Sure, Converse shoes can last for years, but they can be tough on your feet in the beginning. In fact, many Chuck Taylor wearers find ways to loosen them.
Here’s what we found to be the best way to break into new Converse shoes:
The quickest and easiest way to break into your new Converse is to bend them repeatedly. Hold the toe box on one hand and the heel cup on the other, then slowly bend the shoe to form a “V” shape. Repeat the steps for the other shoe.
Additionally, wearing your Chucks for short periods, but often, can loosen them quicker.
We will also share with you the hair dryer trick. In this post, let’s talk about the smart hacks on how to break into your new Converse shoes as fast as possible.
How Long Does it Take to Break into Converse?
According to Converse, their shoes are made with gum rubber soles, cured by the process of vulcanization. This allows the shoes to be more durable than the average sneaker.
However, this can also mean that they are tougher in the beginning. So, how long does it take to break into Converse?
It can take between 2 to 4 weeks of regular use to stretch your Converse and break into them. Because Converse has gum rubber soles, you may need up to one month to get used to them, especially if you are used to wearing cushioned sneakers with arch support.
Fortunately, there are easy ways to break into your Converse quickly.
But remember, if you are planning to buy a new pair of Chuck Taylors, buy the right size.
Breaking into a new pair of Converse shoes will be useless because canvas shoes that are too tight or too loose will never fit your feet properly.
How to Break In Converse Shoes Quickly
Sure, it can take up to a month before breaking into your Converse, but there are smart hacks to soften them quickly. Here are 3 ways to break into a new Converse:
1. Wear Your Converse Often For Short Periods
So you got a new pair of Converse out of the shoe box.
While you can get excited and want to treat it as carefully as possible, it’s wise to wear them for short periods of time before going out in your new Converse for a full day.
A good tip to try is to wear them around your house before going outside. That way, you can easily take them off once your feet start to hurt or experience discomfort.
While this tip is simple, many Converse wearers have never thought of doing this.
Indeed, it’s very easy to do, but the results can be the difference between a pleasant day with your Chuck Taylors or gruesome pain caused by the blisters.
Moreover, you can wear thick socks to add some distance between your feet and the canvas of the shoes. After a month, your Converse should stretch slightly and become comfier.
Remember, if you wear your Converse often, it gets much more comfortable over time.
2. Apply Hairdryer to Expand the Canvas
The second tip is to apply a hairdryer to the shoes.
The goal is to allow the heat from the hairdryer to expand the material.
No matter the material, whether they are canvas or leather, the heat from the hairdryer can make any pair of Chucks more comfortable once the material expands.
Here are the steps for the hairdryer method:
- Before applying heat, wear thick socks. Wearing thick socks will protect your feet from the heat. There’s no harm in taking extra precautions, even though the heat from a hair dryer is not enough to burn you.
- Tie your Converse loosely. Shoes are meant to fit fairly loosely, not overly tight. By tying the laces of your Chucks slightly loose, you give the shoes a chance to expand.
- Apply medium heat directly to the Converse shoes. Aim the nozzle at areas that are prone to rubbing like the toe box, ankle lines, and heel lines. Continue until your shoes become warm and soft.
- Walk around in your warm Converse until they cool off. Don’t be afraid to jog around and bounce lightly. Movements like these can help loosen the shoes faster.
If your Converse still feels tight, repeat the steps above.
In fact, we’ve found that repeating the hairdryer method 3 times makes a huge difference afterward. Additionally, you can heat your Converse with a hairdryer once every other day until you find comfort in them.
3. Bend the Shoes to Loosen Them
Thanks to the gum rubber soles, Converse shoes are durable and last a long time. Because of this, don’t be afraid to give them a little bit of “tough love” by bending them.
To bend your Converse, hold the toe box on one hand, and the heel cup on the other hand.
Next, gently bend the shoe. Your goal is to make a “V” shape. Just like stretching your muscles before doing exercise, you can loosen the shoes by bending them repeatedly.
It’s safe to bend your Converse a few times per day, especially before wearing them. By bending and wearing them often, you should break into your new Converse in no time.
Keep in mind that all of the tips we’ve shared above can be used together.
So before going out in your Converse shoes, take 5 to 10 minutes to bend them repeatedly. You should also aim to wear them as often as possible and apply heat to loosen the canvas.
Keep Converse Shoes Properly With Shoe Trees
In addition to the three simple hacks above, it’s always good practice to keep your Converse shoes properly by using shoe trees.
Shoe trees are foot-shaped devices that are inserted into shoes to reduce moisture and help hold their shape when they’re not being worn.
High-quality shoe trees, like the ones above, are made of cedarwood, which is a material that naturally deodorizes and masks bad odors that make your shoes unpleasant
By using shoe trees, not only will your Converse shoes have a longer life, but you will be able to break into the shoes faster since the canvas materials are constantly “stretched”.
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Bottom Line
Now you know the “secret” on how to break into new Converse shoes faster.
Converse shoes can cause discomfort when they are brand new out of the box. However, you can break into your new Chuck Taylor by applying the easy hacks we have shared above. Hopefully, you can walk around in your Converse shoes with a smile on your face.