How to break in basketball shoes | Bring Comfort under Feet

Buying a new pair of basketball shoes is always exciting for the players. But this excitement can easily turn into painful memories if your shoes are not well fit or comfortable enough for your match or practice. That’s when the phrase “breaking in your basketball shoes” comes into the scenario.

But how to break in basketball shoes? Or what exactly does “breaking in the shoes” mean?

Actually, the term refers to the processor time which is undertaken to make your newly bought shoes ‘comfortable’ and ‘perfectly fit’

There are certain methods and steps which make the “breaking in period” shorter and then you can wear the new shoes for your matches more quickly. Below mentioned some of the reasons behind “breaking in the shoes” and some processes which are effective in doing so.

Should you break in basketball shoes?  

Some players tend to wear their new basketball shoes right after the purchase which can result in minor injuries. This happens because they don’t think about going through the “breaking in” period. But, here are some facts that might make you aware of the “breaking in” process.

For correct fitting

In the case of basketball players’ shoes, a correct fitting is quite important as they practice quite often and have to bear extra stretching around ankles and ligament. But the new shoes often don’t come with the perfect fit. However, the fitting can be made correct by going through a “breaking in” period.

Avoiding injuries

New, uncomfortable shoes cause injuries like blisters, abrasions, corns, calluses, bunions, etc. the new shoes should be broken in to avoid these injuries.

Avoiding Chronic problems

Sometimes, practicing with the stiff, uncomfortable new shoes for a longer period of time can cause chronic problems in the ankle areas, around the knees, hips and in the back. You should break in the new shoes to avoid these.

Making shoes more comfortable

If you want to make your newly bought shoes more comfortable for the matches or practices, you had better take time and break in the shoes.

Reducing discomfort around forefeet

Most often, the new basketball shoes cause more discomfort around your forefeet and the only way to reduce that discomfort is by breaking in the shoes. This “breaking in” period will be helpful in softening the material.

Bending sole

“Breaking in” time should be considered with significance to bend the sole of the shoes according to the size of your feet.

Related Article: How To Prevent Ankle Injuries in basketball

How to break in basketball shoes 

There are some effective methods that will be helpful to break in your basketball shoes. Some of the methods can even shorten the “breaking in” period. They are:

Buy in advance

• Buying the shoes in advance is often helpful as you will get enough time before the main practice season or matches.
• You should always buy a new pair 3-4 weeks before.

Buy well-fitted shoes

• The breaking-in period becomes less significant if you buy shoes that are fitted well.
• You should buy well-fitted shoes from a well-known brand if you are one of the professional players.

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Wear 10 minutes every day before practice

• Keep an adequate amount of time in hand.
• Don’t rush the “breaking in” period.
• Try to wear the new shoes for 10-15 minutes every day before wearing them for your actual practice.

Light jogging

• Jogging lightly for a shorter period of time is helpful to soften the texture and material of your shoes.
• Light jogging with new shoes is effective to make them comfortable.

Household Activities

• Doing household activities by wearing the new basketball shoes will definitely help the process of breaking in or making them comfortable.

Related Post: Are basketball shoes good for everyday use

Try with high-quality socks

• Wearing your newly bought basketball shoes with high-quality socks makes wearing them comfortable for longer periods.
• Socks prevent the new shoes from causing extra rubbing around the ankle area.
• Cramps and squeezing caused by new shoes are also prevented.

Related Post: Why Do Basketball Players Wear Long Socks: The Ultimate 4 Reasons Need To Know

How to break in basketball shoes without wearing them

Use Ice and Plastic bag

• Ice and Plastic bags can be used for breaking in the shoes as ice can make the shoe stretch.
• Pour water in a plastic bag and make ice.
• Then keep the ice into the shoes and wrap the shoes with a bigger plastic bag.
• Put the bag into the freezer and your shoes will be puffed out.

Use hair dryer’s heat

• As breaking in means to stretch the shoes for a perfect fitting, you can use the hair dryer’s heat.
• Use your hairdryer to slightly heat up the inside of the shoes and then put on the shoes. You will definitely feel less uncomfortable than before.

Take help of Shoe stretcher

• If you want to know how to break in basketball shoes faster than take help with a shoe stretcher. 
• For the “breaking in” process, a shoe stretcher can always come in handy.
• Use a shoe stretcher accordingly to stretch the length and width of the shoes.

Apply Peeled Potato

• Applying peeled potato also stretches the tight areas of the shoes.Take a big potato. Peel the skin off and shape like your shoes.
• Put the potato into your shoes and leave it overnight.
• Your shoes will be more comfortable to wear the next day.

Related Post: How to cope with an injury in basketball to stay fit

How to break in basketball shoes overnight

Shoe Stretching spray

• Besides a shoe stretcher, a shoe stretching spray is also helpful in “breaking in” shoes. A shoe spray generally contains equal amounts of water and alcohol.
• Spray into the shoes and then wear them with a pair of thick shoes.
• After 30 minutes of wearing it, you will feel more comfortable than before.

Go to a cordwainer

• If any of the above methods don’t give you the expected result, then try to go and see a cordwainer. He will definitely be able to help you with the ‘breaking in’ process

Basketball Shoes breaking Item

Last update on 2023-10-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Frequestly Asked Question

Still have some questions in mind? Have a look at the section below.

Do new basketball shoes give you blisters?

Basketball shoes are often well structured and come with high-end designs. This is because basketball players need extra support and cushioning around their ankles. But the cons of new basketball shoes are that if you wear them for your basketball practices without “breaking in”, then the shoes will give you blisters along with abrasions, corns, or bunions.

Should basketball shoes be tight at first?

Basketball shoes should not be extra tight or loose at first. But if the tightness is “fair” enough or doesn’t feel uncomfortable after wearing, then this should not be a problem. But you should always seek for ‘perfect fit’ instead of one size smaller or one size larger.

Should I buy basketball shoes a half size bigger?

Sometimes it is seen that the players are buying shoes half a size bigger than their feet. It can happen or you can also buy a half-size bigger shoe if both of your feet are of slightly different size which is quite natural. This doesn’t cause problems generally because the difference of half a size can be made up by wearing thick socks.

Conclusion

For regular practices or matches, the players must wear comfortable basketball shoes which generally come with a high-end structure. Wearing uncomfortable & new shoes by the players causes injuries like blisters, abrasions, corns, calluses, bunions, etc.

This happens because the newly bought shoes are most often tight around certain areas which rub, squeeze and sometimes cause cramps in the skin of feet.

Going through a “breaking in period” is effective for making the shoes more comfortable. The aforementioned ways are proven to be efficient at that. You can try them according to your convenience and check which one comes in handy more effectively.

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Refferences:

https://www.hss.edu/playbook/its-gotta-be-the-shoes-basketball-ability-injury-prevention/