So, I bought these pretty shoes that go with many of my work outfits for roughly 10$ Canadian at Payless shoes. I knew they didn’t fit terrifically, and I was a little nervous about having backless shoes, but I figured, 10$, I need shoes, what the heck.
I wore them for roughly one hour and 15 minutes a few days after I bought them. This 1 hour and 15 minutes involved 5 minutes walking to the bus stop, 15 minutes on the bus, 5 more minutes walking, 30 ish minutes sittting, and then a trip back home.
The blisters didn’t heal for about 2 weeks. I especially got blisters on my big toes where the front edge of the strap is, although my baby toes and the top of my foot got it pretty badly too.
I refuse to let these shoes win. I need tips, tricks and product recommendations where appropriate to allow me to master the shoes. I will emerge victorious.
Bad news, LaurAnge. You shouldn’t have to break in shoes; they should be comfortable from the start. I’ve read that a million times but had to endure lots of so-cute-they-almost-fit shoes before it really sunk in.
On the other hand, shoes do tend to stretch out a bit over time, so who knows?
Look at the Dr. Scholl’s display in your local pharmacy for something called moleskin. It comes in 3-5 in. squares. Clean under the shoe strap with an alcohol wipe, then apply a wide strip of the moleskin. Cut it so it extends a mm or so past the leading edge of the strap. It will keep it from cutting into your toes without being too visible. The shoes will feel a little snug for several days. (Although being too tight now may have exacerbated the problem.)
And let this be a lesson to you. Shoes should be comfortable from the first time you try them on. Walk around in the store, on a hard surface, for at least 15 minutes before you buy. The salesclerks will watch you like a hawk, as these areas tend to be right inside the door. So what? Your feet will thank you.
Whenever I buy new hiking boots I dump a lot of talc into my socks… the first couple of times I wear them, at least… it keeps my feet from getting sweaty, and thus keeps the skin from getting damp and blister-prone…
