Worried about developing blisters after purchasing a new pair of Chacos hiking sandals?
You might be feeling anxious right now, wondering what to do.
How long does it take a pair of Chacos to break in?
How can you make that process go more quickly?
Let us help you so that you may enjoy using your new hiking footwear without getting any blisters.
Do You Have To Break In Chacos?
If you ask any Chacos sandals owner, they’ll probably tell you that they practically live in their Chacos and that it was like that from the start.
My brother loves his pair and I think he just might wear them all the time!
The truth is that just like any shoe, yes, you do have to break in a pair of Chacos.
Whenever someone buys their first pair, you tend to hear comments like this:
- Do these ever get more comfortable?
- These make the balls of my feet hurt!
- Is the footbed supposed to be this hard?
- Will these ever get comfortable?
- I limp around my house after wearing these for the first time!
And it’s true, Chaco sandals are not the soft, cushy shoes that you expect when you hear the way current owners talk about them.
The footbed is very firm, the models with the toe strap can rub a blister between your toes, and if you don’t get the right side the arch support will bruise the bottom of your foot.
So yeah, you definitely need some break-in time for that new pair of Chaco sandals.
How Long Does It Take To Break In A Pair Of Chacos?
If you’ve got a new pair of Chacos that you’re breaking in before a big trip, then you might not like to hear the reality if how long this process takes to reach the point where they are comfortable.
To break in your new Chaco sandals, wear them for a few hours a day over a one to two week time period.
I know what you’re thinking – you don’t have that sort of time!
So, you can speed up this process by wearing them all day for three to seven days time.
However, you’re probably going to get blisters and your feet are going to be SORE at the end of each day.
And do you really want to start your trip out with achy feet?
In reality, you should get a new pair of Chacos around two to three weeks before you intend to take them on a trip.
This gives you plenty of time for breaking in those sandals.
You may also be interested in our Chaco vs Teva sandal comparison guide.
How Do You Stretch Out Chacos & Get Them Comfortable?
To make the most of the time you have available to you for breaking in these sandals, the most important thing to do is to make sure that you’ve got those straps adjusted properly.
Otherwise, you’re just setting yourself up for some pain.
Luckily for you, Chaco has a strap adjuster guide so that you get the perfect fit from those straps.
In terms of comfort, keep in mind that the Z/Cloud sandals have more cushioning in the footbed than the models.
So definitely buy the Z/Cloud sandals for the most comfortable Chacos.
You may have seen some people online recommending that you put your Chacos in the oven on a low temperature for a few minutes to soften up the footbed so that it molds better to your feet.
Wondering if you should try that?
Do not put your Chaco sandals in the oven! The heat from the oven can cause the adhesive that’s between the footbed and the outsole to dissolve – then you’ll just have a broken pair of Chacos that you cant’t wear at all.
The most important thing in making your Chacos comfortable is getting the arch support in the correct place for your feet.
This is why it’s so important to makes sure you have the correct size in these shoes.
To stretch out the straps so that they soften up a bit, I suggest that you get them really wet as soon as you can.
So, walk through a creek or in the crashing waves at the beach.
Or, you can just wear them in the shower or use the garden hose on them.
