LOL_ I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS ! But I have heard about it before. Found this again on a site called throughouthistory ,"......WWI Soldiers used urine for almost anything! They pi**ed on their boots to soften the leather. They pi**ed on their handkerchieves to make gas-masks. They even pi**ed on their machine-guns to stop them warping from overheating! ...." 😃
@@ThePaPappy That's what I do all day at work! When a colleague annoys me with uncomfortable questions I pee on him! If my boss annoys me I pee on him, even if I go to the toilet I pee! Hell yeeeah, I pee on everything that moves!
My method is built in too. Sweaty feet :) In colder months I swap out the wool socks for thick cotton/blends when I know I wont be in the elements so I can sweat through to the leather and soften it over the course of a few hours. I also sometimes put the boots right on after wiping away any excess of a fresh application of conditioner.
I wear my new red wings when weight training, nothing breaks them in faster than a few sets of lunges, squats deadlifts and box jumps. Plus you look awesome in the gym ( very short shorts a plus)
I’m a woman who doesn’t wear men’s boots. My husband doesn’t wear boots. I have no sons, and neither my grandson nor my nephews wear boots. So why am I hooked on watching this guy’s videos???? 😂😂😂 I enjoy learning about a variety of things (this week it’s trends in men’s fashion 😉), and you’re a very enjoyable, knowledgeable presenter; thanks for such consistently high quality content!💐
My top tip - 2 layers of socks. Both layers need to be fairly thin, so don't try this with heavy walking socks. The idea is that the inner layer sticks to your feet, leaving the outer layer able to move over the inner. The result is that blistering is massively reduced, as instead of the point of friction being the surface of your skin, any friction is between the layers of socks. There are companies who sell "Blister ease" socks based on this idea, where the 2 layers are sewn together, but I'd suggest just buying a couple of pairs of regular socks - it's cheaper & just as effective.
I did 20 years in the military. We used to put em on, lace em up tight and the soak em down with water while wearing em. Then go cut the grass and let em dry. Afterwards if you knew a guy who worked with turbine engines you’d wipe em down with turbine oil and dry em quickly with the turbine engine exhaust. So soft! Did the same with our gloves.
The first thing I do with new boots is recondition the leather. They've been sitting in storage for who knows how long before being sold and are going to be stiff, dry and not want to budge. Once thoroughly conditioned the break-in process is quicker and less painful. o/
boots/shoes and trainers have the manufacture date on them so you know how old....it's on the label usually near the bottom and printed in month/year ie 02/22
Great video. One thing I believe Nick's recommends and I have always done.....Lace them snug when breaking them in. It might make them even more uncomfortable, but it really helps the thick leather warm up and form to your feet. Don't snug them too tight, but just tight enough to make you aware that they are more snug than what you'd typically do.
Excellent video, Carl. Here are two additional points. 1) In new western boots, there will always be a small amount of heel slippage and that is considered acceptable since there are no laces to tie them up. 2) Personally, I will not buy a pair of shoes/boots that feel tight or have hot spots. While you may be able to stretch the leather via wearing them, it is often a painful process. Having stated these points, though, I do not wear work boots, only dress boots and Cabela hunting boots. You are the expert on work boots and I believe your advice is sound. I'm sure this video will help a lot of people who do wear them.
To each their own of course, and I agree that pain points should be minimal unless you’re a masochist. The heel slip issue is one that we’re trying to figure out with the Nicks boot project, we want it to be a slip-on with the ability to really cinch it down. So we’ve tossed around the idea of a buckle, zipper, even the BOA system. It’s difficult to overcome an inherent shortcomings of a style like that.
Big thanks to you Carl! I can't believe this solved all my problems breaking in my Iron Ranger. I thought I was an E width at first then I tried skipping laces and the surgeons knot it made all the difference.
Great advice! I have high arches too and I removed the stock insole and replaced it with a thicker one for a few weeks to apply upward pressure. Not super comfortable but when I swapped back to the standard insole the boots fit great and survived a year of working at Walt Disney world.
levelheadsteve Wear them but dont walk on em or youll get blisters use em around the house and once their molded after a few days or a weekend then wear the to walk
Use mink oil daily and wear them all day everywhere. Wear moister wicking socks, socks that don't absorb sweat. You want that sweat in the boot to help soften them and shrink the leather to mold them to your feet.
Good tips. The alcohol and water is basically what boot stretch is. There are heel pads you can put in as well if a lot of slippage. I like the lace tips too.
- Conditioning (mink oil inside) - Boot Stretching for a few days - Wear for a month or so at home with not very thick socks (this is the painful part for the foot bed to form) - Get some good heavy hiking wool socks and wear them often for a whole day for several months. - Ready for anything that comes. Tip: Break in your boots in summer time
You can use a heat gun, and gently heat the leather of the boots up and apply bees wax to the leather. The wax is absorbed and they become almost instantly soft, and they are completely water proof and the best performing boots in the snow you will ever wear. I have tried it myself in the past, and it works like a charm. Only problem was the wax tends to grab lighter particles like saw dust, concrete dust, etc. Using saddle soap on a fairly regular basis will keep them looking new, and the bees wax can be reapplied yearly or bi yearly to maintain water proofing.
@Carl Murawski, good information. To your point about getting the right fit to begin with. As someone who has spent decades in the work force on his feet, I'd add this. Buy your shoes or boots at the end of a normal work day. This way your feet with have swollen to capacity and you will get a much better fit. We're inclined to get shoes on a day off when we have plenty of time and aren't pressured. Generally, that's going to be a morning visit to the mall. Suck it up, go after work and you won't regret your purchase.
My Favorite technique is to wear them around the house on a couple of Sundays when I am watching the race. Then I wear them when I am walking on the treadmill or walking the dog around the neighborhood for a week. Then I wear them to work. Recently I bought a pair of Nick's Builder Pros and for a week I skipped the laces around my ankles for a week. Never had Nick's before I thought people where exaggerating how stiff a new pair are. The weren’t. Steel bands around my ankles couldn't hurt worse.
I did a similar thing with my new Nicks boots this week: wore them around the house for a few days, then mowed the front lawn. Finished just as my feet began to groan!
I stumbled upon this video, because I was doing my usual research on boots. I love all the advice and am taking mental notes. I'm thinking of getting a pair of western boots soon, so I'll be using the techniques you suggested. Also, Smartwool socks are my favorite socks.
@@CarlMurawski like I've said I have only had Whites, Wescos, Chippewas and Carolina's. All of which have been great out the gate. My Carolina's were even a metatarsal guard. And I put them on and didn't take them off for 10-12hrs a day standing welding. I guess I have been lucky not having much issue with breaking in boots.
So from a military perspective. We get issued boots all the time. You always have a camp set for wearing, well, on camp, and a set for the field. I find the difference to be night and day. The soles on the camp set wear out before anything else. The field set, which inevitably receives regular soaking, get to feel like slippers, but the uppers crack if not properly looked after. Your field set, which gets soaked, will always be your favourite boots.
I noticed the sizes change over the years especially around 1990. About that time it seemed that every time I bought a new pair of shoes I needed a half size larger and I knew my feet were not growing. I was over 30 years old at the time. Many years later I bought a new pair of Red Wing Iron Ranger boots and I read that they were made by the same molds from nearly a hundred years ago. So instead of an 11 1/2 size, I was back to 9 1/2 or 10. My new boots had the cork soles which take time to break in. The uppers broke in quickly because I used plenty of either Snow Seal or Mink Oil. Except for the soles they were comfortable nearly right away because of the oil I put on.
Good video, i have a pair of Red Wing Beckmans coming my way, ordered a pair since they've been discontinued. I know the leather is thick and stiff. I will just man up and wear them in the house for a while and slowly break them in.I will refrain from oils and creams so as not to discolor the Cigar Featherstone leather. All the discomfort will be worth it in the end.
Thanks ! With my Corcoran jump boots ( 1510 , 1500 ) ... 3 pairs i can switch everytime i want . 2 days / boots . Usualy using tender cream or Mink oil , wearing them by walking stretching .... By 1week can feel comfortable , by a mounth i can wear them and just "forget" them . It's a long process but at the end i feel them quite like slipers ! You're good . Thanks again .
Some excellent tips there. Thanks for posting. There are of course those mechanical shoe/boot stretcher devices that look like ancient torture instruments...
*Taking out the soles really helped* My boots fit comfortablely now and they are new thorogood work boots. My last pair were 9EE which I had for 4 year. Decided to get 9.5 reg but when I put them on they were really tight on the sides. I was thinking I should have went with EE. But after watching this video I removed the sole and they fit perfect. Thanks for the tip!
For work boots that you don't mind darkening up a bit, Obenauf's LP is great conditioner but also softens the leather fairly significantly and has helped me break in a few pairs. Instead of wearing them to work, some real brutal break-in boots are nice worn casually for a bit instead of trying to work in them. Put 'em on after work and go to the store, wear them to the mall on weekends, etc. You said you don't have to break in the laces, but those thick rawhide laces that come with White's, Nick's, etc. do take some breaking in. Obenauf's softens those up significantly, but also darkens them and makes them less attractive if you ask me. Use the Obenauf's if you don't care what the leather laces look like, or if you do, break in the boots with nylon or cotton laces with Carl's alternate lacing methods, then once the boots are more comfortable swap the laces to the rawhide ones.
Thats a good call, and a good point on the laces. I've noticed that the Whites laces are thicker than most other brands and need a little more time to break in.
I start with thinner socks, wear about 6-8 hours for 2 or 3 days, usually I can wear them for 12-16 hours in less than a week. Then as the leather startes to stretch I'll use thicker socks. Also, if you live up north like I do, break-in is much easier in summer months. But yes, plan on changing socks and shoes at least once a day for a week. I also make it a point to use stairs over escalators or elevators, not sure if it actually helps but it seems to quicken the process.
Waiting for my first pair of custom boots to arrive from Whites this Friday. Hopefully they fit good, I went into the store and had them measure me for them, which I'm glad I did because I found out I've been wearing the wrong size boots for the last 15 years!
@@CarlMurawski I was also meant to add I just bought a pair of boots 😂 Had a pair of Thursday Captains in brown delivered, sizing them was tricky since I come from the UK so had to listen to the advice from the good guys at Thursday. Trying to break them in and looking to soften the bend in the front area of the boot to stop the creases looking too harsh.
When I had an issue with the heel cap on my Justin conductors I just stuck a piece of $1 foam insole there until I no longer needed it. It relieved the issue but made the boot harder to get on when having to hold it in place while slipping my foot in. I've not had the issue with the Thorogood's I just got last week, these boots just felt like the right fit the second I put them on. The Justin's were the first good boots I bought and truthfully the first properly sized boots I bought, so I'm most used to crappy sand a half too big Walmart boots ( when your parents raise you on shoes you'll " grow into " wearing the right size takes some getting used to ) but while the Thorogood's definitely need a bit more break in they instantly felt right in overall fit. They've not been uncomfortable to walk in at all really They are breaking in much faster than the Justin's I wear for work, but still need a little bit of break in as I've not done a lot of major toe bending in them yet.
I have high arches and I replace all my boot laces with paracord. I put metal aglets on them too myself. They are amazing. Strong enough that they won’t snap but softer than most laces. Either that or I go with flat ribbon laces. Works great for that pressure point.
@@lanpartylandlord6123 There's a few things I've done that've helped, the first is getting those little heel cushion things and putting them into the heel of the boot to add a bit more thickness, although admittedly that's not a great solution. Insoles have also helped me in the past, as has the tried and true "just wear thicker socks" method. I've never had a pair of Thorogoods, but I'd try any of those or you can double-lace the boots for extra tightness when you put em on to hold them to your heel a bit better. Sadly in some cases there is no fix, I owned a pair of Dunlop ADF combat boots (my first ever pair of combats in fact) which just would not stop heel slipping no matter what I did. I tried pretty much everything to fix it but ultimately nothing worked and I ended up replacing them with some Corcorans. Hope at least one of these solutions helps you, though! Another good suggestion is to get some bamboo fiber socks - they tend to be pretty thick and are very gentle on the feet so they can somewhat mitigate the blisters from heel slip.
I use a really thin pair of dress socks, preferably nylon, underneath my normal socks. This allows your foot to slip a little and avoid blisters. That's been my only issue breaking in any boot. After that was resolved no issue even while in the Corps. I have done the water soak and it works well and takes about two full days but the boots fit like a glove when you're done. They do need a lot of dressing and moisturizers when done though.
great video!! one method I use which is probably unconventional is, I put them on and I do pushups throughout the day while wearing them. this really makes them start to flex a lot and break in a lot quicker in my experience!!
Most boots destroy my heels more so on the right foot as it goes but I didn't know about the surgeon's knot so will try that and thank you for sharing.
Heat can also do the opposite if they are wet. A wet boot with heat can make the leather shrink somewhat or tighten the fibers making it feel tighter on you foot. But you did give some great tips the best is taking your time and slowly breaking them in. “Patients is a virtue”
My Frye's Prison Boots "break in" took about a week.. max. Now they fit like a glove and the soles are nice and flexible. Awesome boots! They run 1/2 size larger than cross trainers. But the same size as dress shoes.
I carefully use a humidifier (warm moist air) one boot at a time so soften them, aiming at the high friction areas, wear them immediately after and then I apply conditioner to them
I have two pairs of whites and understand the white bite, when i have to get a new pair ill condition the shit out of them and heat some water dump it in the boot and dump it in an let it rest till its cool then dump it pad it dry and put on dry wool socks and give it a go. The best thing id 100% recommend for any break in is some leukotape to save your skin on hot spots so you can wear them as long as possible till broken in. Moleskin doesnt last long so if you need a set it and forget it the leukotape is best but know that it wont just come off easy which is why more people choose it. Best pair of socks is hands down DARN TOUGH. The only other thing is to take care of them, clean and oil them so they last!!!! Two areas never to go cheap on your shoes and your toilet paper. Another note is if your out in the field and your lace brakes having the longer 108" ones come in handy as you can just shorten it and still have a function-able boot till you can get new ones and still finish your day out.
When buying new boots, especially work boots, I do my best to go try them on after a long day of work. That way I know if they'll be comfortable when my feet are tired and sore because something that feels a bit funny when you have fresh feet might turn into something painful after 8+ hours wearing them.
I just got brand new iron rangers and I soaked them and golden mink oil a couple of times already and yes they got much darker but I like it. The leather seemed to stretch quite easily and conform to my foot much easier and I don’t know if my foot is perfect for a number eight last or watt but I have had no problems at all breaking these boots in. I was ready for a really tough time from everything that I’ve read and heard but honestly they were a piece of cake for me and I’m convinced it was the mink oil that really softened the leather. Inherently they are very waterproof now!
Your advice on high arches is something I practiced heavily in the Army. Initially, command freaked out about it. As an outspoken NCO, I was heard on WHY it was being done. It is extremely helpful
Good for you, Soldier! I joined the US Army at the time that we were issued 2 pairs of black stiff combat boots. We used a cigarette filter per our Drill Sergeant's instruction to paint a white circle on the top of the backstay so that the DS would know we were not wearing the same pair every day. Standing, marching, and running for miles in those unforgiving boots over the years have caused a plethora of issues. Hopefully, following these break-in tips will help me to enjoy wearing boots for the fun of it!
I just wear them around the house till they're not comfortable, take them off and repeat till they are comfortable for all day wear. My last pair of chippewas were good for all day wear from the get go. My wife did make me take them off to go to bed though.
Soak in warm water(Not hot) for an hour, lace em up snug and go about normal activity for a few hours, take em off and air dry for a couple days. Apply massive amounts of leather conditioner. Enjoy. Warm water allows the leather to form to your foot's shape almost immediately. That shape will be retained as they dry. To dry boots efficiently, lay them on their side. This allows natural convection to get all the way to the toe. Even soaking wet boots will dry in 24 hrs at room temp if you point a small fan on low at them. 21 years in the US Army. Used the water method many times. It flat out works. And you're feet don't have to endure the pain of normal break-in.
I just got my builder pro I ordered a stock size 10 and I wore then about an hour inside my house then quickly realized these boots were gonna be very comfortable after breaking in because they were better feeling then my chippewa boots when I first got those and after break in those were the most comfortable work boots I ever had so now I'm about 20 hours into breaking in these nicks they just keep getting better everytime I put them on although not fully broke in yet they are really comfortable for where I'm at in the break in period
I doubt anybody cares, but this came to mind as I watched this. 56 years ago I was a boy scout, one of the things we had to do was a 20-mile hike. The first step to get ready, buy a pair of Red Wing Boots. The next step put on a pair of socks put on your boots stand in a bathtub of warm water that goes over the top of the boots until they are completely soaked. Now wear your boots all day until they dry. Wear them the next day. After this process recondition your boots. I have to say I wore those boots on that hike and after and never had a problem. Knowing what I know now about leather and boot construction that [roably was not good advice. :-)
Perfect timing on this video. I bought my first pair of Red Wings last night (Heritage Moc Toe), and I'm wearing them at work right now. I've got my old comfortable Ariats in the car. It's good to know I've got the right idea.
Zach S. That was my first pair of red wings, and the worst for me to break in. It was that collar around the top digging into my upper ankle. Spend a little time scrunching that collar with your hands and it’ll help a lot. About two weeks of wear and they’ll feel like Cadillacs.
Thanks Carl, very interesting video! Would you consider making a similar one on how to break in duck canvas products? Like a Carhartt jacket or something like that
I sure could, but the only way to really break in duck canvas is by wearing it regularly. The weave makes it rigid, and you'll notice that even over years they keep their structure.
As you suggested, I think trying them on for sizing is the most important for comfort. I always tend to buy my boots generally a half a size bigger + wider. If your size 10.5 in Nike's dont assume that same size in work boots.
@Matt It might depend but half a size smaller then sneakers is correct generally. But again everyones feets are diffrent. And if buying half a size wider/bigger works for you than that's good.
I love my custom Nicks Hot Shots, although, they were absolutely murder to break in! A suggestion that come from Nicks was spraying the boots down with a 50/50 mix of water and rubbing alcohol when they became too much to bear. It made the leather much more supple and easier to break in. Hope this helps someone.
How tight were they in the beginning? I have a pair I got and they are hard to get on. They seem to pinch the pinky toe and almost feels like they are hitting the front of thr toes. I even went to remeasure my feet and sent in a new fit sheet to double check, but Nick's tells me it matches the first fit sheet and should be the correct size.
Hi Carl, thanks for the solid content. Can you help identify the boots at 00:15 with the “dimpled” tan leather? I’ve been looking for a while and haven’t been able to figure out the make and model.
I have a pair of British army assault boots that have smooth leather on the outside and smooth on the inside and I find the inside leather makes them really comfortable. They were 2nd hand boots so the leather was quite soft when I bought them. The only problem with the boots is that the rubber used in the sole disintergrates after a few years and the tread wears down quite quickly. There are companies who make reproductions of them with a different sole material that doesn't disintegrate.
Your mention of walking wet boots dry brought up memories for me: almost 20 years ago i did my conscript service, and at the first day you get 2 pairs of boots, "light ones" like these: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feldschuh#/media/File:Feldschuhe_leicht.JPG and heavier ones. The heavy ones have the tongue sewn until the top and the leather is way thicker, they have a steel toe and steel in the sole too. Only few got new ones, most of us got used ones. (They are desnfected after you geive them back after your service, and if they needed they were repaired) The heavy ones were always a pain to march in because of the thick hard leather, but in the first 4 months those were the ones we had to wear whenever marching or training in the woods. The "light ones " where for "light duty", but from the 5th month on nobody cared which ones you used for marching ect. too. The lighter always fitted better to my feet, but one day i had to stand 2-3 hours in heavy rain. Just by chance i had picked the Gore-Tex Parka, and so everthing above my hips was dry, but everything below was soaking wet. (And nobody can imagine how loud raindrops on a steel helmet can become...) I had no chance or time to change my boots, or socks or trousers... And i wore all until evening. (the sun came out after the rain and at least helped in getting a bit dryer.) Over night i filled the boots with crunched newspapers and the next day wore them again with fresh socks for 12-13 hours. They dried over time, but from this day on they fitted better than any leather footwear i had ever worn before and after. And i sometimes think how stupid of me of giving them back. If i would have "lost" them at the end of my service i would have gotten them for a very low fine compared to what they cost(ed) new.
Never tried Tenderly, but there is a leather paste oil called Garrison Gold by Garrison Leather Care that is designed to soften leather. I know it's also used to break-in baseball gloves and that leather is STIFF! Bought some on Amazon and used it on some Luchesse Cowboy boots and Red Wing Iron Rangers and the difference was amazing. Also, I like the thick sock idea. I'll have to try that next time. Thanks.
I like the eyelet skipping trick to keep things comfortably loose in the ball and instep areas. But I only have the laces going in through the first and out through the fourth eyelets, where I tie my boots after wrapping the excess lacing around. I never tie above the instep. I'm in the camp that believes that you're wearing the wrong size or fit of boot if you have to break them in. They should fit right when you put them on and not cause any discomfort. Whatever size you have to wear to get that fit is your size. For some it's a half size up, others a full size. I wear wides a half size up if they're soft toes, a size up or more if steel toes. I don't know what it is with steel toes but they're always tighter across the toe box than the same size soft toes.
my shoes and boots , getting the correct size is a good idea. Totally coat them in wax polish , wear them indoors x4 nights watching TV.. Works a treat.been doing this for 30 years.
hey carl, interesting video as usual! so today is my 5th day with my iron ranger, i can feel the leather is a bit stretched already and are forming to the shape of my foot, the toe box is already creasing, the heel area too, so i can change the clutch on my bike easier now. i don't have any of the problems that you mention, just some of my feet movements are limited to the new leather boots. there's even time when its drizzling in my area and i just let the water to dry itself on my boots because it stretches the boots a bit. and i put my shoe trees to dry the inside of the boots. anyway, if i really need to quicken the process, i'll definitely use you method.
I chuckled when you mentioned wetting the leather. That's how we broke in leather skates back in the day. Soak the boot of the skate and then wear them.
The technique i use to break in my boots is to condition the inside of the boots and wear them around the house with no laces. That reduces friction on the foot, softens the leather and your socks will naturaly absorb any excess conditioner. Plus, having no laces allows your foot to wiggle a little more which helps to expand the boot a bit.
the inside part i think is highly overlooked in many of the videos i just watched on break in. when applying proofhide to brooks bike saddles its always a bit on top and a lot on the bottom. the inside is like the part of the baseball glove where you throw the baseball.
Hey Carl. Good informative vid. The part that touches on hi arch/tongue causing pain at the top side of the ankle is not a subject easy or plentiful to find a solution to . Also May I ask what the make or brand name of the black boots shown at the beginning of this video ( before pleasing play ) ? They are black , shown in a wet environment. I can also make out that the top side of the toe box is flat , and that’s what I’m looking for. If the warfare boot for $400.00 you reviewed came in a cap toe version, that would be as close of an example to use to describe what I’m looking for. Thanks from Sean “blue collar proud” .
When breaking in my RedWing boots I had duct tape no my heel for a week or so to stop heel slip being too bad, that way it slips but there is alot less friction on the heel itself. The first day I wore them I ruined the skin on me heel and it took weeks to fix. After 3 weeks I could walk comfortably and it was wort it.
I am having the same issue with heal slipping and blisters on my heal from my redwings. Were you able to eventually able to stop using the duct tape? I am only having slippage on one foot, the other foot is fine
Let me know your favorite techniques for breaking-in your boots in the comments!
Going for a 5 mile run on a Friday so you don't have blisters on Monday when work starts
LOL_ I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS ! But I have heard about it before. Found this again on a site called throughouthistory ,"......WWI Soldiers used urine for almost anything! They pi**ed on their boots to soften the leather. They pi**ed on their handkerchieves to make gas-masks. They even pi**ed on their machine-guns to stop them warping from overheating! ...." 😃
@@ThePaPappy That's what I do all day at work! When a colleague annoys me with uncomfortable questions I pee on him! If my boss annoys me I pee on him, even if I go to the toilet I pee! Hell yeeeah, I pee on everything that moves!
My method is built in too. Sweaty feet :) In colder months I swap out the wool socks for thick cotton/blends when I know I wont be in the elements so I can sweat through to the leather and soften it over the course of a few hours. I also sometimes put the boots right on after wiping away any excess of a fresh application of conditioner.
I dance in my new boots. It gets my foot moving in different ways, and warms up the leather to help it once I start walking around.
I wear my new red wings when weight training, nothing breaks them in faster than a few sets of lunges, squats deadlifts and box jumps. Plus you look awesome in the gym ( very short shorts a plus)
Thats one way to break them in I never considered!
New boot goofin’
OK guys ...get a room....!
I squat more in work boots than I do in tennishoes
Hey😉. lol
I’m a woman who doesn’t wear men’s boots. My husband doesn’t wear boots. I have no sons, and neither my grandson nor my nephews wear boots. So why am I hooked on watching this guy’s videos???? 😂😂😂 I enjoy learning about a variety of things (this week it’s trends in men’s fashion 😉), and you’re a very enjoyable, knowledgeable presenter; thanks for such consistently high quality content!💐
Awww thank you so much!!!
My top tip - 2 layers of socks. Both layers need to be fairly thin, so don't try this with heavy walking socks. The idea is that the inner layer sticks to your feet, leaving the outer layer able to move over the inner. The result is that blistering is massively reduced, as instead of the point of friction being the surface of your skin, any friction is between the layers of socks. There are companies who sell "Blister ease" socks based on this idea, where the 2 layers are sewn together, but I'd suggest just buying a couple of pairs of regular socks - it's cheaper & just as effective.
I've been doing this for a while, it's good to know it's a known method
I did 20 years in the military. We used to put em on, lace em up tight and the soak em down with water while wearing em. Then go cut the grass and let em dry. Afterwards if you knew a guy who worked with turbine engines you’d wipe em down with turbine oil and dry em quickly with the turbine engine exhaust. So soft! Did the same with our gloves.
This has the makings of a nice little nostalgic short story! :)
previouslyachimp why thank ya
@@bon2198 - You're welcome :)
Any tips for breaking in boots at basic training
Ruben Rojas-Resendiz Ruck up and march that’s the only way to break them in ...
The first thing I do with new boots is recondition the leather. They've been sitting in storage for who knows how long before being sold and are going to be stiff, dry and not want to budge. Once thoroughly conditioned the break-in process is quicker and less painful. o/
boots/shoes and trainers have the manufacture date on them so you know how old....it's on the label usually near the bottom and printed in month/year ie 02/22
Enjoy the new boot look before conditioning- conditioning makes them look old
Great video. One thing I believe Nick's recommends and I have always done.....Lace them snug when breaking them in. It might make them even more uncomfortable, but it really helps the thick leather warm up and form to your feet. Don't snug them too tight, but just tight enough to make you aware that they are more snug than what you'd typically do.
Excellent video, Carl. Here are two additional points. 1) In new western boots, there will always be a small amount of heel slippage and that is considered acceptable since there are no laces to tie them up. 2) Personally, I will not buy a pair of shoes/boots that feel tight or have hot spots. While you may be able to stretch the leather via wearing them, it is often a painful process. Having stated these points, though, I do not wear work boots, only dress boots and Cabela hunting boots. You are the expert on work boots and I believe your advice is sound. I'm sure this video will help a lot of people who do wear them.
To each their own of course, and I agree that pain points should be minimal unless you’re a masochist. The heel slip issue is one that we’re trying to figure out with the Nicks boot project, we want it to be a slip-on with the ability to really cinch it down. So we’ve tossed around the idea of a buckle, zipper, even the BOA system. It’s difficult to overcome an inherent shortcomings of a style like that.
Big thanks to you Carl! I can't believe this solved all my problems breaking in my Iron Ranger. I thought I was an E width at first then I tried skipping laces and the surgeons knot it made all the difference.
Great advice! I have high arches too and I removed the stock insole and replaced it with a thicker one for a few weeks to apply upward pressure. Not super comfortable but when I swapped back to the standard insole the boots fit great and survived a year of working at Walt Disney world.
Wear them. The end.
levelheadsteve 🧐
levelheadsteve Wear them but dont walk on em or youll get blisters use em around the house and once their molded after a few days or a weekend then wear the to walk
I agree it's not complicated LOL
Use mink oil daily and wear them all day everywhere. Wear moister wicking socks, socks that don't absorb sweat. You want that sweat in the boot to help soften them and shrink the leather to mold them to your feet.
I only just clicked on this video to say the same thing. Just wear them!
Thank you Carl for your sound & practical advice this time for ones boots.Appreciate very much. 👍
Thanks. I was having a hard time breaking in my leather skate boots. I was switch in and out with an old pair. Sounds like the best way.
Steve Cooper do you ice skate or skateboard? i hope you don’t mean skateboarding because that’s...yeah...
Good tips. The alcohol and water is basically what boot stretch is. There are heel pads you can put in as well if a lot of slippage. I like the lace tips too.
Congrats on being the first RUclipsr I have seen who has created a real t-shirt to sell.
Thanks for the heel advice. Great tips. I’ll give them a try. Just picked up a new pair of RW heritage Mocs and am experiencing the slip.
Just got a pair of Double H 13" comp square toe boots. So sharp! Cant wait to break them in!
- Conditioning (mink oil inside)
- Boot Stretching for a few days
- Wear for a month or so at home with not very thick socks (this is the painful part for the foot bed to form)
- Get some good heavy hiking wool socks and wear them often for a whole day for several months.
- Ready for anything that comes.
Tip: Break in your boots in summer time
You can use a heat gun, and gently heat the leather of the boots up and apply bees wax to the leather. The wax is absorbed and they become almost instantly soft, and they are completely water proof and the best performing boots in the snow you will ever wear. I have tried it myself in the past, and it works like a charm. Only problem was the wax tends to grab lighter particles like saw dust, concrete dust, etc. Using saddle soap on a fairly regular basis will keep them looking new, and the bees wax can be reapplied yearly or bi yearly to maintain water proofing.
@Carl Murawski, good information. To your point about getting the right fit to begin with. As someone who has spent decades in the work force on his feet, I'd add this. Buy your shoes or boots at the end of a normal work day. This way your feet with have swollen to capacity and you will get a much better fit. We're inclined to get shoes on a day off when we have plenty of time and aren't pressured. Generally, that's going to be a morning visit to the mall. Suck it up, go after work and you won't regret your purchase.
My Favorite technique is to wear them around the house on a couple of Sundays when I am watching the race. Then I wear them when I am walking on the treadmill or walking the dog around the neighborhood for a week. Then I wear them to work. Recently I bought a pair of Nick's Builder Pros and for a week I skipped the laces around my ankles for a week. Never had Nick's before I thought people where exaggerating how stiff a new pair are. The weren’t. Steel bands around my ankles couldn't hurt worse.
I did a similar thing with my new Nicks boots this week: wore them around the house for a few days, then mowed the front lawn. Finished just as my feet began to groan!
I stumbled upon this video, because I was doing my usual research on boots. I love all the advice and am taking mental notes. I'm thinking of getting a pair of western boots soon, so I'll be using the techniques you suggested. Also, Smartwool socks are my favorite socks.
Well thank you for watching! Best of luck with your new boots 😁
Your videos are always so good thank you
Like always... Great video with some good advice. I usually just throw them on and go to work. A week or so later I forget they're on.
Yeah, if they're good enough you can just power through. It depends on the boot and how good it fits right off the bat.
@@CarlMurawski like I've said I have only had Whites, Wescos, Chippewas and Carolina's. All of which have been great out the gate. My Carolina's were even a metatarsal guard. And I put them on and didn't take them off for 10-12hrs a day standing welding. I guess I have been lucky not having much issue with breaking in boots.
Another informational and concise video, well done.
Steve DelLanno agreed
Very informative! Well-spoken
Love your videos Carl!
Thank you!!!
Great video! Thank you for your time and hard work.
So from a military perspective. We get issued boots all the time. You always have a camp set for wearing, well, on camp, and a set for the field.
I find the difference to be night and day. The soles on the camp set wear out before anything else. The field set, which inevitably receives regular soaking, get to feel like slippers, but the uppers crack if not properly looked after.
Your field set, which gets soaked, will always be your favourite boots.
I noticed the sizes change over the years especially around 1990. About that time it seemed that every time I bought a new pair of shoes I needed a half size larger and I knew my feet were not growing. I was over 30 years old at the time.
Many years later I bought a new pair of Red Wing Iron Ranger boots and I read that they were made by the same molds from nearly a hundred years ago. So instead of an 11 1/2 size, I was back to 9 1/2 or 10.
My new boots had the cork soles which take time to break in. The uppers broke in quickly because I used plenty of either Snow Seal or Mink Oil. Except for the soles they were comfortable nearly right away because of the oil I put on.
Good video, i have a pair of Red Wing Beckmans coming my way, ordered a pair since they've been discontinued. I know the leather is thick and stiff. I will just man up and wear them in the house for a while and slowly break them in.I will refrain from oils and creams so as not to discolor the Cigar Featherstone leather. All the discomfort will be worth it in the end.
Thanks ! With my Corcoran jump boots ( 1510 , 1500 ) ... 3 pairs i can switch everytime i want . 2 days / boots . Usualy using tender cream or Mink oil , wearing them by walking stretching .... By 1week can feel comfortable , by a mounth i can wear them and just "forget" them . It's a long process but at the end i feel them quite like slipers ! You're good . Thanks again .
Some excellent tips there. Thanks for posting. There are of course those mechanical shoe/boot stretcher devices that look like ancient torture instruments...
Just got me a pair of Roland Sands Mojave boots man these have thick leather can’t wait till they break in, thanks for the tips man 👍🏼
Nice video, really good explanation. Thanks.
Just bought a pair of iron rangers and cant wait
*Taking out the soles really helped*
My boots fit comfortablely now and they are new thorogood work boots. My last pair were 9EE which I had for 4 year. Decided to get 9.5 reg but when I put them on they were really tight on the sides. I was thinking I should have went with EE. But after watching this video I removed the sole and they fit perfect. Thanks for the tip!
For work boots that you don't mind darkening up a bit, Obenauf's LP is great conditioner but also softens the leather fairly significantly and has helped me break in a few pairs. Instead of wearing them to work, some real brutal break-in boots are nice worn casually for a bit instead of trying to work in them. Put 'em on after work and go to the store, wear them to the mall on weekends, etc.
You said you don't have to break in the laces, but those thick rawhide laces that come with White's, Nick's, etc. do take some breaking in. Obenauf's softens those up significantly, but also darkens them and makes them less attractive if you ask me. Use the Obenauf's if you don't care what the leather laces look like, or if you do, break in the boots with nylon or cotton laces with Carl's alternate lacing methods, then once the boots are more comfortable swap the laces to the rawhide ones.
Thats a good call, and a good point on the laces. I've noticed that the Whites laces are thicker than most other brands and need a little more time to break in.
I start with thinner socks, wear about 6-8 hours for 2 or 3 days, usually I can wear them for 12-16 hours in less than a week. Then as the leather startes to stretch I'll use thicker socks. Also, if you live up north like I do, break-in is much easier in summer months. But yes, plan on changing socks and shoes at least once a day for a week. I also make it a point to use stairs over escalators or elevators, not sure if it actually helps but it seems to quicken the process.
Thank you so much! Husband and I bought our first timberland boots and trying to break them for our upcoming trip to japan. This is so useful :)
Waiting for my first pair of custom boots to arrive from Whites this Friday. Hopefully they fit good, I went into the store and had them measure me for them, which I'm glad I did because I found out I've been wearing the wrong size boots for the last 15 years!
Great work mate!!!!
Thank you!
@@CarlMurawski I was also meant to add I just bought a pair of boots 😂
Had a pair of Thursday Captains in brown delivered, sizing them was tricky since I come from the UK so had to listen to the advice from the good guys at Thursday.
Trying to break them in and looking to soften the bend in the front area of the boot to stop the creases looking too harsh.
Excellent video
When I had an issue with the heel cap on my Justin conductors I just stuck a piece of $1 foam insole there until I no longer needed it.
It relieved the issue but made the boot harder to get on when having to hold it in place while slipping my foot in.
I've not had the issue with the Thorogood's I just got last week, these boots just felt like the right fit the second I put them on.
The Justin's were the first good boots I bought and truthfully the first properly sized boots I bought, so I'm most used to crappy sand a half too big Walmart boots ( when your parents raise you on shoes you'll " grow into " wearing the right size takes some getting used to ) but while the Thorogood's definitely need a bit more break in they instantly felt right in overall fit.
They've not been uncomfortable to walk in at all really They are breaking in much faster than the Justin's I wear for work, but still need a little bit of break in as I've not done a lot of major toe bending in them yet.
Going to try the surgeon knot. Thank you for your help
Very Informative! Thanks
I have high arches and I replace all my boot laces with paracord. I put metal aglets on them too myself. They are amazing. Strong enough that they won’t snap but softer than most laces. Either that or I go with flat ribbon laces. Works great for that pressure point.
Very good explanation ❤
Thanks a lot 💪
I tend to get heel slip with pretty much every single pair of boots I wear so this video has been super helpful! Thank you for making this!
You're so welcome!
i also get heel slip. what do you do to prevent it? i got thorogoods and im worried about it
@@lanpartylandlord6123 There's a few things I've done that've helped, the first is getting those little heel cushion things and putting them into the heel of the boot to add a bit more thickness, although admittedly that's not a great solution. Insoles have also helped me in the past, as has the tried and true "just wear thicker socks" method.
I've never had a pair of Thorogoods, but I'd try any of those or you can double-lace the boots for extra tightness when you put em on to hold them to your heel a bit better. Sadly in some cases there is no fix, I owned a pair of Dunlop ADF combat boots (my first ever pair of combats in fact) which just would not stop heel slipping no matter what I did. I tried pretty much everything to fix it but ultimately nothing worked and I ended up replacing them with some Corcorans.
Hope at least one of these solutions helps you, though! Another good suggestion is to get some bamboo fiber socks - they tend to be pretty thick and are very gentle on the feet so they can somewhat mitigate the blisters from heel slip.
I use a really thin pair of dress socks, preferably nylon, underneath my normal socks. This allows your foot to slip a little and avoid blisters. That's been my only issue breaking in any boot. After that was resolved no issue even while in the Corps. I have done the water soak and it works well and takes about two full days but the boots fit like a glove when you're done. They do need a lot of dressing and moisturizers when done though.
great video!! one method I use which is probably unconventional is, I put them on and I do pushups throughout the day while wearing them. this really makes them start to flex a lot and break in a lot quicker in my experience!!
Flex your boots and pecs at the same time 😁!
Most boots destroy my heels more so on the right foot as it goes but I didn't know about the surgeon's knot so will try that and thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Actually very good advice.... thanks. You uploaded this video on my Birthday last year... thanks. ;)
Happy to help!
Very solid tips
Great video. Helped me out a lot.
Did not know the surgion's knot lacing method, very interresting! 😄👍
I just got a pair of Wolverine Harrison’s, and they are AWESOME!! I seriously recommend them to ANYONE
No, I didn't buy a new boot. I just love your content! Keep up the great work
Well I’m grateful for that man, thank you!
Heat can also do the opposite if they are wet. A wet boot with heat can make the leather shrink somewhat or tighten the fibers making it feel tighter on you foot. But you did give some great tips the best is taking your time and slowly breaking them in.
“Patients is a virtue”
I remember the breakin period for my White's. The pain from the leather forming around my ankles was the worst. They have an 80 hour breakin time.
Yes, it's murder but so worth it!
80 hours? WTF
My Frye's Prison Boots "break in" took about a week.. max. Now they fit like a glove and the soles are nice and flexible. Awesome boots! They run 1/2 size larger than cross trainers. But the same size as dress shoes.
I carefully use a humidifier (warm moist air) one boot at a time so soften them, aiming at the high friction areas, wear them immediately after and then I apply conditioner to them
I have two pairs of whites and understand the white bite, when i have to get a new pair ill condition the shit out of them and heat some water dump it in the boot and dump it in an let it rest till its cool then dump it pad it dry and put on dry wool socks and give it a go. The best thing id 100% recommend for any break in is some leukotape to save your skin on hot spots so you can wear them as long as possible till broken in. Moleskin doesnt last long so if you need a set it and forget it the leukotape is best but know that it wont just come off easy which is why more people choose it. Best pair of socks is hands down DARN TOUGH.
The only other thing is to take care of them, clean and oil them so they last!!!! Two areas never to go cheap on your shoes and your toilet paper. Another note is if your out in the field and your lace brakes having the longer 108" ones come in handy as you can just shorten it and still have a function-able boot till you can get new ones and still finish your day out.
Thank you guy!
When buying new boots, especially work boots, I do my best to go try them on after a long day of work. That way I know if they'll be comfortable when my feet are tired and sore because something that feels a bit funny when you have fresh feet might turn into something painful after 8+ hours wearing them.
Insightful!
I just got brand new iron rangers and I soaked them and golden mink oil a couple of times already and yes they got much darker but I like it. The leather seemed to stretch quite easily and conform to my foot much easier and I don’t know if my foot is perfect for a number eight last or watt but I have had no problems at all breaking these boots in. I was ready for a really tough time from everything that I’ve read and heard but honestly they were a piece of cake for me and I’m convinced it was the mink oil that really softened the leather.
Inherently they are very waterproof now!
Your advice on high arches is something I practiced heavily in the Army. Initially, command freaked out about it. As an outspoken NCO, I was heard on WHY it was being done. It is extremely helpful
Good for you, Soldier! I joined the US Army at the time that we were issued 2 pairs of black stiff combat boots. We used a cigarette filter per our Drill Sergeant's instruction to paint a white circle on the top of the backstay so that the DS would know we were not wearing the same pair every day. Standing, marching, and running for miles in those unforgiving boots over the years have caused a plethora of issues. Hopefully, following these break-in tips will help me to enjoy wearing boots for the fun of it!
I just wear them around the house till they're not comfortable, take them off and repeat till they are comfortable for all day wear. My last pair of chippewas were good for all day wear from the get go. My wife did make me take them off to go to bed though.
Currently wearing a new pair of Jim Green Razorbacks with some thick socks around the house. Thanks Carl!
Soak in warm water(Not hot) for an hour, lace em up snug and go about normal activity for a few hours, take em off and air dry for a couple days. Apply massive amounts of leather conditioner. Enjoy. Warm water allows the leather to form to your foot's shape almost immediately. That shape will be retained as they dry. To dry boots efficiently, lay them on their side. This allows natural convection to get all the way to the toe. Even soaking wet boots will dry in 24 hrs at room temp if you point a small fan on low at them. 21 years in the US Army. Used the water method many times. It flat out works. And you're feet don't have to endure the pain of normal break-in.
I just got my builder pro I ordered a stock size 10 and I wore then about an hour inside my house then quickly realized these boots were gonna be very comfortable after breaking in because they were better feeling then my chippewa boots when I first got those and after break in those were the most comfortable work boots I ever had so now I'm about 20 hours into breaking in these nicks they just keep getting better everytime I put them on although not fully broke in yet they are really comfortable for where I'm at in the break in period
Guter Tipp für Schuhe.
I doubt anybody cares, but this came to mind as I watched this. 56 years ago I was a boy scout, one of the things we had to do was a 20-mile hike. The first step to get ready, buy a pair of Red Wing Boots. The next step put on a pair of socks put on your boots stand in a bathtub of warm water that goes over the top of the boots until they are completely soaked. Now wear your boots all day until they dry. Wear them the next day. After this process recondition your boots. I have to say I wore those boots on that hike and after and never had a problem. Knowing what I know now about leather and boot construction that [roably was not good advice. :-)
I usually just wear 'em to break them in...
Docs hurt like hell, I want my docs to fit well not so well customised my blood and dna samples can be obtained from the lining lol
Hang on fellas I'll be right back. I have to change.
You MADMAN!
Perfect timing on this video. I bought my first pair of Red Wings last night (Heritage Moc Toe), and I'm wearing them at work right now. I've got my old comfortable Ariats in the car. It's good to know I've got the right idea.
Zach S. That was my first pair of red wings, and the worst for me to break in. It was that collar around the top digging into my upper ankle. Spend a little time scrunching that collar with your hands and it’ll help a lot. About two weeks of wear and they’ll feel like Cadillacs.
Thanks for the advice! I'll keep it in mind. Mine are the copper color.
Thank you!
Thanks Carl, very interesting video! Would you consider making a similar one on how to break in duck canvas products? Like a Carhartt jacket or something like that
I sure could, but the only way to really break in duck canvas is by wearing it regularly. The weave makes it rigid, and you'll notice that even over years they keep their structure.
As you suggested, I think trying them on for sizing is the most important for comfort. I always tend to buy my boots generally a half a size bigger + wider. If your size 10.5 in Nike's dont assume that same size in work boots.
@Matt It might depend but half a size smaller then sneakers is correct generally. But again everyones feets are diffrent. And if buying half a size wider/bigger works for you than that's good.
Good tips
I love my custom Nicks Hot Shots, although, they were absolutely murder to break in! A suggestion that come from Nicks was spraying the boots down with a 50/50 mix of water and rubbing alcohol when they became too much to bear. It made the leather much more supple and easier to break in. Hope this helps someone.
I saw that on my Nicks when they came in, I never had to give them that treatment but they were definitely a bear to break in.
How tight were they in the beginning? I have a pair I got and they are hard to get on. They seem to pinch the pinky toe and almost feels like they are hitting the front of thr toes.
I even went to remeasure my feet and sent in a new fit sheet to double check, but Nick's tells me it matches the first fit sheet and should be the correct size.
Hi Carl, thanks for the solid content.
Can you help identify the boots at 00:15 with the “dimpled” tan leather? I’ve been looking for a while and haven’t been able to figure out the make and model.
I have a pair of British army assault boots that have smooth leather on the outside and smooth on the inside and I find the inside leather makes them really comfortable. They were 2nd hand boots so the leather was quite soft when I bought them. The only problem with the boots is that the rubber used in the sole disintergrates after a few years and the tread wears down quite quickly. There are companies who make reproductions of them with a different sole material that doesn't disintegrate.
Your mention of walking wet boots dry brought up memories for me: almost 20 years ago i did my conscript service, and at the first day you get 2 pairs of boots, "light ones" like these: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feldschuh#/media/File:Feldschuhe_leicht.JPG and heavier ones. The heavy ones have the tongue sewn until the top and the leather is way thicker, they have a steel toe and steel in the sole too.
Only few got new ones, most of us got used ones. (They are desnfected after you geive them back after your service, and if they needed they were repaired) The heavy ones were always a pain to march in because of the thick hard leather, but in the first 4 months those were the ones we had to wear whenever marching or training in the woods. The "light ones " where for "light duty", but from the 5th month on nobody cared which ones you used for marching ect. too. The lighter always fitted better to my feet, but one day i had to stand 2-3 hours in heavy rain. Just by chance i had picked the Gore-Tex Parka, and so everthing above my hips was dry, but everything below was soaking wet. (And nobody can imagine how loud raindrops on a steel helmet can become...) I had no chance or time to change my boots, or socks or trousers... And i wore all until evening. (the sun came out after the rain and at least helped in getting a bit dryer.)
Over night i filled the boots with crunched newspapers and the next day wore them again with fresh socks for 12-13 hours. They dried over time, but from this day on they fitted better than any leather footwear i had ever worn before and after. And i sometimes think how stupid of me of giving them back. If i would have "lost" them at the end of my service i would have gotten them for a very low fine compared to what they cost(ed) new.
@4:35. Which shoes are they? Wolverine has similar model but yours looks well made with light weight foam sole.
Never tried Tenderly, but there is a leather paste oil called Garrison Gold by Garrison Leather Care that is designed to soften leather. I know it's also used to break-in baseball gloves and that leather is STIFF! Bought some on Amazon and used it on some Luchesse Cowboy boots and Red Wing Iron Rangers and the difference was amazing. Also, I like the thick sock idea. I'll have to try that next time. Thanks.
I like the eyelet skipping trick to keep things comfortably loose in the ball and instep areas. But I only have the laces going in through the first and out through the fourth eyelets, where I tie my boots after wrapping the excess lacing around. I never tie above the instep.
I'm in the camp that believes that you're wearing the wrong size or fit of boot if you have to break them in. They should fit right when you put them on and not cause any discomfort. Whatever size you have to wear to get that fit is your size. For some it's a half size up, others a full size. I wear wides a half size up if they're soft toes, a size up or more if steel toes. I don't know what it is with steel toes but they're always tighter across the toe box than the same size soft toes.
my shoes and boots , getting the correct size is a good idea. Totally coat them in wax polish , wear them indoors x4 nights watching TV.. Works a treat.been doing this for 30 years.
What I've done on tight shoes/boots was to put 3,4 pairs of socks into a shoe tree and leave it on for a day or two. It did help stretch the shoe
Interesting! Like a home made shoe stretcher.
hey carl, interesting video as usual!
so today is my 5th day with my iron ranger, i can feel the leather is a bit stretched already and are forming to the shape of my foot, the toe box is already creasing, the heel area too, so i can change the clutch on my bike easier now. i don't have any of the problems that you mention, just some of my feet movements are limited to the new leather boots. there's even time when its drizzling in my area and i just let the water to dry itself on my boots because it stretches the boots a bit. and i put my shoe trees to dry the inside of the boots.
anyway, if i really need to quicken the process, i'll definitely use you method.
Gotta love the foot shift wear mark!
I chuckled when you mentioned wetting the leather. That's how we broke in leather skates back in the day. Soak the boot of the skate and then wear them.
If you don't want to bother a store for sizing when you buy online get a used Brannock device for around $15 if I remember correctly. Two main types.
What brand is your shirt? It’s a nice one.
Thanks for sharing! Could you let us know what boots were featured in the video?
Coming back to this after getting my Tecovas work boots lol. My feet hurt.
The technique i use to break in my boots is to condition the inside of the boots and wear them around the house with no laces. That reduces friction on the foot, softens the leather and your socks will naturaly absorb any excess conditioner. Plus, having no laces allows your foot to wiggle a little more which helps to expand the boot a bit.
the inside part i think is highly overlooked in many of the videos i just watched on break in. when applying proofhide to brooks bike saddles its always a bit on top and a lot on the bottom. the inside is like the part of the baseball glove where you throw the baseball.
Hey Carl. Good informative vid. The part that touches on hi arch/tongue causing pain at the top side of the ankle is not a subject easy or plentiful to find a solution to .
Also May I ask what the make or brand name of the black boots shown at the beginning of this video ( before pleasing play ) ? They are black , shown in a wet environment. I can also make out that the top side of the toe box is flat , and that’s what I’m looking for. If the warfare boot for $400.00 you reviewed came in a cap toe version, that would be as close of an example to use to describe what I’m looking for. Thanks from Sean “blue collar proud” .
When breaking in my RedWing boots I had duct tape no my heel for a week or so to stop heel slip being too bad, that way it slips but there is alot less friction on the heel itself. The first day I wore them I ruined the skin on me heel and it took weeks to fix.
After 3 weeks I could walk comfortably and it was wort it.
I am having the same issue with heal slipping and blisters on my heal from my redwings. Were you able to eventually able to stop using the duct tape? I am only having slippage on one foot, the other foot is fine
Are you wearing a Flat Head flannel? i think i have the same one and love it!
Leather is living, dub with your hands, get it warm again- Ernest MacReady. Shoemaker
County Down. Ulster. Grandad. Legend.