How to Break In Running Shoes

A guide to breaking in running shoes 

The best way to break in running shoes is to do it gradually. If you’re used to long runs or are training for a marathon, don’t wear them for the first time on your long run. Instead, wear them over shorter distances to give your shoes and feet time to adapt.

If you’re unsure if you’ve got the right fit, try wearing them around the house for a while before heading outside. Ready to head out on a run? Give your shoes a test run and make sure they feel great. With Altra's 30-day trial runs return policy we make it easy to swap for a different size or model within the first 30 days of purchasing.

How to break in Altra running shoes

Most Altra running shoes are designed with zero-drop platforms. So, if you’re new to this kind of running shoe, you should ease yourself into things and gradually build up your distances. 

If in doubt, keep things on the shorter side - starting with as little as 10-20% of your usual running distance, and building up over a few weeks. 

You can even start with a few short walks and build up to running. This will help make sure your body gets used to the new level of support, minimizing muscle soreness around the calves as well as around the feet. 

It’s also important to find the right shoes for your feet and running style. For this, you need to understand the difference between neutral and support shoes. You can also use our Shoe Finder to figure out what kind of running shoes are best for you. 

How to break in running shoes quickly

If you need to break running shoes in quickly, try wearing them around the house for a few hours at a time. Then, build things up with walks and then short runs outside before increasing your distances.

To aid the process along, you can also try warming the shoes with a hairdryer immediately before wearing them—just make sure it’s on low heat so you don’t damage the material. Wearing thick socks can also help to stretch out the shoes a little. 

How to stretch running shoes that are too small 

If your running shoes are way too small or are the wrong size or fit for you, it’s unlikely that breaking them in will help. Be sure to check out our Altra size chart that offers a conversion of women’s and men’s shoe sizes for different regions. Measure your foot in cm and follow the charts to find the right shoe size for you.

If you are between sizes and your running shoes are only slightly on the tight side, there are a few things you can do to help stretch them out a bit. 

• Wear them around the house with thick socks.

• Use a shoe stretcher to adjust the length and width.

• Use a hair dryer to gently heat the shoes while wearing thick socks—then walk around the house while the shoes are still warm.

• Try different lacing techniques to loosen the shoe around problem areas. 

You might also want to consider wide running shoes for men and women with wider feet. Explore wide shoes in Torin or Lone Peak models we offer.  

How to break in new running shoes before a marathon 

Although modern running shoes are designed to adapt quickly to your feet, we don’t recommend wearing them for the first time during a race.

In an ideal world, you should buy your new running shoes at least a couple of months before the race so you have plenty of time to wear them gradually and be familiar with how they feel over long distances. Everyday running shoes for men and women allow you to fully experience the fit before long races. 

So there you have it—how to break in running shoes without causing blisters or unnecessary discomfort. Start with short distances to experiment with your new running shoes and how they fit on your feet. As long as you find the right shoes for your feet and then gradually wear them in, you should be able to break in your new running shoes in no time!