Boots question..........

[BRL]

Hi all. Ex mil mate of mine reckons to wear in a new pair of boots you put them in water for half an hour, wear them for twenty min's(or until dry) and do this for a week or two. The point being, as they dry, they mould around your feet giving a very comfortable pair of boots indeed.

Is he pulling my plonker or what?

What do you do to wear-in new boots?. :)

[BEagle]

What's a 'boot'?

[FJJP]

In the old days, boots were made from hard leather and soaking and wearing them was an effective way of softening and moulding them to your foot shape. It also made the leather more pliable, provided at the same time you lathered them with polish or 'dubbin' [which was a kind of thick grease meant to be used for leather].

These days, 'breaking in' is only necessary to smooth out the highlights/touch points - modern leather is usually treated to make it softer and naturally more pliable.

We were 'ard in 't owld days!

[jayteeto]

The soaking method still works for some boots. Wear them a few times and if they are comfortable.... great. If not, do the soaking trick. Once is usually enough. Neasfoot Oil used on saddles is better than dubbin. (I still use dubbin on my lads footy boots).

[FJJP]

I agree that Neatsfoot oil makes the leather more supple - but unfortunately, it tends to rot the stitches... [IOT experience]

[A10 Thundybox]

I find that an 8 mile run with weight up a hill works rather well.

Saves wasting all that water too...:}

One didn't really soften one's boots, more a case of hardening one's feet.

[BEagle]

Having researched the topic, I can now recommend that one has one's bootmaker make up a new pair to fit which won't require any 'wearing-in'. One's man then polishes said footwear.

John Lobb's & Co. up in town have been in the game for quite a while and can probably make you a pair of battle boots for a mere £2K - specialist aircrew small change!

[Blacksheep]

In basic training we broke them in by smothering them in boot polish and setting fire to them, then we polished all the pimples off with a red hot spoon handle and finally rubbed them up to a mirror finish with lots of polish, plenty of spit and the infamous yellow duster. Our drill instructors kindly helped us with wearing them in by marching us around a lot - to save us walking.

After moving off to the real RAF, in No 1 Group, Bomber Command, we were issued with 'previously owned' working boots so wearing them in wasn't a problem. In fact we were given previously owned seaboot socks to go with them. We also found that an ancient anorak could be re-waterproofed by careful application of the ubiquitous shiny black 'Bodge tape'.

New boots? You've all gone soft, so you have!

[BlueEagle]

To avoid blisters suggest a pair of very thin socks, (silk if you can), cover these in talcum powder, (or cornflower if financially embarrassed!) then put on standard coarse woollen socks.
The friction that causes blisters is then taken up between the thin and thick sock and not the sock and your skin!:ok:

[Willy Miller]

Don't try soaking RAF standard issue aircrew boots, they don't like water, or heat or being worn much (not so much of a problem) I think they're also sensitive to altitude, fire , frost, gin and 70 shilling. Apart from that they're another MOD procurement piece of genius!

[airborne_artist]

To avoid blisters suggest a pair of very thin socks, (silk if you can),... then put on standard coarse woollen socks.

Find your way to a good camping/walking shop like Cotswold Outdoors and you can buy double-layer socks already made up.

[A10 Thundybox]

Beagle

An excellent suggestion, I have a fine pair of JL's No.11 dress specfication 1/2 Cavs which I have never had to "wear in" but they tend only to be for strutting about or for use in warm fuzzy cockpits, If I had been a para I doubt they would have lasted more than a day.

mine were a mere £250 4 years ago from the factory in Oliver street Northampton, I shudder to think what they might charge in town today.

[PPRuNeUser0172]

Or you could just man-up...............;)

[The Swinging Monkey]

Or you could do as I used to......and get your man-servant to break them in for you!!

I am quite happy to rent out my Caruthers anytime (for a small donation of course!)

Kind regards
The Swinging Monkey
'Caruthers, better start getting in training'

[Grimweasel]

Buy boots from Altberg up in Catterick. Most squaddies buy their own from here as they are very good cheaper boots that come in many configurations. Most lace to the toe so there is little need for 'breaking in'. Can't put in URL , advertising and all that!

Don't use talc before tabbing or running in boots as it absorbs moisture etc and forms lumps that give you more blisters. Use creams if you have to.

Use Anti-blister socks. More expensive but they work. Just done a week in the Pyrenees covering some 100Kms without a blister!!

Finally lace the boots fully and lock off the lower half of the boot by twisting the laces round each other a few times. Then lightly lace the upper half of the boot. This stops the lower part of the boot from allowing the foot to move about causing more blisters. The upper half needs to be loose to allow movement of the shin to prevent shin splints. Follow this advice for blister free runs!!

[STANDTO]

smother your feet in vaseline, then put on your socks.

Feels grossly unpleasant, but then so does custard in the wellies.

What do you mean, what am I on about?

[A10 Thundybox]

Standto

It's all a bit ritualistic isn't it?

Just what sort of "breaking in" are we discussing?;)

[Anton Meyer]

Have you tried urinating on them?!

Urobilinogen, oxalate, phosphate, and hydroxy-indole acetic acid et al are brilliant for softening leather....apparently.

Please do not try it while wearing them or in the ac, as you may get fumes in the cockpit.

Let me know if it works, I would be interested to know for research purposes, of course.

:D