New Balance shoes feel tighter than expected, what’s the best way to break them in?

Breaking your New Balance shoes in slowly can make a big difference if they feel tighter than you thought they would. At first, wear them for short amounts of time at home so that the material can start to mould to your feet without hurting them. The shoes can mould to your feet in just 15 to 30 minutes a day.

Another good tip might be to wear thick socks. More stretch is added to the inside of the shoe when you wear bigger socks, especially if your New Balance shoes are made of leather or suede. It can soften faster if you walk around like this for a few hours.

You could also think about getting a shoe stretcher, which you can do online or in many shoe shops. These devices can be changed to fit different shoe sizes, and they can be left in place overnight to make the fit more comfortable.

Last but not least, don't forget that cushions can also help with comfort. If the shoes feel tight mostly on the sides or top, switching to thinner insoles or even custom orthotic insoles can help ease pressure and make the shoes fit better all around.

If you appreciate these tips, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.