11 Ways to Stop Boots from Rubbing Heels, Top of Foot, Achilles, Ankle

Who doesn’t love a new pair of boots or shoes?

We all love it; right?

But, but, but…

As every coin have two sides…

With the new pair of shoes comes the unavoidable problem of getting blisters, chaffing and abrasions.

So, today in this article I am going to tell you all about why these problems arise and what are the ways to deal with them.

11 Proven Ways to Stop Boots from Rubbing your Heel

The most common complain against new shoes is getting blisters on the heels because this is the part which gets most rubbed against the boots.

Not to worry, as we have some amazing solutions to this common problem:

1. Wear Liner Socks

Fox River Men's Wick Dry Altura Crew Sock Liner, 3 Pack (Olive, Large)

Liner socks acts as a barrier between your socks and the heel. Even when the outer socks get rubbed against the boots, the liner socks will act as a protective barrier thus preventing your heel from rubbing.

We recommend Fox River Men’s Wick Dry Altura Crew Sock Liner to resist blister and keep your feet dry.

2. Wear a Thick Pair of Socks

Thick socks fill up the extra gap inside the boots thus keeping your feet in place inside the boot. This prevents boots rubbing side ankle bone.

We recommend these pair of thick and warm crew socks.

3. Apply Thick layer of Vaseline on the Heels

Yes. Vaseline being slippery doesn’t allow direct contact of the boots with the heels. Actually, blisters are generally caused due to friction against the boots and applying a lubricant means that your feet will slide against the leather, thus causing less friction. 

4. Heat the Problem Areas of the Boots with a Dryer

Using-Hair-Dryer on boots

What happens is when you heat the boots, the leather becomes suppler. Then if you walk on those boots immediately, the leather stretches out. Blisters tend to occur more in new boots which are not broken-in.

5. Insert a Heel Grip Inside the Boots

Does boots hurt back of heel? Heel Grip is the solution! Wondering what a heel grip is?

Well…

A heel grip is an oval shaped cushion strip made of gel or foam and covered with moleskin with attached adhesive on one side. 

Heel Grip

You just need to take off the adhesive and place the heel grip inside the boot right in the place of the heels. It will act as cushioning for your heels thus preventing them from rubbing against the rough material of the boots.

6. Insert an Insole

An insole will act as a cushioning for your feet and prevent your feet from wriggling around the boots thus, preventing rubbing.

7. Break in New Boots

This is known to all that a new pair of boots hurt much more than the old ones. This is because the new pair of boots is hard and cause more rubbing on every area of your feet. They take time to fit according to the shape and size of your feet.

Therefore, it is very essential to break in your boots fast to stop the rubbing of any part of your feet against the boots. 

You can learn about a number of easy hacks to break in your new pair of boots fast with us.

8. Use a Duct Tape

duct tape at the back of your heels

Before you wear your boots, paste a duct tape at the back of your heels. This will reduce friction and stop the rubbing which will prevent the formation of blisters.

9. Just use a Band Aid

Band aid is the easiest thing you can get handy. Just use a band aid at the back of the heels before wearing your new pair of boots. Band aids will prevent the skin from getting rubbed against the boot skin.

10. Use Anti-friction Sticks

Gold Bond Friction Defense Stick, Unscented, 1.75 Ounces

Anti-friction sticks are readily available online. It is a balm which works pretty much like a Vaseline which when applied creates an invisible barrier thus preventing friction. 

11. Use Anti-perspirant Roll-ons

Blisters are also formed due to the accumulation of sweat. So, keeping the feet dry can help to prevent blisters. Anti-perspirants will prevent the sweat that creates chafing from rubbing boots.

How to Stop Shoes from Rubbing Top of the Foot?

The top of the feet is the most crucial area inside your shoes that has the possibility of getting rubbed against the shoes.

We care for you and so have come up with some simple ways to stop your top of the feet from rubbing:

1.) Use a Sandpaper to Make the Inside of the Top of the Shoe Even

One of the main reasons that the top of the feet is hurting is that the inside of the shoes is slippery. Therefore, in order prevent this; you need to make the inside of the shoes even. This will increase traction.

Use a Sandpaper to Make the Inside of the Top of the Shoe Even

For this, you just need to take a sand paper and start rubbing the inside the top of the shoes with the sand paper. Rubbing the sand paper will make the surface even and increase the traction therefore, preventing rubbing of the top of the feet.

2.) Wearing a Protective Sleeve over your Feet

Foot bridge protectors use a gel pad that prevents the foot from rubbing by providing cushioning to the feet against pressure, impact and shear force.

Ankle Compression Socks by SPARTHOS (Pair) – Plantar Fasciitis Ankle Brace with Arch Support – for Men and Women – Foot Sleeves – for Sports, Running, Basketball, Football and Everyday Wear (Black-L)

You can get hold of these foot bridge protectors from the Amazon stores.

3.) By Stretching your Shoes

Another reason that your feet hurts is that your shoes are not of proper fit. Therefore, it is important to stretch your new shoes before you wear them. There are several ways to stretch your shoes as follows:

⇒ Fill a freezer bag full of water inside your shoes and place the shoe in the freezer for overnight.

⇒ By applying heat using a dryer.

⇒ Using a shoe stretcher.

4.) Use Top of the Foot Support

tongue pad at the top of the foot

For this you need a tongue pad at the top of the foot. This will prevent the pain that is caused due to excess pressure. The pads are extremely soft as they use soft foam to form a protective layer at the top of the foot.

5.) Wear Thick Socks

Thick socks will act as a bridge between your feet and the top of the shoes. Thus, it will prevent the feet from getting rubbed against the top of the shoes and prevent pain and blisters.

How to Stop Shoes from Rubbing Achilles?

Achilles has the highest tendency to get rubbed against the boots and have blisters, abrasions and chaffing. Thus, it becomes crucial to protect them while wearing new shoes. And this can be done using the following ways:

achilles-tendon

1.) Get a Pair of Vertical Insoles (Achilles shield)

Achilles shield acts as a protective layer for the tendon areas against abrasive rear edge of stiff new shoes. The Achilles shield prevents to top of the feet from rubbing against the leather of the shoes thus preventing blisters, bruises and abrasions.

2.) You Can Use a Duct Tape

Duct tapes work more like a band aid. Just peel of the adhesive layer and paste the duct tape on the Achilles area. This will protect the area from rubbing and causing blisters or bruises.

3.) Cotton Pads Might be the Easiest way

Cotton pads are no doubt present in every house if there’s a woman in it. Right?

So, just grab two three of them and tug them inside your socks on the Achilles area to get the grip of the cotton pads. They will act as a barrier between the Achilles and the shoes and prevent rubbing.

4.) Visit a Cobbler and get an Insole added to the shoes on the Achilles area

If you are yourself unable to fix things, visit your nearby cobbler and get an insole added on the Achilles area of the shoe. This will provide cushioning to the Achilles area and prevent rubbing and causing blisters.

How to Stop Shoes from Cutting Ankle?

If your shoes are small or of uneven fit, or made of hard material, they might even cut your ankles for bad. The sigh of relief is we have some remedies for it:

1.) Try Using Silicon Heel Cups

Gel Heel Cups Plantar Fasciitis Inserts - Silicone Heel Cup Pads for Bone Spurs Pain Relief Protectors of Your Sore or Bruised Feet Best Insole Gels Treatment by Armstrong Amerika (Large)

If your ankle hurts, it might possibly because your arch is not supported well and as a result it moves a lot and thus get cut.

Nowadays silicon heel cups are readily available in the market which acts as cushioning for your ankle and prevent it from getting cut.

2.) Use Gel Cushions

Gel cushions are also latest addition in the shoe market which forms a gel layer over your ankles and thus prevent boots from rubbing ankle and prevent it from cutting.

3.) Other Ideas

⇒ Break-in your shoes.

⇒ Use heat to stretch your shoe.

⇒ Use ice to stretch your shoe.

⇒ Insert an insole.

⇒ Wear thick socks.

⇒ Add cushioning to the thong part to prevent flip-flops.

⇒ Fill out the toe- boxes using wool.

What are the Causes of Getting the Feet Hurt from New shoes?

Actually, the problem lies in the new shoes itself, still I will tell you the reasons behind them:

⇒ The shoe is not of proper fitting. Either they are too roomy for your feet to have enough movement or they are too small.

⇒ The shoe is still hard from inside out which when comes in contact of the feet, make them hurt.

⇒ There is no proper heel support, ankle support and padding on the top of the shoes.

⇒ There is no cushioning on the heel, Achilles and top part.

⇒ The shoes are not broken-in.

How to break in shoes that rub your heel?

Well, in the article we have been mentioning about breaking-in your shoes and boots. If you are thinking how? There are a number of ways to break-in your boots.

Before we say Good Bye:

Above all, it is most important to take care of your feet by keeping them clean, dry and fresh.

When you buy a new pair of shoes, spare some time in applying the above tricks before wearing them in order to prevent the after affects like bruises, blisters, cuts and pain.

Do let us know in the comment section below which trick worked the best for you.

And before we say good bye…

What do we say?

“KEEP ……..”

Fill up the gap and comment in the comment section box below and let us know that you love us.

Stephen Luettgen
I have 12+ years of experience in construction, inspections, handy work, and currently working as a Construction Site Manager. In today’s day we spent a significant part of our time at workplace and a right work gear can have significant impact not only on your safety but also work quality.

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