Doc martins have been a super popular brand for shoes and boots, known worldwide for their quality and unique designs. In the past 10 years the vegan leather range have really become sought after because of the change of lifestyle (turning to vegan) for many people.
Here Is Why Vegan Leather Doc Markets Are Tight To Wear At First:
Vegan leather is made from plastic so it is not as breathable as normal leather, so there are some tricks you need to do to break in a pair of PU Leather Docs (to make them more comfortable for you to wear. Some of these include a hairdryer method, wearing them a lot to break them in, wear thicker socks, shoe stretchers and shoe spray, and lastly the newspaper method.
We will explain further why leather docs are tight to wear at first, and then go through the 7 ways you can stretch them in to make them super comfortable for you to wear.
Why Are Vegan Leather Doc Markets Tight to Wear at First?
The material of the shoes has a lot to do with it. Vegan leather is a very different material from genuine leather. It’s almost always made from plastic, and it is often not very breathable.
While genuine leather can breathe, plastic does not, so your feet will get even hotter than they would if you were wearing regular shoes. The reason that leather shoes are tight to wear at first isn’t just about your feet. It’s about how the shoe fits your foot. Leather stretches and conforms to the shape of your foot over time, so when you’re breaking in a new pair of Docs, they might feel too tight because they haven’t had time to stretch yet.
Other thing to consider is that Doc Martens are designed to fit snugly on your feet. They’re not supposed to be loose and floppy! They’re supposed to fit like a sock or a glove so that they stay on your feet easily when you’re moving around.
If you have wide feet or high arches, you may need to buy bigger Doc Martens than you usually would. This can help ensure that they don’t feel too tight when you first wear them. Here is why vegan leather doc markets are tight to wear at first:
• Vegan leather is a hard material: It’s not soft and malleable like natural leather. It may also be thicker than genuine leather, making it uncomfortable to wear at first.
• The Break-In Period: Just like new regular leather shoes, vegan leather shoes will be tight to wear at first. It is entirely normal for vegan leather shoes to be stiff when you rather wear them. This is due to the materials used and how they were made.
• Stiffness: The stiffness of vegan leather can be an excellent attribute for specific items, like wallets, because the wallet will keep its shape longer. But for clothing items such as shoes or jackets until the leather breaks in and becomes more malleable.
• Vegan Leather Is A Hard Material: This makes sense when you think about it. Animals are soft and flexible, but their skin used to make leather shoes is not. The same thing goes for vegan leather. The material itself is complex, making the initial break-in period something that must be endured.
Ways to Stretch Vegan Leather Doc Markets
Vegan leather, or faux leather, is a material that mimics the look and feel of natural animal hide. It is made from polyurethane, either as fabric or in a molded form, containing other synthetic materials.
Vegan leather is an inexpensive substitute for genuine leather but has many properties as traditional leather. It stretches easily and changes shape over time due to wear and tear. If your vegan leather Docs have lost their shape or are too tight in certain areas, you can stretch them out with some everyday household items. Here are ways to stretch vegan leather Doc markets.
Hairdryer Method
The hairdryer method is the easiest way to stretch new Vegan Leather, Doc Martens. The heat from the hair dryer softens the leather and allows the foot to break in the shoe easily.
The process takes about 10 minutes, and it works on both the upper and the sole of the shoe. This method is excellent for light stretching, but it is not advisable for more significant stretches. It can cause color bleeding when done on dark-colored leather and damage some types of vegan leather if done repeatedly. Here are the steps to follow on the hairdryer method:
• Place your Dr. Martens on the floor and ensure that the laces are untied.
• Turn your hairdryer on to medium heat, then place it 6-12 inches away from the shoe.
• Aim the hairdryer at the tongue of the shoe, then turn it in a circular motion as you move around the entire foot of the shoe until all areas are loosened up and warm.
• Put both feet into your Dr. Martens and lace them up tightly, making sure to put all pressure on your feet evenly throughout the shoe (especially around the toe area).
• Walk around in your shoes for 5 minutes while they’re still warm so they can mold to your feet more efficiently, then tie them loosely when you’re done and leave them on for a few hours so they can get used to your foot shape more comfortably.
With each method, it’s essential to keep in mind that vegan leather is a very stiff material and will take a while to break in. If you’re looking for some more instant gratification, you may want to try on some softer vegan leather boots (and if they feel comfortable straight out of the box, they’re probably the right size).
Wear Them In
If you’re wearing a brand new pair of Doc Martens, you’ll probably find that they feel very stiff and uncomfortable at first. This is because the leather needs to be broken in before it becomes soft and flexible. You can wear your Docs every day until they are broken in, or you can help speed up the process by using one of these methods.
The best way to break in your Docs is to wear them. Wear them for short periods each day and slowly build on them until you can wear them for several hours at a time. Your shoes might feel a bit uncomfortable for the first few days, but eventually, the leather will soften and mold to your feet, making them more comfortable.
Shoe Stretchers
The easiest way to stretch out leather shoes is to wear them while still slightly stiff. After a hot shower, the best way to do this is when your feet are at their biggest. If you don’t have time for a full battery, some warm water and a little soap will do the trick.
Wear two pairs of socks: one thin and one thick. Put the shoes on with the thick socks and stomp around the house, preferably on carpeting or another soft surface. This will help break down the leather faster and make it much more comfortable.
If you have time, wear them walking around the house for anywhere from an hour to three hours. If you don’t have that luxury, try putting your shoes in front of a heater for about an hour before putting them on with your sock combo.
Shoe Spray
The key to stretching out any shoe is by applying anything to make the shoe material expand. Most people would suggest using mink oil or some leather stretch spray, but I find that regular hair spray works just as well and is much less expensive!
Spray a generous amount of hair spray all over the inside of the boot and wear them around the house immediately after while they are still wet. This should give you enough room to zip up your boot and wear them comfortably.
Wear Thick Socks
If you have a pair of boots that fit well but are a little loose, the trick to getting them to stay on is to wear thick socks. This is especially important if you’re going to be hiking or walking around all day.
Cotton socks tend to get wet and soggy, which will make your feet slide around in your boots. You can get socks made with synthetic blend materials that will stay dry longer and help your feet stay in place.
If you’re wearing thin socks, there’s another solution: You can pull off wearing two pairs of socks at once if one of them is light enough. (This is a favorite trick of runners.) The two thin layers will keep your boot snug without making it too tight. If you don’t have any extra thin socks lying around, you can also go for a taller sock that comes up over the low part of the boot – this will make sure your feet aren’t sliding around inside.
Rub Balm Conditioner Inside Boot
The best way to stretch vegan leather boots is to rub balm conditioner inside the boot. This will help the leather stretch out slightly, making it easier to slide your foot in. Balm conditioner is a dirty word today.
It makes you think of your grandfather sitting on a chair, slowly rubbing his boots before putting them on his feet. But the truth is that there are a lot of benefits to keeping your leather boots conditioned and polished. For one, you can use a balm conditioner to stretch out your tight vegan leather boots.
Rub Balm Conditioner once a month. This stuff is fantastic! Just rub it on the inside of your shoes and let them sit overnight (you can even use it on the outside). If you’re in an arid climate zone, you may have to do this more frequently.
Newspaper Method
The newspaper method is one of the oldest and most widely used products stretching vegan leather. The process is simple and easy, but it does take some time to complete. Here are the steps of trying vegan leather with the newspaper method:
• All you need to do is take two or three sheets of newspaper and scrunch them up, then lay them on top of the leather you want to stretch.
• Make sure that the papers are smoothed out over the entire surface of the leather so that there are no wrinkles or bumps.
• The next step is to gently rub the papers into the leather with your fingertips, moving in small circles, for about 5 minutes.
• Remove the papers and repeat this process until you have achieved the desired amount of stretching (which may be as few as three times or as many as ten).
