Ever since I was in the Marine Corps and having to break in new combat boots I always wore a synthetic thin sock and a cotton sock over the top of that. This helps to prevent blisters by allowing the cotton sock to rub against the synthetic sock and not your skin & the cotton sock allows for cushioning as well
When I first started in construction someone told me to always buy the best boots that I could afford, the financial pain goes away faster than blisters. Someone else said to have 2 pair of work boots so that you can swap them out every other day. Both of these gentlemen were right and I have done this for 40 years now and it made a HUGE difference. Also don't wait until your boots are about to fall off your feet before you get replacements. I had a foreman do this once and by break time the first day he could barely walk and he had already thrown away his old boots. By the end of the week he was walking like a wino with bad feet. Thank you so much for all the tips and tricks, please keep it up.
Darrell Hendrix terrific post brother. Right on. One thing I will add is that you should get a shoe drier. They are like $20-$25 and last for years. Put your boots on them after each days wearing.
Often worked 12+ hours, 7 days a week always on my feet in all kinds of conditions. Wet/muddy boots were very common and I hated putting wet or even damp boots. Force drying boots made them stiff and rough looking. I would lay them on their side with newspaper wadded up inside to draw out moisture. Right after buying a new pair I treated them with neatsfoot oil, would substantially darken the boots but kept them supple with at least bi monthly treatment. Spent a good bit more on work boots than all other shoes combined. Watched a lot of other people have to break in another pair of, usually cheap, boots every 6 months to a year. I got 3-5 years out of mine, even the ones that could not be resoled. Take care of your feet, you only get one pair issued to you.🙂
Darrell Hendrix a good drier doesn't force dry. They are fantastic for extending the life of shoes that are worn in damp weather or that get a lot of sweat.
I buy Red Wing Pecos with steel toe for over 30 years , one pair for construction and one pair for casual dress ( mainly everything not working. )When I wear out the work boots I buy a new pair and turn the casual older pair into work boots so I don’t break in a new pair working.
Army basic training we were issued 2 pair of leather boots. One pair we had to mark with white dots. We had to alternate each day which pair we wore. If you were caught with the wrong pair on the wrong day, everyone paid for your mistake. That was my first intro to taking care of your feet and footwear. Almost 25 years later and long since out of the military I still alternate my boots.
@@AmitKumarPune it gives the leather time to breathe. Heal if you like. It extends the life and not just because you only wear them 50% of the time. There are probably several reasons why this works out. This can extend the lifespan of all your shoes, not just boots.
I attended Army basic training in 1983 at Ft. Sill, and that was our experience with rotating our boots every other day. We also had a white dot placed on one pair of boots. The Army forces you to take excellent care of footgear and uniforms. I alternate my footgear still.
@@stephenabm7779 It's mostly for drying out and keeping the feet healthy yes. Having wet foot for a prolonged period of time is really bad if you were out to serve in a prolonged scenario. Also shoes when wore constantly take the shape of your natural feet posture (over proning or over supine). Having the shoe repair it's sole (even 0.2mm) could be a good way of keeping feet to a correct posture.
Brannock device. I bought one and after reading the instructions, learned something very important with the use of it. Do not JUST look at where your toes end to determine the size of your foot. That sliding gauge on the inside edge may show that your shoe size differs from where your toes land. For years, I wore a 13D and had to struggle to get them comfy. Then I started ordering a 14W and had better results. I learned from the Brannock device that my foot is actually a 15D by the side sliding portion. Based upon this, when I decided to buy some new dress shoes from Allen Edmonds, I ordered 15D and have been very pleased with all five pairs I've ordered. Yes, part of the problem is that my feet have changed over the decades. That's why verification from a Brannock device is important. Break-In. Since the Allen Edmonds are leather lined, what I've learned is, to generously slather Bick 4 conditioner to the entire inside of the shoe, let it soak in until the surface dries and then put them up with shoe trees for a day or so. The outside immediately gets conditioned with Saphir Renevateur and multiple coats of their best cream. Then they get a few light coats of Saphir wax. I'm also slathering Bick 4 on the sole leather and keeping an eye on the condition of that leather. I have found that the Bick 4 conditioner does an excellent job of softening the leather, yet, does NOT darken the leather. It appears a shade darker when first applied, but dries to the original color. The increased suppleness of the conditioned leather aids in comfort while breaking them in. Conditioning/Shoe Trees. It made sense to me when Preston Soto advised to condition brand new shoes. We don't know how long that leather's been without conditioning prior to purchasing the shoes. Since the Bick 4 is so reasonable in price, I use it generously on the inside leather of dress shoes, and all over for more rugged (smooth leather) boots. I save the Saphir for fine leather exterior leather on dress items. There is a very unique softness to the leather after the Bick 4, but no waxy residue. It also does amazing things to a new baseball glove, or an old one which has dried out. I have shoe trees for every pair of dress shoes/boots I own, and use them. My western boots look amazing still.
What shoe trees do you use for western boots. I bought a pair of boots a long time ago and never learned how to care for them. Trying to make up for that mistake now.
I wore 12's for years. The sole would crack and leak. 5 years ago I happened into a Red Wing store and talked to a salesman. Decided on a model and had a pair of 12s on the counter and mentioned "I hope these don't crack like every other boot and shoe". He stopped me, said "Wait a minute. It cracks where? Oh, you have the wrong size then!". He sat me down and popped out the Brannock tool and said "You're a 10.5 EEE. 12s will fit because the width is the same, but you're a 10.5 EEE border EEEE. The other shoes all cracked because you're bending the sole when walking or kneeling where it wasn't designed to be bent". Never turned back from buying that size except for a pair of Nike trainers. Those run extremely tight. Had to go to an 11 wide on those. The only way I'd buy boots or shoes online is if I'm buying something I've tried in person at a physical store.
I have worn 9’s for years but when I sent my foot outline to Nicks Hand made they recommended a 7.5 eee. I thought they were idiots but they sent me a test and they were right. Get fitted properly
Are you saying if I take my boots to redwings they'll give me a smaller pair if mine don't fit? I have a pair that my uncle gave me and they mean alot to me but they were to big and are wrinkling where you said
When I went to boot camp at Parris Island in Oct 1968, we were issued 2 pair of black dyed all leather combat boots. During the week of company forming our drill instructor had us fill our laundry bucket with clean water and stand in it one foot at a time, 10 minutes each foot. Then we removed both boots, poured out any water in the boot, put on a dry pair of socks and wore the boots for 2 days, changing to dry socks every few hours. Yes, we wore them to bed the first night and the fire watch woke us twice during the night to change socks. These were the most comfortable boots I have ever had and did they ever take a spit shine! We didn't do this to the second pair and they weren't nearly as comfortable or easy to polish.
That sounds more of a hazing thing they did more than trying to help new recruits have more comfortable boots. Since they normally try to make you the most uncomfortable they can
@@seanmcguire7974 you speak from inexperience. Also, pretty ignorant considering the man just said he noticed a difference. This was more common practice than you think.
Great advice gents! My Thursday boots hurt like crazy at first. Did the thick sock, actual boot sock, and conditioned the leather a few times and wore them around the house. They now fit like a glove and are my most comfortable boots. Wish this video was out last year when I was getting them ready. Thanks for all your help.
My Thursdays were the same. I conditioned them straight out of the box. I just kept wearing and conditioning them. They fit like a glove now. My Captains are my favorite pair of shoes I have.
Spot on. The Army taught me to keep three pairs of boots, or more ready. Always have a break in pair you work on, two pair minimum that are well broken in that allow you to change out daily (to dry). The fourth pair is for the field. These are really on their last legs almost. They should be very worn in. Also, they have been scuffed, drenched before etc. Be patient on break in. Don't wait until your current boots are falling apart.
I've found that it's best to wear a silk, or silk-like sock, next to your skin, and a wool sock over it. The silk acts as a dry lubricant, and prevents blisters!
Rotating boots/shoes with shoe trees is one of the best tips in the video. When I was working, it was easy for me to rotate shoes when I was at home. But when traveling, I always packed a second pair with trees for any trip longer than one night. Of course proper cleaning and treatment is always important. DFW airport always had a great guy who could bring the shoes to new condition during a layover.
I can watch your videos all day long and love the collaboration with Stridewise! More videos like this please. Leather care for different types of leather (horsebutt, calfskin, cxl, cordovan), boot reviews and sizing, how to identify a good cobbler. Would love to see your personal boot collections too! thank you for making these vids.
When all else fails and you know that you have the right size, but lingering heel slippage, which leads to hotspots, I’ve successfully added a strip or two of leather to the inner heel cup right where I think it’s needed, with contact cement to more securely keep my heel in place. Unliked a fabric heel pad, it can be permanent if desired, and is natural leather, just like the boot. I recently tore apart an old Coach wallet for this purpose.
I have a pair of Allen Edmonds boots that I’ve only worn twice because they rub around the ankle. I’ll have to give them another try using your tips. Thanks guys!
I bought some work boots that were super comfortable right out of the store, they didn't last more than 3 weeks before being absolutely destroyed. I had to go back and buy another pair of decently comfortable boots. I broke them in by putting 2 soles in each boot, wearing 2 socks on each foot, putting them on, and then soaking the boots in hot water while on my feet, and wearing them for about 2-3 hours at a time. I did this probably 6 times before wearing them to work for 10-12 hours a day. They are the most comfortable boots I've ever had, and I've had them just over 7 months so far. I recommend this method for everyone, but specifically anyone who might have bought a half size too small.
I rely heavily on the customer feedback for sizing information. I also really appreciate that certain retailers, like Redwing and Alden, provide additional information regarding sizing like “runs large” or “customers order 1/2 size down.”
You can call it a bad idea if you want, but I was logging (chasing landing) some 45 years ago and wearing a pair of Wesco spring-heel caulk boots and trying to break them in slowly, like you fellas recommend. After the first day my feet were so sore that I couldn't wear them the next day. I reverted back to something some old timers told me and it worked beautifully. I poured the boots full of hot tap water and let them soak on the porch over night. Then the next day I took a gallon jug of hot tap water to work with me and poured them full again and slid my feet into them while wearing a thick pair of wool socks and wore them all day until they began to dry out a bit (it was a long day in the middle of August). I let them dry out over night and wore them again the next day. They were still a bit damp, but I wore them anyway. They never hurt my feet again, and they held up well after that. As a side note, I became a cobbler about 25 years later and had another logger bring me a pair of caulk boots in for repair. The boots were stiff as a board and had never been conditioned with anything. The guy said he thought the leather uppers would hold up better if the leather was stiff instead of soft. Wrong. All that does is allow them to become gouged up by branches while you are traipsing through the brush. I repaired the boots and gave him a complimentary new pair of leather boot laces and applied and worked in a full pint of mink oil to the boots and they absorbed all of it. I also worked in some Snow Seal on all of the stitching afterward. The guy came back a few weeks later and said those boots had never been so comfortable and this was the first time they had never leaked since he had bought them. So, take it for what it's worth. It worked for me. I would strongly advise against using a product called "Loggers World" though on any boots that are stitched with cotton thread as it will rot the stitching because it is a petroleum based product. It is a great product for waterproofing a pair of calks but only use it on boots with nylon stitching. And please, don't give that fella in the middle of your chat any coffee while he is wearing a white shirt and talking.
I'm currently breaking in a pair of Red Wing Iron Rangers. I went into the store and tried sizing down from my normal size as recommended and quickly realize it didn't work for me. A size 13 appear in my collection the most. So that's what I went with. The fit was generous and I was initially concerned because based on the reviews and recommendations the boots were supposed to fit somewhat tight. A pair of thicker work socks and an insole because( Redwing iron Rangers don't come with one) did the trick nicely. I've been wearing them four days straight and now they feel like a pair of sneakers. Vanity sizing is a huge mistake when making such an investment. Also your feet are often not identically the same size. My right foot is slightly larger than the left. Because of this I always try on the right foot first. I would rather have slightly larger shoes than shoes that are too small. Slightly larger shoes are an easy fix.
For my iron rangers I conditioned them and would wear them right after doing that and it seems to have worked extremely well for me, I did that a few times and there was a noticeable difference after about 3 times doing that spread out over a month between condition. When I bought mine at a small red wing store the guy told me just wear them that’s the best way to break them in!
Just starting the vid. This is AWESOME! Great collab! Your channels were the first in my discovery journey for boots and men's fashion. You are genuinely among my favorites with over 20 fashion, style, leather/shoes channels subscribed! Way to go gents!
When I first got serious about boots, I bought some Redwings from an Amish cobbler/shoe seller. One thing he told me has been very useful ever since - every boot is made to a last, and you should find a boot that fits almost perfectly, but slightly tight from the get go. If it doesn't, that last doesn't match your foot shape and you'll have a longer break-in period, or they may never really fit your foot and it's okay not to buy boots that fit wrong. A little bit of tightness is okay since the leather will conform to your foot, but a really uncomfortable pair of boots is a bad idea. Online shopping is really difficult since you don't get the opportunity to try different boots and you don't have the expertise of an experienced sales person to guide you.
Not all boots are made to last. You buy a cheap pos and it falls apart in 6-8 months because of cheap/synthetic materials aren’t made to last as long as real leather and good construction.
I have enjoyed many a weekend now watching you restore and save so many shoes and boots! Looking forward to getting the boots I sent in back. Thanks guys!
I think the most bizarre breaking in tip I’ve seen was for Doc Martens boots (DMs as we call them on this side of the pond): fill them with scrunched-up newspaper, wrap them in a towel and then hit them with a hammer! Personally, for DMs, I’d be tempted to leave out the newspaper and towel.
Found out what the lower layers of my skin looked like when trying to break in DMs - and that was after doing a whole lot of breaking in - still haven't tried again. Made the mistake of walking too far one day and it turns out if you stick a menstrual pad on your heel because you've got those and not band-aids, it works well enough to get home on LOL
@@AllegraBottlik Doesn't help that the Doc Martens they make today are completely inferior quality and construction (and also differently lasted) than classic DMs. They're literally not even the same shoe. Just the same brand slapped onto poorly made imitations leaving a trail of unhappy, foot-pained folks behind them wondering wtf happened.
proper fitting is the key , for years i was wearing to small boots. now having proper fitting boots, no breakin issues. i have, Nicks, Redwing, Chippewa, and Thursdays. straight out of box, were allday no issues.
I just bought some Thursday boots. I started to wear them immediately and walked throughout Beijing. I had no friction, but they are stiff. My feet are not used to these from wearing mostly sneakers. I had no blisters but the muscles on my one foot did start to cramp up seriously. They are beautiful boots and when they are softer they will be amazing to wear every day.
New subscriber here. My dad was a carpenter. He had all kinds of tools, some of which I have no idea what its purpose is. After watching several of your videos I recognize that he had a box containing a bunch of cobblers tools. I wonder why. Good stuff fellas.
I'm wearing two pairs of thick socks both saturated in leather stretcher spray and I'm walking around the house and can literally feel the boots breaking in as I walk🥰
I haven't worn boots in years and I just picked up a pair of Thursday Captain Boots based on your recommendations. I'm in the process of breaking them in as I type this. This video was very helpful for some tips & tricks!
I bought Thursdays in black smooth leather and they were a little bit of a bear to break in. I also have a brown pair in a semi smooth and they fit like I had worn them for years. With Thursdays, stick with the correct size. If you are over a triple E wide, you are going to get variances. However; Thursdays will spread for you over time.
PS, if you are getting abrasions on your feet, do not keep wearing them. THIS trick will help you. Take DUCT TAPE and cover the place on your foot/feet where the boots are tight. It will be a little painful while you break them in, but over time, you will have the leather conform and you will not need the duct tape. The tape takes the abuse, not your skin. Bandaids don't have the adhesive strength or the durability of duct tape.
You mentioned that "with Thursdays, stick with the correct size". When you say correct size, are you saying your exact measured size, or a half size lower than your measured size, as Thursday seems to suggest on their Website?
The whole *put your new boots on and take a shower* is only the 1st half of the instruction. The second half is *then wear them until they are dry*. This is what we did in the Army when we got new boots. The boots would Form Fit to each person's foot, and then you could March for literally days on end, in the same pair of boots, without getting blisters.
You guys are all awesome sources of information, thank you! Not many cobblers around anymore. Just 10-15 years ago in my area there were several, now there’s one (before Covid) not even sure he’s still around…I should make sure. Anyway, thanks again.
Hey guys really like the video especially the end where you guys debunk some of the myths about how to break in your boots superfast, on that note just purchased my 1st pair of Red Wing Rangers and heard horror stories about how about the break in period is. The salesman sized my foot and I purchased the pair in the side he recommendedand I have had 0 breaking pains I mean I put these on with a new pair of socks in the parking lot then went and walked around the mall with my wife all day and a done a few days of yard work including getting up on the roof of the house no pain is this normal at all or did I make a mistake?? They do feel great on my foot not loose or sloppy BTW.
Was told years ago to place boots on their sides when not wearing to speed the drying out process and allow at least a day to rest before wearing again. This has made my boots last many years each. Actually I’ve not worn out a singe pair, other than replacing soles.
I like using a lanolin or similar (mink oil / coconut oil) based leather conditioner that's quite think (paste rather than cream or oil) and after application, leaving the boot in the sun for 10-15 minutes to warm the leather and melt the paste. Once it's clear the first coat has all soaked in, do a light second coat ad repeat. Obviously doing so on a 40°C day may not be the best idea, but on a mid day the warm sun really helps the leather relax and soak up the conditioners. As I need my boots to be water proof, alot of the products are quite thick and otherwise difficult to get to penetrate. Regards Jordan
I know you guys said this is not a good idea however, I'm a beer league hockey player. We are spoiled and we get new skates once every 2-3years and it sucks when the skates are brand new because they are not broken in and doesn't mold to your feet. What we do with our boots is a process called "baking" where you heat up your oven to 300 degrees, turn it off and put the skates in the oven for 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes, you take them out of the oven, you put them on your feet while seated and you lace your boots up to the top and leave out the top 2 eyelets. You do not flex your feet during this process and you don't pull the laces too tight because it will tear out the eyelets if you don't do it correctly. I haven't done the exact same thing to my Thursday Captains but I've done a version of that which is using a heat gun and put in inside the boot and turn it to 150 degrees and then put them on my feet. Of course, this only molds the boot to your feet and you'll still need to "break in" the leather but at least this way will help you soften up the leather so that you can have it molded to your feet. I would be careful doing this because if you don't do it correctly and use too much heat, it will destroy your boots. I would normally just wear it around the house for a few weeks and then you should be fine. Good vid!
Guys, I find one trick helpful to break leather boots and dress shoes in is to use a low heat hairdryer on the inside to warm them up before inserting my foot. This can speed up the breaking period. Thanks for the show from a Tennessee boy now in Oklahoma.
i own a pair of chippewas which i bought back in late 2016 i think. for literally several YEARS, the boots felt uncomfortable around the heel area every time i wore them, with blisters at the end of the day if i wasn't careful. as such, i never wore them more than maybe half a dozen times a year. this was a real bummer given that i had paid several hundred dollars for them. it wasn't until some time in 2020 when i gave my boots more frequent wear (once a weekish) that the leather FINALLY started molding more to my foot. now, they practically fit like a glove, and i don't need to worry much about blisters either.
I'm new to boots and bought the same pair and same leather from Thursday as U did, they arrived last Nov. They're not thick leather at all, but yes, comfy with no break in time except for the first day, but they only have D width, so halfway through the day I usually have to take them off for 5 minutes or so. I really like the look of the waxed cacao color! My Truman bison boots arrived 3 days ago, size 11EE (first time having size EE width), much thicker leather than the Thursday logger, but magically, soft and supple, not a single minute of pain anywhere in 3 days of wearing them. I'm amazed!
Truman makes some nice boots. Like I said it’s my first boot like this. I have Beckett siminons and tafts and comparing to the waxed cacao logger they are much thicker. They aren’t uncomfortable by any means. It’s mainly the heel that’s taking some getting used since the heel counter area is thicker than other boots I own.
This is a very informative video and I picked up some good tips. With all due respect though, I disagree that a little heat is a bad thing when conditioning boots. After cleaning my leather boots, I will let them heat up in the hot sun or, in cold weather, place them in an oven heated to 150F for about 15 minutes. Then I condition them with a bees wax product. The heat melts the bees wax and it disappears into the leather fibers. I repeat this process until the wax stops sinking in. Then I let it dry and I buff off the excess with a clean rag. I used this method on the leather upper part of a pair of Surells I bought in 1994 and the leather is still moist and supple to this day. Has to be done more frequently of course on work boots that get worn every day.
I dont know how I missed this video. Working in a boot store in Texas Ive heard many old wives tales about breaking in boots, but Ive also seen so many guys buy work boots and come back the next day saying they hurt their feet cause they thought it was a good idea to wear brand new boots to the refinery or chemical plants, and when you try to explain the concept of breaking boots in its like youre speaking some alien language. Also before I worked at the boot store I wore size 10 1/2 or 11s found out Im a 9 1/2 or 9 crazy wide foot, didnt even know shoes came in different widths before.
A couple of facts others seem to have missed. There has been a commercial product sold for over 50 years called Shoe Stretch that comes in a spray bottle. The active ingredient is isopropal alcohol. For dress boots or shoes I agree I would not use the alcohol because of the dyes and colors being messed up but what I found is that by using 91 percent isopropol alchohol from drug store is that when you drench the leather with it , much the same as with water, the leather will stretch in the tight places around your foot when worn and then when the leather dries, the stretched areas will remain. thusly a "broken in boot" that fits wonderfully. The beauty is that the alcohol dries ten times faster than when using water to soak the boot. With Hiking and construction boots no one cares about the "patina" or finish etc. Next NEVER put any kind of conditioner on leather if the oils come from an animal etc. that kind of oil ALWAYS dries out. It must be a mineral oil or petroleum derived oil ( same thing ) where the oil has been in the ground for millions of years and will never dry out. Take a paint brush and slather the leather with oil till it is wet and let it soak up as much oil as it can. This oil internally lubricates the leather and makes it easier to bend thus is softer where it contacts the foot. This will cause the boot-shoe to last forever until wear occurs. I am 72 years old and I have a pair of high school football shoes with cleats that I cut my grass with for over 50 years ( push mower ) and every ten or fifteen years I paint them with 30 or 40 weight motor oil. Yes thats right Quaker State or Penzoil etc :-). I have dont this with construction boots, military boots, and hiking boots for fifty years. DO NOT use any kind of leather conditioner made with such oil as lanolin or butter as these will dry up in short amount of time. I also treat saddles and belts ... anything leather with motor oil. Hint, I found that synthetic motor oil has a more pleasant odor ( used on my leather jacket ) ie Mobil 1. Also Mineral oil from grocery store for baseball and work gloves etc. Lastly, for all Construction and Junting boots, etc. , if you dont have alcohol and are not in a hurry for the alcohol to dry, just fill your boot up with water or stand and walk around in a stream for a while to get the boot totally water logged and take a hike and then let them dry for a week , when they dry, they will be broken in with a custom form fit to your foot.
I agree about all of this, especially rotating boots. However, I recently discovered that with boots like Red Wing Heritage, I just massage the leather on the contact points, then wear them with thick socks for 3 days in a row while photographing weddings and events, (hours of standing) using cedar shoe trees every night. On the 4th day, the leather and cork insole is completely customized to my foot in a way that used to take months. Then I rotate them with my other boots to give them a rest. Appreciate you all.
The submerging in water is an old military trick that works if you do it right, but not for nice boots. It really only works for the kind of boots you get in the military
Use Ballistol oil not the spray. Paint them with Ballistol oil. Developed for the German army to protect leather wood metal. I had very stiff Red Wing boots and using Ballistol oil and working the oil in by hand they softened up. Squeeze them bend them work the oil deep into that leather. Pretty good hand work out to.
I would vary the boots that you buy. Boots like Bluntstones/ Redback boots are insanely easy to break in and what I wear as work boots. The boots outside of that you can go slow, wear thick socks, put bandages on your ankles. Condition the very back of a very structured boot to help it be able to relax around that back of your foot.
@@russelljenkins7428 Thanks for clearing that up Russell. I was careful to say England rather than UK, because I wasn't sure of the rules in Scotland and N.I.
Bought a new pair of engineer boots, Frye double buckles, and they are STIFF! Probably should've gotten a wider size but too late to return now, oh well. Going to try some of these tips, thank you for a GREAT video!
I use obenhauffs HD or mink oil. That loosens them up quite well. I regularly wear a pair of red-wing moc-toe 1907’s and a pair of Sears Die-hard moc-toes.
Great advice on sizing. My new Thorogoods fit perfectly because I hit their website and read the sizing recommendations. I got a great deal online and they fit perfectly right out of the box.
From my experience, to my feet a soft heel is more gentle to my feet than a rough one. Rough heels catch my sock and make the sock rub against the skin of my heel and cause blisters. What does help is to avoid cotton socks since they rub more against your skin when they are wet than wool socks. So I like to wear wool socks to increase comfort.
The problem with measurement devices is that there is no standard for size when it comes to manufacturing processes. I have worn 11.5 to 12 for shoes and running shoes. In one manufacturer, their size 14 running shoe was too short for me!
The way we did it, or the way I was taught, in the army was to stand in the tub full of water and get them soaked and then wear them on a good ol’ long ruck march and wear them out good..always worked and broke my boots in perfect
Great information, but my personal preference is to go to a full service shoe/boot store and try them on. The internet is great for buying a new screwdriver, but it sucks for buying clothing items. So many manufacturers have their shoes and boots made overseas and the quality is not what it used to be.
love like in the swiss army they get you nice measurement (true), and to that 2 potent pears of black army boots... then make wear them trough sweat, tear and pain until it fits... or your foot fits. But hey, the one i made fit me after the march... fits perfect!
Best breaking in method Step 1 wear your boots indoors for general walking about as much as possible do this for about 1-2 weeks before attempting outdoor travel especially long distance travel as some boots can take weeks months even especially hiking boots I’ve found took me months to fully break in mine and I used to really travel miles back in day Step 2 you bound try leather conditioner to help soften the leather but if the boots are new I they may not require conditioning but it can’t hurt plus it will help with any leather creasing
In one of your vids you said to condition/moisturize the leather in new shoes and boots before wearing. Does this also apply to Alden Indy Chromexel boots? Also what do you recommend to treat these boots. They are quite an investment which I would like to protect. I really enjoy your videos and find them very informative and entertaining. I'm surprised that guys send in boots and shoes for repair that are really filthy. You'd think they would knock some of the dirt/mud off them. Oh well. Again, love the vids.
Haha, back in the 90s in the military they slapped a pair of full grain jump boots on our feet and from than on you were wearing it for the next year 16 hours a day. The first 2 weeks were hell at the end of the year they were more comfy than tennis shoes.
I'm 59 yrs old and have done factory work my whole life and I don't sit in an office I'm on my feet ALL day My experience is wax your boots with a good boot wax conditioner and let them sit for about a week then wax again and wear them and rotate your work boots this for me has worked very well
When I broke in my Docs, I basically wrapped them in an old towel and beat them up a bit like you would with ballet shoes, lol. Then I wore them for a bit, took them off and beat them some more while they were warm. Worked pretty well. Probably not the kindest method, but Docs are basically indestructible :P
Great information. I always thought the boot isn't fitting so i won't buy it, but it looks like a lot of people will squeeze in to get the boot they like. I hate uncomfortable shoes but maybe I'll try this the next time one isn't a perfect fit.
Word of advice: putting bags of water in your boots/shoes then freezing does not stretch them at all!! The ziploc bags pop open under the pressure of the expanding ice/water and water seeps nto your shoes and freezes. Thus creating a shoe-cicle which ruins the leather.
What I do is pour warm water in my boots, enough to soak the leather insole, and wear them until they dry. This process takes weeks if not months off the break in process.
spray a little water inside and outside, wear the boot till it dries. this temporarily softens the leather so it can form to your body. avoid leather conditioner until fully broken in. the conditioner makes the leather more pliable or rubbery and will not hold the changes.
In 80's in British Army,we were issued rubbish DMS boots(Direct Moulded Soles).Thin rubbish leather,had to wear with putties.Only way was to soak for 10 minutes,at end of week,wear with insoles and wear them for 1 hour,walk round, stuff full of newspaper, and leave dry in room temperature, covered with shoe polish.Replace newspaper over weekend.Job done.Never any good for anything apart from camp wear.Terrible boots.
Got a pair of Nick’s, fits perfectly but by feet 🦶 gets sore after a few hours. It’s 2020 and we can’t make a comfortable boot out of the box. It’s sad really. My Thursday Captain are super comfortable out of the box. I think people think that 1/4 inch thick leather is great. I think thinner and softer is better.
Both are nice boots. You have to keep in mind that both brands serve completely different purposes. Thursday Boots are purely for style and comfort. Nick’s have been made for decades for those that need durability in their boots (loggers, firemen, etc). You definitely would t want to be sporting around TB’s in those elements.
@@TrentonHeath yes, too bad Nick’s doesn’t have the comfort that Thursday have. All they would need are some cork and soft insole that gives you comfort, like Thursday. For the price I paid for Nick’s they should be more comfortable. Nick’s says 100 hours break in. It’s fine I guess that’s what I bought. Too bad Thursday doesn’t make work boots.
![โรงเรียนตอนตี 2 โคตรหลอน..!! [โรงเรียนไดเม่]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2MAEMwqVYh8/mqdefault.jpg)
Ever since I was in the Marine Corps and having to break in new combat boots I always wore a synthetic thin sock and a cotton sock over the top of that. This helps to prevent blisters by allowing the cotton sock to rub against the synthetic sock and not your skin & the cotton sock allows for cushioning as well
that is a great bit of advice
Wish I knew that 25 years ago.
Still do that trick in the Army but with the wool green socks over the synthetic sock. Basically a dress sock.
Yep, just chiming in to agree. Thin thin dress sock with an over sock 🤘
I did the same thing, light infantry we did a lot of humping that was the best way to prevent blisters with new boots
This is like "The Avengers" of Gentleman's footwear. Great collaboration!
Yo this is my favorite comment, thank you!!!
There's no way there's anything in Nick's cup.
and despite "drinking" his mouth was getting drier
Not after the first 5 seconds anyway.
8:05 ⛲
I was scared he was going to spill it as he was talking.😳
Came to the comment section to say the same thing. You beat me to it!!!
When I first started in construction someone told me to always buy the best boots that I could afford, the financial pain goes away faster than blisters. Someone else said to have 2 pair of work boots so that you can swap them out every other day. Both of these gentlemen were right and I have done this for 40 years now and it made a HUGE difference. Also don't wait until your boots are about to fall off your feet before you get replacements. I had a foreman do this once and by break time the first day he could barely walk and he had already thrown away his old boots. By the end of the week he was walking like a wino with bad feet.
Thank you so much for all the tips and tricks, please keep it up.
Darrell Hendrix terrific post brother. Right on. One thing I will add is that you should get a shoe drier. They are like $20-$25 and last for years. Put your boots on them after each days wearing.
You're the first construction worker I've ever heard of that own alternating boots
Often worked 12+ hours, 7 days a week always on my feet in all kinds of conditions. Wet/muddy boots were very common and I hated putting wet or even damp boots. Force drying boots made them stiff and rough looking. I would lay them on their side with newspaper wadded up inside to draw out moisture. Right after buying a new pair I treated them with neatsfoot oil, would substantially darken the boots but kept them supple with at least bi monthly treatment. Spent a good bit more on work boots than all other shoes combined. Watched a lot of other people have to break in another pair of, usually cheap, boots every 6 months to a year. I got 3-5 years out of mine, even the ones that could not be resoled. Take care of your feet, you only get one pair issued to you.🙂
Darrell Hendrix a good drier doesn't force dry. They are fantastic for extending the life of shoes that are worn in damp weather or that get a lot of sweat.
I buy Red Wing Pecos with steel toe for over 30 years , one pair for construction and one pair for casual dress ( mainly everything not working. )When I wear out the work boots I buy a new pair and turn the casual older pair into work boots so I don’t break in a new pair working.
Army basic training we were issued 2 pair of leather boots. One pair we had to mark with white dots. We had to alternate each day which pair we wore. If you were caught with the wrong pair on the wrong day, everyone paid for your mistake. That was my first intro to taking care of your feet and footwear. Almost 25 years later and long since out of the military I still alternate my boots.
So what is the motive behind alternatively wearing the both pairs? Thanks.
@@AmitKumarPune it gives the leather time to breathe. Heal if you like. It extends the life and not just because you only wear them 50% of the time. There are probably several reasons why this works out.
This can extend the lifespan of all your shoes, not just boots.
I attended Army basic training in 1983 at Ft. Sill, and that was our experience with rotating our boots every other day. We also had a white dot placed on one pair of boots. The Army forces you to take excellent care of footgear and uniforms. I alternate my footgear still.
@@HK-qj4im It also allows the shoes or boots time to dry out. Our feet sweat during the time we wear them. The shoes will then last longer.
@@stephenabm7779 It's mostly for drying out and keeping the feet healthy yes. Having wet foot for a prolonged period of time is really bad if you were out to serve in a prolonged scenario.
Also shoes when wore constantly take the shape of your natural feet posture (over proning or over supine). Having the shoe repair it's sole (even 0.2mm) could be a good way of keeping feet to a correct posture.
0:21 I had to do a double-take here to make sure Nick wasn’t being called an Australian turd.
Brannock device. I bought one and after reading the instructions, learned something very important with the use of it. Do not JUST look at where your toes end to determine the size of your foot. That sliding gauge on the inside edge may show that your shoe size differs from where your toes land. For years, I wore a 13D and had to struggle to get them comfy. Then I started ordering a 14W and had better results. I learned from the Brannock device that my foot is actually a 15D by the side sliding portion. Based upon this, when I decided to buy some new dress shoes from Allen Edmonds, I ordered 15D and have been very pleased with all five pairs I've ordered. Yes, part of the problem is that my feet have changed over the decades. That's why verification from a Brannock device is important.
Break-In. Since the Allen Edmonds are leather lined, what I've learned is, to generously slather Bick 4 conditioner to the entire inside of the shoe, let it soak in until the surface dries and then put them up with shoe trees for a day or so. The outside immediately gets conditioned with Saphir Renevateur and multiple coats of their best cream. Then they get a few light coats of Saphir wax. I'm also slathering Bick 4 on the sole leather and keeping an eye on the condition of that leather. I have found that the Bick 4 conditioner does an excellent job of softening the leather, yet, does NOT darken the leather. It appears a shade darker when first applied, but dries to the original color. The increased suppleness of the conditioned leather aids in comfort while breaking them in.
Conditioning/Shoe Trees. It made sense to me when Preston Soto advised to condition brand new shoes. We don't know how long that leather's been without conditioning prior to purchasing the shoes. Since the Bick 4 is so reasonable in price, I use it generously on the inside leather of dress shoes, and all over for more rugged (smooth leather) boots. I save the Saphir for fine leather exterior leather on dress items. There is a very unique softness to the leather after the Bick 4, but no waxy residue. It also does amazing things to a new baseball glove, or an old one which has dried out. I have shoe trees for every pair of dress shoes/boots I own, and use them. My western boots look amazing still.
Thank you, this is great info. Just bought a Brannock device.
@@PPMOCRG Remember, there are men's, women's, and children devices.
@@RatdogDRB Yes, I made sure to get the women’s one. 🙂
What shoe trees do you use for western boots. I bought a pair of boots a long time ago and never learned how to care for them. Trying to make up for that mistake now.
I wore 12's for years. The sole would crack and leak. 5 years ago I happened into a Red Wing store and talked to a salesman. Decided on a model and had a pair of 12s on the counter and mentioned "I hope these don't crack like every other boot and shoe". He stopped me, said "Wait a minute. It cracks where? Oh, you have the wrong size then!". He sat me down and popped out the Brannock tool and said "You're a 10.5 EEE. 12s will fit because the width is the same, but you're a 10.5 EEE border EEEE. The other shoes all cracked because you're bending the sole when walking or kneeling where it wasn't designed to be bent". Never turned back from buying that size except for a pair of Nike trainers. Those run extremely tight. Had to go to an 11 wide on those. The only way I'd buy boots or shoes online is if I'm buying something I've tried in person at a physical store.
If you’re looking for athletic shoes try Brooks. They make 4E in two of their most popular shoes. Any good running store will carry them.
I have worn 9’s for years but when I sent my foot outline to Nicks Hand made they recommended a 7.5 eee. I thought they were idiots but they sent me a test and they were right.
Get fitted properly
i feel you, i'm a EE in redwings and EEE in allen edmonds. WIDE FEET BOIS !
Definitely realizing that red wings run tight
Are you saying if I take my boots to redwings they'll give me a smaller pair if mine don't fit? I have a pair that my uncle gave me and they mean alot to me but they were to big and are wrinkling where you said
These collaborations are cool. Stridewise, Rose Anvil and of course Trenton and Heath, some of my favorite channels!
Hope they'll do one in the future with Bedo's Leatherworks or Cobblers Plus.
@@hotwax9376 Bedo's Leatherworks might be a great idea!
😘😘😘
When I went to boot camp at Parris Island in Oct 1968, we were issued 2 pair of black dyed all leather combat boots. During the week of company forming our drill instructor had us fill our laundry bucket with clean water and stand in it one foot at a time, 10 minutes each foot. Then we removed both boots, poured out any water in the boot, put on a dry pair of socks and wore the boots for 2 days, changing to dry socks every few hours. Yes, we wore them to bed the first night and the fire watch woke us twice during the night to change socks. These were the most comfortable boots I have ever had and did they ever take a spit shine! We didn't do this to the second pair and they weren't nearly as comfortable or easy to polish.
I had a similar experience when I went to basic in 1999. I have always wondered if this practice translates outside of military boots.
That sounds more of a hazing thing they did more than trying to help new recruits have more comfortable boots. Since they normally try to make you the most uncomfortable they can
@@seanmcguire7974 you speak from inexperience. Also, pretty ignorant considering the man just said he noticed a difference. This was more common practice than you think.
Puts a new meaning to "boot" camp.
Great advice gents! My Thursday boots hurt like crazy at first. Did the thick sock, actual boot sock, and conditioned the leather a few times and wore them around the house. They now fit like a glove and are my most comfortable boots. Wish this video was out last year when I was getting them ready. Thanks for all your help.
I’m about to buy a pair which ones do you have like captain? Is what I’m looking at
My Thursdays were the same. I conditioned them straight out of the box. I just kept wearing and conditioning them. They fit like a glove now. My Captains are my favorite pair of shoes I have.
Just got the Captains today. What type of socks are best to help break them in?
Spot on. The Army taught me to keep three pairs of boots, or more ready. Always have a break in pair you work on, two pair minimum that are well broken in that allow you to change out daily (to dry). The fourth pair is for the field. These are really on their last legs almost. They should be very worn in. Also, they have been scuffed, drenched before etc. Be patient on break in. Don't wait until your current boots are falling apart.
When hiking we use two layers of socks to prevent blisters since the friction disburses through the sock layers rather than on your skin.
I've found that it's best to wear a silk, or silk-like sock, next to your skin, and a wool sock over it. The silk acts as a dry lubricant, and prevents blisters!
I always used a lady's pair of hose socks with a wool sock on the outside. That is an old Army trick from way back. You nailed it.
@binge go for a 15k hike and any boot will give you a blister, its not about fit it's about friction.
Rotating boots/shoes with shoe trees is one of the best tips in the video. When I was working, it was easy for me to rotate shoes when I was at home. But when traveling, I always packed a second pair with trees for any trip longer than one night. Of course proper cleaning and treatment is always important. DFW airport always had a great guy who could bring the shoes to new condition during a layover.
I can watch your videos all day long and love the collaboration with Stridewise! More videos like this please. Leather care for different types of leather (horsebutt, calfskin, cxl, cordovan), boot reviews and sizing, how to identify a good cobbler. Would love to see your personal boot collections too! thank you for making these vids.
When all else fails and you know that you have the right size, but lingering heel slippage, which leads to hotspots, I’ve successfully added a strip or two of leather to the inner heel cup right where I think it’s needed, with contact cement to more securely keep my heel in place. Unliked a fabric heel pad, it can be permanent if desired, and is natural leather, just like the boot. I recently tore apart an old Coach wallet for this purpose.
That's pretty interesting!
I have a pair of Allen Edmonds boots that I’ve only worn twice because they rub around the ankle. I’ll have to give them another try using your tips. Thanks guys!
I bought some work boots that were super comfortable right out of the store, they didn't last more than 3 weeks before being absolutely destroyed. I had to go back and buy another pair of decently comfortable boots. I broke them in by putting 2 soles in each boot, wearing 2 socks on each foot, putting them on, and then soaking the boots in hot water while on my feet, and wearing them for about 2-3 hours at a time. I did this probably 6 times before wearing them to work for 10-12 hours a day. They are the most comfortable boots I've ever had, and I've had them just over 7 months so far. I recommend this method for everyone, but specifically anyone who might have bought a half size too small.
Moleskin is by far the best! It’s inexpensive and easy to customize for the area where it will be worn. It doesn’t move around, nor fall off.
Great information guys. Love it when people are passionate about stuff boots, jeans, cars, sport anything !!!
I’m really digging Heath’s cardigan
Needs a pipe and some fancy lad novel to complete the ensemble 🧐
@@jeffreygoss8109 And says "Yaas" on a regular basis. Lolo!
I rely heavily on the customer feedback for sizing information. I also really appreciate that certain retailers, like Redwing and Alden, provide additional information regarding sizing like “runs large” or “customers order 1/2 size down.”
You can call it a bad idea if you want, but I was logging (chasing landing) some 45 years ago and wearing a pair of Wesco spring-heel caulk boots and trying to break them in slowly, like you fellas recommend. After the first day my feet were so sore that I couldn't wear them the next day. I reverted back to something some old timers told me and it worked beautifully. I poured the boots full of hot tap water and let them soak on the porch over night. Then the next day I took a gallon jug of hot tap water to work with me and poured them full again and slid my feet into them while wearing a thick pair of wool socks and wore them all day until they began to dry out a bit (it was a long day in the middle of August). I let them dry out over night and wore them again the next day. They were still a bit damp, but I wore them anyway. They never hurt my feet again, and they held up well after that.
As a side note, I became a cobbler about 25 years later and had another logger bring me a pair of caulk boots in for repair. The boots were stiff as a board and had never been conditioned with anything. The guy said he thought the leather uppers would hold up better if the leather was stiff instead of soft. Wrong. All that does is allow them to become gouged up by branches while you are traipsing through the brush. I repaired the boots and gave him a complimentary new pair of leather boot laces and applied and worked in a full pint of mink oil to the boots and they absorbed all of it. I also worked in some Snow Seal on all of the stitching afterward. The guy came back a few weeks later and said those boots had never been so comfortable and this was the first time they had never leaked since he had bought them. So, take it for what it's worth. It worked for me.
I would strongly advise against using a product called "Loggers World" though on any boots that are stitched with cotton thread as it will rot the stitching because it is a petroleum based product. It is a great product for waterproofing a pair of calks but only use it on boots with nylon stitching. And please, don't give that fella in the middle of your chat any coffee while he is wearing a white shirt and talking.
I'm currently breaking in a pair of Red Wing Iron Rangers. I went into the store and tried sizing down from my normal size as recommended and quickly realize it didn't work for me. A size 13 appear in my collection the most. So that's what I went with. The fit was generous and I was initially concerned because based on the reviews and recommendations the boots were supposed to fit somewhat tight. A pair of thicker work socks and an insole because( Redwing iron Rangers don't come with one) did the trick nicely. I've been wearing them four days straight and now they feel like a pair of sneakers. Vanity sizing is a huge mistake when making such an investment. Also your feet are often not identically the same size. My right foot is slightly larger than the left. Because of this I always try on the right foot first. I would rather have slightly larger shoes than shoes that are too small. Slightly larger shoes are an easy fix.
Redwings are bricks
For my iron rangers I conditioned them and would wear them right after doing that and it seems to have worked extremely well for me, I did that a few times and there was a noticeable difference after about 3 times doing that spread out over a month between condition. When I bought mine at a small red wing store the guy told me just wear them that’s the best way to break them in!
Just starting the vid. This is AWESOME! Great collab! Your channels were the first in my discovery journey for boots and men's fashion. You are genuinely among my favorites with over 20 fashion, style, leather/shoes channels subscribed! Way to go gents!
Thank you so much!
Stidewise looks like he could be your little brother. Great info guys. I really enjoy the channel.
That's what I thought
😁
Haha I should be so lucky!
When I first got serious about boots, I bought some Redwings from an Amish cobbler/shoe seller. One thing he told me has been very useful ever since - every boot is made to a last, and you should find a boot that fits almost perfectly, but slightly tight from the get go. If it doesn't, that last doesn't match your foot shape and you'll have a longer break-in period, or they may never really fit your foot and it's okay not to buy boots that fit wrong. A little bit of tightness is okay since the leather will conform to your foot, but a really uncomfortable pair of boots is a bad idea. Online shopping is really difficult since you don't get the opportunity to try different boots and you don't have the expertise of an experienced sales person to guide you.
Not all boots are made to last. You buy a cheap pos and it falls apart in 6-8 months because of cheap/synthetic materials aren’t made to last as long as real leather and good construction.
@@bquick80 not “made to last”, he said “made to A last”. Its the foot shaped template, that the boot is constructed onto or around. Like a mold lol 😜
@@powers1776reset Oops!! lol but thanks for explaining what a last was like I was 2 years old. 🤣 I know what a last is.
I have enjoyed many a weekend now watching you restore and save so many shoes and boots! Looking forward to getting the boots I sent in back. Thanks guys!
I think the most bizarre breaking in tip I’ve seen was for Doc Martens boots (DMs as we call them on this side of the pond): fill them with scrunched-up newspaper, wrap them in a towel and then hit them with a hammer! Personally, for DMs, I’d be tempted to leave out the newspaper and towel.
Found out what the lower layers of my skin looked like when trying to break in DMs - and that was after doing a whole lot of breaking in - still haven't tried again. Made the mistake of walking too far one day and it turns out if you stick a menstrual pad on your heel because you've got those and not band-aids, it works well enough to get home on LOL
@@AllegraBottlik Doesn't help that the Doc Martens they make today are completely inferior quality and construction (and also differently lasted) than classic DMs. They're literally not even the same shoe. Just the same brand slapped onto poorly made imitations leaving a trail of unhappy, foot-pained folks behind them wondering wtf happened.
Love the camera angles & wood table addition 👀🍿
Best break in video I’ve found. Thanks guys 👍
My two favorite channels getting together. A fine Saturday indeed...
Glad you liked it Billy!
proper fitting is the key , for years i was wearing to small boots. now having proper fitting boots, no breakin issues. i have, Nicks, Redwing, Chippewa, and Thursdays. straight out of box, were allday no issues.
I just bought some Thursday boots. I started to wear them immediately and walked throughout Beijing. I had no friction, but they are stiff. My feet are not used to these from wearing mostly sneakers. I had no blisters but the muscles on my one foot did start to cramp up seriously. They are beautiful boots and when they are softer they will be amazing to wear every day.
New subscriber here. My dad was a carpenter. He had all kinds of tools, some of which I have no idea what its purpose is. After watching several of your videos I recognize that he had a box containing a bunch of cobblers tools. I wonder why. Good stuff fellas.
I'm wearing two pairs of thick socks both saturated in leather stretcher spray and I'm walking around the house and can literally feel the boots breaking in as I walk🥰
I haven't worn boots in years and I just picked up a pair of Thursday Captain Boots based on your recommendations. I'm in the process of breaking them in as I type this. This video was very helpful for some tips & tricks!
Wow the editing and camera quality has markedly improved! 2 angles?
Great Video. Loved that Nick is getting that southern hospitality. Great Collaboration. Good information
I just realized you guys should do a calibration with Bedo's leather works. That would be neat to see.
Love these channel collaberations!
I want to know how the Australian gentleman didn't get tea or coffee all over him and his surroundings......
The cup is empty.
Exactly, so why have a cup in his hand??? It doesn't make any sense.
And he sips from it. That’s all I’ve been watching.
I bought Thursdays in black smooth leather and they were a little bit of a bear to break in. I also have a brown pair in a semi smooth and they fit like I had worn them for years. With Thursdays, stick with the correct size. If you are over a triple E wide, you are going to get variances. However; Thursdays will spread for you over time.
PS, if you are getting abrasions on your feet, do not keep wearing them. THIS trick will help you. Take DUCT TAPE and cover the place on your foot/feet where the boots are tight. It will be a little painful while you break them in, but over time, you will have the leather conform and you will not need the duct tape. The tape takes the abuse, not your skin. Bandaids don't have the adhesive strength or the durability of duct tape.
You mentioned that "with Thursdays, stick with the correct size". When you say correct size, are you saying your exact measured size, or a half size lower than your measured size, as Thursday seems to suggest on their Website?
The whole *put your new boots on and take a shower* is only the 1st half of the instruction. The second half is *then wear them until they are dry*.
This is what we did in the Army when we got new boots. The boots would Form Fit to each person's foot, and then you could March for literally days on end, in the same pair of boots, without getting blisters.
You guys are all awesome sources of information, thank you! Not many cobblers around anymore.
Just 10-15 years ago in my area there were several, now there’s one (before Covid) not even sure he’s still around…I should make sure. Anyway, thanks again.
Hey guys really like the video especially the end where you guys debunk some of the myths about how to break in your boots superfast, on that note just purchased my 1st pair of Red Wing Rangers and heard horror stories about how about the break in period is. The salesman sized my foot and I purchased the pair in the side he recommendedand I have had 0 breaking pains I mean I put these on with a new pair of socks in the parking lot then went and walked around the mall with my wife all day and a done a few days of yard work including getting up on the roof of the house no pain is this normal at all or did I make a mistake??
They do feel great on my foot not loose or sloppy BTW.
My two favorite TH-cam channels for boots and shoes did a collab?!
What what!
Nice work guys. Thank you for all the information.
Fantastic collab! Two of my favorite youtube channels. Good tips thanks. Your camera is crystal clear!
Was told years ago to place boots on their sides when not wearing to speed the drying out process and allow at least a day to rest before wearing again. This has made my boots last many years each. Actually I’ve not worn out a singe pair, other than replacing soles.
good collaboration with stridewise. behind the scenes b roll would have been awesome and even more entertaining.
Definitely agree! We were a bit pressed for time this week.
Great video guy some fantastic tips, love the collaboration with stridewise great idea .
Keep up the great work .
And thank you
I like using a lanolin or similar (mink oil / coconut oil) based leather conditioner that's quite think (paste rather than cream or oil) and after application, leaving the boot in the sun for 10-15 minutes to warm the leather and melt the paste. Once it's clear the first coat has all soaked in, do a light second coat ad repeat.
Obviously doing so on a 40°C day may not be the best idea, but on a mid day the warm sun really helps the leather relax and soak up the conditioners. As I need my boots to be water proof, alot of the products are quite thick and otherwise difficult to get to penetrate.
Regards
Jordan
With new boots I like to use the pencil trick! Press the pencil flat at the front to create intentional rolls so poor creasing doesn't happen.
I know you guys said this is not a good idea however, I'm a beer league hockey player. We are spoiled and we get new skates once every 2-3years and it sucks when the skates are brand new because they are not broken in and doesn't mold to your feet. What we do with our boots is a process called "baking" where you heat up your oven to 300 degrees, turn it off and put the skates in the oven for 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes, you take them out of the oven, you put them on your feet while seated and you lace your boots up to the top and leave out the top 2 eyelets. You do not flex your feet during this process and you don't pull the laces too tight because it will tear out the eyelets if you don't do it correctly. I haven't done the exact same thing to my Thursday Captains but I've done a version of that which is using a heat gun and put in inside the boot and turn it to 150 degrees and then put them on my feet. Of course, this only molds the boot to your feet and you'll still need to "break in" the leather but at least this way will help you soften up the leather so that you can have it molded to your feet. I would be careful doing this because if you don't do it correctly and use too much heat, it will destroy your boots. I would normally just wear it around the house for a few weeks and then you should be fine. Good vid!
Love the colab fellas!!! 💪🏼💯🧦🥾
The lighting, videography and video content is very professional. One of the best shoe content providers out there. Thanks for all of your hard work!
Guys, I find one trick helpful to break leather boots and dress shoes in is to use a low heat hairdryer on the inside to warm them up before inserting my foot. This can speed up the breaking period. Thanks for the show from a Tennessee boy now in Oklahoma.
i own a pair of chippewas which i bought back in late 2016 i think. for literally several YEARS, the boots felt uncomfortable around the heel area every time i wore them, with blisters at the end of the day if i wasn't careful. as such, i never wore them more than maybe half a dozen times a year. this was a real bummer given that i had paid several hundred dollars for them. it wasn't until some time in 2020 when i gave my boots more frequent wear (once a weekish) that the leather FINALLY started molding more to my foot. now, they practically fit like a glove, and i don't need to worry much about blisters either.
Just got Thursday Logger in waxed cacao and it’s my first boot that’s really rugged thick leather. I’m still breaking them in around my house. Lol
I'm new to boots and bought the same pair and same leather from Thursday as U did, they arrived last Nov. They're not thick leather at all, but yes, comfy with no break in time except for the first day, but they only have D width, so halfway through the day I usually have to take them off for 5 minutes or so. I really like the look of the waxed cacao color! My Truman bison boots arrived 3 days ago, size 11EE (first time having size EE width), much thicker leather than the Thursday logger, but magically, soft and supple, not a single minute of pain anywhere in 3 days of wearing them. I'm amazed!
Truman makes some nice boots. Like I said it’s my first boot like this. I have Beckett siminons and tafts and comparing to the waxed cacao logger they are much thicker. They aren’t uncomfortable by any means. It’s mainly the heel that’s taking some getting used since the heel counter area is thicker than other boots I own.
This is a very informative video and I picked up some good tips. With all due respect though, I disagree that a little heat is a bad thing when conditioning boots. After cleaning my leather boots, I will let them heat up in the hot sun or, in cold weather, place them in an oven heated to 150F for about 15 minutes. Then I condition them with a bees wax product. The heat melts the bees wax and it disappears into the leather fibers. I repeat this process until the wax stops sinking in. Then I let it dry and I buff off the excess with a clean rag. I used this method on the leather upper part of a pair of Surells I bought in 1994 and the leather is still moist and supple to this day. Has to be done more frequently of course on work boots that get worn every day.
I dont know how I missed this video. Working in a boot store in Texas Ive heard many old wives tales about breaking in boots, but Ive also seen so many guys buy work boots and come back the next day saying they hurt their feet cause they thought it was a good idea to wear brand new boots to the refinery or chemical plants, and when you try to explain the concept of breaking boots in its like youre speaking some alien language. Also before I worked at the boot store I wore size 10 1/2 or 11s found out Im a 9 1/2 or 9 crazy wide foot, didnt even know shoes came in different widths before.
A couple of facts others seem to have missed. There has been a commercial product sold for over 50 years called Shoe Stretch that comes in a spray bottle. The active ingredient is isopropal alcohol. For dress boots or shoes I agree I would not use the alcohol because of the dyes and colors being messed up but what I found is that by using 91 percent isopropol alchohol from drug store is that when you drench the leather with it , much the same as with water, the leather will stretch in the tight places around your foot when worn and then when the leather dries, the stretched areas will remain. thusly a "broken in boot" that fits wonderfully. The beauty is that the alcohol dries ten times faster than when using water to soak the boot. With Hiking and construction boots no one cares about the "patina" or finish etc. Next NEVER put any kind of conditioner on leather if the oils come from an animal etc. that kind of oil ALWAYS dries out. It must be a mineral oil or petroleum derived oil ( same thing ) where the oil has been in the ground for millions of years and will never dry out. Take a paint brush and slather the leather with oil till it is wet and let it soak up as much oil as it can. This oil internally lubricates the leather and makes it easier to bend thus is softer where it contacts the foot. This will cause the boot-shoe to last forever until wear occurs. I am 72 years old and I have a pair of high school football shoes with cleats that I cut my grass with for over 50 years ( push mower ) and every ten or fifteen years I paint them with 30 or 40 weight motor oil. Yes thats right Quaker State or Penzoil etc :-). I have dont this with construction boots, military boots, and hiking boots for fifty years. DO NOT use any kind of leather conditioner made with such oil as lanolin or butter as these will dry up in short amount of time. I also treat saddles and belts ... anything leather with motor oil. Hint, I found that synthetic motor oil has a more pleasant odor ( used on my leather jacket ) ie Mobil 1. Also Mineral oil from grocery store for baseball and work gloves etc. Lastly, for all Construction and Junting boots, etc. , if you dont have alcohol and are not in a hurry for the alcohol to dry, just fill your boot up with water or stand and walk around in a stream for a while to get the boot totally water logged and take a hike and then let them dry for a week , when they dry, they will be broken in with a custom form fit to your foot.
I agree about all of this, especially rotating boots. However, I recently discovered that with boots like Red Wing Heritage, I just massage the leather on the contact points, then wear them with thick socks for 3 days in a row while photographing weddings and events, (hours of standing) using cedar shoe trees every night. On the 4th day, the leather and cork insole is completely customized to my foot in a way that used to take months. Then I rotate them with my other boots to give them a rest. Appreciate you all.
Just wear em ....broke in my 1000 miles in about two weeks ..... wore them around the house and about .....fit like a glove now.....
The submerging in water is an old military trick that works if you do it right, but not for nice boots. It really only works for the kind of boots you get in the military
Intelligent and helpful advice. Thanks guys for the wisdom
Currently breaking in a pair of White’s Smokejumpers and it’s a trial of will 😂 can tell it’s gonna be well worth it in the end tho
Use Ballistol oil not the spray. Paint them with Ballistol oil. Developed for the German army to protect leather wood metal. I had very stiff Red Wing boots and using Ballistol oil and working the oil in by hand they softened up. Squeeze them bend them work the oil deep into that leather. Pretty good hand work out to.
I would vary the boots that you buy. Boots like Bluntstones/ Redback boots are insanely easy to break in and what I wear as work boots. The boots outside of that you can go slow, wear thick socks, put bandages on your ankles. Condition the very back of a very structured boot to help it be able to relax around that back of your foot.
Things most be very different in the States. In England there's no non-essential travel at the moment and everything has to be socially distanced.
Same all over the UK.
@@russelljenkins7428 Thanks for clearing that up Russell. I was careful to say England rather than UK, because I wasn't sure of the rules in Scotland and N.I.
Bought a new pair of engineer boots, Frye double buckles, and they are STIFF! Probably should've gotten a wider size but too late to return now, oh well. Going to try some of these tips, thank you for a GREAT video!
That video footage is crispy!
I use obenhauffs HD or mink oil. That loosens them up quite well.
I regularly wear a pair of red-wing moc-toe 1907’s and a pair of Sears Die-hard moc-toes.
Great advice on sizing. My new Thorogoods fit perfectly because I hit their website and read the sizing recommendations. I got a great deal online and they fit perfectly right out of the box.
From my experience, to my feet a soft heel is more gentle to my feet than a rough one. Rough heels catch my sock and make the sock rub against the skin of my heel and cause blisters. What does help is to avoid cotton socks since they rub more against your skin when they are wet than wool socks. So I like to wear wool socks to increase comfort.
The problem with measurement devices is that there is no standard for size when it comes to manufacturing processes. I have worn 11.5 to 12 for shoes and running shoes. In one manufacturer, their size 14 running shoe was too short for me!
The way we did it, or the way I was taught, in the army was to stand in the tub full of water and get them soaked and then wear them on a good ol’ long ruck march and wear them out good..always worked and broke my boots in perfect
Trenton, you look so incredibly serious about breaking in boots :-)
😉😁
Nick has done some great boot reviews.
Nick has also reviewed leather bags and denim which are worth checking out!
Great information, but my personal preference is to go to a full service shoe/boot store and try them on. The internet is great for buying a new screwdriver, but it sucks for buying clothing items. So many manufacturers have their shoes and boots made overseas and the quality is not what it used to be.
One audio source, guys. You can have multiple mics, multiple channels, etc but ONE audio source.
love like in the swiss army they get you nice measurement (true), and to that 2 potent pears of black army boots... then make wear them trough sweat, tear and pain until it fits... or your foot fits. But hey, the one i made fit me after the march... fits perfect!
Best breaking in method
Step 1 wear your boots indoors for general walking about as much as possible do this for about 1-2 weeks before attempting outdoor travel especially long distance travel as some boots can take weeks months even especially hiking boots I’ve found took me months to fully break in mine and I used to really travel miles back in day
Step 2 you bound try leather conditioner to help soften the leather but if the boots are new I they may not require conditioning but it can’t hurt plus it will help with any leather creasing
In one of your vids you said to condition/moisturize the leather in new shoes and boots before wearing. Does this also apply to Alden Indy Chromexel boots? Also what do you recommend to treat these boots. They are quite an investment which I would like to protect. I really enjoy your videos and find them very informative and entertaining. I'm surprised that guys send in boots and shoes for repair that are really filthy. You'd think they would knock some of the dirt/mud off them. Oh well. Again, love the vids.
Haha, back in the 90s in the military they slapped a pair of full grain jump boots on our feet and from than on you were wearing it for the next year 16 hours a day. The first 2 weeks were hell at the end of the year they were more comfy than tennis shoes.
I'm 59 yrs old and have done factory work my whole life and I don't sit in an office I'm on my feet ALL day My experience is wax your boots with a good boot wax conditioner and let them sit for about a week then wax again and wear them and rotate your work boots this for me has worked very well
Filling new or second boots with water . I putting them on damp wet , letting them stretch ,shrink.drying them with fresh socks .
When I broke in my Docs, I basically wrapped them in an old towel and beat them up a bit like you would with ballet shoes, lol. Then I wore them for a bit, took them off and beat them some more while they were warm. Worked pretty well. Probably not the kindest method, but Docs are basically indestructible :P
Great information. I always thought the boot isn't fitting so i won't buy it, but it looks like a lot of people will squeeze in to get the boot they like. I hate uncomfortable shoes but maybe I'll try this the next time one isn't a perfect fit.
Word of advice: putting bags of water in your boots/shoes then freezing does not stretch them at all!! The ziploc bags pop open under the pressure of the expanding ice/water and water seeps nto your shoes and freezes. Thus creating a shoe-cicle which ruins the leather.
Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP and Boot Oil. Amazing stuff.
Nice tips. Would these also be applicable to Blake-welts? I thought those break in quicker
Great video!great information that I will try.thank you for making these videos.
I'd love to hear what some of your favorite wool socks to wear with your favorite boots! I discovered your channel today and love it. Thanks so much!
What I do is pour warm water in my boots, enough to soak the leather insole, and wear them until they dry. This process takes weeks if not months off the break in process.
Did this in basic training when we were issued new boots. Bucket warm water and lots of socks to keep changing and lacing up tight.
@@johnvaluk1401 The old British army trick was to piss in them.
@@ThePillenwerfer Uric acid!!
spray a little water inside and outside, wear the boot till it dries. this temporarily softens the leather so it can form to your body. avoid leather conditioner until fully broken in. the conditioner makes the leather more pliable or rubbery and will not hold the changes.
In 80's in British Army,we were issued rubbish DMS boots(Direct Moulded Soles).Thin rubbish leather,had to wear with putties.Only way was to soak for 10 minutes,at end of week,wear with insoles and wear them for 1 hour,walk round, stuff full of newspaper, and leave dry in room temperature, covered with shoe polish.Replace newspaper over weekend.Job done.Never any good for anything apart from camp wear.Terrible boots.
Got a pair of Nick’s, fits perfectly but by feet 🦶 gets sore after a few hours. It’s 2020 and we can’t make a comfortable boot out of the box. It’s sad really. My Thursday Captain are super comfortable out of the box. I think people think that 1/4 inch thick leather is great. I think thinner and softer is better.
Both are nice boots. You have to keep in mind that both brands serve completely different purposes. Thursday Boots are purely for style and comfort. Nick’s have been made for decades for those that need durability in their boots (loggers, firemen, etc). You definitely would t want to be sporting around TB’s in those elements.
@@TrentonHeath yes, too bad Nick’s doesn’t have the comfort that Thursday have. All they would need are some cork and soft insole that gives you comfort, like Thursday. For the price I paid for Nick’s they should be more comfortable. Nick’s says 100 hours break in. It’s fine I guess that’s what I bought. Too bad Thursday doesn’t make work boots.