Just picked up a pair of leather oxfords for work and they're killing my heels after a few hours. I've tried wearing them around the house but the blisters are still happening. What actually works - stretching spray, thick socks, or should I just tough it out for a week?
Don't tough it out - that's how you end up with raw bleeding heels and a pair of shoes you'll dread wearing. The stretching spray alone won't cut it if they're genuinely stiff; I learned this the hard way with a pair of work boots that sat unworn in my closet for months because I'd damaged my feet trying to break them in. What actually works is combining a few things: wear them with thick socks or moleskin patches on your heels for short 30-minute sessions around the house, then gradually increase the time as they soften. A leather conditioner or mink oil rubbed into the heel counter overnight can make a real difference too, and if you're desperate, a cobbler can sometimes stretch the heel cup specifically - worth the $20 or so rather than limping through a month of pain.
Leather actually softens faster if you condition it with mink oil or leather balm before wearing them, not after - it penetrates the fibers and makes them more pliable from the start. Beyond that, the real hack is moleskin or blister prevention tape on your heels *before* you wear them, not waiting until you feel pain, combined with wearing them for short stretches (like an hour at a time) rather than all day at once.
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