How to Break in Chacos Fast

So, you have a brand new pair of Chacos – you paid top dollar for these sandals as they’re something you’ve always wanted to have.

And the biggest of these questions is: how do I quickly break in my new Chacos? Is it even possible to do something like that?

Do I Have to Break in Chacos?

If you ask this question, any owner of Chaco sandals, he or she will probably tell you that their shoes were comfortable and cozy right from the start – people rarely remember the discomforts that come with the break-in period.

But in reality, yes – new Chacos do need to be broken in, just like any other type of footwear.

That’s why talking to someone who has just bought a pair of Chacos is completely different from speaking to someone who has been using these sandals for years. When talking with the former individuals, you tend to hear comments such as these:

• These hurt my feet so much!
• Will these sandals ever become comfortable?
• Are the footbeds of Chacos supposed to be this hard?
• After wearing these sandals for a time, I am limping around the house!

A brand new pair of Chacos looks and feels completely different from the one used for years. New Chaco sandals are far from cushy, soft shoes that most people who have been wearing them for some time usually call.

The footbed can feel quite firm. Chacos that feature a toe strap can cause you to have serious blisters between your toes. And lastly, not getting these sandals in the right size means risking having the arch support bruise the bottom of your feet.

All of this brings us to a simple conclusion – these sandals must be broken in. In other words, wearing them is the only way to make them feel comfortable.

Even though it’s not the most fashionable, pairing your Chacos with a good pair of hiking socks may make everything easier.

How Long Does the Break-In Period Last?

If you’ve just got yourself a pair of brand new Chacos and you can’t wait to wear them during your big backcountry adventure that is taking place next weekend, you probably won’t like what you’re about to hear next.

To reach the point where a pair of new Chaco sandals become comfortable, one needs to wear them every day for a couple of hours over two weeks. The usual reaction to this stark reality is – “I don’t have that much time!”

An obvious way to speed up this process would be to wear them all day long for four to seven days.

However, this method has a major disadvantage – you are almost sure to experience horrible blisters, and your feet are guaranteed to be sore at each day’s end. And I’m pretty sure you don’t want to embark on an outdoor adventure with achy feet.

In conclusion, the wisest thing one can do in this regard is to simply get a pair of brand new Chacos at least two weeks before actually using them on the trail. This gives the buyer enough time to break these sandals in and make them comfortable for the upcoming trip.

Can I Make my Chacos More Comfortable by Stretching Out the Straps?

When it comes to breaking in a pair of Chaco sandals, one very important thing you’ll have to do is ensure that your straps are properly adjusted. Failing to do so means suffering unnecessary pain, and that’s something I can guarantee – I learned it the hard way.

Luckily for all who decide to buy a pair of Chaco sandals, the company has a strap adjuster guide on its official website. This should assist you in getting the perfect fit from the straps on your Chaco sandals.

Comfort-wise, I’ve noticed that the Chacos from the company’s Z/Cloud lineup have significantly more footbed cushioning than the other models. So, if you’re looking for a genuinely comfortable pair of Chacos, I suggest getting a pair from the Z/Cloud range of sandals.

If you’ve been searching online about how to break in your Chacos quickly – and you probably have, since you’re here – there’s a good chance you’ve seen people recommending others to put their sandals into an oven.

According to these individuals, leaving a pair of Chacos in an oven for a couple of minutes can soften up the footbeds of these sandals and force them to conform to the owner’s feet sooner than they usually would.

Is this something you should try as well? It isn’t – never expose your Chacos to extremely high temperatures! Putting this kind of footwear into an oven can easily dissolve the adhesive that is present between the outsole and the footbed.

Doing something like this could cause you to end up with a pair of broken Chaco sandals that you won’t be able to wear. Don’t throw your money away!

When making a pair of these sandals cozy, getting the arch support in an appropriate place for one’s feet is crucial. And that’s also why it’s so important to pay close attention while shopping for Chacos and get them in the correct size – otherwise, you’re bound to have issues with breaking into your brand new sandals.

While you should avoid putting your Chacos into an oven, one other trick that’s completely safe and that you can do – stretching the straps with the help of water. To soften the straps, you will have to stretch them out, which you can do by getting them wet as soon as possible.

Do this by purposefully walking through crashing waves at the beach or forest creeks whenever possible. And if you’re still unable to leave your home at the moment, simply use a garden hose on your sandals or wear them when you shower.

If your Chacos are uncomfortable even after a couple of weeks, it might be a good idea to go with some other hiking sandals. Check out my Teva vs Chaco sandals comparison. And if you conclude that hiking sandals aren’t for you, after all, check out my post on the best hiking shoes.

Conclusion

With Chaco sandals, one needs to be patient – that much is sure. It takes a couple of weeks for them to be appropriately broken in.

Keep in mind that dealing with some pain and blisters while wearing a brand new pair of Chacos is completely normal. In any case, it’s a small price to pay for owning and using the world’s best trekking sandals that will become extremely comfortable once you break them in.