How to Break in Vans? | 7 Easiest Ways!

How to Break in Vans?

Do your new pair of Vans feel snug on your feet? Are they too tight even if you bought the correct size? Don’t worry then. This article has the solution to your problems. New pairs of Vans are usually stiff, and that’s why they need to break in. There are numerous methods and procedures to break in Vans easily and quickly. 

In this article, you will get to know how to break in Vans. You can stretch your shoes with homemade equipment and stuff. 

Why Do You Need to Break in Vans?

You may have minor injuries, blisters, and aching feet if you walk or run in your new Vans without first breaking them in. The new shoes have a lot of stiffness to them. It takes time for the materials to soften and become comfy. You may get toe pain if your toes brush against the top of your shoe. Onychomycosis and bunions can be caused by wearing tight shoes. Vans sneakers must be broken in to eliminate these issues.

How Long Does It Take to Break In Vans?

Vans are typically composed of canvas uppers with rubberized bottoms, which is the primary reason for their stretching and breaking out after only a few days of use. Some Vans are made of suede as well. Usually, suede shoes take less time to break in than canvas shoes. Vans Authentic are easier to break in than Vans Slip-Ons. The break-in period of Vans is less than two weeks. 

How to Break in Vans?

Here are 7 ways of to break in Vans.

1. Wear Your Shoes

If you’re wondering how to quickly break in your running vans shoes, try putting them on inside your house and walking slowly for a few minutes. For two weeks, do these at least once a day. You can run in your shoes once you feel comfortable with them. If you have blisters, try the ways for breaking in Vans shoes that don’t need you to wear them. Tie the lace-up styles around your foot to a comfortable fit. If you experience any irritation or rubbing, remove the shoe right away.

2. Bend Your Shoes

How to Break in Vans? | 7 Easiest Ways!

Vans stretch more rapidly when twisted and bent because they have an outsole (waffle) and an insole (rubber). This process also assists in the canvas’s fast stretching.

Step-by-step instructions for flexing and appropriately bending vans:

  • In one hand, grab the toe of the Vans and the heels in the other.
  • Flex the shoe inwards till a “U” shape appear, or you can squeeze the two ends together until resistance is felt; this will assist the soles in conforming to your feet’s arches.
  • Folding your Vans on a regular basis can assist in extending their sides and toes swiftly.
  • The third approach to stretch them is to hold the toe as well as the heel and stretch them horizontally.

Replace one shoe with the other and repeat the instructions.

3. Chunky Socks

A typical approach for breaking in Vans shoes is to wear chunky socks. These socks keep your foot from hurting, even if your new running shoes are uncomfortable.

Note: Don’t worry if you don’t have thick socks. Despite wearing one pair of thick socks, you may wear two thick pair of socks.

4. Use a Hairdryer

  • Warm the backsides of your Vans shoes, as well as any other sore spots, with a hairdryer on medium heat until comfortable and warm. 
  • Put on your Vans and move around until the vans are cooled. Wearing thick socks is a necessity here.
  • This process softens the shoes to the form of your foot for a much more added comfort. The more time you spend wearing your Vans shoes, the better!

If you don’t have access to a hairdryer, you can leave your shoes out in the hot sun or use a room heater.

How to Break in Vans? | 7 Easiest Ways!

5. Freeze your Vans

This approach can be used to stretch your running shoes.

  • You’ll need three Ziploc bags. Fill one Ziploc bag halfway with water and seal it with another Ziploc bag.
  • Place the water-filled bag in the portion of your shoes where you develop blisters and feel tight.
  • Place your running shoes in a second Ziploc bag and store them in the refrigerator.
  • Take the shoes out of the fridge after a few hours (3-4 hours).
  • Remove the ice-filled bag that has been converted from a water-filled bag.
  • When the shoes have totally dried, you can put them on.
How to Break in Vans? | 7 Easiest Ways!
Ziploc bag

Warning: Take care not to allow water to enter your shoes directly. As a result, utilizing two Ziploc bags inside the shoes is recommended in this procedure.

6. Alternate New and Old Vans

Even if you buy new Vans, keep your old ones. Wear old Vans in the evening if you wear new Vans shoes in the morning, or wear new shoes one day and old shoes in the next. You can apply this method even if your old shoes are not Vans.

You can also check our guide on breaking in Converse

7. Peeled Potato Trick

Begin by peeling a potato properly. Form the potato into a form that closely resembles your running shoes. Then stuff it into your shoes for the rest of the night.

This method will not only extend your shoes, but will also help to eliminate odor.

8. Vans Shoes Loosened with Steam

We’ll apply steam to the Vans for 3 to 5 minutes in this manner. You should take steps to avoid getting your flesh burnt. You should wear a pair of gloves to protect your hands.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started:

  • Bring a pot of water and boil it, then remove the top cover from the kettle.
  • Hold your Vans over the steam for 3 to 5 minutes.
  • The fibers in your shoes expand as a result of the steam, allowing you to stretch them to fit your feet. Steam will loosen the fabric (cloth) material in the Vans.
  • After doing this process, the Vans for 3 to 5 minutes, put them on, and expand the feet till you feel the vans have been flexible around the regions where you felt tight and unpleasant.

These are some of the best ways to break in Vans.

If interested, please check our guide, how to break in nike air force 1?

How to Break in Vans? | 7 Easiest Ways!

How to Stretch Out Vans?

Buy a Shoe Stretcher

How to Break in Vans? | 7 Easiest Ways!
  • To begin, crank the widening handle anti-clockwise to minimize the breadth of the toe block.
  • You’ll then want to make sure the heel block is as near to the toe block as feasible in order for it to fit inside your shoe.
  • Finally, you might choose to place the bunion plugs in one of the 12 drill holes surrounding the toe block.
  • Insert the stretcher into the Vans with care. Ensure that the heel block’s flat end is pointing upwards. Simply spin the extending wheel clockwise to lengthen the shoe. Give it three more revolutions once you feel it growing snug.
  • When widening the shoe, crank the widening handle clockwise until it is snug, just like when extending it.
  • Wait six to eight hours for the shoe stretcher to do its work.
  • Rotate the wheel anti-clockwise to remove the shoe stretcher.

Stuffing the Vans

Vans may be stretched by stuffing them with firmly packed newspaper, socks, or moist towels. You may leave the shoes to expand overnight, then retrieve the packed materials once they’ve done their work in the morning.

Wrap the socks securely to ensure that the canvas shoes’ toes have a decent break overnight.

Apply Shoe Stretch Spray

There are several shoe stretch sprays on the market that works very well in terms of stretching shoes. Follow these below steps: 

• Spray this inside your vans before putting them on.

• Go for a walk for no more than thirty minutes. The stretch spray loosens the shoe’s material and makes it comfier.

Note: If you don’t want to spend money on shoe stretch spray, you may stretch your shoes using water and rubbing alcohol. Fifty percent rubbing alcohol, 50 percent water (50 percent). Apply this solution to the areas of your shoes that are tight.

How to Break in Vans Slip-On?

How to Break in Vans? | 7 Easiest Ways!

A low-profile canvas top, comfortable padded collars, stretchy side accents, and distinctive rubber waffle outsoles round out this slip-on shoe. Here’s how you can break in Vans Slip-Ons easily:

  • Wear your new Vans Slip-Ons and submerge your feet, shoes and all, in a pail of water. 
  • To avoid discoloration, dry off the shoes but keep them somewhat moist for the next procedure.
  • Then go for a walk in your soaked shoes for one or two hours. The water breaks the material, allowing the shoes to conform more closely to your feet than they would if they were dry.

 Likewise, we suggest trying a portion on your shoes with a tiny bit of water before immersing them to ensure the water doesn’t ruin the color.

You can definitely try the blow dry method or wear chunky socks, or freeze your Vans Slip-Ons. It is totally up to you. So this is how to break in slip on vans.

If interested, please check our article, how to break in Doc Martens?

How to Stop Your Shoes Rubbing?

A blister is the best way to ruin a good mood. When you first start wearing Vans sneakers out and about, use this strategy to avoid friction.

  • Take a tiny amount of petroleum jelly and apply it to the affected area; just that little makes a big difference!
  • Apply the jelly on the back of the heels, where the shoe is most prone to irritate you.
  • Alternatively, you may wear socks that cover the place where the heel may also be chafing – keep in mind that our Sk8-Hi versions will require a longer pair.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now we will discuss some related questions to the query, how to break in vans?

Do Vans Run Narrow?

Vans are usually true to size. They provide a great fit. But some people claim that vans shoes are too narrow to their feet in the first place. These shoes just need a break-in period. 

Do Vans Stretch?

Since Vans are made of canvas and suede, they stretch. If you wear your new vans regularly, they won’t take a long time to stretch.

Summary

I hope that you have liked our guide on breaking in Vans where we also about breaking in Vans slip ons. In the same way you can break in Vans old skool too. More or less, the process is the same.

You can also check our article, how to break in running shoes?

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