How to Break-In Dr. Martens Footwear | Tips from the Experts
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- Опубликовано: 1 окт 2024
- How to Break in Dr. Martens with tips from those who know.
In this video, we’ve gathered tips and tricks from the experts to help you break-in your DM’s boots and shoes with ease.
The DM's break-in process is the stuff of legend, and everyone seems to have their own approach. But which methods actually work? Can you really wear in your boots by soaking them in the bath or even burying them in the garden? We're here to settle the debate once and for all.
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Thank you for watching. For over six decades, Dr. Martens footwear has been adopted and subverted by musicians, subcultures and bold individuals. These people stand out from the crowd - and a pair of DM’s boots or shoes has always accompanied their journey of self-expression.
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I bought mine second hand; someone else did the dirty work for me😎
My dream was to have them,and now i am sitting here wearing them,legs kinda hurts but i am happy as little kid
Me too!
Me three! Waited 25 years and finally bought them
There’s only one way to do that. Wear them every single day.
this doesn’t work at all. i’ve been wearing mine for 2 years and they still fucking cut the back of my ankle it sucks.
@@westernpigeon I don't think Dr. Martens are intended for pigeons.
@@SynysterVlad purr
@@westernpigeon wear thick socks? It helps me
@@monicsara4795 nah, doesn’t work for me unfortunately :(
Before 2003, my wife and I had bought about 25 pairs of Dr.Martens shoes and boots between us, all made in England. Most of them we are still happily wearing.
After all those years I've decided to get four of the currently marketed Dr.Martens models: the Clash (made in Thailand), Oxford with with studded uppers (made in Vietnam), Khaki Oxfords (made in Laos), and Mary Janes (made in Vietnam). (Evidently, Dr. Martens footwear is made all over South-East Asia nowadays, and it is not surprising their leather quality is very variable, from one shoe/boot model to another.)
Upon receiving those shoes, it became quickly obvious that they had only a superficial resemblance to the vintage Doc Martens.
The shoes are extremely stiff and painfully uncomfortable on my feet, and the Khaki Oxfords are brutally so. Their leather feels plastic-like, almost completely devoid of a leather smell, and the shoes just do not have that "right feel" the old Docs had. Although not made of patent leather, the Khaki Oxfords as well as the Mary Janes must have been heavily coated ( lacquered) because their leather does not absorb either mink oil or conditioner. Those nominally `leather` shoes blur the dividing line between real leather uppers and synthetic uppers.
All in all, their appearance and styling aside, those are pretty awful shoes, and the last Dr.Martens we'll ever buy.
Just put the fries in the bag bro
First put them on with two pair of socks, walk around and feel where they are tight. Then concentrate on working the area(s) that are too tight. The leather will stretch a bit in those areas and the rest will form fit on their own. You can use lots of different implements to help stretch it out or just push with your fingers/hand.
I use honey bee (like dubbin) to moisten the leather before I start. And yes, I have used a hair drier, but make sure the leather is moist.
That is my approach anyway and it works well for me.
@@DrMartensOfficial It's a work in progress. ;-)
@@DrMartensOfficial
The issue is not the leather.
The stitching is too tight and where there is a multiple leather stacking creates the problem as well as the extra stitching this creates a sore point on the foot.
Also the join were the tongue is sewn the stitching is too tight so the shoe stretches everywhere but along this joint.
This shoes have hurt my feet and regret ever buying them.
The leather is soft and flexible but the pain is too much.
I bought shoe stretcher, different under soles the third set that I got is the best.
But a month and a week has been too much on my feet.
The place that I bought them in said I can take the shoes back.
But they must look as they never been worn.
So that was a useless warranty.
I'm still wearing my first pair after about 9 years! 😊 My heels are scarred though. 😅
Bought a pair and got to the job with them the next day "bad idea" almost died haha
I had a similar experience. I found my first pair by accident but it was love at first sight, so I decided to wear them out with friends that same day. A week later my heels are still so bad I can't wear any kind of shoes 😂.
If you’ve got the classic 1460’s here’s what has worked for me for the past 40 years.
For the first week just wear around the house with no laces. This will gently ease them in.
Then after a week lace them to 4 holes only and wear them around the house for a couple of hours max. Lacing them this way allows them to sit more like a shoe and will ease to the shape to you foot without over stretching the leather.
In between wears use their Wonder Balsam concentrating on the rear heel and calf panel (I used to use dubbing but Dr M have got this right, It’s brilliant stuff)
Then go up one hole per week doing exactly the same thing. Before you know it they’ll be ready. 👊🏻
My problem is they fit my feet perfectly no problems at all, apart from my left shoe. My pinky toe Digs into the side of the shoe. My pinky toes are odd shaped and the bone sticks out sideways. So I'm just gonna try and widen the shoe box so my pinky toe can breathe
@@JustinSamways you could try stuffing the left boot tightly with newspaper. Or a shoe stretcher with a nodule on the part that rubs. Hope this helps.
@@soldierloz thank you
Do you apply the Wonder Balsam only to the outer? Or apply inside as well?
@@DrMartensOfficial It does! Thank you so much. I am so antsy for my order to arrive
I've had the black Dr Martens 1460's and the brown ones for 22 years. Used to put the Dr Martens Wonder Balsam on them. Eventually wore out the padding and had to put in some Dr Scholls for comfort lol Wore them pretty much everyday. The only reason I stopped wearing them was because my crazy dog at the time chewed them. Otherwise they'd still be kickin. Just bought a new pair of black leather Combs today and a pack of good thick work socks to break them in. Getting the brown ones next. Cant wait. Love Dr Martens 👊😎
Ah I wish I watched this before I wore them today. Got blisters even though I was wearing thick socks
Stick some cheap panty liners on the back. I have no more blisters! It really works and I wear it with thin socks.
@@fireopal4534 thank you. I’ll try that
Bought 1460 8 eye boot , my ass had no idea I had to break those shoes . I took them to wear fresh for my vacation . I wore that with only one pair of shock and had to walk whole Tennessee downtown.Ended up with 4 blister and a 4 wound in around my ankle . I haven’t touched those boots since .
It takes a couple of weeks to break in… always has been like this. Just have to Pugh it through, and then they’ll feel comfortable.
I have second hand patent docs, my first wear wasn’t great. My heels bled within 20mins of walking, went to the shop to get 5 blister pads and 5 big plasters… it just about did the trick to get me through 5 hours. It’s the part where the heel is sewn that hurts for me. It doesn’t help that one is tighter than the other. (I don’t think the previous person that owned them had worn them more than once)
Just picked up a pair, going to wear it on an 8 hour carpet cleaning shift tonight. Basicly doing lunges for 8 hours
Jesus, how’d that go? I’m curious
@@imcyan- I wore a brand spanking new pair of 1460 Patent Leather for my 10 hour shift at an animal shelter. LOL. Painful, indeed! It's the heel that'll mess with ya the most. I wore the left side with 2 pairs of socks and the right with 1 pair just too see if there was a difference.
2 pairs of socks help. My left heel is sore but no blister, my right is more sore, and got close to an actual blister.
I'll wear them again tomorrow for a half shift with 2 pairs of socks :)
@@Momo_0_oyou can buy sticky Hill pads on Amazon that will take away the pain
I own multiple pairs of 1460s and never had a problem breaking them in. Sure they're stiff at first, but never painful. My oldest pair are a dream to wear. Maybe I'm just lucky.
I talked with my father how long it takes to break in these shoes and he askes me "Why doe you buy these shoes!?" Because they look so f.. good.😂😂😂😂(someday they are very comfortable)
Bought today, the pain is the same like 20 years ago :)
Maybe it's time shoe makers work on a new type of shoe/boot that doesn't need to broken in
Rockport Northfield
You're american, aren't you ??
Exactly! This whole 'rite of passage' discussion is foolishness! Imagine any other shoemaker knowing their boots were uncomfortable for MONTHS and doing nothing about it! Worse, the consumers pay tonnes to own them and almost celebrate the bad design that makes them uncomfortable for months - Emperor's New Clothes writ large!
I had Bex Chelsea DMs for 2 years. They never, ever became comfortable despite my wearing them every day for work. Just sold them on ebay: at least they still get a good price, even when they're knackered - that's the only positive, imo. Stupid things! 😂😂😂
I just bought my first winter pair. I was so excited and happy! I made a Video about my new love ^^ greeting from Austria (liked and shared) ^-^d
I had no idea these shoes need to be "broken" before wear. I went out and the pain was SO EXTRUCIATING I had to buy another pair of shoes to get home. Doc Martens should have a card in the box with this information. Now I have blisters on my toes and I'm out of pocket £40 buying ugly shoes from a train station that I will never wear again 🤨
you can buy blister plasters to help with the bigger ones, it is a bit of a shock buying boots for the first time! id recommend wearing an extra pair of socks with them to stop the rubbing. good luck :)
@@_cyantist thank you 😊
I'm just going to sell them because I'm not about discomfort for fashion
🤣🤣🤣🤣
They have that card though...
This is basic knowledge about leather shoes. Leather is a natural material that will morph over time and needs regular care to stay healthy. They teach you this stuff in the army. Once you get into the habit of rubbing them in with balm every once in a while the leather will soften and fit to your foot. On the flip side, well-kept leather shoes can last a decade or even more. It's a long-term investment.
I just bought my first pair. Looks good 👍, hurts af🤯 hope it’s not gonna be my last pair as well🤷♀️🙄
I bought first pair month ago and i needed 2weeks to strech them. I dont wanna lie to you it was little painful but they are apsolutly worth every pain that i went trough,i am planing to by my second pair too.
I hope this helped you little🙂
Hello I also ordered 1460 in 2 sizes. Actually, the smaller size fits but they press a little on the side foot so they are a little narrow. Does that get a little wider there? Do not know if I should take directly the larger, but these are a bit too big in length.
@@zarlorin3728 small pair that you took is perfect one,they get stretched after couple of wearing. Also put some lotion or shoe cream on them and wear thick socks. Good luck with breaking them in! 🙂
@@m_l387 Thank you! I did a few walks, they are really not comfortable 😁 but I will put on some lotion I have left from my 1461's and hope I'll have the patience 😇
It was my first time buying docs and after wearing it my left heel hurts and part was scalped 😅 i put bandage in the area whenever i wear my docs
Docs are overrated I can buy similar boots at Walmart for $30 that are more comfortable and durable.
Here's how I break in my 1460's. Buy and gettem' home. Remove laces and put them on while lazing around the apartment for a coupla' hours. Take them off and give a good coat of mink oil. I use SofSole. It will soak in like water to a sponge. Apply again and let sit. The next day do the same thing and so forth for the 3rd day. Make sure to go heavy on the mink oil on the top instep where the leather will crease and don't skimp on the tongue especially at the base where it meets the upper. On the 4th day lace them up and get busy wearing them around town or work. At the end of the day's wear remove the laces and hit 'em again with the mink oil. The next day lace 'em up and go to work. I have 4 pairs of Doc's and that is what's worked for me and I wear my 1460's 12 hours every day. Super comfortable. I recently got a pair of Crazy Horse 1460's and am on the 4th day. I'll be wearing them tomorrow. I see many reviews trashing Doc's quality and leather made in such and such countries these days but thus far I have not experienced any thing but good from this boot brand. I have some made in Vietnam, Laos and my new Crazy Horse's are from Bangledesh. I don't care as long as they fit and feel good. No matter what I wear with them... I rock and make these boots look guuuud!
So in summation, drown 'em in mink oil for the first four days then just wear the hell out of ' em?
@@matttherrien9608 Yes! The mink oil really loosens the leather up making it more pliable and easier to stretch and conform to your foot. That's what I've done to all my Doc's and it has worked very well for me. No blisters or sore feet, nothing. On another note the1460 Crazy Horse's I mentioned in my earlier post wear and feel like a dream even better than my 1460 Black Nappa boots I wear to work. Love both so much I bought another pair of Crazy Horse's yesterday and would have bought another pair of the Black Nappa's but they were waiting on a shipment to come in. The Crazy Horse's definitely have thicker leather but found they break in the same as the Nappa's with the mink oil. Hopefully I'll have that 6th pair of Docs next week when they come in. Mahalo!
@@robertleslie2467 I'd like to use your technique on some Solovairs!
@@robertleslie2467 Thank you for your reply.
@@matttherrien9608 You are very welcome. Enjoy your boots and keep your feet happy. Mahalo!
A bit annoyed that I bought the dr martens boots from platypus and inside a very very small sticker says made in Vietnam.
I wanted some from England.
I’ve been trying to buy from original manufacturers but to me it seems that profits are a priority in every industry.
buy solovairs instead
solovairs
You have to take a look at the small flap at the back of the shoe, when they're made in England, the flap will be brown, otherwise it's yellow :)
You break in your shoes by WEARING them
I have 2 pairs of 1460s that are 31 years old, made in england. I still wear them daily. I bought a new pair of 1460s, felt stiff but no pain. Persistently wear them and protect your feet with 2 pairs of socks. I’d say The Made in England range feel very different in quality and feel to others made around the world, they are the same as the ones I unboxed in 1992 when I was 13 so I know they will last decades.
I recently bought the 1460 Vonda Mono ankle boots! They are so pretty, but I'm having trouble with the right boot. The tongue seam is so tight that it digs into my foot. I don't have this problem on the left boot. I know many people have that issue, but I've never heard of anyone having it in only one boot. I've tried wonder balsam, stuffing them with newspapers. Right now, I've stuffed a tennis ball in it along with three insoles. I also got some adhesive moleskin to put inside over the seam. It has made the boot more comfortable, but it's still tight in that area.
Hey, I have the same problem right now! Have any of that worked for you eventually?
@@SurfingBirdish Yeah, all the stuff I tried did help with that boot. It''s still tight, but not digging into my foot anymore.
Same Here, one foot is Killing me by the toung seem the other is ok😢
This is awesome
The moment they fit is the moment you should get new ones
I love the Made In England 1460 I have the Black and Ox Blood Red
over 90% of doc martens now made in china
@@LeeLee-gy7gp the made in england collection
Any advice for canvas one? I have been using them x 3.5 years now and still make me bleed. Of course I don't use them so much, I don't believe a shoe has to make you bleed! Dm should address this, other shoes don't do this!
uh.. why can't you just put padding inside the boots ? ankle and shin..
If you sell ankle pad's, why not include them in the box and just up the cost a little bit. Why make customers go out of their way to fix a problem you caused.
Soooo. How do we break them in?
watching this as a wheelchair user, i actually bought my docs to give me a break from ankle braces that look like asbo tags..... but im not walking in them so ideas? also. Stars. bring some starry ones out pleeeeease!!!! (im too late for the purple ray ones. sad times. ) got peppermint boots for my first pair but yeah, wearing them in when you dont walk. fun times!
Perhaps you are best letting someone else wear them in partially who has similar feet to yours! The wonder balsam would be helpful aswell
I’m pretty sure the ones I just bought are the purple rays, found them at a warehouse store just before Christmas. Anyways according to the Doc Martens site they are suede not leather so I can’t use that wonder balsam stuff so I’ve just been like, kneading the material in the front and back. 🤷🏻♀️ No idea if that will work.
Just buy Pascal boots, they are made with softer leather, not tight at all, comfortable from day one.
Too bad the quality is shit now, “lifetime of wear” is the most bollocks ive heard of
Quality was Never great..but they are iconic.
Mine are 11 years old.
well said👏👏👏👍 solovair all day long
@@martar.8095 he said quality is shit NOW not over a decade ago
@@LeeLee-gy7gp the boots are made in the same places and with the same materials.
I hate being this person but extreme doc break in is non existent. It’s a leather shoe. It’s stiff(ish) but you’re not supposed to bleed or blister or be in excruciating pain. Measure your foot and check the size charts or try them on first. They’re comfortable out of the box. Your feet will never be as happy in them as they are in sneakers but they’re not sneakers. This video is just good general leather goods protocol. Get a new leather shoe, nourish the leather/give it a polish, wear them, repeat the leather food and polishing every so often. If your feet aren’t initially somewhat comfortable in a new pair of shoes, no amount of break in will change that and your foot health is going to suffer.
false
That's not true. For example leather military boots are very hard to break in, you'll bleed but after that, they're the most comfortable shoes, many friends told me that from their own experience.
Me when ultrakill scream 0:20
bought a pair of doc 2023, stepped in a tiny piece of glass and it made a hole in the outsole.
2024 bought a replacement pair like an idiot fanboy, boots were creased brand new from factory.
horrible products.
Instead of trying to guide US how to break them in just fix the quality issues it brings... It really should not be painful to wear your shoes especially for the price they are at.
Why Dr Martens is not learning from his older brother Solovair?
Somehow they can do boots which don’t need to be broken
I had my first pair few days ago. it's only 20 minutes 😅
surrender🏳️
Make better versions of the jadon and jadon max boots so we don’t have to break them in lol
A LIFETIME of wear?! Maybe 2-3 years, max, maybe...
anyone please help me here, i want to get myself the classic 1460 but there's 1460 black smooth and 1460 8 eye boot on the web, which one is the classic??
or just make better boots
These little fckrs that I love, they kill my feets every single time, lol. But I love them so bad. 1461 Bex Leather owner, here. Still waiting for them to break.
We recommend applying some Wonder Balsam or Dubbin. This will help soften the leather. We hope this helps
Can I order the 1460 last in you?
I couldn't get to wear them much BC first i buy man version instead of female than I got half size up and now finally I hope I got the right size so let's see how they will break in lucky someone has used them a bit so I have less to break in
I have a pair of 1460 crazy horse boots, first time walking had hot heels after 10 mins, but continued onwards for another 45 mins.
Did this 1 hour walk 3 or 4 times and boots were broken in.
However i just bought some nonslip atlas oxblood 1460. They are a nightmare.
Ive done over 10 , 4 mile walks in them and still getting blisters on my heels.
Ive had leather conditioner on them (not balsam) just serms to sit on smooth surface not soaking in, ive had heat on them, double socks, tried hammer on the heel (gently tap to soften leather). Nothing works !
I did the pleasure to wearing my new dr marts today for my 8 hour job… let me just say, I was hating life….. 😭😭😭 my poor feet are damaged with blisters… ima wear them again like in. Few days…. I must not give up…. 😭😭😭😭😭😭
Any tips for the Vegan ones...?
@Daniel Rogan but I'm Vegan... I won't be buying the leather ones.
@Daniel Rogan a combination of animal welfare and health.
@Daniel Rogan You can't source leather humanely.
@Daniel Rogan there's nothing humane about the meat industry or the dairy industry (still the meat industry) or its bi-products.
@@TheWares52
Hey, I‘m vegan too and know a lot of other vegans. In my case, I bought new Leather docs, because they last longer (~10 years) than the vegan (~2 years) (I asked some friends and they told me about their experiences) and I can‘t afford myself 190€ shoes every two years… Some of the vegans I know did it like me, some others just always buy their docs second hand, which might could be an option for you…? If you don‘t have a thrift shop around you or you can‘t find docs there, you maybe could try on docs in a shop, which sells new ones and then buy them online second hand?
Hope you‘ll find a solution :)
as a child I’ve had toothpicks go in between my toes like pungi sticks and stepped on a rusty nail more than once so a boot doesn’t hurt me feet😂pulling a toothpick out from in between your toes is a pain you never forget like the time I reached under the couch for something I dropped dragging my fingers under not knowing my cousin had a poster down there so of course in gave me a paper cut under my fingernails 😂
You have to wear them to wear them.
A person that knows about boots would slap on some mink oil and just wear them.
A person who REALLY knows boots would just buy Redwings.
Just got these…this is my second time wearing them and my ankles are so chopped ugh I think this will be my last pair if they don’t hurry and break in 😢yikes
I got the vegan leather 1460 and they already are broken in 😊
The vegan docs are miserable to break in. And nothing works. Should have bought the leather.
Le mie prime Dr Martens quest’anno a gennaio compiono 10 anni ! ❤🥹
I think I got a small pair, I can only wear it comfortably when there are no socks and insole😅
Bought them 3 times... 3 times I bled and have no regrets
Ware ‘em in your house for two weeks or thug it out like me and work in them.
I didn't even have to break my second pair in lol
Garbage shoes now. Made in Vietnam/ china. They are not the same.
You are correct if you mean Vietnam isn't the same as China. Veitnam's a much smaller country than China but they make a better deal for American trade, the quality and politics are better, despite not having as much cheap quantity.
Just got my first pair, the 1460 Blade Runner special editions. Been wearing them for about 6 hours now, and they already feel better than when I put them on!
Wow what a pair to get for your first Docs. Welcome to the family
Just got my first pair of 1460s, I'm just gonna wear them. They'll soften up eventually.
Awesome, enjoy rocking your Docs
Stop making your nana wear them 😂😂😂😂
I wore my first pair today (1460 bex pascal). The skin is hanging off the back of both my heels. Will this subside? I dont think I can wear any shoes/boots tomorrow with the pain let alone docs
Nearly everyone needs to break into their Docs. We recommend wearing thick socks whilst breaking them in. You can also apply some Dubbin or Wonder Balsam to help soften the leather
@DrMartensOfficial I'll give it a go again when my feet have healed. Hopefully it'll be worth it 👌
Hot water trick works as well
Really good 😂😂
I just bought the industrial winch steel toe boots and the damn steel toe is rubbing on the top of my big toe, there’s literally no cushion, so annoying!
To me, that's simply bad design.
@@jackiedelvallehonestly that was the first day I bought them, I was irritated about that, I wore them first day at work with 2 pairs of socks to stretch the leather, doesn’t bother me anymore, I guess you have to break them in.
I bought my first pair of quality boots from Velasca this year. Found out quality leather is soft and doesn’t hurt. Shoes hurt when the material is poor.
Lol that's false, u just said it, ur new shoes are made of *soft leather* but leather come in many Forms, grains, patented and the list goes on and on and on
@@ileanabica1760 you’re probably functional illiterate he didn’t say soft leather but that *quality leather is not as hard on your feet* which is actually true. Dr. Martens leather is low quality in fact the high-end leather version of the same brand is softer based on a lot of users reviews.
Against my advice, my daughter bought a pair of Dr Martens shoes a month or so ago for around £90. The sole began separating within a month…absolute trash.
They ain’t what they used to be😢… Get Solovairs instead … the original Dr Martens.
@@ikonographics I know that…but try convincing my daughter😖
that's cuz u didn't take proper care of them
@@RED-my9hl Really? And how do you know that?
@@numberstation cuz they wouldn't last for as long as month if they were bad 💀
Just got my new Black Cappers and I'm feeling like a Bad Ass!
Psst
Best thing to do is...
1. Put them on with no socks.
2. Walk around with them for about 8 hours per day.
but... but i need break my boots, not my feet
The best way is to buy British made ones lol you don’t need to break them and they fit great.
solovair all the way.. MADE IN ENGLAND unlike cheap martens
Lee Lee, I totally want a pair of those. Shame it has to be done online but at least they'll repair them properly, right?
in what world is £100 cheap? God I hate privileged white people
"A lifetime of wear" yah right. The soles wear off before you can manage to break in the leather.
Damn what are u doing to your shoes😂my friend has had hers for over 10 years and they look like she got them yesterday😂😂
@@tatumbarrette Just walking in them almost every day. Yeah, I've seen pre-owned pairs online for sale and I noticed the ones that were 10 or 20 y old were looking better than those who were new and have only been worn for like 6 months. My guess is they've just started to make them more and more poor quality :( I've seen reviewers on youtube as well who ruined their soles fast just by walking.
I have a pair from 1994 I bought new in London, wore them almost everyday, in rain and shine, to school and college, to bars and clubs etc. they still have the tread in them. I bought a couple more pairs in 2014, and they’re still going strong. I how no idea how you managed to kill them in such I short time… perhaps you just got a bad batch or something? Idk
@@mountainpeakcloud8442 Yah maybe. I'm glad yours are still going tho :) There's still hope for docs then.
Love Doc’s and been a proud supporter since my high school days in 90’s but after seeing their LGBT boots, they lost me as a customer… woke us broke👍 lol
I recently bought the ones with fur in them lol 1460s Serena I think? How is the process for stretching these out. Is it the same? They feel more comfy due to the fur inside!
Just get some Clark’s , instant comfort from day 1 . Black desert boot🤌🏽
amazed they release this just now lol