How to Break in Your Doc Martens

Download Article

Make your boots as comfortable as possible from day one

Co-authored by Marc Sigal

Last Updated: September 5, 2024 Approved

Download Article

Breaking in Doc Martens Traditionally

|

Speeding up the Process

|

Video

|

Expert Q&A

|

Tips

|

Warnings

|

Things You'll Need

From factory and harbor workers to punks and goth rockers, Doc Martens have been a popular shoe choice since 1945. Comfortable and sturdy once broken in, they last forever and can be buffed to a mirror shine even after several years of wear. The only problem is that they can be cast-iron to break in, resulting in blisters, bruises, and lots of pain. By finding the right fit and starting slow with wearing your boots around the house for a couple of hours a day, you can minimize the pain it takes to break in these classic boots.

How long does it take to break in your Doc Martens?

It can take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks for Doc Martens to be fully broken in. Methods like wearing thick socks, stuffing your Doc Martens with newspaper, and blow-drying the tighter sections of your boots can help as you break in your new shoes.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Breaking in Doc Martens Traditionally

Download Article

1
Buy Doc Martens in the right size. Doc Martens tend to run true to size, but try them on anyway to make sure you buy the right size. Boots in the right size should feel tight, but not uncomfortable.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- You can browse a variety of Doc Martens online for purchase here.
- If the shoe feels immediately uncomfortable when you try it on, especially in the width, it is too small.
- Doc Martens only come in whole sizes. The official website recommends sizing down if you normally take a half size.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
2
Put on a thick pair of socks and pull on the laced-up boots. Wearing thick socks with Doc Martens will cause them to widen out and break in a little faster. They also help protect your feet from blisters. Put the laces back in your boots and tie them tightly.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- The lining of Doc Martens can cause damage to your feet through friction. Thick socks help reduce friction and minimize pain.
Advertisement
3
Walk around for 5-10 minutes at home then take the boots off. Start with wearing your Doc Martens around your home for short periods of time. The soles of the boots will be very stiff, and the leather will feel tight. Once the boots start to hurt, take them off.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Don’t try to wear your boots for a long period of time or on a long walk the first time you wear them.
4
Protect the places where you felt pain. Most often, people experience pain in the heel of the shoe. Note any areas where you see blisters or redness. Cover those areas with bandages or moleskin.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Moleskin is a little thicker than a bandage and can stay on better. Find moleskin at a pharmacy or online.
Once you have protected your blisters, you can start wearing your Doc Martens around the house for slightly longer periods of time. Take them off once they start to hurt.^{[6]
X
Research source}
6
Repeat the process for several weeks. Keep wearing your Doc Martens around your home for short periods of time every day. If you feel comfortable, you can increase the amount of time you wear them each time or wear your Doc Martens outside on short walks. You can also reapply the balm up to once a week.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Doc Martens can take up to 3-6 weeks to fully break in. Vegan Doc Martens don’t need to be broken in at all.^{[8]
  X
  Research source}

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Speeding up the Process

Download Article

1
Take out the laces and rub the leather with balm. Doc Martens are made out of stiff, full-grain leather. The official website recommends using Doc Martens Wonder Balsam to clean and protect the leather and to help make it softer. The Wonder Balsam is a mix of lanolin, beeswax, and coconut oil, so you can also look for an off-brand product or create your own blend.^{[9]
X
Expert Source

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist

Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.}
- Beeswax is an important factor in keeping the shoes water-resistant, so look for it as an ingredient if you are buying a different balm or making your own.
2
Remove the insole to make the breaking-in process less painful. The inner lining of Doc Martens is made of an abrasive material that rubs against the foot and creates blisters. Removing the insole takes some of the friction away and helps prevent blisters.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- It's still best to wear thick socks to prevent blisters around the ankle.
3
Wrap the shoes in a towel and hit the heel with a hammer. Wrapping the shoes first will help protect them from getting damaged by the hammer. Hammer around the heel and the sole of the shoe for 15-20 minutes.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- You can use a rubber mallet instead of a hammer if you’re worried about damaging your Doc Martens.^{[12]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Marc Sigal
  Shoe Care Specialist
  
  Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.}
- Hammering your Doc Martens can diminish the smoothness of the new leather.
4
Stuff your Doc Martens tightly with newspaper. Pack as much newspaper as you can tightly into the toes of your boots. Remove the laces to make the shoes easier to stuff. This will stretch out the toe box of your Doc Martens.^{[13]
X
Research source}
- You can alternate stuffing your shoes with newspaper and wearing them around the house with thick socks to double up on breaking in methods.
- You can also look for a boot stretcher online or at a shoe store to get a similar effect.
5
Aim a hairdryer at the tightest part of your boots. Wearing your Doc Martens with thick socks. Apply a thin coat of Wonder Balsam on the boot, then heat the boot with the low setting on a hairdryer for 5-10 minutes to melt down the oils and help them absorb into the leather quickly. Wear the boots until they are cool.^{[14]
X
Expert Source

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist

Expert Interview. 15 January 2020.}
- Don't use the high heat setting, as you can scald your leather and promote cracking and splitting.

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How do you break in Doc Martens with a hair dryer?

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Marc Sigal is a Shoe Care Specialist based in Los Angeles. Marc has over 19 years of experience working in the world of e-commerce, with extensive experience with the care of luxury goods. He is currently the VP of Strategic Partnerships at Blutag, an e-commerce platform helping consumers find products. Prior to Blutag, he founded ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox reinvented amenity services by placing custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. The company got acquired by Rinse.com in 2021. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Marc Sigal

Shoe Care Specialist

Expert Answer

Turn your hair dryer on low heat and hold it 5-6 inches (12.5-15 cm) from the boot or shoe. Move the blow dryer back and forth along the surface of the shoe for 3-5 minutes to soften the leather up. You can repeat this process as needed until your Docs feel comfortable on your feet.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 19 Helpful 37
Question

Can you use coconut oil to soften Doc Martens?

Marc Sigal
Shoe Care Specialist
Marc Sigal is a Shoe Care Specialist based in Los Angeles. Marc has over 19 years of experience working in the world of e-commerce, with extensive experience with the care of luxury goods. He is currently the VP of Strategic Partnerships at Blutag, an e-commerce platform helping consumers find products. Prior to Blutag, he founded ButlerBox, a dry cleaning and shoe care service based in Los Angeles, California. ButlerBox reinvented amenity services by placing custom-designed, wrinkle-resistant lockers in luxury apartment buildings, class A office buildings, shopping centers, and other convenient locations. The company got acquired by Rinse.com in 2021. Marc has a BA in Global and International Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Marc Sigal

Shoe Care Specialist

Expert Answer

It's best to use Doc Martens Wonder Balsam to soften your shoes. You could also look for a generic version. The Wonder Balsam is a blend of oils.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 17 Helpful 12
Question

How do I avoid rips in my tights while wear Doc Martens?

Community Answer

Wear thick socks on top of your tights and tuck them into the boots so they don't show.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 18 Helpful 69

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Reader Videos

Submit a Video Tip!

Share a quick video tip and help bring articles to life with your friendly advice. Your insights could make a real difference and help millions of people!

Submit a Video

Tips

Walk around, stand on your toes and bend down a lot to help develop the creases in the shoes that are signs that they are softening. Working at a computer, as part of your normal daily routine, may not be enough activity to break in your shoes.

Thanks
Helpful 9 Not Helpful 0
Try doing calf raises, rolling all the way back to your heel and then to your toes.

Thanks
Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
The first time you wear your Doc Martens out for the day, bring another pair of shoes with you in case you start to get blisters.

Thanks
Helpful 7 Not Helpful 3

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

What worked for me when breaking in my boots was buying the Double Doc socks and always putting skin-safe tape (or band-aids) on high-friction areas (like the heel and between toes).
Take your insoles out until your boots have broken in; then, put your insoles back in.
Use tongue pads if the shoe is too large at the instep or is too long.

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Don't put your boots in the oven.

Thanks
Helpful 47 Not Helpful 4
If you develop foot blisters, it is best to wait until they have healed before resuming the process of breaking in your shoes.

Thanks
Helpful 145 Not Helpful 38
Don't put your boots in the freezer, with or without bags of water in them.

Thanks
Helpful 28 Not Helpful 7
Don't use water to break in the boots.

Thanks
Helpful 28 Not Helpful 10
Don't wear two pairs of socks at once whilst wearing any pair of shoes, this can actually increase the chance of blistering due to the layers creating friction

Thanks
Helpful 37 Not Helpful 22
Any shoe polish should be wax or oil-based and serves no functional purpose, only aesthetic. It does not protect or soften your leather, only add color or shine.

Thanks
Helpful 14 Not Helpful 12