tight enough that I have to trim my toenails that day or I can't wear them. And my toenails are extremely short. But now they pretty much fit like a glove after breaking them in.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
28 May 09
Yeah, sometimes on long hikes and stuff my brother puts moleskin on his feet to avoid blisters. I've never had to. I do get blisters sometimes but not often. Sometimes I get those blisters in between toes though from toes rubbing together, which I hear can be prevented by wearing toe socks.
@revellanotvanella (4033)
• United States
27 May 09
what are you to do if you dont, Im going out to buy those shoe paddings that go around the back of your ankle so i dont get any boo-boo's
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
17 May 09
Well.... my solution is that you need to find a brand/type of running or workout shoes that do not really need to be broken in. I have worn Nikes since I was 17, and now I'm 34. They are the only brand that never need 'breaking in', they don't give me blisters, the sizing is true, meaning that any Nike size 5.5 will fit the same way. If you mean wearing the shoes to get them kind of molded to your feet, just wearing them daily to do running and normal things should work. As far as marathons, in general shoes can only take a couple hundred miles on them before they get worn out. If you're training for a marathon, most of the time the pair of trainers that you begin running in is NOT the pair that you wear for the race several months later. I would suggest buying two identical pairs of shoes. Alternate wearing them, and then both pairs will last longer.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
17 May 09
I've had Nikes once I think, but not for running (never ran before really, except when forced to). I don't remember them being all that great but I'm sure I had the absolute cheapest ones you could possibly find. So I can't say I've given Nike a fair shot really. I will have to look and see if any look good and aren't made with leather.
I got the Vibram Five Fingers shoes, which haven't given me any blisters. But they seem to be taking awhile to stretch out so that they'll be easier to put on and won't feel so tight. They are fairly molded to my feet though just because that's how they're made. Except I don't quite have that much of an arch yet. Wearing them all day does seem to make my feet a bit sore too, but that's probably mostly because I'm out of shape I'm guessing.
Sounds like I should definitely get a second pair of shoes. So I will try to do that soon, once I figure out if I like these or not. Thanks for your advice!!
1 person likes this
@frankiecesca (2489)
•
23 May 09
I tend to just wear what ever new shoes I have all the time until they feel so comfy I don't want a new pair! lol I struggle getting comfy shoes though because I have wide feet so have to buy wide fitting shoes anyways x
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
23 May 09
Around here it is pretty easy to find shoes for wide feet. But when I was younger I used to have narrow feet. I barely realized now that my feet are not narrow. It is great because I don't have to really worry about the width anymore. Although, ballet flats never fit more even now.
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
25 May 09
I usually just wear them as I normally wear them. With my current shoes, which are a boot style, they were stiff at first. But after wearing them for a few months they are soft and supple now. 
@larish (2213)
• Philippines
17 May 09
For my high heel shoes, I usually wear it at home with my socks, the thicker socks. So that when I already wear them at the office, it would already be comfortable. It is really important to break in a shoe so that when I already wear, it won't cause strain on feet.
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
17 May 09
Oh that is an interesting idea. I never even thought about high heels needing to be broken in. I am really bad about high heels. We have to wear them at the office, but I can only wear them with medium thickness socks so I always wear mine with socks. Maybe if I got some more comfortable high heels and just wore them with socks at first it would be enough.
@djsimonmlb (413)
• United States
17 May 09
I break in new shoes, simply by walking around the house in them slightly without creasing them. Works every time. :)
