Why Are Leather Shoes Uncomfortable? (9 Reasons Plus Fix)

Why Are Leather Shoes Uncomfortable

Leather shoes can be uncomfortable for many reasons. One of the main reasons why a pair of leather shoes may be uncomfortable may be because it has not been broken in. Also, if the leather shoe is not the right size, it may be uncomfortable.

There are a lot more reasons why leather shoes may be uncomfortable and in the rest of this article, we will talk about them.

1. The Leather Shoes May Have Not Been Broken-In

When leather shoes are new they tend to be stiff and can be uncomfortable to wear. This is because new leather must be broken into when they are new.

So what is breaking in? Breaking in leather shoes is a process that softens the leather and makes them more comfortable.

Leather shoes that have been broken into will be comfortable to wear because leather shoes that are broken in will be molded according to the sharpness of your feet and will not be hurting.

This now begs the question “how do you break in leather shoes”? There are several ways to break in your leather shoes. One of the easiest ways is to continually wear your leather shoes because the more you wear them, the softer they will become.

Another way to break in your leather shoes is by using a shoe stretcher, this is a device that will stretch your leather shoes and make them more comfortable.

All in all, one of the reasons why your leather shoes may feel uncomfortable to wear will be due to the fact that they have not been broken in.

2. The Leather May Be Of Poor Quality

Paying for a pair of leather shoes is an investment because you want them to last as long as possible, so when it comes to buying leather shoes it is important to choose a pair of leather shoes that are made from high-quality materials.

Generally, you will not be able to equate the premium-quality feel of real leather shoes to that of faux or synthetic leather shoes.

There are many reasons why real leather feels better than faux or synthetic leather, but one of the main reasons is that it will be more durable.

Another reason why real leather shoes will be more comfortable than faux or synthetic leather is that it tends to mold better and this means that the shoe’s fit will be better.

Also, shoes made from real leather will usually allow good ventilation due to the pores that are in the leather – faux and synthetic shoes will not have this.

The bottom line is, when you buy leather shoes it is important to choose a pair of high-quality materials because not doing so may lead to buying a pair of shoes that will be uncomfortable and not high-quality.

3. Brand Of Leather Shoes

Some brands of leather shoes are generally known to be a lot more comfortable than others. For example, leather shoe brands like Allen Edmonds and Red Wing tend to make comfortable leather shoes.

This is because these two brands of leather shoemakers use high-quality materials, take the time to handcraft certain important parts of the leather shoe, and are known for making comfortable leather shoes.

On the other hand, there are that tend to cut corners when crafting their leather shoes and use cheaper quality materials that don’t last as long.

This is why certain brands of leather shoes are more comfortable than others, it comes down to the quality and craftsmanship that goes into making them.

4. The Leather Shoe May Not Be The Right Size

Another reason why your leather shoes may not be comfortable to wear is that they are not the right size. If you have leather shoes that are too small or too big then they will not be comfortable to wear.

If your leather shoes are too small, they may put pressure on the foot and will be uncomfortable to wear.

On the other hand, if your leather shoes are too big then they will feel loose and not provide much support for your feet.

Both of these scenarios are examples of why it may not be comfortable to wear leather shoes that don’t fit you properly.

Usually, the best option is to get proper measurements of your feet and then go to a shoe store that has knowledgeable staff.

You can as well get a professional to take the measurement of your feet so that you buy a pair of leather shoes that fit you properly.

If this is not possible, the next best option will be to try on a pair of leather shoes and see how they feel before buying them. Meaning purchasing leather shoes online may not be a very good idea.

This way you can get fitted for the perfect pair of leather shoes that will be comfortable for you to wear.

5. There Is A Lack of Support In The Footbeds or Heels For Your Feet

The next reason I will like to take about is your leather shoes may be uncomfortable due to the lack of support in either the footbeds or heels.

The heel and the footbed of the leather shoes are very important parts of the shoe because they provide you with much-needed support for your feet.

This is why it is important that you have leather shoes with footbeds and heels that are made out of high-quality materials, fit properly on your feet, and are comfortable to wear.

If your leather shoes do not have footbeds and heels that provide much-needed support for your feet, then they will likely be very uncomfortable for you to wear.

Once again, the solution is going either to get a proper fitting from a shoe store that has knowledgeable staff or buy a pair of leather shoes and try them on before making the final purchase.

If you do not have access to either one of these, then you can request that the shoe store provide a return policy.

This way if your leather shoes do not feel comfortable when wearing them, you can return them and try a different pair.

6. The Way You Wear The Leather Shoes

Leather shoes may be uncomfortable depending on the way you wear them. This is because the way you wear your leather shoes will have a lot of impact on how comfortable they feel to put on.

For example, wearing your leather shoes without socks will have a lot of impact on the way they feel. This is because if you wear them without socks, the leather will rub against your feet and cause discomfort.

Another example is wearing a pair of leather shoes that are too small or big for you. If you have a pair of leather shoes that are either too small or big for your feet, it will cause discomfort and pain on your feet.

Not only this but wearing leather shoes that are too tight can also be uncomfortable for you to wear and could cause pain in your feet. This is a big reason why you should not buy leather shoes that do not fit properly.

The best thing to do in this case would be to get the appropriate size of leather shoes to wear and make sure that you have socks on when wearing them.

If this is not possible, then try wearing your leather shoes without socks and see how they feel. If you do not like the way it feels, then this may be a good indication that your leather shoes are too small for you.

7. People With Sensitive Feet Tend To Find Leather Uncomfortable

People with very sensitive feet tend to find leather shoes uncomfortable. This is because people who have sensitive feet usually find that their feet get very hot in leather shoes, and this can even cause their feet to sweat too much.

This is why it is important for people with sensitive feet to wear leather shoes that are made out of materials that are breathable and lightweight.

This way their feet will breathe enough to prevent them from getting too hot, sweaty, or uncomfortable.

Another thing that people with sensitive feet can do is wear their leather shoes without socks. This way their feet do not get too hot in the leather shoes and they will be more comfortable to wear.

If this is not possible, then try applying antiperspirant to your feet before putting on your leather shoes. This can help you prevent sweaty and uncomfortable feet from happening when wearing a pair of leather shoes.

8. The Shoes May Have A Poor Design or Shape For The Foot

You may find that some shoes are uncomfortable due to a poor design or shape. This is because if your leather shoes have an uncomfortable design, they will not fit properly on the feet and cause discomfort.

The solution here is to find a pair of leather shoes that have an appropriate design for your feet. This way they can be comfortable and fit properly.

Another thing to look for in this case is the shape of your leather shoes. If you have a pair of leather shoes that do not have the appropriate shape for your feet, then they will not fit properly and this can cause discomfort when wearing them.

The best thing to do in this case is to find leather shoes that have the appropriate design and shape for your feet.

9. The Leather Shoes May Have a Poor Arch Support

Last but not the least, the leather shoes may have poor arch support. This is because the arch support of leather shoes is usually very hard and stiff in many cases.

This can cause discomfort when wearing your leather shoes since the arch support will not be comfortable.

The solution here is to find leather shoes that have an adjustable or removable insole, so you can remove the arch support of your leather shoes.

This way you can make sure that the arch support of your leather shoes is comfortable for you to wear, and it will be more comfortable to walk in them.

Another thing you can do is look for leather shoes that have a removable or adjustable strap on the back of the shoes. This will allow you to adjust your leather shoes, so they do not slip off when walking in them and cause discomfort.

How To Make Your Leather Shoes More Comfortable

If your leather shoes feel uncomfortable you do not need to toss them out. You can make your leather shoes more comfortable by doing the following things:

Wear The Leather Shoes Regularly

This is the most important thing that you can do to make your leather shoes more comfortable.

Wearing your leather shoes regularly so they can stretch out and conform to the shape of your feet.

This will make the leather shoes feel more comfortable when wearing them.

It is also important to wear your leather shoes for short periods of time at first and then gradually increase the time you wear them.

Wear Socks With Your Leather Shoes

This will allow your leather shoes to not feel as tight and uncomfortable on the feet.

Not only that but wearing cotton socks tend to make your feet feel more comfortable when wearing leather shoes.

Another thing you can do is wear thin socks if your leather shoes are too tight on your feet.

Clean And Condition The Leather Shoes Regularly

To prevent your leather shoes from feeling uncomfortable you should clean and condition them regularly. Doing this will make the leather shoes supple. This is especially true if the leather of your shoes is not in the best condition.

This is because if your leather shoes are in poor shape, it will feel tight and uncomfortable on the feet when you put them on.

Conditioning your leather shoes will soften the surface of them, so they do not feel as tight and uncomfortable when you put them on.

Apply Antiperspirant To Your Feet

This will prevent your feet from getting sweaty and uncomfortable when wearing leather shoes. This can cause you to feel like the leather shoes are too tight on your feet.

Apply antiperspirant to the bottom of your feet before putting on leather shoes, and this will help prevent sweaty or uncomfortable feet from happening.

Try Adjusting Your Leather Shoes

You can make your leather shoes more comfortable by adjusting them to fit better on the feet.

Adjusting your leather shoes will help prevent them from feeling too tight or uncomfortable when wearing them.

You can make the back strap or laces on the leather shoe looser or tighter to help adjust them better on your feet.

Make Sure You Have The Appropriate Size Of Leather Shoes

If you have leather shoes that are too big or small for your feet, then they will not fit properly and this can cause discomfort when wearing them.

Finding a pair of leather shoes that have the appropriate size for your feet will keep them from slipping off and causing discomfort.

Make Sure You’re Comfortable With The Leather Shoe Design You Pick Up

When on the market for leather shoes, make sure you’re comfortable with the design of leather shoes that you pick up.

If your leather shoes do not have an appropriate design for your feet, then they will not fit properly and this can cause discomfort when wearing them.

FAQ’s

Q: Do leather shoes get more comfortable?

A: Yes, leather shoes can become more comfortable the more you wear them. Also, the more you clean and condition the leather shoe, the more comfortable they will feel.

Q: Why do leather shoes hurt my feet?

A: Leather shoes can cause your feet to hurt for many different reasons. One reason is that the leather shoe may have poor arch support, which will cause your feet to hurt. Another reason is that the leather shoes may be too tight on your feet, which can also cause them to hurt.

Q: Are leather shoes supposed to be tight?

A: No, leather shoes should not fit too tight on your feet. Leather shoes that are too tight can cause discomfort when wearing them and this will be uncomfortable.

Q: Are leather shoes supposed to be uncomfortable?

A: Leather shoes that are new will feel uncomfortable at first, but they will eventually break in and become more comfortable with time.

Q: Can I stretch my leather shoes?

A: Yes, you can stretch leather shoes. One way to do this is by wearing thick socks with leather shoes very frequently. Another way to stretch your leather shoes is by adding a shoe stretcher into the leather shoes when they feel too tight on your feet.

Q: Will leather shoes Stretch?

A: Leather shoes will stretch if you wear them frequently or if you add a shoe stretcher into the leather shoes when they feel too tight on your feet.

Q: How long do leather shoes take to break in?

A: Generally, some leather shoes may take 3-4 wears to break in while other may take a little bit longer. If you have a pair of leather shoes that are very tight on your feet, it may take a lot longer for them to break in.

Q: How do I get leather shoes to fit better?

A: One way you can get your leather shoes to fit better is by adjusting them to fit better on the feet. This will help prevent your leather shoes from feeling too tight or uncomfortable when wearing them.

Q: How to make new shoes not hurt?

A: One way to make your new leather shoes less hurt is by adding a shoe stretcher into the leather shoes when they feel too tight on your feet. Another way to make your new leather shoes less hurt is by wearing thick socks with the leather shoes very freqently.

Q: How do I make my leather shoes softer?

A: One way to make your leather shoes softer is by conditioning it regularly.

Q: How do you break in hard leather shoes?

A: You can break in hard leather shoes by wearing them frequently. If the leather shoes are too tight on your feet, you may want to add a shoe stretcher into the leather shoes when they feel too tight on your feet.

Q: Should leather boots be tight at first?

A: No, leather boots should not be too tight at first. Leather boots that are too tight can cause discomfort when wearing them and this will be uncomfortable for the feet. You would want to make sure your leather boots are the perfect size so that you’re able to walk around in them without any discomfort.

Kwabena

Hi! I’m Kwabena, the owner and founder of Favored Leather. I’m a huge Leathercraft enthusiast and I’ve been that for almost 13 years now. I'm excited to share my experiences and all the new stuff I learn each day about leather craft, leather cleaning & care, and everything in-between!

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