Breaking in new boots

almtiba · May 8, 2009, 04:17 PM

Hi Guys !

Do you guys have some advice of how to break in a new pair of boots ?

I'm going to Uruguay, and it's the kind of hunt that you walk a lot...
My last trip we used to walk about 10 or more kilometers a day...

This year, because of the rains, the grass will be thick, high and very wet. Because of that, and because of the snakes (not realy a issue, but high grass = more snakes) I bought a pair of 18" boots, Irish Setter, Wingmaster.

I bought this because it's the same I always used (but mine were 8", I think).

Thanks in advance,

Andre Tiba - Brazil

Carne Frio · May 8, 2009, 05:09 PM

Wear them to work, with the same sox you
be hunting with. Take an extra pair of shoes
to work with you. Try your new boots for a
half day, then put on the other shoes. If your
feet don't suffer, repeat for another couple of
days. By then you can wear them all day at work.
Prior to your hunting adventure, take a few hikes
with the now, almost broken in boots. You should
now be ready for your hunt. Good luck !

Kreyzhorse · May 8, 2009, 05:56 PM

Put on your hunting socks and wear them, a lot. The more you wear them, the more broken in they'll be.

Doyle · May 8, 2009, 06:57 PM

Go dancing in them. I'm serious.

Nisei · May 9, 2009, 02:32 AM

I've worn combat boots a good portion of my life and I have had a lot of "breaking in" experience.

Wear them everyday for at least 4-6 hours (or half-day as previously mentioned)

Dancing is indeed a great way to break them in, do it on your "Friday" so you have the next day as your day off to rest your feet IF you blister. Otherwise keep wearing them.

Another tip that works best for me is to soak them in warm-hot water for 60 minutes. Best way to do this is to fill your bath tub with warm-hot water and soak your boots in them while wearing them (picture a Norman Rockwell painting of the old man soaking his feet in Epsom salt).

If you're going to do this it is best to NOT WEAR SOCKS while wearing your boots. Also, running warm-hot water from time to time to keep the temp consistent also really helps. If you don't mind scuffing the bottom of your tub a bit, pace in the tub a bit and kneel down from time to time to bend and stretch the leather.

Hope this helps, Cheers!

- Hiroshi

Creature · May 9, 2009, 02:48 AM

Wear them...is there any other way?

Richard from SE AZ · May 9, 2009, 06:00 AM

I have worn boots all my life and my method of breaking in boots is really effective and won't hurt good boots. I fill them with warm water let them set a few minutes then wear them all day and set them out to dry without heat. ( they will be almost dry by the end of the day)the warm water softens the leather and they streatch to fit your feet. I have done this with cowboy boots and hunting boots for about 40 years. Works great!

Shorts · May 9, 2009, 09:06 AM

Interesting about the warm water trick. I have a pair of boots that I loved, yeah, past tense, lovED. But one fateful trip they turned on me.

I'm going to see if this warm water will do the trick.

Break them in or pay the price!

almtiba, good luck on the trip!

SemperFly · May 10, 2009, 01:51 PM

The warm water trick is very effective at breaking in the right boots, just be sure that you don't have a cardboard liner under your insoles as some boots do. I take a warm shower wearing my new boots to get them to comform to my feet the way I like.

tuscani11b · May 12, 2009, 07:32 AM

I used to wear the old black military boots in the shower, but the newer ones I've never really needed that much of a break in period for... Depends on the boot really

hogdogs · May 12, 2009, 08:15 AM

For a couple reasons, I wear 2 pairs of thick socks if I am not able to stop often the first day or 2 to adjust etc. The thicker socks doubled up offer padding, reduce chafing and also aid in stretching the boots to fit the way I lace them etc. Then after a couple days of this, they feel like an old comfortable pair when I go to my normal single sock.
Brent

Adventurer 2 · May 12, 2009, 09:01 AM

Sounds like you have a lot of walking ahead of you. Even if you do get your boots broken in - bring along some moleskin and something to cut it with. If you develop any hotspots on your feet - stop - cover the spot with moleskin. This will save your feet and the hunt - nothing slows mobility like a blister.

JasonG · May 14, 2009, 11:04 AM

I step in a creek or bucket of room temp water, then wear the boots all day while active.
By the end of the day your feet will be very "prune-y" and the boots will be fairly dry.
Let dry for a day in the house and oil real well.
As for the post about cardboard insoles, don't buy cheap boots. YMMV

May 8, 2009, 04:17 PM	#1
almtiba Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2004 Location: Sao Paulo / Brazil Posts: 190	Breaking in new boots Hi Guys ! Do you guys have some advice of how to break in a new pair of boots ? I'm going to Uruguay, and it's the kind of hunt that you walk a lot... My last trip we used to walk about 10 or more kilometers a day... This year, because of the rains, the grass will be thick, high and very wet. Because of that, and because of the snakes (not realy a issue, but high grass = more snakes) I bought a pair of 18" boots, Irish Setter, Wingmaster. I bought this because it's the same I always used (but mine were 8", I think). Thanks in advance, Andre Tiba - Brazil

May 8, 2009, 05:56 PM	#3
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	Put on your hunting socks and wear them, a lot. The more you wear them, the more broken in they'll be. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

May 9, 2009, 02:32 AM	#5
Nisei Member Join Date: September 16, 2008 Posts: 78	I've worn combat boots a good portion of my life and I have had a lot of "breaking in" experience. Wear them everyday for at least 4-6 hours (or half-day as previously mentioned) Dancing is indeed a great way to break them in, do it on your "Friday" so you have the next day as your day off to rest your feet IF you blister. Otherwise keep wearing them. Another tip that works best for me is to soak them in warm-hot water for 60 minutes. Best way to do this is to fill your bath tub with warm-hot water and soak your boots in them while wearing them (picture a Norman Rockwell painting of the old man soaking his feet in Epsom salt). If you're going to do this it is best to NOT WEAR SOCKS while wearing your boots. Also, running warm-hot water from time to time to keep the temp consistent also really helps. If you don't mind scuffing the bottom of your tub a bit, pace in the tub a bit and kneel down from time to time to bend and stretch the leather. Hope this helps, Cheers! - Hiroshi __________________ "In anything at all, perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away." - Antoine de Saint Exupéry

May 10, 2009, 01:51 PM	#9
SemperFly Member Join Date: December 1, 2008 Location: NC Posts: 52	Breaking in... The warm water trick is very effective at breaking in the right boots, just be sure that you don't have a cardboard liner under your insoles as some boots do. I take a warm shower wearing my new boots to get them to comform to my feet the way I like. __________________ "There are very few personal problems that cannot be solved through a suitable application of high explosives"

May 12, 2009, 07:32 AM	#10
tuscani11b Member Join Date: February 27, 2009 Posts: 31	I used to wear the old black military boots in the shower, but the newer ones I've never really needed that much of a break in period for... Depends on the boot really __________________ Amor patriae ducit

May 8, 2009, 05:09 PM	#2
Carne Frio Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2008 Location: Near Fairbanks Alaska Posts: 829	Wear them to work, with the same sox you be hunting with. Take an extra pair of shoes to work with you. Try your new boots for a half day, then put on the other shoes. If your feet don't suffer, repeat for another couple of days. By then you can wear them all day at work. Prior to your hunting adventure, take a few hikes with the now, almost broken in boots. You should now be ready for your hunt. Good luck !

May 8, 2009, 06:57 PM	#4
Doyle Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2007 Location: Rainbow City, Alabama Posts: 7,167	Go dancing in them. I'm serious.

May 9, 2009, 02:48 AM	#6
Creature Junior member Join Date: April 8, 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,769	Wear them...is there any other way?

May 9, 2009, 06:00 AM	#7
Richard from SE AZ Junior Member Join Date: April 23, 2009 Posts: 11	I have worn boots all my life and my method of breaking in boots is really effective and won't hurt good boots. I fill them with warm water let them set a few minutes then wear them all day and set them out to dry without heat. ( they will be almost dry by the end of the day)the warm water softens the leather and they streatch to fit your feet. I have done this with cowboy boots and hunting boots for about 40 years. Works great!

May 9, 2009, 09:06 AM	#8
Shorts Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2004 Posts: 1,484	Interesting about the warm water trick. I have a pair of boots that I loved, yeah, past tense, lovED. But one fateful trip they turned on me. I'm going to see if this warm water will do the trick. Break them in or pay the price! almtiba, good luck on the trip!

May 12, 2009, 08:15 AM	#11
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	For a couple reasons, I wear 2 pairs of thick socks if I am not able to stop often the first day or 2 to adjust etc. The thicker socks doubled up offer padding, reduce chafing and also aid in stretching the boots to fit the way I lace them etc. Then after a couple days of this, they feel like an old comfortable pair when I go to my normal single sock. Brent

May 12, 2009, 09:01 AM	#12
Adventurer 2 Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2006 Posts: 663	Sounds like you have a lot of walking ahead of you. Even if you do get your boots broken in - bring along some moleskin and something to cut it with. If you develop any hotspots on your feet - stop - cover the spot with moleskin. This will save your feet and the hunt - nothing slows mobility like a blister.

May 14, 2009, 11:04 AM	#13
JasonG Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2008 Posts: 209	I step in a creek or bucket of room temp water, then wear the boots all day while active. By the end of the day your feet will be very "prune-y" and the boots will be fairly dry. Let dry for a day in the house and oil real well. As for the post about cardboard insoles, don't buy cheap boots. YMMV __________________ "Bones, what killed him ?" "Acute lead poisoning Jim....." ST-TOS#61

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