One of the biggest problems people can face when they first buy and wear new western boots is that the newness of the leather makes the boots somewhat rigid. The issue this causes is that feet can become sore as there is not yet enough flexibility in the leather to stop the boots from rubbing against feet and irritating them, or worse, causing blisters.
As the boots are worn, they become ‘broken in’ which simply means the leather starts stretching, creating flexibility, and this ultimately makes the boots comfortable and thus a joy to wear.
However, getting from the brand new stage to the broken-in stage can cause some people to almost give up on wearing their western boots because of the discomfort. For that reason we thought it would be useful to provide a few helpful tips on breaking in western boots and how to make the process quicker and easier for everyone.
Wear Your Boots
This might not be what you want to hear if your feet get sore when you wear your new western boots. However, refusing to wear your boots and leaving them sitting in the wardrobe is never going to see them broken in. If you can, wear them for a few minutes until the discomfort becomes a problem and take them off. Next time, wear them for a few minutes longer, and repeat for however many days are needed until they break in, and you can wear your boots all day.
Wear Thick Or Two Pairs Of Socks
This tried and trusted method is used to break in not just western boots, but all kinds of leather footwear including leather shoes, leather sports shoes such as football boots, and other types of leather boots. It is also one of the simplest methods as all you need to do is either where an extremely thick pair of socks or wear two or more pairs which will stretch the leather until broken in.
Use A Boot Stretcher Or Shaper
Boot stretchers can come in several forms ranging from a simple mechanical tool you place in the boot, to machines that you might find in shoe repair shops. The principle behind them is they are paced inside the boot, and then a mechanism is activated which opens the stretcher and thus expands and softens the leather. The simpler ones are relatively inexpensive and can be used to break in other leather footwear.
Use Leather Conditioner
This can be used as a method on its own, but the best results are achieved when it is used in conjunction with one of the other methods, such as doubling up on your socks. Given that the whole point of breaking in western boots is to soften the leather and increase its suppleness, using a leather softener or conditioner can help speed up that process.
Put Your Boots In The Freezer
No, we have not gone mad, this is a genuine way you can help to break in your leather western boots. It can be done in a couple of ways but the one we recommend is to fill a sealable bag with water and place it inside your boot so that it takes up as much space as possible. Next, place your boot in the freezer for several hours until the water is frozen solid, and this will stretch the leather. Remove the boot from the freezer, allow the bag to thaw, and remove the bag from the boot.
