Our Top 5 Tips for Breaking In Your New Leather Boots
Dec 21 , 2021
Tags - Breaking In Leather Boots
It happens to all of us: you buy a new pair of boots, wear them once and then they sit in your cupboard for months because they hurt too much to wear.
One day, your new boots will fit like a dream.
But to start off with, the elements that made you fall in love with them in the first place, like high quality leather and thick sturdy soles, can make you dread wearing them because you know they’re going to be a pain - literally.
However, once you've gotten through the break in process, these boots can serve you a lifetime; your feet just need a few weeks to get adjusted with them first.
That said, here are our top 5 tips for breaking in your new leather boots and getting your new kicks as comfortable as possible.
1. Wear Them Around The House
Yes, buying a new pair of boots is exciting, and you’re going to want to wear them straight away, day in, day out.
However, you need to give them some time at home first, wearing them for at least a week inside.
Moreover, it’s a good idea to invest in some thicker socks to help stretch out the leather while you’re testing them out at home.
And so, when you do return to regular socks, your boots should be a lot more comfier.
However, you should hold back a little in the beginning; when you walk around your house, wear them in the morning when the weather is cooler and your feet are properly rested.
The reason being, by the afternoon feet begin to swell and sweat, which causes friction and as a result, you may suffer from blisters.
2. Use Boot Stretchers
Another great way to break in your boots is to use a boot stretcher.
Essentially, this is a mechanical tool that can stretch your boots to the desired shape and size by using force.
Simply take the boot stretcher and insert this into your boots, and then pull the stick as much as you can.
Then, take the stretcher out and try on your boots to see if they feel any comfier,
If not, just repeat this process once more, or as many times as you need, until your boots fit properly.
3. Use a Leather Conditioner
You may not have thought it, but using a leather conditioner can help to break in your new boots.
The idea is that it helps to soften up the leather fibres as well as increasing your boot life - win/win!
So, once the uppers of your boots have been conditioned and are soft, they can mould according to your foot’s shape.
Simply, apply the conditioner generously and leave it on for a few hours. Then, wear them while the fibres are soft and the boots will take the shape of your feet.
Finally, take a soft, damp cloth and rub off any excess product and then leave them to dry.
4. Take a Break & Work the Bend
As tempting as it can be, don’t wear your new boots two days in a row, as they need to be properly dry before you wear them again.
The reason being is that the moisture from your foot can take more than a night to evaporate fully from the shoes, so you need to give the leather, and your feet, a much needed break.
In addition, doing this for the entire lifetime of your boots will keep any smelly feet to a minimum.
Plus, it’s a good idea to use shoe trees between wears which will not only help to draw out any excess moisture, but help to retain the boots original shape.
However, before you do take a break, you want to work the bend; there are two main places where boots bend: the ankle and just below the toes.
The reason being, these are the areas that flex every time you take a step and need a helping hand while you’re in the “breaking in” period.
So, when you take them off, hold the boots in your hand and work the leather by bending the sole back and forth around the heel and ankle.
Don’t worry, you won’t ruin them by doing this, you’re just speeding up the process that would naturally happen overtime.
Finishing Thoughts
If you don’t break in your boots before you start wearing them, they can be very hard to wear and feel super uncomfortable.
Not to mention, your feet may suffer pain because new leather can be extremely stiff; to start off with they will not allow your feet to move and flex freely.
Furthermore, boots that are not broken in can cause blisters, bunions and calluses, which can alter the way you walk and result in knee or back pain.
So, follow these tips above to make your new leather boots as comfortable as possible so not only will you look good, but feel good too.
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