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There’s nothing worse than getting a new pair of sandals, only to wear them out and discover that they give you blisters. In fact, searches for ‘how to break in sandals’ are up more than 50% this month according to footwear experts atDr. Martens.

Rather than spend another summer hobbling around or giving up on your favourite sandals, try out some of these hacks to help break them in and stop them from gathering dust in your wardrobe.

Here are 10 easy to do hacks that will have your sandals feeling comfortable all day long in no time:

1. Start with the right size

Making sure you have the right size sandal is the first place you should start. Sandals that are too small or too big are not only uncomfortable, but they can cause rubbing and chafing as they move or pinch your feet, leading to blisters and cuts.

If you’re not sure whether they’re the right fit, try walking around the shop or wearing them inside for a while to make sure they don’t rub anywhere. You’ll quickly be able to tell if your new sandals are going to aggravate any part of your foot.



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2. Wear them around the house

Even once you know you have the right size shoes, hold off from venturing outside in them. Instead, strap them on and wear them around the house for a day or two. Aim for at least a few hours each day while you tidy or even just sit on the sofa – it’ll help them start to mold to your foot shape, and means you can whip them off if they start to hurt.

3. Wear them with socks

Socks and sandals is actually a bit of a vibe at the moment, so this is one hack you can take out and about with you while you’re still breaking them in. Wearing socks like the Dr Martens Athletic Logo 3-Pack, £20 here, with your sandals not only helps your sandals stretch out more quickly, but they also help protect your feet from rubbing as you break them in.

4. Try the TikTok hairdryer trend

Although TikTok has caused the hack to go viral, this is actually a pretty old school way of helping stretch and break in new leather shoes. The logic is that as you heat up your sandals, the leather softens and becomes easier to mold to the shape of your feet.

To do it, pop a pair of thick socks on and grab your hairdryer. Put it on the lowest warm setting (not the hottest, we don’t want you to burn yourself), and slowly heat up the straps and soles of the sandals.

5. Use baby powder to reduce sweat and friction

If you’re keen to ditch the socks and start wearing your sandals with bare feet, one of the easiest ways to limit blistering is to make sure friction is limited. When you sweat, your sandals move and rub on certain areas, creating painful spots that only get worse the longer you wear them.

To head off any unnecessary friction, try using baby powder or a foot antiperspirant, like this Boots Anti-Perspirant Foot Spray, £3.35 here, on your feet before you put your sandals on. This can reduce sweating and cut down on extra movement as you’re walking around, meaning fewer blisters, and fresh smelling feet – what could be better?

Don’t forget though, if you’ve got black coloured sandals you might want to be sparing with your baby powder, otherwise it can leave telltale signs of transfer on the straps.

6. Keep them clean

Cleaning up your sandals not only keeps them hygienic and in good condition, but it can also help to soften the leather and straps, making them more comfortable for you to wear. Each time you take your new sandals off, try and remember to give them a wipe down with a clean cloth and leave them to dry.


7. Walk around on different surfaces

Different surfaces can help your sandals break in more easily as your feet move and adjust to them more quickly. Walking on sand or grass is usually the most popular choice for this hack, as the uneven and unstable surfaces cause your feet to adjust, and the natural elements can actually help both the soles and the straps to break in more quickly, meaning your new shoes will be comfortable in no time.

8. Use plasters

Plasters are going to be your new best friend when it comes to breaking in a tricky pair of sandals. Even if you follow all the other hacks, there’s still a chance you’ll get blisters in one area or another, so having some blister plasters like Compeed's blister plasters, £4 here, to hand is essential.

Heading off the pain before it even happens is your best bet. Try and preempt where the rubbing will occur – it's usually across ankle straps and the sides of your toes – and apply plasters there before you even leave the house.

9. Try a moisturising balm

Treating the leather of your sandals can also help soften the leather and make it more flexible, which in turn makes it way more comfortable for you to wear. Pop some leather balm like Wheelers Beeswax Leather Balm, £6.70 here, on the inside of your sandals in the key areas to help reduce friction and soften them up.

10. Be patient

Not so much a hack, more just a positive mindset, but patience is the ultimate secret to breaking in any tricky new shoes. It can take time for your sandals to break in, but hopefully the vast array of techniques above can help them become more comfortable much more quickly, so you can put your best sandal-clad foot forward ASAP.

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