Breaking-in a new pair of shoes can be painful, and many people have looked for ways to speed up the process. Some suggestions, such as soaking leather shoes in water and then wearing them until they dry, may mold the shoes to your feet, but there is also a good chance that the procedure will destroy the leather. The best way to mold a new pair of shoes to your feet is to soften the leather in ways that will not damage it, while giving your feet a chance to stretch out the shoes.
Dip a cloth in hot water and wring it out. Rub the cloth on a bar of saddle soap until a lather develops. Rub the saddle soap over the surface of the shoe in a circular motion, covering the whole surface. Let the shoe sit for 10 minutes. Do the same for the other shoe. The saddle soap will soften the leather and allow your foot to stretch the leather more easily.
Place your foot into a plastic grocery bag, if you have trouble getting your foot into the shoe. The plastic bag will help you to slip your foot inside the shoe. Place your foot into the shoe. Do the same for the other foot.
Wear your shoes around the house to break them in. Wear them when sitting and when walking around. Your foot will push against the shoe, causing it to stretch where it is too tight.
Reapply the saddle soap to the outside of the shoes, while you are wearing them. The saddle soap will soften the leather and allow your feet to more quickly break the shoes in.
Tip
Leather shoes will take a few days to break-in. Remove the shoes every once in a while to give your feet a rest.
Warning
Remove the shoes if your feet begin to feel pain. You can injure your feet by wearing shoes that are too tight.