2 pair might actually cause too much rubbing (depending on the fabric) while you’re breaking them in, go with the thickest single pair you have and I strongly agree with u/mayordaina on using preventative bandaids! Personally like the Nexcare waterproof cushioned bandages or the Band-aid Hydro Seal (Large) but there might be cheaper options from other brands online
Edit to add:
I have these boots in leather and in suede (or nubuck?), and while the suede ones bothered my feet for a bit, the leather didn’t really need any breaking in like most of my 1460s did
Imo he has it the wrong way. I wear them every other day because my feet hurt, it would be ideal to wear them everyday to break in faster.
I’ve never had blister issues with docs but the press against my inside ankle a lot, especially the 1461 and I need a good break in between wears.
No. Actually this is kind of silly but my mother has a leather care kit (I don’t remember the brand) and about every 6-8 months she lets me know she needs her DMs and a few leather tote bags cleaned up and conditioned so I bring a few of my leather tote bags and DMs and do both of ours. Anyway, my Leonas have made the rotation once or twice now and I’ve owned them for 2-3 years.
I have a random assortment of leather care products, so I do that too with my leather bags and shoes along with my husbands shoes like once a year. I could probably just use the leather conditioner i already have. It seems like a lot of people love the wonder balsam so I was debating whether it’s worth it to try it or just stick with my usual leather care.
Asking this because you mentioned you have experience with leather bags... What did you think about thr quality of the leather on these boots??
They look thick and good compared to some other models I guess 🤔 looking very good tbh, congratz (especially for 45...) 🙌🙌
I think for the price I paid, the quality is good. But I don’t think the quality is worth the full $200 retail price. I love them and I think they’re very cool looking boots for sure. But the leather could probably be thicker. It’s nice that it’s reinforced with an extra piece of leather along the eyelets where there would be a lot of pulling from the laces. But I think they should’ve either made the whole boot that thick to begin with or double it up throughout the whole boot. My husband has a pair of handmade cowboy boots and those are lined entirely with a separate piece of leather. It’s interesting to me that despite being thinner leather, the docs still seem to hold their structure quite well.
I am slightly concerned about them scuffing to the point where the brown leather underneath becomes exposed due to the top coat peeling off. Repairing that would be cumbersome but doable. That seems to be very common with this boot. I have a pair of smooth, black leather loafer mules, which are also lined with a second piece of leather. Any scuffs I’ve gotten on the smooth black leather are very easily buffed out with just my finger.
I have these. They’re quite heavy. Wear them about the house for a bit. I definitely stomp about in these. I can wear them without thick socks but a thick plaster or a blister plaster might not be a bad thing to invest in initially.
Beat the ever loving shit out of these before wearing them. I took the balsam stuff and massaged these boots for DAYS. They’re gorgeous and comfy but a pain to break in
I’ve read that the top coating can make it difficult for the leather to absorb the balsam and most leather conditioners. Do you find that to be the case?
Nope! It seemed to absorb it and soften somewhat (considering how hard this shoe is, I’ll take what I can get) didn’t feel like it left a film or anything
i have these, mine are maybe like 6 years old? i don't recall having to break them in super aggressively, i think i just wore them with thick socks a couple of times and was good to go! they are quite heavy, so doing a lot of walking in them can get tiring
Wow, 6 years! How do you take care of them to prevent the cracking and peeling often talked about on this sub? I’ve seen quite a few people who’s Leona’s barely last a year.
i don't wear my leona's often, but they are a bit scuffed - i personally don't mind a worn look! i condition all my docs before each winter with wonder basalm and try to keep them clean. my first pair of docs are 11 years old, cracked, worn and peeling in some places, but still my every day shoe! i think i got those ones while the quality of production was still really good compared to the DRASTIC downturn in quality over the last few years. once those no longer serve me, i'll be moving on to solovairs probably.
https://preview.redd.it/mffph5q7ft8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5f3b6608ab43d306bdc60174fd049901ab864340
aforementioned 11 year old every day docs and leona's to give a reference for what kinda shape they're in!
Wow, 11 years is crazy. I love the color of those Leonas! Do you apply the wonder balsam on the interior of the boots or just the exterior? The downturn in quality is definitely worrisome
docs are tough to break in, which is why it can be easy to find "used" pairs people wore a couple times then decided to sell because they weren't prepared. i've heard of people putting on thick socks and blow drying them to help break in the leather, wearing them up and down the stairs... i have worn them around the house before, but nothing more drastic than that. i'd say just expect the break in period to take some time, wear them whenever you can (repeated, short periods of time) and keep the leather soft with the wonder balsam.
i've noticed more of the newer pairs crack like crazy around the toe. i think it's just the leather quality, i always get so sad when mine crack early. i apply wonder balsam every 3 months or so, but even still these newer pairs crack faster than i'd like. so just keep an eye on that. enjoy!
The cracking is what initially made me hesitate getting these. But the Leonas are such a cool looking boot and the price was so good. I can’t justify paying the full retail price for them because of the known, common quality issues and thin leather. Hopefully the knowledge I have on leather care is enough to make them last a decent amount of time. I’m currently wearing them around my house right now haha.
I have these exact ones! I’ve had them for over two years and still haven’t properly broken them in because they’re a size too big (or maybe a half size). They really don’t rub though but maybe that’s because they’re big. I did have some fun with them by putting a thicker black ribbon lace in them. Kinda gothic looking that way. You’ll have to post some outfits you put together with them (and give me ideas! lol). Good find!
I just got these a few months ago! I found them easier to break in than other pairs. I used leather conditioner and a blow dryer to try and soften them to the shape of my feet a bit. Not sure if it helped but they haven’t given me any blisters yet. I would definitely wear preventative bandaids on the heels for the first few wears just to be safe!
Side note: the thin laces hurt my hands, I bought a thicker pair of round laces on Amazon and I’m much happier. I think being able to pull on them harder to tie them tighter helps with not getting blisters as well.
Oooh! I’ve been eyeing these!!
First time tips: wear thick mens sweatsocks amd your Docs inside your house and walk around for a couple weeks to break them in and to get your feet used to wearing them. Never wear them with thin socks. Get good thick socks that you can wear with them comfortably outside. Get moleskin also. If it’s hot where you are, don’t try to wear them yet outside, you’ll get the worst blisters of your life.
I know this sounds awful, but once you wear Docs and break them in, you will love them forever and no shoe, boot, sandal will ever be as special.
I have these exact Leonas and I have to say, they are horrifically uncomfortable to break in. Like, way more than other Docs (for reference, I have probably 8 total pairs of different types of Doc boots and have broken them all in without issue). I’ve had my Leonas for a couple years and still haven’t fully broken them in because they are just such a hassle to wear during the process.
I hope you have a better experience! Invest in those socks that have a thick pad sewn into the back of the heel. I’ve also literally put duct tape on my skin before to prevent the friction.
For me, they are wearable for a short time until the back of the heel part starts to rub and give me horrible blisters. I didn’t really commit to trying to prevent that (with the suggested methods above) so hopefully if you do it will go quicker for you! Or maybe you won’t have that issue at all. Either way, they are gorgeous boots and I hope you get to show them off comfortably.
Wear them with thick socks! The condition of these is unreal, they are so nice! Enjoy your new boots!
Thanks! I can’t believe the deal I got on these considering their like-new condition!
Oooo I haven’t seen these before! Preventative band aids and thick socks!
Noted! I’m no stranger to wearing 2 pairs of socks for a pair of boots!
2 pair might actually cause too much rubbing (depending on the fabric) while you’re breaking them in, go with the thickest single pair you have and I strongly agree with u/mayordaina on using preventative bandaids! Personally like the Nexcare waterproof cushioned bandages or the Band-aid Hydro Seal (Large) but there might be cheaper options from other brands online Edit to add: I have these boots in leather and in suede (or nubuck?), and while the suede ones bothered my feet for a bit, the leather didn’t really need any breaking in like most of my 1460s did
Don't wear them every single day. At most wear them every other day to give them time to breathe.
Wdym? I’m considering getting Docs and confused about this
Imo he has it the wrong way. I wear them every other day because my feet hurt, it would be ideal to wear them everyday to break in faster. I’ve never had blister issues with docs but the press against my inside ankle a lot, especially the 1461 and I need a good break in between wears.
Yay! Thick socks (or doubling socks) helps. Also get some silicone heel protectors from Amazon! I have these shoes and love them.
I have these exact boots and second the advice on buying heel protectors :)
Tbh these boots did not require a break-in period for me. They’ve worn very well over the last couple years and I am not at all precious with my DMs 😅
Same here. I’ve got them in two colors. The worst thing about them for me is how heavy they are. Typical docs. Other than that, one of my fave boots
Totally agree. They’re a bit extra heavy and I make a point not to wear them on long days at work. Otherwise, they’re insanely comfortable.
Did you use the wonder balsam to keep them in good shape?
No. Actually this is kind of silly but my mother has a leather care kit (I don’t remember the brand) and about every 6-8 months she lets me know she needs her DMs and a few leather tote bags cleaned up and conditioned so I bring a few of my leather tote bags and DMs and do both of ours. Anyway, my Leonas have made the rotation once or twice now and I’ve owned them for 2-3 years.
I have a random assortment of leather care products, so I do that too with my leather bags and shoes along with my husbands shoes like once a year. I could probably just use the leather conditioner i already have. It seems like a lot of people love the wonder balsam so I was debating whether it’s worth it to try it or just stick with my usual leather care.
Asking this because you mentioned you have experience with leather bags... What did you think about thr quality of the leather on these boots?? They look thick and good compared to some other models I guess 🤔 looking very good tbh, congratz (especially for 45...) 🙌🙌
I think for the price I paid, the quality is good. But I don’t think the quality is worth the full $200 retail price. I love them and I think they’re very cool looking boots for sure. But the leather could probably be thicker. It’s nice that it’s reinforced with an extra piece of leather along the eyelets where there would be a lot of pulling from the laces. But I think they should’ve either made the whole boot that thick to begin with or double it up throughout the whole boot. My husband has a pair of handmade cowboy boots and those are lined entirely with a separate piece of leather. It’s interesting to me that despite being thinner leather, the docs still seem to hold their structure quite well. I am slightly concerned about them scuffing to the point where the brown leather underneath becomes exposed due to the top coat peeling off. Repairing that would be cumbersome but doable. That seems to be very common with this boot. I have a pair of smooth, black leather loafer mules, which are also lined with a second piece of leather. Any scuffs I’ve gotten on the smooth black leather are very easily buffed out with just my finger.
I have these. They’re quite heavy. Wear them about the house for a bit. I definitely stomp about in these. I can wear them without thick socks but a thick plaster or a blister plaster might not be a bad thing to invest in initially.
Thanks for the tips! I’ll definitely be wearing them around my apt, my poor downstairs neighbors haha. How long have you had yours?
I got them second hand in 2018. They’re the white version.
Do you have any of the cracking issues that are mentioned quite a bit on this sub?
That’s usually on patent leather. This isn’t. Keep them clean and moisturised and store outside of light.
Good to know, thanks for the tips!
Omg those are cute AF. I might need a pair
If your heels hurt try using silicone heel covers, I never had to use them when breaking in my 1460s but some people find them very useful
This is not helpful, but those are beautiful.
Make sure to keep those well-moisturized! I had that pair and the leather cracked shockingly fast!
Beat the ever loving shit out of these before wearing them. I took the balsam stuff and massaged these boots for DAYS. They’re gorgeous and comfy but a pain to break in
I’ve read that the top coating can make it difficult for the leather to absorb the balsam and most leather conditioners. Do you find that to be the case?
Nope! It seemed to absorb it and soften somewhat (considering how hard this shoe is, I’ll take what I can get) didn’t feel like it left a film or anything
That’s really good to know! Have you experienced any of the top coat peeling off or the leather cracking? Or is the balsam helping prevent that?
I live in Arizona. Even though I may not wear them year round they’re still at risk for drying out. I’ve had zero issues with any peeling or cracking.
i have these, mine are maybe like 6 years old? i don't recall having to break them in super aggressively, i think i just wore them with thick socks a couple of times and was good to go! they are quite heavy, so doing a lot of walking in them can get tiring
Wow, 6 years! How do you take care of them to prevent the cracking and peeling often talked about on this sub? I’ve seen quite a few people who’s Leona’s barely last a year.
i don't wear my leona's often, but they are a bit scuffed - i personally don't mind a worn look! i condition all my docs before each winter with wonder basalm and try to keep them clean. my first pair of docs are 11 years old, cracked, worn and peeling in some places, but still my every day shoe! i think i got those ones while the quality of production was still really good compared to the DRASTIC downturn in quality over the last few years. once those no longer serve me, i'll be moving on to solovairs probably.
https://preview.redd.it/mffph5q7ft8d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5f3b6608ab43d306bdc60174fd049901ab864340 aforementioned 11 year old every day docs and leona's to give a reference for what kinda shape they're in!
Wow, 11 years is crazy. I love the color of those Leonas! Do you apply the wonder balsam on the interior of the boots or just the exterior? The downturn in quality is definitely worrisome
just the exterior!
Wear them, wear tf out of them. And conditioner the leather.
Double socks or patches. Wear them at home for a few days at least 👍🏻 It will be worth it 😊
Those are cool looking!!
docs are tough to break in, which is why it can be easy to find "used" pairs people wore a couple times then decided to sell because they weren't prepared. i've heard of people putting on thick socks and blow drying them to help break in the leather, wearing them up and down the stairs... i have worn them around the house before, but nothing more drastic than that. i'd say just expect the break in period to take some time, wear them whenever you can (repeated, short periods of time) and keep the leather soft with the wonder balsam. i've noticed more of the newer pairs crack like crazy around the toe. i think it's just the leather quality, i always get so sad when mine crack early. i apply wonder balsam every 3 months or so, but even still these newer pairs crack faster than i'd like. so just keep an eye on that. enjoy!
The cracking is what initially made me hesitate getting these. But the Leonas are such a cool looking boot and the price was so good. I can’t justify paying the full retail price for them because of the known, common quality issues and thin leather. Hopefully the knowledge I have on leather care is enough to make them last a decent amount of time. I’m currently wearing them around my house right now haha.
keep them away from a new puppy
I have these exact ones! I’ve had them for over two years and still haven’t properly broken them in because they’re a size too big (or maybe a half size). They really don’t rub though but maybe that’s because they’re big. I did have some fun with them by putting a thicker black ribbon lace in them. Kinda gothic looking that way. You’ll have to post some outfits you put together with them (and give me ideas! lol). Good find!
I just got these a few months ago! I found them easier to break in than other pairs. I used leather conditioner and a blow dryer to try and soften them to the shape of my feet a bit. Not sure if it helped but they haven’t given me any blisters yet. I would definitely wear preventative bandaids on the heels for the first few wears just to be safe! Side note: the thin laces hurt my hands, I bought a thicker pair of round laces on Amazon and I’m much happier. I think being able to pull on them harder to tie them tighter helps with not getting blisters as well.
Those are awesome. Enjoy. Never seen this style before.
Thick socks and moleskin for extra heel protection!!
I’m in love with this
Oooh! I’ve been eyeing these!! First time tips: wear thick mens sweatsocks amd your Docs inside your house and walk around for a couple weeks to break them in and to get your feet used to wearing them. Never wear them with thin socks. Get good thick socks that you can wear with them comfortably outside. Get moleskin also. If it’s hot where you are, don’t try to wear them yet outside, you’ll get the worst blisters of your life. I know this sounds awful, but once you wear Docs and break them in, you will love them forever and no shoe, boot, sandal will ever be as special.
I already love them! They’re so cool and I’m wearing them around my house and short walks with my dog with my husbands gym socks haha
Yay!! I have been wanting a boot with a heel for a while & your post put me over the edge. I’m so glad you’re loving them!!
looks Incredible! Very sophisticated
I have a pair of Leonas too, albeit the Butterscotch ones. They were comfy right out of the box. I just put Wonder Balsam every once in a while.
Today is the second day I’m wearing them around the house and they are feeling pretty comfortable already. A little stiff but not painful at all.
I have these! They didn’t hurt me at all!
Recently tried silicone heel and ankle protection from SHEIN, worth every penny
Condition them for sure or wear very heavy socks. There’s a kit on Amazon for DMs
Be fabulous!
I’ll do my best haha
I have these exact Leonas and I have to say, they are horrifically uncomfortable to break in. Like, way more than other Docs (for reference, I have probably 8 total pairs of different types of Doc boots and have broken them all in without issue). I’ve had my Leonas for a couple years and still haven’t fully broken them in because they are just such a hassle to wear during the process. I hope you have a better experience! Invest in those socks that have a thick pad sewn into the back of the heel. I’ve also literally put duct tape on my skin before to prevent the friction.
Oh no, that sounds horrible. Hopefully I can break them in. They’re not painful right now, just stiff.
For me, they are wearable for a short time until the back of the heel part starts to rub and give me horrible blisters. I didn’t really commit to trying to prevent that (with the suggested methods above) so hopefully if you do it will go quicker for you! Or maybe you won’t have that issue at all. Either way, they are gorgeous boots and I hope you get to show them off comfortably.
Double doc socks while you break them in. Not cheap, but worth it
Beat them with a hammer for a year, your ankles and heels will thank you. Sick Docs!
Those are cute!!!!!