Why Peshawari Chappals Hurt, and How to Choose a Comfortable Pair

Ask anyone who grew up wearing Peshawari chappals about a new pair and you will hear the same stories. The front strap that rubs across the toes. The heel that thuds on a hard sole. The pair that feels like wood by the end of a long wedding. Plenty of people simply accept that a new pair has to hurt for a while.

It does not have to be that bad. Most of the pain comes from a handful of things, and once you know them, it is easy to pick a pair that is kind to your feet. Here is what we have learned from making them.

Why a Peshawari chappal can hurt

• A hard, flat footbed. Many pairs put your foot straight onto a thin layer of leather over a hard sole. Nothing gives, so every step goes straight into your heel and the ball of your foot.
• A heavy sole. A thick, heavy sole looks strong, but you lift it thousands of times a day. By the evening, your legs feel every gram.
• Stiff straps on a new pair. The front strap and the sides are firm when the pair is new. Until they soften, they can rub across the toes and the top of the foot.
• The wrong size. Too small, and the front strap presses on your toes while your heel hangs over the back. Too big, and your foot slides forward, so your toes grip with every step.
• A sole that is only glued. A glued sole can start to lift at the edges. An uneven sole is uncomfortable long before it actually comes off.

What we do about it

A dotted memory foam insole. Almost every Baaz pair has a dotted memory foam insole between your foot and the sole. It gives a little under the heel and the ball of the foot, which is where a hard chappal hurts most. Our Essentials pairs, Raw Black and Raw Cedar, keep things simpler with a foam padded insole.

Light EVA foam soles, stitched on. Five of our pairs sit on an EVA foam sole that is stitched, not just glued: Signature Black, Coco Dune and Autumn Dune Air in suede, and Midnight Legacy and Old Grain in leather. EVA is light and springy. Coco Dune and Autumn Dune Air weigh only about 300 to 350 grams per chappal, so you barely notice them on your feet. You will find them together in lightweight Peshawari chappals.

Tyre and cork soles. Our medium and thick soles are built from a cork sheet with tyre rubber underneath. The cork sits between you and the rubber, and the rubber gives you grip on rough ground. If you like a solid, grounded feel, have a look at our chunky sole chappals.

Soft suede. Cowhide suede is soft and flexible from the first day, so it usually needs less breaking in than firm leather. Every suede pair we make is in suede Peshawari chappals.

Which pair for which kind of day

• On your feet and walking all day: go for an EVA sole. Coco Dune and Autumn Dune Air are the lightest pairs we make.
• Standing at events, dressed up: a medium tyre and cork sole looks proper with formal clothes and feels steady. Old Money Black is a good example, and its leather moulds to your foot over time.
• Rough ground, or you like a firm step: the thick tyre and cork sole on Graphite Grace gives the most solid feel.
• A good everyday pair on a budget: Raw Black and Raw Cedar in Baaz Essentials are Rs 4,450, in genuine cow leather on a rubber sole.

Not sure whether you want leather or suede in the first place? Our guide Leather or Suede? How to Choose Your Peshawari Chappal walks through it.

Getting the size right

A pair in the wrong size will hurt however soft it is. A few simple checks help:

• Start from the size of a chappal you already wear and like.
• Your heel should sit fully on the sole, not hang over the back.
• The front strap should hold your foot snugly without pressing down on your toes.
• Feet are usually a little bigger in the evening, so try a new pair on later in the day.

Our regular pairs come in sizes 40 to 46. For bigger feet, the Big and Tall range goes from 47 to 50 and is made to order. There is more on that in Big Feet? Finding Peshawari Chappals in Size 47 to 50.

Breaking in a new pair

Even a comfortable pair needs a few days to settle. Wear it around the house for an hour or two at a time before its first long day out. Do not save a brand new pair for the wedding itself. Leather softens and settles to your foot as you wear it, and suede usually gets there sooner. Do not try to rush it by soaking the chappals in water, as that can spoil the leather.

Every pair is handmade in KP. Delivery is free anywhere in Pakistan, you pay cash when your chappals arrive, and you have 15 days to exchange a pair if the size is wrong. Browse every style in Shop All.