Footwear advice
Signs your shoes do not fit — and what to do about it
"They just need breaking in" is true of stiff leather and false of almost everything else. A shoe that is the wrong length or width does not become the right one with wear — it just hurts for longer. Here is how to tell which you have.
4 min readUpdated By the team at Raja Footwear, Waidhan
Blisters on the heel
Your heel is lifting as you walk. Usually the shoe is too long, so your foot slides forward and back inside it. Occasionally the heel counter is simply too wide for a narrow heel.
Try half a size down before anything else. If the length is clearly right, a heel grip pad or lacing that locks the ankle will often fix it.
Numbness or tingling across the toes
The shoe is too narrow across the ball of the foot, not too short. Going up in length will not help and usually makes the heel slip as well — you need a wider fitting.
This is the most common fitting mistake, because people read pain at the front as "too small" and buy longer.
Bruised or blackened toenails
Your toes are hitting the end, usually going downhill or when the shoe is laced too loosely. You need more length, or tighter lacing over the instep to stop the foot sliding forward.
Arch or foot ache after standing all day
Often not a sizing problem at all — the sole has lost its cushioning, or never had any. Shoes have a working life; once the midsole compresses, no amount of fit adjustment brings the support back.
A cushioned insole helps. A pair built for standing helps more; ask us for the comfort range.
What actually needs breaking in
Stiff leather uppers soften and mould to your foot over a couple of weeks — that is real. Length, width and heel fit do not change. If the shoe is the wrong shape for your foot on day one, it will be the wrong shape on day fifty.
Get measured properly
Feet change through adult life — they get longer and wider with age, and after pregnancy. The size you wore at twenty is not necessarily the size you wear now. Measure both feet, fit to the larger one, and try shoes on in the evening when your feet are at their largest.