How to Properly Break In Shoes

If you’ve walked around enough and nothing changes, it’s time to get more advanced.

Shoe stretchers are always an option, but McFarland says they can be intimidating and hard to use. Instead, he recommends using shoe-stretching fluid, which allows the pores of the leather to open up. McFarland suggests spraying it on the areas where the shoes “feel a little snug.” Then wait 10 to 15 minutes until the shoes expand. If they are still too tight, you can repeat this process every 10 to 15 minutes for up to an hour. McFarland is fond of the Angelus Direct Professional Shoe Stretch.

This professional-grade stretching fluid helps you with hard-to-break-in shoes.

And you don’t have to worry that this will change the integrity of the shoe. “Just because it says stretching fluid doesn’t mean it’s going to stretch your shoes out of shape,” McFarland said.

If you don’t feel confident about breaking in the shoes yourself, or nothing you’re trying is working, it might be worth a visit to a cobbler for professional help.

A cobbler can help break in your shoes by pinpointing the areas where fit can be improved. And they have professional-grade tools to do the job. While an at-home shoe stretcher can help with widening the shoe, McFarland explained that cobblers can go further. “A lot of us carry certain types of machines that stretch all different directions,” he said.

Visiting a podiatrist can also help. Ishibashi pointed out that ill-fitting shoes can be a sign of deeper issues, such as bunions, arthritis, or bone spurs, which should be identified by a doctor. And sometimes, no matter what you do, a pair of shoes just won’t fit you. While orthotics could help ease the pain and discomfort, Ishibashi says that sometimes you have to just let the shoes go.

Every foot is different, so breaking in shoes is an individual experience and can involve a variety of factors, including material, quality, foot shape, and medical issues. To save time and money, Ellen Lynch, a professor at Fashion Institute of Technology, says it’s best to prioritize finding brands, silhouettes, and materials that work for your feet rather than hoping a shoe will perfectly conform to them through the break-in process.

So, take your time, and when necessary, don’t be afraid to call in the professionals.

This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder.