I have this problem with casual shoes sneakers sometimes. It's really annoying because sometimes it'll take awhile before the fabric starts to stiffen up and cause a problem. I finally tossed out a pair of really cute sneakers that did this to me constantly - I don't know why it took me so long! I replaced them with a pair of Keds that are much less stiff.

Yes. Though at this point I think I've developed thick enough calluses on the back of my heels to withstand a lot of shoes (though I still get blisters with new shoes, until both they and my feet are properly broken in).

I have discovered that the more expensive shoes I've bought are less likely to do this, but I hate spending tons of money on shoes, so I tend to resign myself to blisters/calluses.

This happens to me all the time. (The fact that my feet differ about a half size doesn't help because if it fits one foot, it won't fit the other.)
I bought some stuff called "miracle Shield" that's made by Dr. Scholl's that seems to help for short-term shoe issues, but it's definitely not a complete fix.

It does seem to happen with cheap shoes, come to think of it. Hmm, let's see... it's happened with shoes I bought at Zellers and Honest Ed's, and to a lower end running shoe.

I usually do buy good quality shoes — that is, I generally pay $70 to $100 for a pair of leather shoes. They last far longer than cheap ones, so it probably works out to about the same cost anyway. Not to mention that they're more comfortable and better for the health of my feet and back.

The pair I tried on yesterday and that led to this thread were a really cute little pair of flats at Payless. It was such a wrench to leave them in the store, but I knew I'd just regret it if I bought them.

I am wondering if it would be possible to somehow pad the back of the couple of pairs of shoes in my closet that have this issue.

I have found that wearing blister band-aids (like these) covered by waterproof band-aids (like these) tend to help. The blister thingy has a lot of cushioning (even if you don't yet have blisters) and the waterproof bandage seals all the way around and keeps the shoe from rubbing the other bandage off your foot.

It's not the most attractive look, but it's gotten me through many workdays. :-)

I usually have this trouble when the shoe is new. If I'm diligent about wearing some moleskin (the stick-on fuzzy stuff, not, y'know, the skin of a mole) at my heel the first few times I wear a shoe, I can usually break it in without much trouble.

(Hints for keeping moleskin from peeling off early in the day: use the thin moleskin that comes in a roll, not the thick padded kind; wipe your skin first with alcohol or toner and let it dry; make sure the moleskin is freshly cut from the roll, with no fuzzy edges; press it on firmly and let it sit for a few minutes before you put on shoes.)

*pokes head in thread*

I vote abnormal.

*runs away

I do agree it has to do with the construction and the material of the shoe. Seams = bad. Unflexible material = bad.

However, I'll offer up another thought: are you sure you're wearing the correct size?

I'm saying this because I've started buying shoes a half-size larger in the last two years, and in doing so, have realized that in the past I bought a lot of my shoes too small -- probably because I had a strict idea of the size I needed (7.5) and (subconsciously?) figured if the shoe wasn't 100% comfortable it had something to do with the shoe itself. And eventually they'd stretch a bit and become more comfortable. But I should have been buying 8 all along. It's just enough of a change to make a difference.

I have never had this happen, and am having a hard time picturing it.

I have very narrow heels, so narrow that you can see the Achilles tendon quite well. That makes it difficult to shop for shoes. Size is one important measure -- and I do have a problem with that as well, since my right foot is a half size larger than my left. Another issue is with shoe quality; I can almost always tell at the store whether the shoe will give me blisters or not.

Having said all that, you can take your shoes to a shoe repair shop. For about ten bucks the nice Korean guy who owns the place should be able to fit them with something that will permanently make the shoes more comfy.

But make sure you're buying the right size. Even a miracle worker can't make a too-small shoe a good thing on your foot.

I just had this problem with a pair of Saucony running shoes - just sucked it up, got the blister, let it heal, now they're fine. The onyl option was to throw them out and I ain't throwing expensive running shoes out (even though I only paid $60 on sale).

Ouch, yes, this always happens to me, even though I favor wearing my shoes a little loose. I'm forever looking for shoes with low heel backs. I've had some limited success with those adhesive-backed gel heel pads (Dr Scholls brand are the easiest to find but the generic versions are half the price and work just as well) but the key is to never try to reposition the pad once you've placed it because the glue just can't hold up to being applied more than once.

I just had this problem with a pair of Saucony running shoes - just sucked it up, got the blister, let it heal, now they're fine.

It was so much worse than one blister the time it happened to me with runners. I think they were New Balance. They literally ripped up my heels. I took the shoes back, and miracle of miracles, the store took them and let me get another pair.

Several MONTHS later my sister happened to catch sight of my heels and she was absolutely horrified by the amount of scar tissue they had.

Last summer I bought a cute pair of sandals from Zellers. The top edge of the heel was rubbing my heels raw, so I only wore them a few times. I couldn't bear to throw them away so they sat in my closet for a year. Then this spring I bought a pair of heel grips from Zellers for a few dollars. Presto! My cute shoes were now comfy.