If you are a hiker, you most likely understand the importance of comfortable footwear. Footwear that does not fit well can cause pain and blistering as you walk. Leather hiking boots are highly durable, offering a reliable form of protection between your feet and rough terrain. Unfortunately, leather hiking boots can be quite uncomfortable until they are broken in. Luckily, the best thing about leather is, the more you wear it the softer it gets.
Step 1
Apply a silicone-based waterproofer and conditioner. Unlike wax-based waterproofers and conditioners that seal the leather, eventually breaking it down, silicone-based waterproofers and conditioners allow the leather to breath as the leather softens.
Step 2
Slip on your leather hiking boots and wear them around the house after you purchase them. Start out wearing the leather hiking boots for short periods of time, wearing them for several hours as the day progresses.
Step 3
Bend the sole of the leather hiking boots using your hands, making it easier for the boots to bend with your toes as you walk. Hold the toe of one of the boots in one hand and the heel of the boot in your other. Bend the boot up and down, softening the sole and top of the boot. Repeat the process on the second leather hiking boot.
Step 4
Slip on your leather hiking boots and wear them around the house after you purchase them. Start out wearing the leather hiking boots for short periods of time, wearing them for several hours as the day progresses.
Step 5
Wear your leather hiking bones on short trails first. Work your way up to longer trails as your boots become softer.
Tips and Warnings
- Carry moleskin padding with you when you hike. Moleskin has padding on one side and adhesive on the other. When placed between your skin and the leather hiking boot, the moleskin can prevent blistering.
- Whether your boots become wet from sweat or rainwater, allow your leather hiking boots to air-dry after hiking. Do not dry them in the sun or with a heat source. Doing so can cause the leather to shrink, which may cause discomfort and blistering during your next hike.
Things You'll Need
- Silicone-based waterproofer and conditioner
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