break-in-your-hiking-boots

Break in those new Boots

break-in-your-hiking-boots

During the winter I had bought a nice pair online to replace my old worn out boots (the soles were literally coming off). I received the new boots promptly, I tried them on, loved them, and then put them in the closet. That’s pretty much where they’ve been during the winter and early Spring.

Around the Modern Survival Blog homestead, I usually wear other shoes while doing my chores, working around the house etc… The intent of the new boots are to be for upcoming hiking excursions, camping, a trip up North to the wilderness, etc…

Problem is, they should be ‘broken in’ first, so to avoid getting some nasty blisters! Most all of us that have purchased hiking boots at one time or another have experienced this – getting a blister on your foot while wearing those new boots for the first few times on a long hike (even a short hike can do it). It is not a pleasant experience, and an experience that can be avoided!

The lesson here is to wear those new boots around the house now and again for several hours at a time, and break them in. This way you’ll be all set for that hike, camping trip, emergency, or whatever – without having to worry about blisters setting in.

Simple advice, but good advice that we sometimes forget.

4 Comments

  1. Try wearing a really thin pair of socks (ladies stocking socks work great) with a nice wool pair over them. This seriously cuts down on the blisters by letting the outside pair do the rubbing against the boot. -MtnBoy in WNC

    1. Another healthy tip is to soak your socks, (both pair) in a Colloidal Silver solution , then let them dry thoroughly before you put them on. This will effectively cut down on any overgrowth of fungus and bacteria. There is a company out there now even selling socks (and underwear) that incorporates silver thread woven right into the new fabric.
      Colloidal silver is very effective in treating foot fungus.
      TinMan

  2. I got some shoe ‘form’ retainers, from IKEA here in Australia. They’re like a toe cap attached to a heavy duty spring and at the end of the spring is a ball…

    Slide the toe part inside into the front of the shoe, bend the spring slightly and put the ball end where your heel would be and this springs out to keep the shoe’s form when in storage.

    All my shoes, other than those with steel toe caps have these and I havent looked back yet!

  3. Speaking in just plain and simple terms, the easiest, most tried and true method to breaking in a pair of boots is to fill a bucket or other container with warm water, place the boots in that for around an hour. Next, the old method of using Pond’s cold cream slathered on your foot, on the pair of socks you put on and then yet another pair of socks over that first pair will aid in both your foot staying healthy and the oil from the cold cream permeating the leather from the inside out. Finally, put them on, lace them tight – being sure the laces are as perfectly crossed and arranged as possible and walk them dry. Afterwards, when they have completed drying use whatever oil or other preservative special to their material you may wish. Leather boots take at least a full 12+ hours of continuous ‘on-the-hoof’ walkabout starting from a saturated state. Canvas and/or other man-made materials half that.

    If your boots cannot be so treated, I’d highly advise you find a pair that can.

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