6 Ways to Break in New Shoes Without the Blisters

Though new shoes are exciting, they’re also some of the biggest causes of blisters. Since blisters form due to friction between shoes and feet, the stiffness of new shoes can increase a wearer’s chances of suffering from blisters a great deal. Luckily, new shoes don’t have to give you blisters when you know how to break them in. Find out more about the top six blister-free ways to break in new shoes.

1. Wear Them for Short Periods

When you first get a new pair of shoes, it’s best to take it slow. Instead of trying to wear them all day, begin by just wearing them for short periods, such as while you’re walking around the house. By slowly breaking them in, you’ll help them loosen and stretch without wearing them long enough that they could give you blisters. Once you start wearing them over longer periods, wear blister-free socks or keep an extra pair of shoes close by just in case.

2. Moisturize Your Skin

A little self care for runners can go a long way. If you have to wear a new pair of shoes over a longer period, you can moisturize your feet to protect yourself from blisters while you break in the shoes. Before you go on a walk or run in your new shoes, apply lotion to your feet to moisturize them. To reduce friction in the areas where blisters are most likely to form, place petroleum jelly on hotspots, such as your heels, top of toes, and sides of toes.

3. Stick Them in the Freezer

While freezers and shoes are an unlikely pair, they go very well together when you need to break in some new shoes. Before sticking your shoes in the freezer, grab some plastic freezer bags and fill them with water. Next, stick the bags in each shoe’s toe, and then place the shoes in your freezer overnight. After the water freezes in the bag, it will expand, stretching out your shoe’s toe as a result. Just make sure you don’t overfill the bag, as it could overstretch your shoe.

4. Blow Dry New Shoes

If you have a new pair of shoes that fit a little too snugly, you can use a blow dryer to stretch them out. After putting on your socks and shoes, use the blow dryer to distribute heat across the entire shoe. For tighter areas of your shoes, blow hot air on them for at least 20 to 30 seconds. Keep in mind, the blow dryer method is best for leather shoes, and you should keep the blow dryer far enough away that it doesn’t burn you.

5. Switch Between New and Old Shoes

If you’re trying to break in a new pair of running shoes, don’t throw out your old pair, as you’ll want to alternate between them. When you run in your new shoes, keep it to only 20 or 30 minutes. For longer runs, stick to your older shoes until you’ve fully broken in the new ones to prevent blisters. Additionally, runners that switch between multiple pairs of shoes lower their risk of running-related injuries by 39%, according to a study published by the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.

6. Wear Anti-Blister Socks

Another way you can break in a new pair of shoes is to wear anti-blister socks whenever you take your new pair out for a walk, run, or hike. Blister-free socks from Wrightsock feature temperature regulation, friction absorption, and complete moisture evaporation. Due to all these qualities, they excel at preventing blisters, even when you’re wearing a stiff and tight pair of shoes. Whenever you slip on new shoes, save yourself from blisters by putting on your favorite pair of blister-free socks.

Choose Wrightsock for Blister-Free Socks

At Wrightsock, we’re proud to provide our customers with socks designed for blister relief. Whether you’re breaking in a new pair of shoes or wanting to prevent blisters on a long hike, our anti-blister socks are perfect for you. We have several blister-free socks designed for different activities, such as our running or walking, trail running, military, and hiking anti-blister socks. With all of these options, you can use our socks to break in a new pair of hiking boots, dress shoes, or running shoes with ease.