We did this in boot camp except the Drill Sergeant ordered it. It was hilarious. About 25 naked women with boots on in the large shower room in 1980. I still got blisters. Also, about 10 years ago, I bought a used pair of Red Wings Rough necks and they hurt my feet so I soaked them overnight in a bucket of water. The next day I put plastic shopping bags on my feet and wore them for a couple days. I wear them every now and then and they still look great and are super comfortable. 😊 ps. The leather insoles and cork really needed to soak in the water and expand to get the result I was looking for. It didn’t hurt the boot at all.
Very helpful. I actually have been using rubbing alcohol inside and outside, over the vamp, to help break in a pair of Red Wing Iron Rangers. Seems extreme, I know, but the boots are a tad narrow for my feet and I got mad that them (and the salesperson). I also wet them down with rubbing alcohol and used a boot stretcher, which seemed to make a faster difference in fit. I have seen no harm to the finish of the leather. Before you think I am crazy, Frank's Boots actually recommends a similar technique, which I adapted once I got frustrated enough. Please note that Frank's dilutes the alcohol! I didn't remember that and used straight rubbing alcohol, 70% solution. Frank's says to mix alcohol 50:50 with water (I believe they mean rubbing alcohol, as straight alcohol is intense and not readily available). I believe the alcohol is for penetration of the fibers. And yes, I suppose it weakens or harms them to a degree. I have not seen that, and decided I didn't care. Here is the nut of Frank's instrructions: "On the first day, while using a 50/50 mixture of alcohol and water, lace your boots up snug, NOT tight, spray the boot liberally with the mixture and massage into the boot. Wear them for 1-3 hours. If heel slip occurs, tighten laces as needed. Do not use any boot grease, leather products or waterproofing during the break in process. If they are used, and the boot isn't broken in, it will not allow the 50/50 mixture to penetrate through the product and hasten the break in time."
@@RichardGilbert2727 very interesting technique. I’ve used alcohol on leather to help get rid of creases and it works well without damaging the leather. I think this is a good idea if you need a boot to fit better.
You don't have to soak the boot. I just fill mine with water up to the ankle and let them sit until water starts to weep from the seams. Thick wool socks are recommended and oil and wax them up after they dry.
This is a good idea for service boots. I would be careful with dress boots though. Having worked with veg tanned leather, soaking in water is a way to shape this type of leather. Quality leather is actually very resiliant to water saturation. Take a look at the leather used for horse harnesses. It's been used for centuries. We sometimes think that leather is a delicate material. It is for certain types only.
From my experience veg tanned leathers benefit the most from water saturating the uppers. I wouldn't dunk the whole boot but I'd wear em on a rainy day so they can get some water penetrating in there.
They probably used not only oil but some kind of resin chemical during the tanning process. The leather is soooooo stiff and bouncy. I have boots made from this company which is a Beckman clone. The leather is tough as the day I bought it.
@@YouShoe-1985 honestly just where them. The biggest challenge to boot break in, is the boot fit/size. You need to know both your size and the right style of last that works with your foot. If not, you’re asking for pain until the uppers stretch out.
We did this in boot camp except the Drill Sergeant ordered it. It was hilarious. About 25 naked women with boots on in the large shower room in 1980. I still got blisters. Also, about 10 years ago, I bought a used pair of Red Wings Rough necks and they hurt my feet so I soaked them overnight in a bucket of water. The next day I put plastic shopping bags on my feet and wore them for a couple days. I wear them every now and then and they still look great and are super comfortable. 😊 ps. The leather insoles and cork really needed to soak in the water and expand to get the result I was looking for. It didn’t hurt the boot at all.
@@SidW-l4z thanks for the information!
I'm actually picturing 1980. The transition between the death of disco, and electronic dance music. Thanks for the imagery.
Very helpful. I actually have been using rubbing alcohol inside and outside, over the vamp, to help break in a pair of Red Wing Iron Rangers. Seems extreme, I know, but the boots are a tad narrow for my feet and I got mad that them (and the salesperson). I also wet them down with rubbing alcohol and used a boot stretcher, which seemed to make a faster difference in fit. I have seen no harm to the finish of the leather.
Before you think I am crazy, Frank's Boots actually recommends a similar technique, which I adapted once I got frustrated enough. Please note that Frank's dilutes the alcohol! I didn't remember that and used straight rubbing alcohol, 70% solution. Frank's says to mix alcohol 50:50 with water (I believe they mean rubbing alcohol, as straight alcohol is intense and not readily available). I believe the alcohol is for penetration of the fibers. And yes, I suppose it weakens or harms them to a degree. I have not seen that, and decided I didn't care.
Here is the nut of Frank's instrructions: "On the first day, while using a 50/50 mixture of alcohol and water, lace your boots up snug, NOT tight, spray the boot liberally with the mixture and massage into the boot. Wear them for 1-3 hours. If heel slip occurs, tighten laces as needed. Do not use any boot grease, leather products or waterproofing during the break in process. If they are used, and the boot isn't broken in, it will not allow the 50/50 mixture to penetrate through the product and hasten the break in time."
@@RichardGilbert2727 very interesting technique. I’ve used alcohol on leather to help get rid of creases and it works well without damaging the leather. I think this is a good idea if you need a boot to fit better.
You don't have to soak the boot. I just fill mine with water up to the ankle and let them sit until water starts to weep from the seams. Thick wool socks are recommended and oil and wax them up after they dry.
Great points
This is a good idea for service boots. I would be careful with dress boots though. Having worked with veg tanned leather, soaking in water is a way to shape this type of leather. Quality leather is actually very resiliant to water saturation. Take a look at the leather used for horse harnesses. It's been used for centuries. We sometimes think that leather is a delicate material. It is for certain types only.
@@jfouellette5174 great point!
Love your videos! Enjoyably informative ! Keep it up!
@@WeltedWare thank you so much!!!! A big fan so that means a lot!
Highly recommended using a 4way boot stretcher + thick wool sock.
From my experience veg tanned leathers benefit the most from water saturating the uppers. I wouldn't dunk the whole boot but I'd wear em on a rainy day so they can get some water penetrating in there.
Good video.
@@AE-SuperEggs thanks!
Just lightly spray water on the inside of the boots. Do not soak in Water the leather will stretch to much.
@@johnmutton799 nice suggestion
They probably used not only oil but some kind of resin chemical during the tanning process. The leather is soooooo stiff and bouncy. I have boots made from this company which is a Beckman clone. The leather is tough as the day I bought it.
Wouldn't this method promote development of bad odors prematurely? Lovely thickness on that leather.
@@escozez great question, I actually did this a couple of weeks ago and no odors at all. Same as my normal boots.
I wouldn’t recommend this on pure veg tan. It could darken/stain the leather a bit. You could do this with chrome/oil combo tan leather.
@@Brajin1 good recommendation.
@@YouShoe-1985 honestly just where them. The biggest challenge to boot break in, is the boot fit/size. You need to know both your size and the right style of last that works with your foot. If not, you’re asking for pain until the uppers stretch out.
Just realised something when rewatching the video. The upper isn't stained by the water at all. Does the leather have a plastic coating on top?
th-cam.com/video/Io5xSGsGKpA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_lrHYN9mdBfJbTnp
It definitely does have a coating on it. I go into more in the linked video.