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How to make basketball shoes more comfortable
How to break in new basketball sneakers
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Break In, New Shoes
Posted by SS
As with any shoe, breaking in your new basketball sneakers can either be a royal pain in your feet or a comfortable process. It all depends on your preparation and attention to a well constructed plan. Breaking in shoes sounds simple, just wear them. However, ensuring they get broken in properly takes a bit more planning.
The Purchase
Only you know your preferences when it comes to your footwear. Yet making the right purchase can mean the difference between a long breaking in period or a shorter one. If the shoe is not perfectly sized for your feet, than the breaking in period will be longer. If you shop at discount stores, there may not be a professional shoe fitter and you will need to rely on your own knowledge with the following tips.
Always try on shoes near the end of the day, when your feet have swollen to their largest, allowing for extra room when you put them on in the morning. Also almost everyone has two differently sized feet. Make sure that you always try on shoes on your larger foot. If your feet are more than a half size different, even consider getting two different sized shoes, one of each foot. Last, make sure there is enough room for your foot; if it's too tight, you cannot stretch them adequately, too loose and you cannot tie them tight enough.
Breaking Bad
The process for breaking in your new basketball sneakers should be a process. Make sure to buy your shoes at least two weeks in advance of wearing them to a competitive event.
Wear your shoes for 10 minutes of light activity for 3 days in a row, adding ten minutes each day, so by the 3rd day you are wearing them for 30 minutes of walking or light exercise.
For the next 4 days wear your shoes for a minimum of 1 hour each day, and include more vigorous exercise each day. Start with walking and add 15 minutes of light jogging. By the fourth day you should include 30 minutes of jogging in your shoes.
Then the stretching process is started. For the next 4 days, wear your new basketball sneakers for 2 hours a day, but include at least 30 minutes of aggressive turns, jumps, and pivots. These exercises could be included in light practice or a friendly game of pick up. Lastly for the remaining 3 days of the two week break in period, wear them as long as you can, but also wear them each day to a real team practice or pickup game to continue the break in period.
After two weeks of increasing activity, the shoes should naturally mold to your feet and provide a comfortable experience with very little pain. This is the easiest and best way to break in new basketball sneakers without breaking your feet also.
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How To Break In New Basketball Shoes (Step By Step) – Get Hyped Sports
Buying new basketball shoes is exciting. Many basketball players want to step on the hardwood right away and start breaking in their shoes. The problem is, the shoes come directly from the factory, and are in a box for weeks, sometimes months.
Basketball shoes can be broken in by wearing them 10-15 minutes a day doing light activity. Wearing them for more than 15 minutes directly after purchase will feel stiff and sometimes cause blisters.
In this article, we will show you step by step how to break in basketball shoes soon after purchase.
How To Break In New Basketball Shoes
Breaking in basketball shoes takes time. It’s not something that can be done overnight. Here are the steps we recommend you take to break into new basketball shoes.
Before we start, you need to make sure the shoe fits well.
The first thing you should do is break in your shoes with light activity before the first time you wear them to a basketball game or practice.
Before you put on your shoes to play basketball the first time, condition your feet and ankles with high-top basketball socks or even blank ones from the store. Basketball is a tough sport and can cause blisters when new shoes are being worn with no support.
Your new basketball shoes will be very stiff at first and take some time to break in. Do not try to ‘break them in’ quickly by playing hard-nosed, physical games of basketball right away.
Once you have your new basketball shoes and have worked them out for 10-15 minutes, you can wear your shoes to basketball practice or games.
Before using your shoes once, do not put on socks and play for more than 15 minutes straight in them (for socks or even regular sneakers). It can cause blisters on your feet if the shoe is too tight.
Light activity like walking around a shopping center or going to Dunkin Donuts for coffee will help the shoe conform easier and stretch out over time. If you are doing this while wearing socks, make sure they are high-top basketball socks that support the ankle (not regular dress socks).
You should go for a short walk to break them in, especially if you plan on playing basketball in them.
Instead, you should give your shoes 10-15 minutes of light activity after purchasing them.
This will allow the shoe to conform to your feet and allow it to stretch out over time. You do not want an incredibly tight basketball shoe causing blisters on your feet right away.
If they feel even a little bit tight, wait another 5-6 minutes before switching them out for the next practice and game. You do not want to wear basketball shoes that are too tight at first because they can cause blisters on your feet right away.
This is when it’s important to make sure you’ve conditioned your feet and ankles before playing in your new basketball shoes.
Why Do Basketball Shoes Hurt My Feet?
Basketball shoes can hurt your feet if they are brand new or if they’re tied too tight. They can also be uncomfortable if they’re too big for your feet or if you have bad ankles.
If they are new shoes, make sure you wait before playing in them to give them time to conform to your feet. Try them on for size when they first come out of the box at the store but do not play in them until you have conditioned your feet and ankles. This will cause blisters otherwise.
Try an ankle brace if basketball causes pain in your ankles because it may help protect against injury. If this doesn’t work, see a doctor for more options on how to handle the pain from playing basketball. It’s often a recurring issue and can be difficult to fix without help from doctors or physical therapists.
Do Basketball Shoes Loosen Up?
Basketball shoes do loosen up the more than you wear them and condition in them. If you bought the basketball shoes directly from the store, it would take 5-10 physical activity sessions before they are officially loosened up.
All it takes is a 15 minutes walk after the basketball shoes are bought. But you should try them on for size when purchased, and don’t play in them until your feet are conditioned.
This will help your shoes conform to your feet and allow them to stretch out over time. If the basketball shoes are too tight now, it can cause blisters when you play in them for the first time.
See Our Complete List Of Helpful Basketball Articles Here.
Conclusion
Breaking in your basketball shoes is pretty straightforward. Do light activities like walking around a shopping center for 10-15 minutes. Then put on your ankle braces or high-top basketball socks and run around for another five minutes.
Do this before putting them on again for practice or a game, and you should be good to go. As soon as they’re broken in, they will feel much more comfortable and conform to your feet’ shape over time. It’s definitely worth the wait, especially if you have pain or blisters when playing in new shoes.
5 Best Ways to Stretch Your New Shoes | Sneaker Studio
Shoe stores are a weakness for women and men. In the wardrobe of every fashionista there are several pairs of shoes from various materials for all occasions. It happens that you have picked up comfortable shoes or boots in the store, but in the first days of wearing they rub your feet. Do not despair and take them back, because there are many ways to stretch shoes at home. They will help not only increase the size of the shoe, but also extend its life.
How to properly stretch shoes that are tight
There are several proven methods for stretching shoes effectively and safely. Each option has its pros and cons, so you need to study them well. When choosing a way to increase the size of shoes, it is worth taking into account the material of the products. So, samples made from natural materials like leather or suede are the most pliable, so they quickly spread.
Before you stretch your shoes, remember the following:
genuine leather stretches well;
textiles and leatherette may lose shape and color;
the best way to stretch leather shoes is with special tools;
if you accidentally damage the products during stretching, then the warranty on them is canceled.
Take care when stretching. One wrong move can ruin a girl's shoes, boots or sneakers. It is best to buy shoes at the end of the working day, when the feet are slightly swollen and the shoes will not sit tight. Shops can give you advice on how to expand your shoes and how to care for them in the future.
Proven methods to increase new shoes by size
Our mothers and grandmothers also knew how to break in new shoes so that they do not rub their feet and please them with comfort. Regardless of the type and material of shoes, the main types of stretching can be distinguished:
Mechanical. Shoe stores sell shoes with adjustable screws. They expand the shoes in length and width. On the Internet you can see videos on how to stretch shoes in length with and with help. The shoe package also includes special rubberized inserts that will help increase specific boot places for people with a non-standard foot. With their help, you can stretch men's sneakers and more. Mechanical stretching takes 4 hours.
Chemical. If you are interested in methods of how to stretch suede shoes as quickly as possible, pay attention to special tools. It can be foam or spray for suede, nubuck and leather. Before you stretch narrow shoes, you need to study the composition of the product. It is evenly applied to the inside and outside of the boots at a distance of 15 cm, then you need to walk in them until the product dries.
Thermal. This is the easiest and most budgetary option for how to stretch leather shoes with your own hands. Put your shoes on socks and heat them with a hair dryer for 5 minutes. After that, you need to walk in shoes for 30 minutes and lubricate them with glycerin to restore the necessary moisture.
It should be understood that not all shoes can be stretched. If even at the fitting stage you feel discomfort in the toe and heel, the thumb sticks out or the deformation of the upper part is felt, then the shoes do not suit you. Often children's shoes need stretching, because children grow quickly.
How to stretch suede shoes
Suede shoes fit well on the foot, because the material is quite elastic and quickly takes the desired shape. If your new pair isn't any more comfortable after a few socks, you can use a few hacks on how to break in suede shoes. First, remember:
suede must not be wetted;
it is not compatible with skin stretchers;
do not use a hair dryer or battery.
Steam, dry heat, alcohol, newspaper can be used to stretch shoes at home, shoes can also be gently wrinkled by hand. Keep suede shoes away from water, moisture, stains, and direct heat.
How to stretch leather shoes
There are many ways to stretch leather shoes. The easiest way is to spread them. If the shoes are tight in the fingers, then you can prepare an alcohol solution. It is suitable for shoes made of smooth or patent leather. For the solution, mix water and alcohol in proportions of 2: 1, spray it inside the shoes, put them on thick socks and wait for the composition to evaporate. There are also non-standard methods for stretching genuine leather sneakers or boots. Put the shoes in a strong bag, fill it with water, lace up the shoes and put the bag in the freezer overnight. After that, remove the shoes, let the ice thaw a little and remove the shoes.
Chemical agents for expanding the material of shoes
Chemical agents are a worthy alternative to traditional methods. On sale you can find samples that are suitable for different materials, do not leave stains, gently soften the skin, protecting shoes from tearing. If you don't know how to break in your sneakers quickly and safely, use
Salamander;
Damavik;
Silver;
Salton;
Pregrada.
They are easy to use, the main thing is to follow the instructions. All manipulations take no more than half an hour.
How to quickly break in any shoes?
We've looked at the basic techniques for making new shoes comfortable and easy to wear. If you do not want to go to the workshops, use the recommendations of specialists:
for tight shoes, you can use alcohol-based products with a softening component;
if there is time, it is better to break in shoes gradually during the week at home, so they will retain their natural look;
if you need to urgently break in shoes, put them on thick socks and after 2 hours they will increase by half a size;
expensive leather goods should not be pulled mechanically;
carefully study the composition of chemicals before use;
Please note the material of the shoe.
Knowing these tricks, you will find the best method for stretching sneakers, shoes, boots and other types of shoes.
high tops VS low tops
When it comes to reducing ankle and ankle injuries, high tops are not as important as people think.
The March madness is upon us, full of siren hits and tournament draws, surprise winning teams and great players. Anything can happen during the men's and women's NCAA tournaments. The difference between victory or defeat directly depends on the unpredictable rebound of the ball or ankle sprain.
Sprained ankle is the most common injury in basketball. According to statistics, such injuries make up a quarter of all injuries. Just ask Stephen Curry what injury he's worried about the most? Often victories are attributed to his unstable ankles, which he tapes and securely fixes before each game with ankle braces. All of this is done in connection with his documented injury history. Further protection is, in principle, provided by the Under Armor Curry high-top sneakers.
"In any sport, I think athletic shoes play a very, very important role," says Joseph Gamil, a biomechanic at the University of Massachusetts. "The running shoe itself is designed to try and mitigate specific factors in terms of minimizing the risk of injury. "
From the classic Chuck Taylors to the modern Air Jordan, basketball shoes are usually made in a high-top design that is supposed to provide support and protect against ankle injury.
Over the years, basketball shoes have evolved from a simple canvas to a complex of high-tech modified technologies and bold designs. With the development of sneaker culture, which manifests itself as a complex combination of fashion, concentration of capital, politics, culture, race and public, basketball shoes continue to hold the cutting edge of technology in their field. Whether it's cushioning air cells in the outsole, new rubber varieties for better traction, lighter materials, or even a smarter inflatable support piece on Reebok Pumps. Basketball shoes have always been a skillful combination of form and function.
"These must be shoes," said Spike Lee as he played his character Mars Blackmon in Nike's iconic Air Jordan ad campaign that dates back to the late 1980s. Yes, shoes are very important. But when it comes to various injuries, shoes alone will not help to avoid them.
High and low basketball shoes?
At the very beginning of the development of basketball, it was customary to enter the court only in high shoes. But almost immediately after the invention of basketball, in 1891 year, Spalding developed the first high ankle basketball shoe. They were made from canvas and had thinner soles compared to the Converse All-Stars that first hit the market in 1917 and became known as the Chuck Taylors in 1943.
Even though the safety of high-ankle shoes was supposed to be the main selling point, budding shoe designers did not attach much importance to this. “The real reason we had tall shoes was because they were very similar to the high-top shoes that men wore in those days,” says Elizabeth Semmelhak, senior curator at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto. Ankle boots were the standard, and basketball shoes just repeated this style.
In 1969 adidas introduced the first low ankle basketball shoe. It was all leather and was called the adidas Superstar. But throughout the 20th century, tall shoes remained the standard. Then, in 2008, Nike released a low-top basketball shoe called the Nike Zoom Kobe, and thanks to an ad from the Los Angeles Lakers star, the low-cut shoe has been gaining popularity ever since. Players claim that they feel more freedom of movement in low ankle shoes.
Today, about half of NBA players wear low-ankle shoes, according to Howard Osterman, an orthopedic doctor for both Washington basketball teams, the Wizards and the Mystics women's team. According to Patrick Telly, athletics coach for the UCLA women's basketball team, most players also opt for low-top basketball shoes. .
Conventional wisdom says that most injuries occur in those who play in low basketball shoes. But the leading number of ankle sprains, like the ones Curry suffers from, happen when one player lands hard on the foot of another. The result is incredibly high impact force, so no high-ankle shoe can prevent sprain.
"There is no evidence that different types of basketball shoes can prevent ankle sprains," says Jay Hertel, professor of athletic training at the University of Virginia.
In general, the results of the conducted studies are rather ambiguous. In particular, two recent studies found no difference between high and low ankle shoes in terms of how the ankle rotates during jumps and landings.
According to the first study, high ankle shoes may even inhibit the natural muscle response to ankle rotation, increasing the likelihood of sprains. The second study suggested that high-top sneakers increase strength, thereby increasing the risk of injury and stretching the Achilles tendon.
But these studies were biomechanical experiments. The researchers measured the strength and motions of the legs of volunteers who ran and jumped in the lab. Since it is difficult and expensive to conduct large-scale studies of basketball players, they are quite rare. And none of them had a full bearing on ankle injuries.
For example, a 1993 study of 622 college players found no difference between high and low ankle models. In a 2001 study of more than 10,000 basketball players in Australia, high or low shoes were not found to be a major risk factor for ankle injury. Instead, those with a history of injury are at high risk, whether the player has stretched before a game or not and whether their shoes have cushioning like the Air Jordans. But even the importance of depreciation is quite chaotic. A 2008 study of 230 varsity players focused on springy cushioning. As a result, it was found that the frequency of ankle sprains does not depend on the shoe model.
Function, form and… science
However, the fit and cushioning of the basketball shoe is only one part of a design that has come a long way since the introduction of the Chuck Taylors. “Sneakers have always been intertwined with technological advances,” says Semmelhak. “Even the first basketball shoes were state of the art. It had a rubber sole and was made from the newest and most expensive materials at the time. And the ankle pads on some of the early Chuck Taylors shoes were also meant to cushion impacts.”
It can be hard to tell the difference between a real innovation and a marketing ploy, but in most cases, shoe companies do do extensive research on their products. Before joining adidas, Tobias Luckfiel believed that shoe companies were doing a lot of bullshit in terms of technology. “But I think we have a lot of people who want the best for the athlete,” said Luckfiel, who is now senior manager of sports research at adidas, based in Portland, where he helps develop new materials and test shoes. measuring its coefficient of grip with the surface, shock absorption and strength.
Published research on basketball shoes is sparse, especially when compared to what has been done with shoes used in other sports such as running and football. But shoe companies do a lot of specific work that just isn't published. “For every publication, we need to produce 100 technical reports,” says Matthew Nurse, vice president of the Nike Sports Research Lab in Portland. He reports that Nike researchers are using motion detection systems, touch sensors, cameras and other devices to zoom in on the details to see how players move. They even used x-rays to gauge the effect the shoes had on the ankles during the turn. The Morgan Stanley report, which was published in 2017, states that Nike has invested about $2.5 billion in all R&D over the past 5 years.
This study helps designers understand factors such as traction coefficient, sole stiffness, heel height and foot stability during side to side movement. Basketball shoes should be lightweight, comfortable, and provide soft support. It should allow the leg to make natural movements, but within the limits of what is permitted.
The problem is that playing basketball requires different movements: jumping, landing, running with a change of direction, sliding side to side. "It's really hard to take all these characteristics into account when designing basketball shoes," says Hamil, who, like many athletic shoe researchers, receives funding from shoe companies (he works with Brooks on running shoes and with FootJoy on shoes). for golf).
And all these factors have pros and cons. For example, a tighter upper can increase ankle support. But in the case of ski boots, extra support transfers force and potential injury up to the knee. “You can change one part and it will be better for one area, and unfortunately it may not work at all for another,” says Jeffrey Taylor, a physiotherapist and biomechanic at High Point University in North Carolina, who receives funding from Adidas. .
How to minimize the risk of injury?
Many factors indicate that the correct basketball shoe must be individual for each athlete. At the university level, coaches like Telly, who works at the University of California at Los Angeles, make sure every player wears the right shoes. In the National Basketball Association, about half of the players use custom-made insoles made from computer scans of their feet, says Osterman, an orthopedic doctor for the Wizards and Mystics teams. The other half uses the same insoles that come with the shoes. “Technology has gotten better, but running shoes by themselves may not be the ultimate choice. They need to be improved and this applies to the insole, especially if the player has had injuries in the past,” he says.?
At the highest levels of basketball, all players undergo mandatory strength and balance training to help prevent injury. And most of them are done with taped ankles or bandages. This is required to be done both in the training process and in games. About 80% of professional players use taping and bandages. Some research suggests that taping has benefits, but not in the form you might think.
After a few minutes of activity, the tape begins to weaken and no longer provides structural support. According to experts, the benefits of taping are mainly proprioceptive, during which the contact of the tape with the skin encourages the muscles to respond better, thereby preventing injury. “If your ankle is in a vulnerable position, your body will be ready to sense it and contract the muscles to prevent the ankle from twisting too much,” Hertel explained.
Tapes and bandages may also benefit a recovering player who has recently sprained his ankle. But in general, strength and balance exercises are more important for preparing the ankle for stress. Hertel, for example, suggests you try brushing your teeth on one foot
When it comes to shoes, experts recommend wearing what feels most comfortable and supportive. As Hamil says, name brand shoes are likely to be of the best quality. But you don't have to spend a lot, according to David Auji, an orthopedic surgeon at the Stanford Health Center who also works with Stanford University athletes. Cheaper shoes can also be just as effective as the more expensive option.?
More than shoes
But the main purpose of basketball shoes has never been simply to reduce injuries. For top professional players, promotional deals can be the main reason why they wear these particular shoes.
It happens that you have picked up comfortable shoes or boots in the store, but in the first days of wearing they rub your feet. Do not despair and take them back, because there are many ways to stretch shoes at home. They will help not only increase the size of the shoe, but also extend its life. 
Mechanical stretching takes 4 hours. 
Often children's shoes need stretching, because children grow quickly. 
For the solution, mix water and alcohol in proportions of 2: 1, spray it inside the shoes, put them on thick socks and wait for the composition to evaporate. There are also non-standard methods for stretching genuine leather sneakers or boots. Put the shoes in a strong bag, fill it with water, lace up the shoes and put the bag in the freezer overnight. After that, remove the shoes, let the ice thaw a little and remove the shoes. 
All manipulations take no more than half an hour. 
" 
But when it comes to various injuries, shoes alone will not help to avoid them. 
The result is incredibly high impact force, so no high-ankle shoe can prevent sprain. 
And none of them had a full bearing on ankle injuries. 
“Even the first basketball shoes were state of the art. It had a rubber sole and was made from the newest and most expensive materials at the time. And the ankle pads on some of the early Chuck Taylors shoes were also meant to cushion impacts.” 
But shoe companies do a lot of specific work that just isn't published. “For every publication, we need to produce 100 technical reports,” says Matthew Nurse, vice president of the Nike Sports Research Lab in Portland. He reports that Nike researchers are using motion detection systems, touch sensors, cameras and other devices to zoom in on the details to see how players move. They even used x-rays to gauge the effect the shoes had on the ankles during the turn. The Morgan Stanley report, which was published in 2017, states that Nike has invested about $2.5 billion in all R&D over the past 5 years. 
"It's really hard to take all these characteristics into account when designing basketball shoes," says Hamil, who, like many athletic shoe researchers, receives funding from shoe companies (he works with Brooks on running shoes and with FootJoy on shoes). for golf). 
In the National Basketball Association, about half of the players use custom-made insoles made from computer scans of their feet, says Osterman, an orthopedic doctor for the Wizards and Mystics teams. The other half uses the same insoles that come with the shoes. “Technology has gotten better, but running shoes by themselves may not be the ultimate choice. They need to be improved and this applies to the insole, especially if the player has had injuries in the past,” he says.? 
“If your ankle is in a vulnerable position, your body will be ready to sense it and contract the muscles to prevent the ankle from twisting too much,” Hertel explained. 
