I have always just worn the shoes as normal at the office on carpet and they would mold to my feet and loosen on their own after 2-3 months of weekly wear. I use shoe trees any time my feet are not in them.

All of my shoes are Allen Edmonds and with exception to a BB branded pair of Balmorals, They are quite comfortable. Even during the break in I found them stiff, but far from painful. I wonder if it isn't the shoes itself, more than just the fit?

A cobbler will be able to stretch the shoe to some extent if their are pinch points, you may elect to go that route. I have also heard of several DIY efforts, but I would leave it in the hands of a professional if the shoe was even mildly expensive.

Good luck!

 

Put the shoes on over a pair of wet, thick socks and walk them dry. This method has been used successfully in armies since the beginning of shoes. The Roman legions may have done it with sandals.

 

From boots to bicycle saddles, there are lots and lots and lots of methods folks talk about for breaking in leather goods. Some may or may not work better than others, but the one method, guaranteed safe, that has always worked for me is simply putting up with pain, in measured doses, and using the item in question, and so I think that the OP is doing things exactly right. If they never become comfortable but are always worn indoors on carpet during the break-in period, you might be able to return them, especially if the maker is top shelf. If the maker won't take them back, or if they are not worn indoors on carpet during break in, you can recoup at least some of your losses by selling them on the Exchange or the Bay. But once you dip them in mink oil or some other hurry-it-up method, they are impossible to return and are worth less on the secondary market.

All feet, and all shoes, are different, and so some shoes, no matter the cost, just won't work for some people--I've had difficulty finding Aldens that are more comfortable, at least for me, than AE.

 

Thanks to all who replied. I think I'll take the more gentle approach that 32rockandroll recommends for a while, but keep the "nuclear option" recommended by godan as a last resort.
Tom

 

I've been breaking in a lot of shoes this year. I start by wearing them around the house, then on shorter outings. If I were to be stuck in the office for a questionable period of time, I might take a second pair to swap out if the pain gets too bad.

 

How about oversized trees to stretch. Never tried it, but someone else recommended it

 

Our feet may need to break in as much as the shoes! But moisture helps, from pre-wet socks or just foot perspiration during a long day's wear.