Top of new shoe rubbing ankle

[Shiv]

So my new Salomons arrived last week. I tried them on and they felt great. I was delighted, until I took them for a short walk no longer than 5 km. The top of the right shoe was rubbing just under my ankle bone. It didn't feel too bad so the next night I went again for another short walk. This time the rubbing was so bad it cut my ankle. The top of the shoe is padded so I don't understand why it's happening, and only on one foot. I talked to a friend who says to just wear them around for the next few weeks and the skin in that area will toughen up. Does anyone have any experience of this?

 

[koilife]

If you have the time to see if you can adapt to the shoe (toughen up), or the shoe to you, then give it time.

Your foot might be slipping slightly forward and backward with each step in the shoe, and a heel-locking or lace-locking technique might help with that.

You might also try using an ENGO patch right at the point of rubbing.

If these fail, you may simply need a different shoe.

 

[Sheffield James]

Hi Shiv, I find it easy to empathise with you as I had the exact same problem recently. Rather than repeat the good advice given to me, may I suggest you read the 'Breaking-in new boots: advice needed' thread under the Medical Issues section of the forum. FYI, my problem has almost disappeared now.

 

[Phillypilgrim]

Personally I would not keep or wear a shoe that gave me problems from the getgo.

 

[Keith Hearn]

If you wear them for a few weeks and things don't get better, it'll be too late to return them. Send 'em back and gets something that fits you, rather than hoping that you'll adapt to fit them.

 

[Dutchwalk53]

Shoes !!!! for me THE most important thing I carry. I start breaking my shoes in 6 months prior to the Camino....that way I have time to switch if they turn out not to be the right shoe. And I bring comfy trail runners that I can wear if the weather is not too wet. AND....hiking sandals if the weather is real nice

 

[Rosebud]

Hi Shiv....sorry about your problem with the Solomons.

I feel your pain.....If there is one thread out of place on my shoe, I will be sure to get a blister.

Here is a possible solution to your problem which has worked for me. Try elevating your foot in the shoe by placing thin pieces of cardboard under the Solomon shoe liner (or try a cut-up piece of thin shoe insole from old shoes). Raising the foot will also raise the ankle away from the rubbing part of the shoe. It worked terrifically for me on brand new shoes recently. I placed it in the heel area only.

Hope it works for you.......hardening up my feet has never worked for me. Feel free to check out my photo from C.F. 2013.

 

[AllanHG]

So my new Salomons arrived last week. I tried them on and they felt great. I was delighted, until I took them for a short walk no longer than 5 km. The top of the right shoe was rubbing just under my ankle bone. It didn't feel too bad so the next night I went again for another short walk. This time the rubbing was so bad it cut my ankle. The top of the shoe is padded so I don't understand why it's happening, and only on one foot. I talked to a friend who says to just wear them around for the next few weeks and the skin in that area will toughen up. Does anyone have any experience of this?

Don't get rid of your boots if they otherwise fit! My wife had a similar problem and got carded wool to make protect her ankle, which was similarly irritated by the boot despite padding. It worked perfectly and was also great for protecting other parts of the feet (toes, heals, etc if/when "hot spots" were noticed). Got through the camino without a blister! Also gave pieces of wool to many people on the camino who were plagued by blisters and didn't want to use compeed or similar adhesive product.
Carded wool is soft, antibacterial, keeps skin dry, reusable, inexpensive (get it at yard stores) - can't say enough about it!

 

[Pruden]

Make a photo of the injured ankle and send them back ( tell the manufactured they are not apropiated for your feet).
Or wear a good quality socks two layers !
Put some Vaseline on it , but the best solution is send then back to the manufacturer!

 

[David]

Send them back - it sounds like either one is malformed and another pair would be fine or that you have one foot larger than the other (many do).

Clean them up before posting - if you are concerned about the initial road sole wear spray 'cockpit shine' on the bottom of them.

Or, if you really must keep them try this (it is what cobblers do with leather shoes) - place the shoe over something hard - a log is good - then hit the offending section really hard a couple of times with a hammer to soften them at the friction point.

 

[jmcarp]

If you're determined to keep that particular shoe, try inserting an insole. Not only will it improve your arch support, it will probably raise your ankle just enough to get the tender spot above the top of the shoe.

 

[alipilgrim]

Try a gel heel insert

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Use a heel insert so that your ankle sits higher than usual. This is also good for plantar fasciitis, right @Robo ? Or if you like the rest of how the shoe feels there is nothing a pair of scissors can't help with I'm sure. Just cut a bit of that padding and use good old ducktape. You see lots of that on the Camino.

 

[Latecomer]

Consider experimenting with alternative lacing techniques. I found without doing so the lacing hooks of many different models of boots put pressure in the wrong place on my ankle. Some of the main concepts are discussed in this video: http://equipped.outdoors.org/2013/09/know-this-hiking-boot-lacing-technique.html

The photo shows what was much more comfortable for my needs.

 

[Chris W]

So my new Salomons arrived last week. I tried them on and they felt great. I was delighted, until I took them for a short walk no longer than 5 km. The top of the right shoe was rubbing just under my ankle bone. It didn't feel too bad so the next night I went again for another short walk. This time the rubbing was so bad it cut my ankle. The top of the shoe is padded so I don't understand why it's happening, and only on one foot. I talked to a friend who says to just wear them around for the next few weeks and the skin in that area will toughen up. Does anyone have any experience of this?

I am a fitness instructor and have had issues with any shoe that touches my ankle. I tried on many hiking shoes until I found the pair I just bought. It's the Soloman XAComp. It's basically a trail running shoe but it's not hitting my ankle. I tried on 2 though. One comes up higher than the one I bought and I bet you have that one. You do not want to keep a shoe annoying your ankle. It will actually end up bruising it and you'll be aware of it with every step. Get the XAComp 7. Awesome shoe. My daughter bought it also after trying on at least 12 others. And the first Soloman she tried was also the one that hits the ankle bone and she felt it right away. I've had cross trainers that do this and eventually my ankle would be so irritated that I could barely take a step much less try to teach a step class or run in them. This Soloman XAComp is also waterproof.

 

[Chris W]

I am a fitness instructor and have had issues with any shoe that touches my ankle. I tried on many hiking shoes until I found the pair I just bought. It's the Soloman XAComp. It's basically a trail running shoe but it's not hitting my ankle. I tried on 2 though. One comes up higher than the one I bought and I bet you have that one. You do not want to keep a shoe annoying your ankle. It will actually end up bruising it and you'll be aware of it with every step. Get the XAComp 7. Awesome shoe. My daughter bought it also after trying on at least 12 others. And the first Soloman she tried was also the one that hits the ankle bone and she felt it right away. I've had cross trainers that do this and eventually my ankle would be so irritated that I could barely take a step much less try to teach a step class or run in them. This Soloman XAComp is also waterproof.

 

[Shiv]

Thanks so much for all the advice, you guys are great! I'm going to try a few of the suggestions here as I'm not really in a position to get another pair at the moment. I'm using my old insoles and I know I need new ones so perhaps that will help. I like the idea of raising my foot slightly so will give that a try too. I'm wearing a padded plaster on that area at the moment and it's helping. I'll keep walking with them for another few weeks anyway and will have a better idea then. Thanks again