Dansko Shoes are killing my feet!!!

allthingsbright · Jun 14, 2008

My Danskos are horrible--have tried to break them in for a month of 12 hr shifts and they still really hurt. The bottoms of my feet burn and my heels hurt. Plus I have turned my ankle a couple times when trying to run in them! Going to sell them on ebay and start all over w/ something else!

I hate paying so much only to be miserable!

allthingsbright · Jun 14, 2008

Kensington said:
I bought a pair of Danskos since I'm starting nursing school in the fall, and because of my high arches, I think I'm going to have to return them. I suppose I could try to get them stretched as one poster recommended, but seriously, they hurt the tops of my feet SO bad! My arch is just so high that it pushes the top of the shoe into my foot so tightly that I just don't see how I would be able to ever break them in without some serious foot damage!
Anyone else with high arches have luck breaking in their Danskos?

Yes, my arches are high and no luck here! Sorry!

Kensington · Jun 16, 2008

So . . . update! I returned my Danskos to Nordstrom (which were the black cabrio leather -- the more shiny, regular black leather). The sales guy offered to bring me lots of different ones in my size, just to have a last try. I tried all the regular black cabrio leather ones he had, in several different sizes, and they were all SO tight, and uncomfortable. HOWEVER, when I tried the matte black (oiled) ones, they were GREAT! So comfortable. So then I tried the RED leather cabrio ones, just to see, and they were great, too! So, I exchanged the ones I had for the matte oiled black ones, but I ordered the black "box leather" from Zappos, just to see if they happen to be comfortable, too (Nordstrom didn't carry them, but the box leather is supposed to be the best for hospital work). I have no idea what the heck the difference is other than color, but I would suggest that if you are having trouble with your Danskos, that you go somewhere where you can try lots of different shoes in different colors - while it shouldn't make a difference, for some random reason, it does!!

Fun2, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2008

My Dansko Professionals are the black matte oiled leather, and I also purchased a small bottle of the oil. (Just and FYI....lol)

I hope everyone gets their shoes fitted correctly.....again, I love mine.

marachne · Jun 17, 2008

Kensington said:
So . . . update! I returned my Danskos to Nordstrom (which were the black cabrio leather -- the more shiny, regular black leather). The sales guy offered to bring me lots of different ones in my size, just to have a last try. I tried all the regular black cabrio leather ones he had, in several different sizes, and they were all SO tight, and uncomfortable. HOWEVER, when I tried the matte black (oiled) ones, they were GREAT! So comfortable. So then I tried the RED leather cabrio ones, just to see, and they were great, too! So, I exchanged the ones I had for the matte oiled black ones, but I ordered the black "box leather" from Zappos, just to see if they happen to be comfortable, too (Nordstrom didn't carry them, but the box leather is supposed to be the best for hospital work). I have no idea what the heck the difference is other than color, but I would suggest that if you are having trouble with your Danskos, that you go somewhere where you can try lots of different shoes in different colors - while it shouldn't make a difference, for some random reason, it does!!

One thing I've learned about Danskos (and I've had about a 1/2 dozen pairs) is that the exact same shoe, same leather, color, etc can be slightly different even in the same size. The last pair I bought I tried on 3 pair (same leather, color, etc) and they all fit a bit differently. I don't think I'll order on line for that reason. The other thing that's kind of cool is that Dansko is now making some cute shoes on the same sole as the professionals ("stapled clogs"). I can't wear their shoes w/the other sole, but the newish Marcelle's are really cute. I have a hard time wearing anything but my Danskos for any length of time, so having something that's a little more stylish is great

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 22, 2008

danskos are hand made, so even within the same size you'll get huge variations in fit. my advice: go to a shoe store and try on every pair in your size and/or the size above and below yours. you're bound to find a pair that feels just right!

jmcc526 · Jan 31, 2010

I am looking for Danskos clogs, your size. I saw your problem on the internet. I have the same problem, too tight across the top of the shoe. My instep is very high, any pull on shoe, forget it, if its my size, the shoe will not pull on b/c of my arch. (Sound like you, very high instep?) Stretching will not help, and if you insist, your body will respond with a boney bump, top of your arch, the pain will keep on, but worsening. Right now I am a size 38 (should be 37) and I cut 2 slits, to the R & L of the upper part of the shoe, that runs over the arch. To make sure the leather doesn't tear where I cut, I puncture 2 holes, well back from the slit, each side of the slit, where the stitching is, and I tie this area with shoe strings, that I adjust. Now you can wear clogs like these, AND adjust the amount of room over your arch. Dansko does make clogs without this arch piece, lower cut and with a strap. Good luck. I did my cuts and tie myself (the shoes are $100!), but a shoe store will do it too. Forget the stretching, I think this a big waste of $, the shoe is not design for people with really high insteps.

jmcc526 · Jan 31, 2010

I am not sure if I posted or no. To the nurse with the dansko problem, me too. We have too high of instep, dansko clogs are not designed for this. I cut 2 slits, opposite side of leather over arch, then puncture holes, each side of slit, well back from the cut, shoved thin shoelace through each hole. Now I can adjust with the laces how tight the leather is over my arch. I tried stretching, but waste of $/time. I ended up with a painful boney spurr ON THE TOP OF MY ARCH. Once I cut and used the shoe laces, the pain stopped, my clogs are 20 years old, gardening shoes now. The boney bump is still there, just not growing or tender. Dansko makes low cut clogs w/ a strap, I own these too, not the same, but what's a girl to do?

Acosmo27 · Feb 4, 2010

I also have VERY high ballerina arches, and I hate my danskos! They are just NOT comfortable for me! Ive heard so many nurses swear by them, but nope, not me.

[

quote=allthingsbright;2901691]Yes, my arches are high and no luck here! Sorry!

ashfost, BSN, RN · Feb 8, 2010

LOL. I bought a pair of danskos this past december because everyone RAVED about them. It took me about 2 mths to fully break them in. Give them at least a month or two before you give up on 'em. You won't regret it.

kediger1981 · Mar 7, 2010

I too am having problems with my danskos-I usually wear a US size 9 so I purchased a dansko size 40. The bottoms of my feet burn like they are being rubbed off after I wear them! I have had them since December 09 and have been trying to wear them to run errands and such to break them in, but have had no luck. Should I try a different size?

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 7, 2010

kediger1981 said:
i too am having problems with my danskos-i usually wear a us size 9 so i purchased a dansko size 40. the bottoms of my feet burn like they are being rubbed off after i wear them! i have had them since december 09 and have been trying to wear them to run errands and such to break them in, but have had no luck. should i try a different size?

danskos are hand made, so the sizes aren't always 100% true. a different size may help. or different socks. i had that same problem when i used to wear them with walking socks. now i wear those thin cotton/nylon or whatever they are socks -- the kind that you find in the department store that have funny little images all over them.