What To Do If Doc Martens Hurt Top Of Foot

Doc Martens shoes are sturdy workhorses of the footwear world. They are great shoes if you are looking for longevity, quality and style but what happens if Doc Martens Hurt Top of Foot?

Doc Martens shoes are made from stiff leather and have seams that can irritate or hurt, especially when you have a new pair. Here’s what you can do if they start to cause you problems.

This post may contain affiliate links which means that we get a commission if you choose to make a purchase through the link. This is at no cost to you. Please read our disclosure page for more information.

How Do You Break In The Top of Doc Martens?

I always like to start with solving the obvious first when it comes to footwear problems. The most likely problem for most people is that they simply haven’t taken the time to break in their Doc Marten shoes when they are brand new.

Now I am a lover of buying shoes that are the perfect fit. This means that when I put them on I generally have no problems however some shoes especially those made from stiffer leather are going to need a little work first before they are wearable.

Doc Martens tend to be made from good quality leather however they can be quite stiff when you first start wearing them. I recently bought a pair of Doc Martens boots as well as a new pair of their shoes for my niece in Australia and she tried to wear them all day as soon as she got them. Big mistake and she got the blisters to prove it.

When you have a new pair start by wearing them for an hour or so at a time and gradually increase this time day by day. I told my niece to do the same, wear them for short periods and wear thicker socks with the tight Docs. After a week or so she found that the top and the back of her shoes were no longer causing her a problem and now she can wear them all day without a problem as you can see from the photo.

Buy The Right Shoe Size

Another obvious problem I find is that many people end up buying the wrong size Doc Marten shoes in the first place. This is easy to do because Docs don’t offer a half-size option.

The Doc Martens website tells you that if you are between sizes you should size down but of course that doesn’t work for everyone. Even though Docs are relatively true to size sometimes you need to size up for that extra space.

The only way to make sure you get this right is by trying on the shoes in a couple of different sizes to see what fits best. Don’t automatically just pick your own shoe size or size down just because a website tells you to. You need to assess the fit and make sure that the top of your foot has enough room before buying a pair.

Will The Top of My Docs Stretch?

If you have the option to send the wrong size shoes back then do it if you can’t you are going to need to take measures to stretch them if they feel tight.

For the purposes of this discussion, I’m assuming that the boots you have a problem with are made from leather. If they are then you are in luck because the leather will stretch with some simple methods you can do at home.

Here are some of the easiest ways you can stretch your shoes so that fit better.

Use a Shoe Stretcher

Using a shoe stretcher is one of the easiest ways to stretch shoes or boots that are too tight. There are loads of variations of shoe stretchers on the market so you’ll need to find the right one that can help stretch the leather on the top of your foot.

If your Doc Martens hurt top of foot then an instep shoe stretcher is a simple gadget that can be bought relatively cheaply to increase the space around the tongue of the shoe. Just pop it inside the problem shoe and then rotate the stretcher so it opens up and expands the tight inside.

Start by leaving the stretcher in for 24 hours and repeat if necessary to get your docs instep and toe box to the right size.

Try a Stretching Spray

If you weren’t aware you can also buy shoe stretching sprays that are also great for giving you a little more room in your shoes. These sprays can be used on their own or in conjunction with a shoe stretcher.

You just spray the product on the inside of your shoes in the area that has a problem and walk around in them. I usually wear thick socks when I’m using the spray to help the breaking-in process.

You may need to repeat the spray process a few times to get the extra room you need but generally, I find these sprays a quick and easy way to make my tight shoes fit better.

Use a Hairdryer

A hairdryer is another simple trick that you can use if you want to stretch leather shoes or boots. I would however say be careful with this one as if you heat delicate leather for too long you could ruin your shoes.

The trick is to put on your Doc Martens with thick socks and on a low heat start aiming the dryer at the top of the foot area. Don’t keep the hairdryer static! Move it around the area so you don’t blast the leather and overheat it.

In many cases, this method works in five or ten minutes.

Wearing Thick Socks

Remember you can also wear thick socks on their own with your boots like my niece did and break them in more slowly. This method totally works unless you have bought shoes that are too small but of course, it takes a little time.

Get a Professional To Do It For You

If you are worried about damaging your shoes or boots of course you can take them to a professional. A local cobbler will have specialist devices and machines that they can use to stretch the leather without damaging your footwear.

Cobblers aren’t necessarily expensive but they will probably cost you more than buying a cheap shoe stretcher or stretching spray.

Doc Martens Tongue Seam Hurts

Some Doc Martens shoes and boots have a seam on the underside of the tongue of the shoe which can create friction and cause pain and blisters. This seam inside the shoe doesn’t bother everyone but if you think that this is what is causing your problem then they easiest way to solve the problem is to cover it.

Moleskin is my preferred option as this can be cut to the shape that you want and stuck over the problem area on the seam. Moleskin can help to minimize pain and friction so your skin doesn’t end up tender and sore.

An alternative is to use a blister pad or plaster on the top of your foot to protect your skin. This generally will need to be replaced every day until the shoes are broken in.

Doc Martens Tight On Top of Foot

If Doc Martens hurt top of foot don’t forget to look at how you have laced your shoes.

If you are a person who ties their laces way too tight then that can also cause problems. Reduce friction and pressure by loosening your laces, especially around the area where you have a problem.

You might need to experiment a little to get the perfect fit but it is worth trying if it helps the discomfort.

If Doc Martens Hurt Top Of Foot Soften The Leather

Finally, another great way of solving the problem of painful Docs on the top of your foot is to soften the leather in the areas where you are having a problem.

Doc Martens shoes use quality leather but I would never describe them as being soft and pliable when you first buy them. The leather is usually quite stiff and rigid which is why the breaking-in process is needed to help create some flexibility in the shoes.

When the leather is softer it will give more as you walk and that can stop the friction which creates blisters and shoe bites.

To soften the leather you can use a leather conditioner on the areas where you need that additional help.

Just apply the leather conditioner to the area of the shoes or boots where you have a problem and work it in with a dry cloth. When it is dry the leather should be softer and more pliable than before making the shoes easier to wear.

Coconut oil, beeswax and olive oil can also be used but be careful they don’t change the color of the leather. The professional leather conditioners are designed to keep your shoes looking the same color as when they started.

Knowing what to do when Doc Martens hurt top of foot can save you from a ton of pain and discomfort and the solutions are generally relatively simple. Try some of them on your new Docs and hopefully, you will be able to solve your problem and wear your shoes without any pain.