What To Do When Your Doc Martens Tongue Seam Hurts

Do you know what to do when your Doc Martens tongue seam hurts your foot? As anyone who ever owned a pair of Doc Martens knows sometimes their shoes and boots need a bit of a helping hand to be truly comfortable especially when they are brand new.

Nobody wants to have foot pain or blisters but as Doc Martens are often made from tough leather and need to be broken in people can end up suffering when they don’t know what to do to make them more comfortable.

Here are some simple steps you can take to solve Dr Martens tongue seam hurting so you can wear your shoes and boots without any discomfort.

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Finding Out Why Your Doc Martens Tongue Hurts

As ever when it comes to footwear problems there isn’t one main reason why the tongue of your Doc Martens may be hurting. There are in fact a whole host of reasons they might be bothering you.

I’m going to talk you through some of the most common problems and hopefully, by a process of elimination, you can find out what the real issue is with your boots or shoes.

All of these have simple solutions and shouldn’t take too long to fix. So let’s start by looking at the first issue.

You Bought The Wrong Size Footwear

The most obvious problem is that you have bought the wrong size of Doc Martens and because your shoes are too small or narrow the tongue of the shoe is pressing on the top of your foot.

Doc Martens don’t make a half size in their shoes and they always suggest sizing down however that might not be right for everyone. If you have wider feet or a high instep following this advice could cause you to end up with uncomfortable shoes.

I always recommend that you spend time trying on different sizes and walking around in the shoes in the shop to make sure you buy the correct size.

If you have bought the wrong size then you can take them back to the shop. If you can’t then you are going to need a shoe stretcher to stretch them.

Make sure you buy the right sort of stretcher for your footwear. Make sure you buy one that can work with a shoe or a boot and that will either widen the shoe or increase the top box area. You will probably find there are not many that do both so make sure you choose the right type to stop them being so tight.

How Do You Break In Doc Martens Tongue?

If your Doc Martens tongue seam hurts and you have taken the time to buy the right size footwear then your port of call is to break your boots or shoes in.

Breaking in Doc Martens is a process and can take up to two months in some cases especially when you are buying footwear made from stiffer leather.

Don’t think you can just take Doc Martens Boots out of the box and start wearing them because you can’t. You need to wear them for short periods of time and slowly build up the time you wear them until they mold to your feet.

Yes, this is a pain and not ideal but new leather boots and shoes are going to be inflexible and stiff at first. You need to spend time getting them used to your feet and once they are broken in they are less likely to rub or cause you blisters.

Using Wonder Balsam To Help The Process

If your Doc Martens boots or shoes need a little help during the breaking-in process your next step is to buy a leather conditioner to help soften the leather.

The good news is that the brand makes its own called Doc Martens Wonder Balsam. All you need to do is rub this onto the areas of the shoe that are causing pain and the Wonder Balsam will condition and soften the leather which can help reduce friction and make our footwear easier to walk in.

Just note that Wonder Balsam isn’t suitable for Vegan or patent leather.

Wear Thicker Socks To Stop The Tongue Seam Hurting

If you are in the habit of wearing thin socks then this can also be part of the problem.

Thinner socks don’t give you much protection from stiff leather especially when your footwear is relatively new. It therefore makes much more sense to start wearing thicker socks to help cushion your feet.

Wearing thick socks when your shoes or boots are new can prevent blisters and act as a barrier between your foot and the tongue of your shoe.

Once again Doc Martens makes thick socks that are designed to be worn with their footwear. They are really good quality and are perfect for wearing with boots and shoes.

Look At How You Lace Your Shoes

Sometimes there are obvious answers to the discomfort and we don’t notice them because it seems too simple. A great example of this is people who tend to tie their shoelaces too tightly or in a way that presses the tongue too firmly onto their feet.

You are definitely going to feel uncomfortable if your shoelaces are too tight so the simple answer is to make them looser. This can make a surprising amount of difference in many cases especially when your shoes are relatively new.

You Have a High Foot Arch

The next issue is one that I always hate to mention and that is you might have a high foot arch. This means that the shape of your foot doesn’t really suit some brands or sizes of footwear.

There is nothing worse than being told that you can’t wear a certain brand of shoes such as Doc Martens but for some people that will be the case. If your feet don’t conform to the standard sizes that the brand makes you can be trying to jam a square peg into a round hole.

As I’ve got older and my feet have become more cranky there are certain types of shoes that give me discomfort and foot pain. I’ve learned that I need to steer well clear of them if I want happy feet.

If you do think your foot arch is to blame you can of course spend some time trying on various types of different Doc Martens to see if you can find one that works if not you might have to accept that their footwear isn’t right for you.

There are plenty of brands out there that make similar looks boots and shoes so you should be able to find something else that will suit you without the rubbing and pain.

Inflammation, Injury or Fractures

If your Doc Martens tongue seam hurts then your shoes may not always be the problem. Sometimes it is an injury or inflammation that might be causing you a problem.

For example, I suffer from tendonitis in the top of my foot which can cause me pain. Tight shoes exacerbate the problem but it is the underlying inflammation and injury that is really the issue.

If your foot hurts and you think it might not be caused by your footwear then it is always worth going to your doctor to see if they have any thoughts on why you have the problem.

Doc Martens Tongue Sliding

If your Doc Martens hurt by the tongue seam it is worth checking whether it is worth seeing if the tongue sliding as you wear your shoes or boots. A crooked tongue can cause problems and give you discomfort.

There are a number of reasons why the tongue might be moving around. Here are some of the main reasons that you can check.

Lacing – If you lace your boots unevenly it can move the tongue and seam sideways.
The Wrong Size Boots – If your boots are too big your foot moves around causing problems. Too small the tongue is under pressure to move.
Incorrect Arch Support – If you don’t have the right arch support your foot can move around in your shoes displacing the tongue.
Posture and Gait – If you walk in a way that forces to tongue seam to drift you can cause foot pain from the seam.

Doc Martens Tongue Crooked Because of a Manufacturing Defect

Finally, if your Doc Martens tongue seam hurts your footwear may have a manufacturing defect.

Doc Martens are generally good quality and as you are paying a lot for the brand you generally get shoes and boots that last for a long time. However, as with any shoe manufacturer, the odd problem shoe can get through.

If you have any doubts about your new shoes or boots take them back to the store for a refund or get them exchanged for an alternative pair.