Why Do Converse Hurt My Toes?

Converse can hurt your toes majorly due to the fact that your shoe is too tight and makes you uncomfortable. This may be caused by you having wide feet, buying Converse that is tighter than you, walking long distances, having sensitive feet amongst others.

Wearing a narrow shoe like the Converse sneakers could be a really bad day experience, especially for folks like me that have a wider foot.

Although Converse sneakers are actually cool, I don’t get obsessed wearing them all day because of the “pinky toe blisters” I eventually get after rocking them for that day.

I could remember vividly, while growing up, wearing tight-fitted shoes [not to mention Converse shoes] for the entire day, just left my pinkie toes grasping for space and in pains for the whole night.

Then I begin to wonder why a lot of my female friends confess that “beauty is pain†because I can’t imagine myself enduring again the pains I get from wearing a new pair of Converse sneakers, especially at the “breaking in stageâ€.

Anyways, when it comes to my footwear, especially the classic ones like Converse sneakers, then there is actually a fine line to walk between looking classic and being in pains at the same time, and Converse shoes aren’t the right pair of shoes for me.

So I have created this blog post on everything you need to know about why Converse hurt the toes.

Reasons why Converse hurt my toes

Wearing Converse sneakers can either make or break your legs. And you probably don’t want to go for the latter. Because walking on a pain-ed foot, just renders your trip futile.

Most of the times why these new sneakers hurt me a lot, especially at the toes is because they are narrower at the tip and if you are the wide footed type like me, then they probably won’t fit your toes and hence cause you much pain as seen in the blisters you get after wearing it.

You have wide feet and bought an unsuitable shoe

One thing you need to know about sneakers is the stretching process which typically happens in width, not length, as the outsole (or the bottommost part of a shoe that comes in direct contact with the ground) doesn’t stretch.

So, Converse sneakers are narrower at the tip thus people with wider feet don’t find it comfortable wearing these shoes for too long, as it generally hurts the toes.

Pain caused by the tightness of Converse on your feet

These sneakers are designed to be tough, capable of resisting wear and tear so that they can obviously last long for you. But because of the fibrous material- canvas used in making them, Converse doesn’t actually stretch.

So, making use of a shoe stretcher to make it better for wearing will have little or no significance. Instead, they could actually stretch naturally and conform to the shape of your foot after a period of walking on them.

And so, wearing these Converse sneakers just means that you have to be patient especially at the “breaking in stage” when the shoes are still fresh new, to adapt to the shape of your foot.

Pain caused by rubbing of toes against the rubber sole

Like all normal classic Converse sneakers, the upper top is actually designed with a rubber sole, and this of course will make it difficult for the upper foot, especially the toes to move freely. This will result in friction and pain as the toes are rubbing against the rubber top sole.

And because you are flexing your toes all day to push off to walk, you end up with red sores or blisters, a sign that your foot, especially the pinky toe is rubbing against the surface.

Pain caused by long-distance trekking

These shoes are really light and easy to walk on, that’s why most people prefer wearing these sneakers for long-distance trekking.

But, these shoes were never meant for long-distance trekking, so they tend to cause you pains after wearing them the entire day.

Try to reconsider what kind of footwear would suit your daily schedule, so that you can comfortably walk and return home smiling.

Your feet are too flat

This is exactly the key feature of this footwear because they are designed to be as soft as soled moccasins.

So, people with bare flat feet can’t comfortably walk on them because the movement between the foot and ground tends to hurt, especially the heel. And as the heel gets affected it translates to the toes, which eventually blisters.

Your underfeet are sensitive and could not cope with Converse’s lack of padding

The lack of padding features on the heel gives it this hardy feel and of course, frequent wearing will cause pains underneath your foot. While walking you tend to squeeze in between your toes and this causes blisters on the toes.

What can be done when Converse hurt one’s toes

You don’t necessarily have to stop wearing Converse sneakers entirely, after a first trial, after all, nothing good comes easily, haha.

Although, Obviously, if the size of a pair of Converse shoes is tight on you, then it is going to be pressing the toes against the rough surface on the inner side of the shoes. And this of course is an uncomfortable feeling.

So, you may be asking what can be done to relieve the frequent pain you experience wearing a new pair of Converse sneakers.

Here below are some of the things I did to stop the frequent blisters on my toes and if you try out any of the tactics, it would have similar effects on your pinky toes.

Get a pair of comfy thick socks

If there is one thing I stick to while putting on a pair of Converse sneakers, is to actually wear them with a pair of socks, as a pair of socks can put a pain away, the thicker the better.

Most times, my pinky toe hurts when my shoe presses on it.

So wearing a pair of thick socks actually saves my toe from blisters.

Get a gel arch support

This is actually the ultimate in toe cushioning and protection. And because of the material in the gel, it is excellent for cushioning the pressure generated from the movement between the toes and heels.

Try them out at home, first

It is quite possible to get these shoes to feel comfortable right from trying them on at home.

You don’t want to end up buying a new pair when your old Converse hurts you, so try them on before leaving your home so that you can know how comfortable the new pair of Converse sneakers are while walking on them.

Walk around with them before going out for your day’s job, so as to make sure that both shoes actually fit properly and as well get that easy feel of movement.

Try to break in your Converse as fast as you can

This is actually the first DIY thing you need to do before subjecting these sneakers to further processing.

Although it takes some time for your foot to “break-in” but be patient, the sneakers will naturally try to take the shape of your foot.

Stop wearing them for sometime

It would be best to take a short break wearing these shoes because your toes especially need healing for some time.

Though this could be hard but take a few days break from the shoes, go for wider shoes that can comfortably contain your foot box.

Get advice from a podiatrist

Although, severe cases of toe damages rarely happen, but if encountered, It would be best to get some professional advice and treatment on this/ You need to see a Podiatrist straight away to get your toes issues sorted out.

Use anti-blister cushions

They are to be worn on the little toe, and they protect that region from rubbing against the shoe, thus no hurting happens.

This is so effective at preventing any blisters on your toes, just a trial will convince you

Try applying powder to the toes

This works as it prevents sweating. A lot of sweat in your sneakers will lead to friction, and when this happens, the shoe will rub against your toe, and possibly cause blisters.

So, before you actually put them apply powder so as to reduce foot sweating and enhance better movement in between the toes.

How to prevent Converse from hurting your toes

Shoes stretch on their own when you wear them from one place to another but this can take so long, depending on the frequency of wearing the Converse. And if care is not taken you might have blisters and crunched toes as you walk even before shoe stretching happens.

Although walking in shoes that pinch is something you can totally avoid. But if you are like me that just don’t know the exact size that fits my foot, then there are some at-home tips you can follow to stretch these Converse shoes for a more comfortable fit.

Getting a size that is half size bigger

Of course, when buying a pair of Converse, you get to check for the size that fits your feet.  You probably don’t want to get a pair that’s exactly your foot size, because you might end up not wearing it (blisters will show up!)

So, you can get a comfortable pair of Converse sneakers by looking out for those that accommodate your toebox, and don’t forget your heel position. This is important for you as your heel must be fixed at the back of your shoes all the time.

Buy insoles

Converse sneakers actually come with great insole options, especially for people with related foot problems.

You need to get an extra insole, as it is great for keeping your toes at ease and your heels in their position while walking.

So you can insert your gel insoles and off you go!

Take out the insoles or sock liner

You can replace the insoles with orthotics or give them to your local cobbler to make the necessary adjustments.

This will help to adjust the inner surface of the shoe a bit for better fitting.

So, have it always with you, as insoles are really of much assistance to the person especially when there is an underlining foot problem.

Adjust or loosen the lacing

While tying the sneakers lace, be flexible with it. Don’t tie too tight but softly so that you can comfortably walk, without necessarily feeling a hard sensation on your feet.

And a trick to this is to actually loosen the lace towards your toe box. This will enable your toes breathable and not stuffed up.

Don’t wear the entire week

Take a break from Converse sneakers and try out other types of “out of the box” footwear like sandals and slip-on. Your feet will love you for it.

I won’t make myself uncomfortable in the name of style or fashion, so I rarely wear this footwear for long during the week.

Instead, try something comfy like sandals or fashionable slippers which have enough space for the toes to mingle while moving.

Conclusion

So, this is it!

We have come to the end of today’s blog post, which was all about why wearing Converse sneakers actually hurts the toes and how pinky toe blisters can occur when you’ve got tight, narrow, or even loose shoes.

Also some of the possible reasons why these shoes hurt the toes were mentioned. Plus other practical advice on what you can actually do when your Converse hurt your toes was also discussed.

However, you were able to discover other alternative ways you can try out to prevent these sneakers from hurting your pinky toe, by being extra conscious about fitting, comfort, and wear.

So, whenever you want to look fashionable and casual, do it intentionally by knowing exactly the size of sneakers (not the exact size!) that gives you most of the comfort and ease of walking on it.

Comment down below on how the whole experience of wearing Converse sneakers went.