Tips for breaking in New Boots

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Andrea
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I've got a new pair of boots and I'm trying to break them in slowly. Any tips on how to speed the process up.

Wore them in the house for a couple of weeks

First walk was not too bad about 3 miles got a small blister on left heal.

Second walk did serious damage a week later, same distance again but took boots off and left heal had a patch of blood about 2 inches high by about 1 inch across. Blister had gone though :D Hadn't really felt any major pain whilst walking.

Didn't go out this weekend as its still healing.

Any suggestions greatly received.

Andrea
x
 
I tend to just wear them as much as possible before taking them out for a 'proper walk', I'll wear them around home until they've been outside and then I'll wear them to the office in the week, down the pub at the weekend etc. That way, I clock up some miles in them but not in one big, uncomfortable go! I'm sure there are a load of 'old wives tales' for speeding up the process, but there's no substitute for just wearing them if you ask me!
 
Modern boots shouldn't need any breaking in, but wearing them around the house, going to the shops. dog walking etc is a good idea. The problem is more likley to be your socks. Get a decent pair! Thorlo, 1000 mile, Coolmax etc. Buy some Moleskin (second skin) from your Chemist to put on any 'hot spots' (blister starting) BUT, put it on BEFORE it gets to blister stage! Compeed is another good make of blister treatment. I am fortunate in that 40 years of Climbing/Hiking/Walking/Mountaineering, I have very rarely had any blisters!
 
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Good socks is the best tip. Also make sure that your feet are warm before lacing up boots. If you do boots up tight while you feet are cold then there is not much room for expansion.
 
wontolla said:
Modern boots shouldn't need any breaking in, but wearing them around the house, going to the shops. dog walking etc is a good idea. The problem is more likley to be your socks. Get a decent pair! Thorlo, 1000 mile, Coolmax etc. Buy some Moleskin (second skin) from your Chemist to put on any 'hot spots' (blister starting) BUT, put it on BEFORE it gets to blister stage! Compeed is another good make of blister treatment. I am fortunate in that 40 years of Climbing/Hiking/Walking/Mountaineering, I have very rarely had any blisters!
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Yip, I agree with that. Not had problems with new boots since the 70's.
I only go walking now. Last 3 pairs of boots have been Brashers. Long walks from day one with no discomfort.
You need good socks and the boots must be a good fit. No pinching and no excessive foot movement inside.
 
I once tried the broomhandle approach, never did work for me -> heels red raw for a week and they were only Doc Martens :(
 
push bike in them you tend to bend them in diffrent directions

when i used to race motocross i had huge blisters for the 1st 2 weeks of having them and then all was good once the soften up

if they are leather try the natural boot polishes they tend to soften them up or ask

akady he is the miliatary man around here he will know best
 
Soak them in pee,if they are leather...............:thumbs:
 
Tbh it all depends on the boot type/ make.
I won't wear issue boots, they are rubbish!

Lowa & Altberg are my boots of choice, and neither have ever needed 'breaking in'

From what I remember about wearing in some new leather boots (issue cbt highs) I wore them constantly for about 2 months- then I finally wore them on a CFT (8 miles, 45lbs, wpn & helmet in 2 hrs)

They ripped my feet to shreds!

I now pay £150 a time for lowas, they last about 3 yrs of day in day out wear, and never once had a blister- (watch me get one this weekend)

As a previous poster said, socks are key- I use either issue desert socks or bridgedale marino wool
 
Thanks for all the responses people.

I had much more success this last weekend. I still knew I was wearing boots but they haven't given me more blisters or broken the skin again. I did try lacing them up differently as well from the video link.

I suspect its more my feet than the boots although the write ups I've read have all said these boots do need a period of getting use to them.

http://www.feedthehabit.com/outdoors/merrell-outbound-mid-gore-tex-hiking-boots-review/

I've also treated myself to some 1000 mile socks to see if they help. I normally use either Thorlo or Bridgedale.
 
Plenty of vaseline on your feet before you put your socks on, and always carry moleslin with you and put it on your feet as the first hint of discomfort. Personally I haven't found Compeed to be much good.
 
Surgical spirit on blisters will harden them up in no time...
 
Graham00 said:
I once tried the broomhandle approach, never did work for me -> heels red raw for a week and they were only Doc Martens :(
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Breaking in DMs was like a rite of passage, you had to endure the pain to be able to wear them. Thinking about just how painful breaking in my first pair was still makes me wince slightly now, 20 years on!!
 
SK617 said:
From what I remember about wearing in some new leather boots (issue cbt highs) I wore them constantly for about 2 months- then I finally wore them on a CFT (8 miles, 45lbs, wpn & helmet in 2 hrs)

They ripped my feet to shreds!
Click to expand...

Been there, done that! :D

The damn things then tried chewing my feet off again the next time I wore them carrying kit too.

I found two pairs of socks (thin pair with a thick pair over them) helped. Compeed's been mentioned above - I found that was good for limiting the damage once it had started.

I heard a suggestion to get boots soaking wet and flex them lots (eg stood in the bath) to help break them in, but have never tried it myself.
 
One thing that used to work for Ice Skates so guessing same principle...

Get some of the fabric plaster roll (same as fabrics band aids but in a continuous rollwith no padded bits) and tape your heel tight. The skin can't move but retains it's shape and shouldn't blister...
 
p*ss on them. It probably doesn't help but it does make you smell bad so you don't notice the pain so much.
 
Another vote for 2 pairs of socks, or double layered pair.

I wear a very thin thermal inner sock then a double layered outer pair.
 
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