Have you ever asked yourself “why do Vans hurt the back of my foot?”.
If Vans hurt your feet and are causing you discomfort you need to understand why as well as what you can do to make them a comfortable fit.
Here’s what you need to know about solving Van’s foot pain so that you can enjoy wearing your sneakers again.
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The best Vans Shoes to buy for comfort are from their Comfycush range.
These Comfycush Sneakers have additional features which make help to make them easier and more comfortable to wear.
Why Do Vans Hurt My Heels?
When it comes to Vans shoes there are usually some really common problems that are usually behind the discomfort. These typically are:
- New Vans that aren’t broken in
- You have bought the wrong size so they are too tight or too loose
- Your ankles are being bruised from Skateboarding injuries.
- The seams and stitching is aggravating the back of your heel
- You are wearing them without socks
- You have sweaty feet
- You have an existing foot problem that is causing an issue.
To prevent heel blisters and foot pain you need to identify which of these issues is causing the problem and then follow my tips below to help solve the problem as quickly as possible.
You Have Bought The Wrong Size Shoes
I am constantly amazed at the number of people who buy the wrong size shoes. When your shoes don’t fit properly you are going to get heel rubbing, pinch points, shoe bites and blisters.
Never be tempted to buy a pair of shoes that feel uncomfortable when you are trying them. Just because you love the design doesn’t mean that the shoe loves you back. Always wait until your size is back in stock otherwise you are going to have foot problems and your heels and toes are going to end up in pain.
A comfortable pair of shoes makes a world of difference and when they fit properly you are going to get more natural movement whilst you are walking and they are going to be much easier to break in.
If you have bought the wrong size here is what you can do.
Shoes That Are Too Loose
If you have bought Vans shoes that are too loose then you are going to find that the back of the shoe is going to give you some heel slip. A little heel slippage is normal but too much and you get blisters forming. I have a whole post on how much heel slip is normal to give you more of an idea of how to get the right size for you.
When you have too much heel slip and it is too late to send your shoes back I would suggest either buying some inserts for your shoes so that there is less room inside your shoes which can stop your feet from moving around so much. Or alternatively, buy some heel cushions.
Heel cushions are usually padded and are placed on the back of the inside of your Vans shoes. The padding reduces the heel gap and stops them from slipping up and down.
Shoes That Are Too Tight
If your Vans hurt because they are too tight then you need to find a way of stretching them to prevent heel blisters.
To do this is usually recommend buying a shoe stretcher device which can usually increase their size by up to half to one size larger.
All you need to do is place the stretcher in the shoes and turn the device to create tension. Then leave your shoes for 24 hours and see if they fit better.
To enhance the process there is also a shoe stretching spray that works with canvas and fabric shoes. This is sprayed inside your shoes and you walk around in them to increase the size.
You can use the stretcher and the spray at the same time if you want.
How Do You Break In The Heel of Vans?
Why do Vans hurt the back of my foot?
Well, one of the most popular reasons for the problem is that you have new shoes and you haven’t broken them in properly.
Breaking in shoes is something that you have to do with lots of shoes and boots and if you don’t do it you are going to get sore feet. Usually, this break-in period takes anywhere from two to six weeks depending on how much you wear them.
The idea of breaking in shoes is to wear them gradually each day. Start by wearing them for a half hour at a time and then build up the time you can wear them until eventually, you are happy to have them on your feet all day.
Vans have a whole guide on how to break in the heel section of their shoes which is well worth a read as it gives you tips like wearing socks or breaking in the back of your shoes with a hammer to make them softer.
How To Stop Vans From Rubbing Heel – Wear Socks
Do you wear socks with slip-on shoes? Well for some people it is fashionable however socks are often really important because they create a barrier between your skin and the shoes to stop blisters from forming. Thick socks are obviously going to make more of a difference than thin ones.
Moisture-wicking socks also can help to reduce sweaty feet which I’ll talk about next that cause your feet to move around more in shoes. This can cause problems both in the toe area of your shoes and in the heel area.
So if you are wearing Vans and feel like they are rubbing and you want to prevent heel blisters put on a pair of thick socks initially especially when you are first breaking your shoes in.
Once you have broken your shoes in then you can think about wearing no-show socks inside your shoes. These can help to stop the friction and heel rubbing but also look as if you have bare feet inside your shoes.
No-show socks also have the added bonus of helping to cut down on foot odor in your sneakers so it is a win-win solution.
Wear a Vans Ankle Guard
Vans shoes are of course the original skateboarding shoes so I thought I would also mention this next solution which helps if your heels and ankles are hurting when you are on your board.
An ankle guard is a device that protects the back of your ankle from skateboards hitting it as well as things like bike pedals causing a problem.
They usually have some padding that protects the foot from injury and helps prevent bruising or foot pain. Generally, these are worn only when you are playing your chosen sport and not for everyday wear.
Vans Slip-On Blisters Solutions
Why do Vans hurt the back of my foot?
Well if your new Vans shoes are hurting your feet have a look to see if the back of the shoes has any seams or stitching that could be rubbing your ankle or Achilles Tendon.
Remember that everyone has slightly different shaped feet so what may be comfortable for one person may cause foot pain for another.
To solve the problem you can either put moleskin adhesive tape over the problem area to stop the seams hurting your heels.
Alternatively, use foot glide or petroleum jelly on the back of your ankle to help reduce the friction. This should allow movement inside your footwear but reduce friction which creates pain.
Vans Hurt My Heels – Do You Have An existing Foot Problem?
Wearing Vans shoes or indeed any new shoes is going to be more of a problem if you have an existing foot problem.
For example, plantar fasciitis often causes heel pain and discomfort especially when you stand on your foot after sitting down for a while.
The fact is that Vans are not what I would call a supportive shoe and lack good arch support because of their flat bottom. They also don’t have brilliant cushioning for shock absorption. This isn’t because they are bad shoes but simply because they are skateboarding shoes that have become fashionable.
If you have an existing foot problem then you may need to use additional insoles or orthotics to give you more support or cushioning. I use orthotics in most of my shoes and they make a massive difference to my plantar fasciitis.
Stop Vans Blisters – Sweaty Feet Solutions
Why do Vans hurt the back of my foot? Well if you have sweaty feet as I mentioned earlier your move around more in your shoes because of the moisture and that creates friction.
To solve the problem you need to keep your feet dry throughout the day. Socks and foot powder are one way to help eliminate sweat. Alternatively, use my favorite Carpe Antiperspirant Foot Lotion which is a miracle worker when it comes to stopping sweaty feet.
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