If you have bought a new pair of Doc Martens shoes and they feel tight what can you do? Do Doc Martens stretch out over time or do you need to do something to give you the extra room you need in your shoes and boots for them to be comfortable?
Having owned Doc Martens myself and helped my niece with the break-in process for hers here’s what you need to know about getting your Doc to fit better so that they don’t feel uncomfortable on your feet.
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Are Doc Martens Supposed to Be Tight?
So when you buy a new pair of Doc Martens should they feel tight on your feet? Many people assume that their new boots should be a tight fit when they first buy them and that they will stretch over time.
This isn’t the case your boots should be a snug fit when you first put them on but they shouldn’t pinch or feel uncomfortable. They also should have a little room at the end of your toes inside the shoe so they aren’t pressed up against the leather.
If your Dr Martens boots or shoes are tight to the point where your feet are rubbing or feel instantly uncomfortable in them then you have bought the wrong size.
Buying the Right Size Docs
Doc Martens are a brand that doesn’t offer a half-size in its footwear. This means that if you generally take a half-size you need to make a decision to either size up on down.
The brand generally recommends sizing down but this isn’t always the best idea. Everyone has a different foot shape and width despite their shoe size which means that what may work for you isn’t necessarily going to work for everyone else.
I always suggest that you take your time when you are buying your new shoes so that you can test the different sizes and work out the right fit. Yes, this is a time-consuming method but it will save you the problem of buying the wrong size and having to deal with foot pain and discomfort.
How Long Does it Take Doc Martens To Break In?
If you do buy the right size Dr Martens however your problems are not necessarily over as it is well known in the industry that the shoes can be a bit of a pain to break in. This is because their shoes and boots tend to be made from stiff leather and the soles are thick and relatively inflexible when they are new.
This means that your new snug Docs can chafe, rub and cause blisters during this breaking-in process.
Over time the leather of the books starts to become more pliable and easier to wear as it stretches to fit your foot shape but this can take anywhere from two to six weeks.
During this breaking-in period, you should wear thick socks with your shoes to help with stretching and also to protect your feet from shoe bites.
Once you have broken in your footwear they should be a really comfortable fit. My niece for example got blisters from trying to rush the breaking-in period with hers but once they were fully broken in she refuses to take them off.
Do Doc Martens Stretch Out?
Provided you buy a pair of leather Doc Martens and they are a snug rather than uncomfortable fit you should find that they will stretch out over time.
Most leather starts to give after a period of wear. It will become more flexible and pliable and it will start to mold to your feet.
Doc Martens recommend that you tie the laces of your shoes relatively tightly (not to the point of discomfort) to allow their footwear to adapt to your foot shape.
Whilst their shoes will stretch slightly making them easier to wear don’t expect them to increase in size significantly. You still need to buy the right size in the first place or manually stretch them to make them bigger.
Do Doc Martens Stretch In Length?
If you have bought a pair of Doc Martens and they are too small what do you do next especially if you can’t take them back to the store?
Well, the next thing you have to consider is whether you can stretch your shoes to get them to fit using other methods.
Doc Martens can stretch slightly in length but only the upper part of the shoe or boot which is leather. You won’t be able to stretch the thick sole of the shoe.
If your shoes are just a little tight you should be able to stretch the leather upper a half-size or maybe a little more with some of the methods I’ll mention below.
Do Doc Martens Stretch in Width?
The same applies to the width of the shoes and the toe section. You will be able to stretch the leather so that your feet have more room on either side of the shoe. You can also use a shoe stretcher to increase the size of the toe box area so that your toes have more room.
The thicker soles of your shoes however will stay the same.
Usually stretching works well if you need a little more room to stop pinching or friction in the toe area of the sides of your feet. It won’t help so much if you have bought a size of shoe that is way too small.
How Do I Stretch Out My Doc Martens?
Whilst your Doc Martens will stretch out to a certain extent through natural wear and the breaking in process you might want to help the process along or stretch them a little more than you would naturally.
Remember that wearing them with some thick socks will help your Doc Martens stretch so they are not a tight fit but that can take up to six weeks. This is the method my niece recently used and now her shoes fit her perfectly. Of course, not everyone has her patience or is willing to put up with the discomfort
These are some great methods that you can use to stretch your Docs faster so that you get them to the correct size for you. I’ve used most of these methods on new leather shoes so I can tell you that they all work but some I prefer more to others.
Buy The Right Shoe Stretcher For the Job
The first two solutions on this list are my favorites to use as they are simple to use, don’t cost much and are really effective.
You can now buy cheap shoe stretcher devices that are great for placing in your footwear. All you need to do is find the right type for your problem and place them in your shoe or boot and turn the handle to start them stretching.
A four-way shoe stretcher is good for shoes that need expanding in length and width. If you need a higher toe box then you will need to use a stretcher that lifts the top of your shoe of boot. Boot stretchers also work in a similar way.
Usually, if you use a stretcher you should have more room in your footwear within 24 hours.
How to Stretch Doc Martens That Are Too Small With Shoe Stretching Spray
A shoe stretching spray is another favorite of mine. It’s an easy solution to help increase the size of your shoes so that they fit better.
All you need to do is spray the inside of your Doc Martens in the areas where you have a problem. Then put on your shoes or boots wearing thick socks and start walking around in them.
The stretching spray helps the footwear to expand a little in the areas where you have an issue giving you more comfortable shoes.
Try Dr Martens Wonder Balsam Or Leather Softener
Leather softener or Dr Martens Wonder Balsam can both help with the breaking-in process of your boots and shoes.
These are not stretching methods themselves but they can help to soften leather which then can mold more easily to your feet.
This can be a useful method if you have pinch points rather than sizing issues with your footwear.
Heat Your Leather With a Hairdryer
Using a hairdryer can also work if you use it on medium or high heat over the tight areas of your shoe.
Try and do this with your shoes on and start walking around in them when the leather is still warm to help with the stretching process.
Be careful not to keep the heat for too long in one place as it can potentially damage your shoes. So whilst this is a quick and easy method of creating a change it is one that you should use with caution.
Put Your Docs In The Freezer
This next solution can be a bit hit-and-miss. I’ve included it in case you want to give it a go but it isn’t my favorite way of loosening tight shoes or boots.
To make this work you need a couple of freezer bags. Fill one half full with water and seal it making sure you have got out most of the air. Then put this in a secondary freezer bag to prevent any leaks.
Place the freezer bag in the inside of your Docs where they feel tight and then place your shoe in a plastic bag and pop it into the freezer for 24 hours.
The idea is that the water in the bag will expand as it turns to ice. As it expands it places pressure on the leather and that in turn helps to stretch them.
Whilst this sounds ok in theory it doesn’t always work so well in practice. In fact, a famous comedian in the UK talked on Twitter about how he recently tried this method to expand some football boots and it made no difference so you have been warned.
Stuff Your Footwear With Newspaper
Slightly damp newspaper does a similar job. If you scrunch the damp newspaper in your shoes and let it dry it helps to stretch them as the paper dries.
If you do use this method I would really suggest that you don’t wet the paper too much otherwise you could ruin the inside of your shoes.
Find a Local Cobbler
Finally, a local cobbler will always know what to do when it comes to stretching and mending your shoes. They have the experience and equipment to make the job easier.
Of course, they will be a little more expensive than the home solutions but you are less likely to find that things go wrong.
Do Doc Martens Sandals Stretch?
The good news is that yes if you have a pair of Doc Martens leather sandals you should be able to stretch them using some of the methods I have already talked about.
Obviously, a cobbler will always be able to help but if you don’t have one near you try the stretching spray method, shoe stretcher or hairdryer methods in that order.
Do Vegan Doc Martens Stretch?
Do Doc Martens stretch if they are vegan? Well yes, they do and once again most of the methods that I have talked about should work if you want slightly more room in your vegan Doc Martens shoes or boots.
The only thing I would mention is that you would need to check each of the product’s ingredients to make sure they are vegan-friendly before using them. As an example Dr Martens Wonder Balsam is made from beeswax and lanolin so would not be suitable for vegan docs.
Learn More About Doc Martens
Are Doc Martens Good For Walking All Day?
What To Do If Doc Martens Hurt Top of Foot
Are Dr Martens Good For Winter?
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