Will water break in leather hikers?

V

Vermont woodsman

Joined
Jan 22, 2005
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212
I got new all leather hikers, and they are a little tight near the big toe. Years ago i used to play hockey and to break in new skates you would fill them with warm water for 5 min then put your foot in and go skate. I was wondering if it would work with leather hiking boots?
 
I don't have an answer to your question, but that sounds like a very uncomfortable way of breaking in some new skates.

I just recently but a new pair of Vasque Sundowners. I didn't have any problems in the toe area, but they were a little uncomfortable near the ankles. My solution to the problem was to wear a pair of Smartwool socks and fold them over a couple of times, so as to add additional padding to the uncomfortable part of the boot. After a few days the boots were very comfortable (and I was very surprised with the short break in period) and I was able to switch back to normal socks.

I'm not sure what kind of toe problem you are having, but maybe you can do something similar. Thicker socks did the trick for me.

Goodluck!
 
You might be able to stretch them with a shoe tree or bring them to a shoe repair place for a little stretching
 
for hikers you really need to get one that fits perfectly first time round.
if you really can't exhange it for something bigger you can bring them to a proper adventure store which has shoe fitters. i've seen them do it with a sort of metal bar that they rub against the tight spot to stretch it.
 
Having what essentially amounts to a US size 9 EEE left foot and 8.5 EEEE right foot, I found it economical to invest in a pair of shoe stretchers. Cobblers also sell this bottle of shoe stretching liquid which basically amounts to purified water and some sort of leather conditioner. I would forgo this and just apply a liberal amount of highly viscous conditioner like the one Lexol makes.
 
Stop immediately.

Step away from the faucet.

Try to find a real honest to goodness cobbler and see if he will "punch" the offending area, that being stretch the particular hotspot. They have tools just for it. You mentioned hockey skates, if worst comes to worst try to find a figure skate fitter, they do it all the time and might be convinced to give it a try.

Soaking and wet-fitting boots is real old school, the bad kind. BTDT, got the blisters and broken down boots to prove it.
 
MelancholyMutt said:
Having what essentially amounts to a US size 9 EEE left foot and 8.5 EEEE right foot, I found it economical to invest in a pair of shoe stretchers. Cobblers also sell this bottle of shoe stretching liquid which basically amounts to purified water and some sort of leather conditioner. I would forgo this and just apply a liberal amount of highly viscous conditioner like the one Lexol makes.
Click to expand...

Cost effective? A toe or two here... a toe or two there...

Kiddinig...
 
If you spend much time in those boots you're going to want them to fit without stretching. If you foot is too wide for the boot try another model or probably another manufacturer. You need to remember that if you are hiking and carrying a pack your feet are going to swell a bit and if the boot doesn't fit to begin with you can imagine what will happen.
 
I guess I should post some comments because I have actually done it, it has worked for regular shoes but it didn´t do much for my heavy old Italian hiking boots (this was in 1976), I guess they were just too tough and thick.

If I remember correctly and did what I´ve done to other shoes: I fill with hot water, empty and fill again, empty and put on lacing tight.

If you can exchange the boots for a better fitting pair that´s what I would do, what is usually recommended is to try them on in the afternoon or evening when your foot has swollen a bit and use the same socks that you will normally wear with them.

If you are stuck with this pair you probably won´t loose much by trying, something to think about is if they have Gore Tex or some other modern insulation which may not let the water work, also consider that they will likely take a long time to dry.

Luis
 
Point44 and Weldon are right on the money!

It has taken me many years to finally get it through my thick skull: a quality boot or shoe should fit comfortably from the start.

You should never need to "break in" boots or shoes.

I've bought shoes and boots that did'nt fit well and convinced myself that they would get better with wear, and I was always wrong.

All I can tell you is to determine your true size and settle for nothing less.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
hah! ask any soldier or marine if boots need breaking in, my big toe was numb for about 3 months after i got out of the service.
 
allenC said:
Point44 and Weldon are right on the money!

It has taken me many years to finally get it through my thick skull: a quality boot or shoe should fit comfortably from the start.

You should never need to "break in" boots or shoes.

I've bought shoes and boots that did'nt fit well and convinced myself that they would get better with wear, and I was always wrong.

All I can tell you is to determine your true size and settle for nothing less.

Good luck,
Allen.
Click to expand...
In theory, yes.

In order to break in my various pairs of boots, I soaked them, then went for a
run in 'em. Also, during the summer I spent many days in which the boots were totally soaked. They all fit very comfortably now.

BTW, boot sizes vary by brand and style of boot - my combat boots are 10.5, except for one pair of 10's, my running shoes are 10, and my jungle boots are size 9. Always try the boots on ahead of time, if possible.
 
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