How to Make Business Shoes More Comfortable
Is there anyone out there in the real world who can wear men’s business shoes without experiencing at least some level of discomfort in them, even if it’s only temporary?
Very new shoes need to be “worn in” it’s true, but many formal styles of men’s business and dress shoes remain stiff and uncomfortable, particularly for those who are more used to wearing sneakers or loafers.
How, then, can we make Oxfords, Brogues, and similar styles more comfortable?
5 Practical Ways To Make Your Business Shoes More Comfortable:
1. Adding Insoles
Insoles come in many different forms. Some of them are very plain and just add a cushioned layer to the bottom and help your feet fit in more snugly to stop rubbing and irritation.
Others are created with a bit more purpose such as orthotic inserts that help combat various balance, joint and pain problems that one might be experiencing.
What both of these insole types have in common is that they help shoes fit more precisely, and that’s especially important for business shoes and other formal dress shoes for men.
The harder materials and more solid construction make these shoes somewhat less flexible and less able to mold themselves around your foot. Insoles help to plug any gaps.
2. Stretching the Shoes
This one sounds a bit silly to some, but it really works and helps with formal shoes that are incredibly stiff and unyielding when you buy them new.
After you’ve worn formal shoes for some time, you start to notice that they’re actually more comfortable, easier to put on and take off, and you even start to enjoy wearing them. Getting to that point takes time, however.
Nearly all new business shoes need breaking in, but some need a more aggressive approach than others.
Shoe stretchers can be left in shoes overnight to help loosen the shoe and help you wear it more comfortably sooner. They’re especially useful for people with broad feet who find new business shoes very constricting.
3. Wearing Different Socks
Similar to the help that insoles can provide, you can also help create a better fit between your feet and your business shoes if you wear the right kind of socks. If the shoes feel a little loose anywhere on your foot, you can wear thicker socks to help plug that gap and create a snugger fit. Conversely, if they are too tight, you can consider wearing thinner socks to help.
Socks are very helpful when the degree of looseness or tightness is very low and therefore having insoles wouldn’t help because it might send it too much the wrong way.
4. Using Leather Conditioner
Next, when it comes to cleaning your leather shoes, consider using a leather conditioner rather than just regular polish. These conditioners can help to soften your shoe leather, which ultimately helps it to conform better to the contours of your feet, making them more comfortable to wear.
Don’t overdo it with the conditioner, however, and be sure to get the right kind. Some people mistakenly use things like saddle soap to condition their leather shoes, which doesn’t work in the same way.
5. Wearing Them In Properly
Finally, as we’ve mentioned already, new formal and business shoes are often very stiff and need breaking in before they become comfortable. But if wearing them all day at the office is going to hurt one’s feet, what’s the point? To break these shoes in, you need to wear them for short periods of time each day and walk around with them on.
You could wear them while you do simple errands that won’t take you more than an hour. This ensures a good breaking-in process, which can take about 3-4 weeks in total.
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