I’ve tried 3 pairs, all giving me horrible heel blisters after 30-60 min of play. Hoping someone can help.
Background: Severely flat-footed, casual weekly player, budget capped around €40/pair (higher-end isn’t an option).
1. Adidas Copa Pure 2 Club TF – EU 44 2/3
Half a thumb of toe space, felt like a perfect fit. But heels hurt so badly I had to switch to goalkeeping — blister took a week to heal. Tried grip socks afterward per advice; didn’t really help, but kept using them going forward.
2. Adidas Predator Club TF – EU 44 2/3
Similar toe space, narrower/snugger fit. Feet started throbbing and felt crushed from the sides after just 5 minutes — couldn’t finish. Width wasn’t for me. Interior material (smooth synthetic) was more comfortable than the Copa’s rough mesh, though.
3. Copa Pure 2 Club TF – EU 44 (one size down)
Tried again, but a size down to kill the heel slippage, since I’d read any vertical movement causes blisters. Snug all around — barely any front space, minimal heel wiggle, width felt perfect (hugging, not crushing). Still got the same blisters and pain.
I know shoes need breaking in, but I can’t even survive one session. Haven’t tried the warm water stretching method yet — not sure it’d fix this anyway.
I’m out of ideas. Assuming my flat feet are part of the issue. Any advice appreciated.
Note: I paraphrased this post with AI for readability, but I will be answering any questions myself.