What happens when you break in a boot?

When you break in a new pair of boots, the boots gradually conform to the shape of your feet. Most work boots will not fit your feet perfectly right out of the box. In this article, we will cover the Do's and Don'ts of breaking in new work boots so that you can have the most comfortable boots possible.

What to expect when breaking in boots?

New boots can take around 80 to 100 hours to break in. That being said, don't subject yourself to wearing your boots for 4 days straight and expect your feet to be happy with you. Instead, space this time out to about 2 to 3 hours a day and keep a second pair of boots to change into.

How long does it take to break in a work boot?

How long do work boots take to break in? Depending on the method, boots can take between five hours and five weeks to break in. If you're breaking in your boots by simply wearing them to work every day, it can take weeks for the leather to soften enough for the boot to break in.

Do boots get looser when broken in?

Leather boots do stretch out a bit when you break them in, but the fibers will only lengthen so much. Here are some tips for getting the right fit: Try on various styles (like moc toe, round toe, and square toe designs) and multiple sizes to see what feels best. This may be easier to do when shopping in person.

How much should breaking in boots hurt?

The boots will hurt for a couple of days no matter what, but if you space out that wear-time over a longer period and in the comfort of your own home, it won't be so bad. You should try to enjoy this period, even though you may be uncomfortable.

how to break in DR. MARTENS (unboxing)

Do boots hurt when you first get them?

You may experience discomfort at the top of the foot where the boot rubs your foot. Avoid the pain by skipping a few eyelets with your boot's laces in the areas rubbing against your foot. This can help relieve the pressure and help you break in other areas of the boot.

How do you tell if boots are too small or need to be broken in?

At the front of the boot, you should have enough room to wiggle and move your toes without them slipping around too much. Similarly, around the ball of your foot (the widest part), the boot should fit snugly (but not tightly) without slipping as you move your foot.

Should you size up or down in boots?

If you don't remember the size, look inside the shaft of the boots or on the inside bottom. If this is your first pair of workboots, normally start with 1/2 a size down from your normal shoe size. If you are between sizes, order 1/2 size up.

How should boots fit before breaking in?

Your entire foot should feel snug in the boot EXCEPT for your heel. Your heel should always slip in a properly fitted new boot. As you begin wearing your boot, you will find the heel leather will soften, and your boot will mold to your foot. The slippage will disappear.

Does heat help break in boots?

Don't – Apply Direct Heat to Break In Boots

There's yet another rumor going around that baking boots or heating them up with a hairdryer speeds up the break-in process. Applying direct heat to leather will dry it out, cause it to crack, and will ruin your brand new pair of boots.

Why do boots feel uncomfortable?

It all comes down to support. Unless your boots are custom, they don't have enough arch support built in to support your feet properly.

How many miles do you have to break in boots?

Try to build up to two-thirds of your daily mileage of what you're hoping to do on the trail. So if you're planning to hike 10 to 15 miles a day on the trail, then try walking eight miles in your new shoes and see how it feels.

Should shoes hurt when breaking in?

A bit of rubbing is normal, but if you're coming out with blisters, you might want to check that your shoes fit properly.

What to do if boots hurt?

How do you know if a boot fits?

Generally speaking, there should be about one finger's width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe. Another way to check this is to slip a finger between the heel of your foot and the heel of your shoe. There should be just enough space for your finger to fit nice and snugly.

Why do my Doc Martens hurt the top of my foot?

Inside your Doc Martens, there's an extra inner liner. If yours feel a bit tight over the top of your foot, removing the liner will alter the fit slightly and should give your feet the extra bit of space they need.

How do you know if your boot is too big?

Remove the inner liner and stand with toes touching the front of the boots, you should be able to get two fingers between your heel and the boot. If you want to race you can go for one finger and a tight fit but more than two fingers say 3/4" - 1" the boots are too big.

How tight should new boots feel?

A boot should fit like a handshake

But if the same person would grab your hand behind the knuckles and squeeze, it wouldn't hurt. That is just how a boot should fit. It should not pinch across the ball of the foot or the toes, but should be comfortably snug in the instep area of your foot. Just like a good handshake.

What if your boots are a little too big?

Full insoles are a fantastic solution if your shoes are too big across the length of your foot. They come in a variety of materials, styles and sizes to suit your needs: Foam insoles: if you're after general stability and snug-fitting shoes, foam insoles are ideal for making things more comfortable.

Is it bad to wear shoes a half size too big?

Is It Better to Wear a Shoe Half Size Bigger or Smaller? The answer depends on the circumstances, the type of shoe, and your purpose. If a woman is buying a pair of court or dress shoes, half a size too big could make it quite difficult to walk as the shoe will slip. A loose fit could put you at risk for injury.

Why do my new boots hurt so much?

The footbed will feel hard at first, so you may get sore feet at first. The hardier the construction, the longer the process takes. If it takes you a while to break boots in, that means you've bought some heavy-duty work boots that should last quite a while...and will feel amazing once they are.

How do you break in boots without blisters?

Do boots shrink or stretch?

Yes, leather can technically shrink with the proper techniques. Although you can stretch leather boots too much, there is no way to shrink them back to their exact original shape. There will be some permanent alteration of the leather fibers that can be remedied but not fixed completely.

Does wd40 help break in boots?

Try using WD-40 – This trade secret might not be the norm, but some people swear that spraying WD-40 on their leather work boots can help make them supple and break-in faster. As a bonus, it's a great way to clean tough-to-remove stains, grease, or grime.