Boots that don't fit in a variety of ways
June 22, 2018 8:46 PM Subscribe
I'm cleaning out my closet/wardrobe, and realize I own several pairs of boots that don't fit or are uncomfortable in different ways. I'd like to see what I can do to make them fit better before getting rid of them. Issues include: slightly too big, rubbing at the heels, worn down insoles.
I have five pairs of boots that have comfort issues in some way that I'd like to fix if possible. (I have no idea how I wound up with this many shoes with issues. That's a problem for another time, I guess.)
1) I have this pair of Clarks ankle boots, which I love so much I bought a second pair and stored them away in my closet. The problem with these is that the insoles seem very worn down, and I'm not sure what to replace them with. I've worn them a ton, including almost every day last winter, and they've been very comfortable. The leather and soles are still in great shape, but when I wear them now, they feel much more flat inside, and like they are pressing harder into the bottom of my foot, if that makes sense. Should I just buy an all-purpose insole in my size and replace them? I'd like to get more use out of these before I move on to the second pair.
2) A year ago, I bought a pair of Keen boots that fit very comfortably when walking around my living room. I then foolishly took them on a three-day trip as my only pair of shoes and discovered in a short time that they raise massive blisters on my heels. I then dug into my closet and discovered that I had actually bought a different pair of Keens, maybe 3 years ago, that gave me the exact same problem and I'd forgotten all about them. (Yes, I have a problem.)
If you look at the third picture down on the Amazon listing I linked above that shows the back of the boot, you can see kind of a triangular shape at the heel. There's basically a hard piece of plastic inside the material of the boot, presumably to give the heel shape, and the top of it is what rubs at my heel when I walk. My other pair has the same issue. The problem is solved if I wear moleskin on my heels all day, but I'd love to find some sort of permanent solution for the boots instead. With moleskin, they are super comfortable and I can walk around on vacation all day in them with no problems, so I'd love to salvage them if possible.
3) I have a pair of steel-toed Gripfast lace-up boots, and a similar pair of Doc Martens, both of which I bought at thrift stores for ludicrously low prices and were essentially brand new. They are both about half a size too big for me. What are some options besides just wearing a really thick pair of socks?
In the mean time, I am going to work on this habit I didn't realize I had of purchasing shoes that don't actually work for me... Thanks for your help!
I have five pairs of boots that have comfort issues in some way that I'd like to fix if possible. (I have no idea how I wound up with this many shoes with issues. That's a problem for another time, I guess.)
1) I have this pair of Clarks ankle boots, which I love so much I bought a second pair and stored them away in my closet. The problem with these is that the insoles seem very worn down, and I'm not sure what to replace them with. I've worn them a ton, including almost every day last winter, and they've been very comfortable. The leather and soles are still in great shape, but when I wear them now, they feel much more flat inside, and like they are pressing harder into the bottom of my foot, if that makes sense. Should I just buy an all-purpose insole in my size and replace them? I'd like to get more use out of these before I move on to the second pair.
2) A year ago, I bought a pair of Keen boots that fit very comfortably when walking around my living room. I then foolishly took them on a three-day trip as my only pair of shoes and discovered in a short time that they raise massive blisters on my heels. I then dug into my closet and discovered that I had actually bought a different pair of Keens, maybe 3 years ago, that gave me the exact same problem and I'd forgotten all about them. (Yes, I have a problem.)
If you look at the third picture down on the Amazon listing I linked above that shows the back of the boot, you can see kind of a triangular shape at the heel. There's basically a hard piece of plastic inside the material of the boot, presumably to give the heel shape, and the top of it is what rubs at my heel when I walk. My other pair has the same issue. The problem is solved if I wear moleskin on my heels all day, but I'd love to find some sort of permanent solution for the boots instead. With moleskin, they are super comfortable and I can walk around on vacation all day in them with no problems, so I'd love to salvage them if possible.
3) I have a pair of steel-toed Gripfast lace-up boots, and a similar pair of Doc Martens, both of which I bought at thrift stores for ludicrously low prices and were essentially brand new. They are both about half a size too big for me. What are some options besides just wearing a really thick pair of socks?
In the mean time, I am going to work on this habit I didn't realize I had of purchasing shoes that don't actually work for me... Thanks for your help!
I buy cowboy boots off eBay, mostly. Size 13. Used, obviously. I won't buy them unless they're damn near new. I'd rather them a bit loose than tight, but that's just me probably. And with bigger insoles and/or thicker socks, I can make them fit as I'd like. I guess I've got about eight pair, each one a different boot-maker. I've got some hiking boots also, and some work boots, and my solution(s) are the same.
Some fit perfect -- great! Some are too loose -- slap an insole into them. Or -- a thicker insole. Also, I have three pair of big honkin' socks. Works fine. Some are too tight -- slap a thinner insole into them, if they have an insole. I've got thin socks, also. (I have one pair of Lucchese boots that I'd do the Cinderella sister thing if I had to, cut my feet down -- they're my favorite boots, and I bought them for a song from some fool had no idea what he had.)
I'd be surprised if an insole of whatever type wouldn't resolve the blister problem if moleskin does it. Also, what's wrong with wearing moleskin on your heels, if it works and they are great boots? Great boots are, well, great.
posted by dancestoblue at 10:18 PM on June 22, 2018
Some fit perfect -- great! Some are too loose -- slap an insole into them. Or -- a thicker insole. Also, I have three pair of big honkin' socks. Works fine. Some are too tight -- slap a thinner insole into them, if they have an insole. I've got thin socks, also. (I have one pair of Lucchese boots that I'd do the Cinderella sister thing if I had to, cut my feet down -- they're my favorite boots, and I bought them for a song from some fool had no idea what he had.)
I'd be surprised if an insole of whatever type wouldn't resolve the blister problem if moleskin does it. Also, what's wrong with wearing moleskin on your heels, if it works and they are great boots? Great boots are, well, great.
posted by dancestoblue at 10:18 PM on June 22, 2018
This might be a stupid question, because I know nothing about shoes that don't work for you, but why not put the moleskin on the inside of the shoe, instead of on your heel?
Seriously, I own three whole pairs of shoes, and two of them are sneakers.
posted by The Almighty Mommy Goddess at 5:54 AM on June 23, 2018
Seriously, I own three whole pairs of shoes, and two of them are sneakers.
posted by The Almighty Mommy Goddess at 5:54 AM on June 23, 2018
Adding an aftermarket insole without first removing the factory insole sometimes works to make a shoe smaller. It's not always an acceptable solution, but if you find yourself buying insoles to replace the ones in #1, maybe give them a try in #3 and see how you like it. They also make inserts like this and this (not an endorsement, just an example) that go in your shoes to smallen them.
As for blisters, there are lots of options. First, if you wear the shoe enough you'll get calluses and it won't give you blisters anymore. The fastest way to do this is to wear them just until a hot spot starts to form (you do not want an actual blister, that will set you back) and then take them off until the hot spot is fully healed, then repeat until you can wear the shoes forever without irritation. If that sounds like too much work for a shoe you don't wear all that often anyway, you can either put moleskin on when you wear them (putting it in the boots would not be as effective, then you'd just have moleskin rubbing against your feet [or your socks] which might be less damaging but still not as good as having feet protected by moleskin) or get better socks. (There is a WORLD of difference between cheap socks and good socks.) You could also try wearing sock liners, which give your socks something to rub on that isn't your skin.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 6:32 AM on June 23, 2018
As for blisters, there are lots of options. First, if you wear the shoe enough you'll get calluses and it won't give you blisters anymore. The fastest way to do this is to wear them just until a hot spot starts to form (you do not want an actual blister, that will set you back) and then take them off until the hot spot is fully healed, then repeat until you can wear the shoes forever without irritation. If that sounds like too much work for a shoe you don't wear all that often anyway, you can either put moleskin on when you wear them (putting it in the boots would not be as effective, then you'd just have moleskin rubbing against your feet [or your socks] which might be less damaging but still not as good as having feet protected by moleskin) or get better socks. (There is a WORLD of difference between cheap socks and good socks.) You could also try wearing sock liners, which give your socks something to rub on that isn't your skin.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 6:32 AM on June 23, 2018
For the Keen boots: When I have shoes (heels, flats, boots, loafers, really anything) that slip in the heel but aren't quite loose enough to fit a whole insole in, I put these adhesive heel pads in them. They've also helped when the edge of the shoe rubs against my ankle and causes blisters or pain. So they might help the Keen boots, if there's enough wiggle room to afford the extra thickness!
posted by opossumnus at 9:37 AM on June 25, 2018
posted by opossumnus at 9:37 AM on June 25, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by momus_window at 8:59 PM on June 22, 2018 [1 favorite]