When it comes to Doc Martens there are two types of people. Those who like the grunge look and are happy for their Docs to look lived in and a bit battered and those who want to keep their boots looking as pristine as possible. If you are the latter you are going to need to learn how to stop Doc Martens from creasing to keep that fresh new out-of-the-box look.
I’m going to help you learn how to prevent Doc Martens from creasing and what you can do to get rid of any wrinkles if they start to appear.
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Do Doc Martens Crease?
If you are a person who loves pristine shoes and would like them to look new forever you are going to be disappointed. All shoes will at some point develop creases and that includes Doc Martens.
The question is how quickly will your Doc Martens crease and is there anything you can do to stop this from happening too quickly?
Excessive creasing is really the problem here especially when your boots or shoes are relatively new. This might indicate a problem rather than being classed as just general wear and tear.
Remember just because your footwear is expensive doesn’t make it immune from creases. They will eventually appear but hopefully more slowly than on cheaper shoes and boots.
Are Doc Martens Supposed To Crease?
The fact is that creases in Doc Martens’s boots and shoes are perfectly normal. Leather and even synthetic materials are going to start to develop these creases as your footwear repeatedly gets moved in a certain direction.
Generally creases first tend to appear on the top of the shoe or boot on the vamp section. This is the area just below the laced section and before the toe area. This is because this is the area where your foot tends to flex the most as you walk. You can also expect creases to appear on the ankle section of your boots.
The good news is that high-quality leather usually takes a little for the creases to appear. It is worth noting however that Doc Martens do have two different lines. One is the Made in England Line which accounts for around 2% of their shoe production whilst the rest of the boots are made in Asia.
A number of reports seem to suggest that the Made in England line is superior to that of the boots which were made in Asia. The Guardian in the UK has reported on the differences in this article about Doc Martens which discusses what their customers think. It appears they believe that the Asian boots are low quality in comparison to their Made in England counterparts.
How To Keep Doc Martens From Creasing
I am a great believer in prevention being better than a cure so if you want to know how to stop Doc Martens from creasing you first need to understand how to take care of your shoes. I always prefer to prevent excessive creasing by taking care of my boots and shoes so I don’t have to deal with the hassle of trying to solve the problem later.
Here are some of my favorite tips to stop Doc Martens from creasing in the first place.
Buy the Right Size Footwear
My first tip is an obvious one but is often overlooked when people are buying new shoes and boots and that is to buy the right size in the first place.
Poor-fitting boots or shoes are more likely to create creases because if they are too small there is too much pressure inside your shoe and if they are too big your foot moves around more as you walk.
The problem is that Doc Martens do not sell half sizes. The brand normally recommends moving down a size if you are between sizes however that is more likely to cause your Doc Martens to get those dreaded wrinkles faster. An alternative would be to buy an insert and place it in your shoe to help get a better fit.
Store Your Shoes Correctly
Are you in the habit of coming in from outside taking off your Doc Martens boots and then throwing them into a pile of other footwear? If so your bad habits are not going to be helping to minimize creasing.
If you really want to prevent creases from forming you should store your boots and shoes correctly. I put mine in a shoe cupboard where they have plenty of room. Before they are stored away they are also cleaned properly and I used devices like shoe trees to help them keep their shape.
Taking simple steps to look after your footwear prolongs their life and keeps them looking better for longer. You can read my article on how to preserve shoes for a long time to get a better idea of actionable steps you can take to look after your footwear.
Prevent Creased Doc Martens By Using Shoe Trees
If you don’t use a shoe tree then I can highly recommend them for stopping Doc Martens creasing.
Shoe trees are simple devices that you slot into your shoes between each wear to help them keep their shape. A shoe tree mimics the shape of your foot and helps prevent your boots and shoes from sagging or getting unsightly wrinkles.
If you buy cedar shoe trees then not only do they help protect your Docs from creasing they also help to absorb sweat and moisture and can keep your footwear smelling nice.
These cedar shoe trees designed for boots are a great example of a simple device that can help to fix creasing. Plus they can be used again and again so they are a great investment.
If you can’t afford a shoe tree then another alternative is to stuff your boots with some socks or paper until they are worn again.
Doc Martens Crease Protector – Wear Thicker Socks
If you want to know how to stop Doc Martens from creasing then you could think about wearing thick socks when you are wearing them.
If you wear thick socks it helps to minimize the marks caused when your feet flex as they create a barrier and cause slightly less movement.
The only problem with thicker socks is that they are great when the weather is cold at keeping your feet warm but can make your feet hot and sweaty in the summertime.
Alternate Your Frequency Of Wear
Where possible I try not to wear the same pair of shoes day after day as they need a little time to recover from each wear.
If you choose to wear the same pair of shoes again and again you are never giving them a chance to dry out properly between wears. If you don’t do this your Doc Martens crease faster.
Alternate your shoes if you can and you will extend their life and slow down the rate at which creases appear.
Wear Crease Guards
If you are familiar with sneakerheads you will know that they take their footwear seriously and hate creases! This is why sneaker lovers have taken to wearing crease guards in their droves to stop unsightly creases from ruining the look of their box-fresh shoes.
If you aren’t familiar with these devices they are plastic devices that you place into the inside of your shoes to prevent creasing. They add extra structure and support to the interior of a shoe or boot and limit the extent to which they can flex.
Whilst these work well to delay creasing of Doc Martens and other footwear you might find they take a little getting used to.
Using Oils or Doc Marten Leather Conditioner
If you have never used leather conditioner or leather oil then you might want to start doing some research into how they can help to stop creases from appearing on your shoes and boots.
A good leather conditioner helps to keep your Doc Martens moisturized and more pliable which in turn helps them to be more crease-resistant.
Leather conditioners and oils are not difficult to use. You only need to put a few drops on a cloth and gently massage the product into your boots to avoid creasing.
Doc Martens even have their own range of products that you can use such as their Wonder Balsam which can help to keep your leather supple.
Stop Doc Martens From Creasing With Shoe Polish
It was interesting to read this year that in the UK a famous shoe polish manufacturer had decided to stop selling their product because hardly anyone was using it.
Yet shoe polish is a great product to use to nourish leather plus it can help to maintain the color of your Doc Martens so they look as good as new.
Don’t be one of those lazy people who can’t be bothered to use it as shoe polish is a great product that is often overlooked.
How To Get The Creases Out of Doc Martens
Hopefully, I have explained how to stop Doc Martens from creasing but what happens if the wrinkles are already there or you want to minimize any that are already on your boots or shoes?
Well, there are a number of tricks that you can use that can get existing creases out of your footwear. Here are a few of my favorites which you can use if you want to make your Docs look a little better.
Will a Hairdryer Get Creases Out of Shoes?
One of the easiest methods for helping Doc Martens creasing is by using a hairdryer. I love this method because most homes have one and they are simple and easy to use.
All you need to do is make sure that your Docs are completely dry and turn the dryer on to low heat and start aiming the nozzle at the creased sections of your shoes or boots.
Try and make sure that the hairdryer is six or so inches away from your footwear and move it backward and forwards over the area so that the head doesn’t damage or burn your shoes.
It usually takes a few minutes for the creases to start to disappear from your leather shoes.
Using An Iron To Remove Shoe Creasing
Whilst we are on the topic of heat an iron is another way of removing creases that are on your footwear.
I would always exercise a little more caution with an iron and put it on low heat to start.
Get your shoes and cover the creased section with a damp cloth. A thicker cloth like a face flannel is best rather than using cloths that are too thin.
Then get the iron and place it over the creased section of your boots or shoes. As with the hairdryer don’t leave it on the cloth for too long. Always check every five or ten seconds to make sure that the temperature isn’t causing any damage or marks.
And Finally One To Never Use
I’ve seen a number of people recommending that you use a heat gun in order to get creases out of your shoes.
Now whilst in theory this works a heat gun uses extreme temperatures. An average heat gun can operate between 100 and 700 degrees celsius whilst a hairdryer on its absolute maximum setting doesn’t go higher than 140 degrees. That is a big difference.
I use my heat gun to strip paint and it can do this relatively easily because of the heat however would I use it on my expensive shoes? Well no because the chances of me damaging them are so much higher because of the temperature differences. Doc Martens are expensive so there is no way I would be risking ruining them with a heat gun.
So if you want to remove creases from your footwear choose a hairdryer or Iron (but only with a damp cloth) for a safer alternative.
Hopefully, you’ve learned how to stop Doc Martens from creasing in the first place with my other handy tips meaning you can keep your shoes looking better for longer.
More Help For Doc Wearers
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Why Do Doc Martens Hurt Your Feet?
Why Are Doc Martens So Popular?
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