The famous boot with its rubber outsole and lace-up fastening started out as a work-wear boot but quickly became a fashion icon! Starting in the 1960s, the iconic boot transformed the Dr. Martens brand into one of the most culturally relevant brands worldwide! Festival? Party? Or just work... you will always find a pair of Doc Martens that is the perfect match for you! The only downside? The blisters you get when breaking in a new pair. No worries, luckily I have some tips for you that will help ease the pain. 

1. Remove the insoles from your boots

One of the reasons why Dr. Martens can be so painful, is that your feet don’t have enough room. Dr. Martens shoes come with removable insoles; removing the insoles is a quick and easy way to give your feet a little extra room while breaking in your boots. This should also enable you to wear your new boots for a longer period of time. Once you’ve worn in your shoes, you can always put the insoles back. 

2. Don’t skimp on blister plasters

Putting on plasters before the blisters are caused, rather than after will save yourself a lot of pain. Walk around the room in your boots to discover where you experience rubbing, tightness, discomfort or light chafing. Pad those areas with blister plasters for protection (so you won’t get blisters, which would otherwise prevent you from wearing the shoes for weeks to come). Better safe than sorry!

3. Wear thick socks in your Dr. Martens shoes

This may sound pretty obvious, but it’s time to get your fluffy socks out! Thick socks will not only provide a protective layer, so your feet won’t hurt as much when wearing your new boots. But they will also help stretch out your shoes a little bit so you can break them in more easily. Be sure to put on a pair of thick socks whenever you’re wearing your Dr. Martens and this will help prevent blisters.

4. Opt for sizing up rather than going down a size

Of course, you shouldn’t buy a pair of Dr. Martens that is way too big for you, but if you’re unsure what size to get: sizing up seems the way to go, rather than ordering down. Buying a size that is too small is a common mistake and as a result you can never break in your shoes properly. But if you order up, you can always add an insole.

5. A wad of wet newspapers

Grandma always knows best, so you can always try this tip as a last resort. Scrunch wet newspaper into the toebox of your shoes and leave overnight. Take out the newspapers the next morning and wear your Dr. Martens with thick socks. This way the boots, which are still damp will start to mold to the shape of your feet. Wearing damp shoes may not be the best feeling in the world, but it does work! 

Dr. Martens 1460, Dr. Martens Jadon, Dr. Martens Sinclair, Dr. Martens Pascal, White Dr. Martens, Dr. Martens Vegan and much more

Nowadays Dr. Martens shoes come in many styles. The most popular one being the 1460, but this particular style of boot also comes in different designs. Whether it’s leather, patent leather or even white Dr. Martens which you can see quite a lot of these days. The Pascal boots are also a particular kind of the 1460 boot. Thanks to the choice of leather, these boots are slightly softer than the regular 1460. Maybe you have also noticed the boots flaunting a characteristic platform sole, these are the Dr. Martens Jadon or Dr. Martens Sinclair boots that are also available in a vegan-friendly version. Which boot actually is the right fit for you, totally depends on personal preference! My personal favourite is the Dr. Martens 1460 Arcadia Patent Ankle Boots in Cherry Red.

Let's shop the Dr. Martens women’s collection or Dr. Martens sale

No pain, no gain ;-) But hopefully with these 5 tips you will soon be comfortable wearing your new Dr. Martens and ready to shine! Check out our different styles of Dr. Martens, take a look on our sale page or the rest of our fabulous retro shoe collection.