[Closed] Re-breaking in walking boots

Nikwax do a leather conditioning product. I used it to good effect on a pair of old leather stiffened boots that I'd not used for years.
Sort out some new socks - Smartwool are teh shizzle.

Could I perhaps state the obvious Sir and suggest that you wear them for short periods at the time ?

Around the house, at work, take a scoot around the National Galleries.

Then when you have identified potential blister points, its time for the big thick fabric plasters.

get different shaped feet.

Jeez hels I am looking for shortcuts not sensible answers here!

Seriously though, are you saying it's a case of using plasters rather than building up skin? (which I guess would take ages) I know where blisters form already, so I could just patch my feet up before any long walk Shirley?

double sock !!

two thin pairs of socks to stop the rubbing...then walk in them as much as you can just short walks at first untill your happy with them..

Al - that is what I always do when I buy any new boots. Short walk to identify the blister points then strap feet, so you can wear the boots in without the sore phase. The boots will stretch at the pinch points.

Or one could just pay a servant to wear them for a few days.

Wouldn't the servant need to have my feet surgically attached?

And Shirley it's rubbing that causes the blisters (as the boots are already worn to my feet)?

Soak them well in the bath and then walk in them for a hour or so.
Don't dry them too much aside from stuffing newspaper into them. Repeat each day when they're damp.
Soft leather will mold itsself far better than old, dry leather.

Buy some modern boots that fit. You should not need to build your feet up to avoid blisters - your boots should fit well enough that they don't cause blisters

What TJ said got some asolo in 2004 no need to break in. Worked straight away. If not use girls stocking on the top of your socks.

2 pairs of socks. thin pair of shoe socks under and thick pair of hiking socks. and just walk in them. and hot water over them and then go for a walk. the boiling water makes the leather supple.

thats how i break my boots in at work. and i got through boots every 3 months.

Too skint to buy new boots, I loikes me old tradional looking ones!

I find HItech boots both comfy and cheap. Bought a pair a couple of years ago and used them for a trekking holiday with no issues

Edit - well then suffer with blisters. Me I'd spend £40 - 60 to get modern comfy boots

Meindl Burma or Borneo every time (the ones with Goretex for the winter / wet climates).
I'm on my 5th pair, I think.
Superfeet insoles and away you go, straight out of the box.
Trekked all over in brand new boots, Chile, Argentina, Kenya, even Wales!

'Buy some modern boots that fit. You should not need to build your feet up to avoid blisters - your boots should fit well enough that they don't cause blisters'

I'm afraid that's an ignorant generalisation. I've tried all sorts of combinations of brands, sizes, socks, lacing techniquies etc over many years and still get blisters. Solutions for me include using very thick smartwool socks (two pairs don't work for me - too sweaty) and using boots that are a size up so there is lots of room. I often put on gel blister plasters on the area I know where I get blisters in advance, before the blisters appear (they can rub off though and ruin socks). Talc (or equivalent) can also help soak up some moisture.
Also where appropriate I use ventilated lightweight trainers/approach shoes instread of boots as these are much less likely to give me blisters on the heel. Unfortunately over long distances on rugged terrain they are more likely to give me blisters on the soles. You can't win really...

angeldust - sorry but my experience is that a well fitting boot does not cause blisters. ( unless crampons are being used) I suggest you have never had a well fitting boot. Oversize to fit extra socks is just asking for trouble

Also, I've found more expensive boots don't necessarily help, nor does getting a proper fitting from shops/staff who know their stuff. I've also found little difference in boot material (fabric, leather, gortex or not). Trial and error the only way.

The shortcut would be to just buy some wide surgical tape type stuff and tape your feet up from lower ankle to just behind the toes. Just do it so your foot has normal movement, not tight, not loose. You might want to shave the tops of your feet, otherwise a leather strap between your teeth would do, when pulling the tape off. I've never had a problem when I've done this for new big mountaineering boots.

TJ in "knowing all about something" shocker!

Wipe your feet twice daily with cotton wool soaked in surgical spirit. It will harden and toughen the skin and used to work wonders with new army-issue boots until they were broken in.

TJ, I posted the above before I read your reply. You may be right that I've never had a well fitting boot. If that is the case it's because one does not exist! Trust me I've tried pretty much everything and spent alot of money finding that out. You still don't seem to understand that your personal experience doesn't necessarily hold true for everyone else. It seems to be a fundamental level of intelligence you can't get past.

'TJ in "knowing all about something" shocker!'

Quite

I too have feet that fit few shoes/boots, which is why I'm reluctant to buy new ones due to the risk of experiencing the same problems.

There is no scientific evidence that the surgical spirit thing works. Out of desparation I tried it for 6 months and made no difference to me! Not sure if it is an old wives tale, but if works for some it's worth a try.

Surgical spirit works for me. As does injecting with tincture of benzoin to the blisters. Hurts like anything, but works.

Tj's half right and half wrong.

How new or 'modern' the boots are is irrelevant. Whether they fit or not is important.

Just because your boots used to fit doesn't mean they still will. Your feet can change shape over time.

Your old boots may need some care - get some leather restorer on them if they're looking dry and so forth. Wear the boots a few times for short walks and let them soften up and take the shape of your feet again - your feet may also need to toughen up a bit if you've not been doing much.

If you don't want to buy new boots and are still getting blisters, stick compeed or something on nearer the time of the walk, but not yet - give your feet get used to things first.

You don't want really tough, hard and dry skin, so ignore the whole surgical spirit thing. This either doesn't work, or causes skin to split/rip off in chunks. Not ideal.

And yes, I have, and still do occasionally fit boots for a living.

Angeldust - I'm sure there will be boots that fit or can be altered to fit. At a complete and internet diagnosed (and thus useless) guess, you may have wide feet and be sizing up to get the extra width, or you have issues with feet elongating when weighted. Wearing a size too big can cause as many problems as it may seem to cure. You can get some custom-made ones if you're really desperate.

I wouldn't use fabric plasters or multiple socks. If you do tape your feet, use waterproof tape and stick a bit of vaseline between the tape and your sock, there will be virtually no friction.

I spent a morning walking round outdoor shops trying on boots. Several of them felt "ok" but then I stuck on a pair of Mammut (Raichle I think) and I knew they were perfect. It just depends on the shape of your feet.

Yes, I do have wide feet, though all the fitters I've been too don't think they are wide enough not to fit the wider-fit brands. Sizing up has actually cured many of the problems but not completely eliminated them. Interestingly I've had two pairs of very expensive custom made boots, and both gave me more problems than off the shelf boots, so I gave up on that.
My conclusion is that it's just me. Simply, my feet are prone to blistering but I've found that some solutions that go against conventional thinking do help.

Decent socks are your first priority,wear the boots a bit to get used to them again.Nikwax is brilliant as well.You can also buy insoles that will take the sting out....And buy some compheed patches;gel filled plasters.

Being the most experienced walker on here [probably]
I have gone through more footware than most and only once had blisters, that was from a poorly fitting pair.
I sold them, not worth ruining a walk for the sake of some decent boots.

Leather conditioner to soften and proof the boots, wear for short walks to acclimatise and identify hotspots, use the shiny plastic type of micropore tape on hotspots to protect and reduce friction, and if that fails and you get a blister use compeed (dont skimp on cheap alternatives). supafeet may help also.
If that doesnt get you through 3 days walking then burn the boots as they're a lost cause.

i have altbergs now and fund them to be the best boots i own.

i also wear army issued and some magnums they all need some breaking in but
the altbergs took about 3 mins.

i also use 2 sets of insoles in each shoe. seems to work for me. But each foot is diffrent. i have very very high arches and very wide feet.

If you do tape your feet, use waterproof tape and stick a bit of vaseline between the tape and your sock, there will be virtually no friction.

That vaseline idea sounds a bit daft to me. Why would you want or need no friction between the tape and your socks?. Surely the last thing you want for comfort is your foot moving around in the sock/boot. Especially when edging with the toe of the boot on rock or up a steep snow slope.
I use 1" wide tape, that traditional brown thick hessian sticky surgical looking stuff that would give max friction on the outside. IMO you need there to be no movement of the foot inside the boot, but 'directly' shield the skin against rubbing/friction. Taping up your feet is fit and forget IME.

Dales_rider - Member

Being the most experienced walker on here [probably]
I have gone through more footware than most and only once had blisters

i rarely walk, and if i do dig out my 16yo but well cared for boots, they will blister my heel if i do more than about 5miles.

when this happens i clean them and put them away and dont use them for another year or two.

hope this helps the OP.

I tried to re-break some old boots in a couple of years ago, and failed. Lots of foot pain, even on short walks over easy terrain. Last year I bought a new pair of boots, some waterproof fabric ones. No0 break in time needed, done the job nicely over the last year for me.

Wife is prone to blisters in boots, for her the soluition is two pairs of socks, and either vaseline or a foot balm that she got from Decathlon.

It's your feet that need the breaking in, not the boots. I have some £180 Raichle boots, feel as comfy as you could ever imagine, well worth the cash, but even when I've broken them in and walked hundreds of miles in them, if I have 6 months off they rub again, not in any specific area, just that my feet are not used to being "holed up" in a boot for ages. When I'm walking in them I don't feel any specific rubbing points etc.

As regards the taping - I have some great stuff I use if blisters appear - do not use waterproof tape and vaseline - it will cause maceration of th skin. compeed is for treatment not protection. Waht you want is fabric that is flexible soft and sticky - I use mepore. Its sticks well to your feet and conforms and is soft - so friction occurs between the tape and the sock not between your skin and the sock

dales rider Big claim!

Al _ I have only been hillwalking for decades and have been medic to large groups of people trekking in the wilds - I have some experience. I also have some knowledge of skin and treatment of it.

Decent socks with flat seams or double if you prefer and either vaseline or compeed on the potential areas of friction.

Did this for the UK 3 peaks a couple of years ago and no blisters what so ever

another trick for a blister is to sew a thread of cotton though it an leave it over night.

ill get shot down now but it works for me

Smash boots with rocks until boots have softened nicely.

I find that running socks under my walking socks are a perfect solution, as my running socks are twin skin (inner layer moulds itself to my foot, outer layer rubs against that). Decent socks makes all the difference, and don't be afraid to wear an extra sock on one foot if necessary.

My winter boots need a third sock on the right foot, but strangely my summer ones don't.

The old trick for breaking in leather boots was to walk up streams in them to soften them, unsure if it works too well though. I prefer just wearing them around the house and to the shops and so on, until they feel good.

Fair enough TJ but I'm not going to treat you as an oracle on this topic for reasons I am sure you are aware of.

I am amazed no one has come up with the perenially hilarious "wee in your shoes".

As far as outdoors experience is concerned, I think my vote would firmly go with polarisandy off here. Not only does he walk and climb extensively on rock, snow and ice, around the world and UK, but he's also the Doctor with Penrith Mountain Rescue Team. 8)

[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/polarisandy/3995790787/in/set-72157622432672533/ ]Striding Edge rescue[/url]

another trick for a blister is to sew a thread of cotton though it an leave it over night.

Sounds ideal for getting infected!

I can wear any sock you care to mention and it makes no difference to my non-blistered feet.
I like my boots to be the same size I wear to work so I only wear one layer and it's a summer sock.

However, some peoples' feet do, for whatever reason, seem to sweat more (?) and seem more prone to blistering.
You wouldn't credit the mess some guy's feet were in on multi-day forced marches when I w'er a lad i't' Army. Me? No issues - thankfully.

Meindle, the 2x models mentioned above, typically have a wide fitting.

The trouble with boot fitting is you can't always tell there'll be a problem until it's too late.

You spend ages faffing around in the shop talking volumes, widths etc. Walk around a bit, take them home and walk a round a bit more. Then you take them out..... you're committed. A lot of people will spend £100's and then persist in hope when they find the 'comfy in the shop/lounge' boot causes problems on the hill. I've done this on a number of occasions.

I happily used Brasher Hillmaster's for years (4 pairs) for general plonking around in the hills. They were perfect until they changed the design and now they're not suitable for my feet, I get blisters every time.

I happily used Scarpa for years for more serious stuff (plastics and tradditonal fully stiffened leather). I bought a new pair of Freney's for the Alps a couple of years ago and they shredded my feet.

I've now ened up (more by luck than judgement) with a pair of Meindle Vakuum's for general use and a pair of La Sportiva Trango Alps for mountaineering. I've even kept my old Scarpa Vega plastics for technical ice.

The message? It dunt really matter how much time you spend faffing around with the initial choice, tweaking socks, volume, fit etc. Fit is a bit of a lottery and sometimes you just don't win 🙁

I happily used Scarpa for years for more serious stuff (plastics and tradditonal fully stiffened leather). I bought a new pair of Freney's for the Alps a couple of years ago and they shredded my feet.

BA:
That could well have ended in many tears (of pain)!
I recall in one of Sir Ran Feinne's book about how he took 2-3hrs every single morning shoe-horning his feet into his plastic boots every single day. I just can't imagine the pain that must have been! Then going for a 10hr walk in them.

Yep, +n for tape. Lot's swear by (at) Leuko Zinc Oxide. Seems to be designd for sh1t and blanket interfacing.

My Freney's were so bad, the worlds supply of tape, second skin and Compeed didn't help. I sold them and the new owner has no problems at all 🙂

BA:
That could well have ended in many tears (of pain)!

Just to illustrate how boot fit is a very personal thing, Scarpa Freneys are, by a distance, the most comfortable winter boots I've owned. Light, stiff, solid, soft, easy to lace up "just right".

La Sportiva boots, on the other hand, 😉 are torture for me.

Blisters with new boots = MTFU

Blisters with old boots = bin

HTH 8)

1. Wool socks, not climatecnylonindiscguise 5000. WOOL
2. Wear your boots all the time between now and the walk, sleep in em.
3. Do a couple of ten mile walks, you may not be man enough.
4. Zinc tape your feet if you have to but always soak them to remove the tape, never rip the tape off. Important that last bit.

I've also found that taking the time to air your feet once or twice a day seems to help, socks off, feet in the breeze sort of thing. We did a 120k trek in a race and did this every 3 hours, quick 10 min sit down nosh up and feet wiggle. No foot problems at all, teams behind were broken with trench foot etc

stuartie_c - Member

Scarpa Freneys, the most comfortable winter boots I've owned.

La Sportiva boots, are torture for me.

Wierdo 😉

That just reinforces my lottery point.... I tried the Freney's out in the shop for ages and stomped around the house until I drove SWMBO (and the cat) to distraction. On the hill, they were terrible (for me).

I did exactly the same with the La Sportiva's and ....bliss. A bit of fettling with sock thickness but no blisters, sores, rubbing or lameness at all.

As for the OP's original point, I've tried to resurect old boots that had been stored for years twice. The first were a pair of KSB 3's that rubbed my heels to mush despite being comfy and even ace when I used them regularly. Did all my long distance walking in them at one time (Pennine Way, Offa's Dyke etc) with no issues.

The other, a pair of Scarpa Fitzroy's had turned iron hard and my poor tootsey's.... You could try some of the leather conditioners/refurb products to try and soften yours. I waxed mine and that dint make much difference. The bin, however, did.

If I was going to the expense of a long-weekend walking in the Alps, I'd rather chance some new, lightweight boots than some old tat that I know hurts my feet.

If all that breaking-in advice doesn't work:

Fold an empty crisp (Walkers would see appropriate) packet in half, and stuff it between the sock and the boot. The crisp packet provides a slippery smooth surface at the rubbing point of the boot. Better still you need to eat at least one packet of crisps and have a sit down.

coffeeking - Member
[b]It's your feet that need the breaking in, not the boots.[/b] I have some £180 Raichle boots, feel as comfy as you could ever imagine, well worth the cash, but even when I've broken them in and walked hundreds of miles in them, if I have 6 months off they rub again, not in any specific area, just that my feet are not used to being "holed up" in a boot for ages. When I'm walking in them I don't feel any specific rubbing points etc

Disagree. If you develop Mortons neuroma, which is inflammation of the nerves in the foot, and can be caused by poor fitting boots amongst others, then your foot won't break in, indeed one treatment for Mortons is changing your footwear.
http://www.foothealthfacts.org/footankleinfo/mortons-neuroma.htm

If my feet needed breaking in, then I can't see how I'd go from being unable to walk 3 miles in old leather boots without significant pain, to walking 11 miles the following week in new fabric boots.

Nikwax conditioner inside and out will soften it down nicely. If it's similar to the old liquid wax take care as it is possible to turn them to glove leather (suppleness not thickness) and then there's no support.