Breaking in NEW boots (HELP)

“After being professionally examined by Phil and his counterparts at Trail Days '05 boot clinic and custom fitted with SuperFeet inserts..... I finally broke down for some "real" hiking boots!!! Well, I have had the Lowa Tahoe GTX (all leather) for 2 weeks now and have put about 20 (slow) miles on them.... There is this one tight (very tight) spot on the right side behind the little toe that just won't break in. I have tried applying bunion pads, mole skin and wetting the OUTSIDE of the boots as good as possible. There is not a real shoe repair place near me to have it stretched and I was wondering if filling the INSIDE of the boots with warm water and wearing them for awhile (after pouring the water out, of course) would help or hurt the boots.
You guys know that I am as green as it gets when it comes to backpacking and I really need some experienced info on this... SOON !! Or, I will send them back to shoebuy.com for a wide size. These are 8.5 medium.
Oh yeah... I am wearing the high wicking ULTIMAX medium weight socks. And yeah, 1 MPH is about good for me. LOL
last edited: 5/29/05 8:15:14 AM”

“i wouldn't fill them with water, but that might help.

20 miles = roughly 20 hours? I'd give it a little more time, and maybe make a point of trying to flex that toe box area.

But other folks may have some more informed info than I do.”

“there is no easy way. Just wear em. Hike all ht e time, it will hurt, but get a straw.”

“Take a rounded clothes pin or other similar thing and put your hand inside the boot and use the clothes pin and rub and push out the place where it rubs your toe. The pressure will stretch the leather. Wear it, you may have to repeat this several times.”

“NO WATER!!! NO WATER!!!
They told me to try some mink oil to soften the leather.

hot spot: Use a broom handle to soften. (that's what they told me)”

“Kinda hard to control especially up in the area he's talking about. Anything rounded would work.”

“yeah...I guess... a shorter broom handle maybe? I dunn know...
Never thought of a clothespin.”

“dang, Gab !! I just cut up a perfectly good broom handle and shoved all the pieces up into the boot !!! LMBO !!!
Tango, it just dawned on me to massage the outside of the boot in the afflicting area might work as well. Gem... getting mink oil later at wal-mart !!! Thanks !
These are pretty epensive boots and I sure don't want to ruin them. Everything else feels good about them. Just that one tight area. I am using a wooden handle that goes on the end of a file...

The treatment continues !!! Stay tuned - - -
last edited: 5/29/05 8:35:12 AM”

“Use the end of a wooden spoon to rub and stretch the spot from the inside.”

“hey --- guess what works BEST ????
a ball peen hammer !!! it has a nice rounded head on one end and can easily be pressed into any area with enough pressure to hopefully work out the material.
Only drawback I see right now is that the tight spot is right where the rubber sole meets the leather on the outside. So I think all the massaging has to come from the inside.
Ball Peen Hammer !!! who woulda thunk !!”

“I am telling you man, just get a straw.”

“ummmmm Willie........ could you please elaborate on the straw ???

With your background, all I am seeing is to insert a dead twig into a bleeding, ulcerous canker sore to wick out the ooozeee.”

“IMO you should buy another pair of boots from my limited experience. You are basically hoping that spot will improve, but you really won't know until wearing them (trying to correct them) for a long time. I have wide feet and finally went with Montrail Wides after trying many many boots. I probably should have tried more b/c I have a hot spot that just won't go away. I stretch the boot any time I'm not wearing it with wooden shoe stretchers (whatever they're called), and that works for about 24 hours. Good for one day on the trail. After that - suck it up ...”

“Funny but no. The straw is used for sucking it up. You're going to get blisters. Your feet will toughen up, over time. and the boots, unless they're are junk will get wore in only by wearing them.

Moleskin.”

“There are some spots where it is very difficult to break in the shoe, and no amount of wearing them will help. Hiking boots are not made like army boots, which are much easier to break in.”

“Have to disagree with you, BW. Sometimes your feet just won't toughen up due to the boot. I don't think you were around last fall when I posted the "Worst Blister Ever" thread with pictures. Had I tried to toughen it out anymore, I think I would have been hospitalized. Moleskin, duct tape, padding, etc., etc....nothing helped. It's the boots, not the feet.”

“I quit buying "clod-hoppers" 20 years ago.

They may last for the Appalachian trail but they're nothing I want to wear. Heavy boots just wear you out. THey serve no purpose what-so-ever. I like water-proof, light weight breathable boots with good soles & foot support. Makes hiking a whole lot more enjoyable & you don't have to break them in. Goretex to keep the water out & still a boot to give you ankle support. A little fabric & wicking materia to help keep your feet dry.”

“I agree with Sarge. If the boot doesn't feel good from the start, you'll always have trouble with it. Also, the weight of a 40-50 pound pack magnifies any boot problem. I just broke in a new pair of boots by wearing them for many miles on the treadmill with a 40 pound pack, plus wearing them around the house whenever I had a chance. Even with all the breaking in, I still had a few blisters first week long backpack trip. I tried to break in another pair of boots, but after about 20 miles on the treadmill they were still rubbing...Back to REI they go! (REI = Return Everything Immediately)”

“I have done a lot of backpacking in a lot of diferent shoes/boots. Ladyhiker and Sgt are right, if you have problems from the start, you will continue to have problems. The reason I offer the strw is for this:

"You guys know that I am as green as it gets when it comes to backpacking and I really need some experienced info on this... SOON !! Or, I will send them back to shoebuy.com for a wide size. These are 8.5 medium."

~Trekker John

If you are that new at this, you will (no matter how good of shoes/boots you get) get blisters. It takes the body time to get used to anything. When ever I take trips, no matter how accustomed I am, I take moleskin. DO NOT be "billy-bad-ass" and ignore hot spots. Take care of them when you first begin to feel them. Change socks often. Your feet carry you; respect them, and they will take care of you.

BTW, you want real pain, wear climbing shoes. Now those can hurt!”

“I agree with Ruby! I never got blisters, not until I bought this one freakin' pair boots. After that...one blister after the other.

Since my first blister my skin is more sensitive, reason is...it's really nothign but a blister on a blister, on a blister...

Toughen up...my ass!! Ain't working. Everyone tells me blisters make your feet tougher...I TELL YOU IT'S BULL!!!!! Yeah...moleskin is fine...if you can keep it on the hotspot/blister... IF!

So maybe I have little delicate feet huh? Yeah maybe...but I doubt it! big ass toes!! doubt they are delicate! heehee

I finally found a pair of boots that seam to work. Used moleskin before getting a hotspot.

I guess we'll see how well my feet healed in june or july on the Sierra trip.”

“You will not gain the toughness unless you put your doggies through some kind of beating at least two or three times a week.

Like running, hiking, walking. Anything that will put them to use.”

“run: every day! hiking: twice a month or more. walking: yupp...that too!

is that enough?
last edited: 5/29/05 11:06:07 PM”

“well.... since I have all this "spare time" on my hands here in West (By God) Virginia, and the trails are within minutes away, I do quite a bit of hiking/walking daily. Minimum of 2 miles over hilly, rocky terrain. Only the past few days have I carried my full pack of 30 pounds. And this is where the full measure of discomfort has really come home. Yesterday was a 3 mile trip with the 30# and had to stop periodically and unlace the boots for a few minutes then back on it. I would just rather not have the blisters if at all possible (wouldn't everyone??) Now, I have had the blue toenails to the point that I thought they would have to be amputated!! lol !! That was fun too !!
I will continue stretching the boot with whatever works and just getting more wear and tear.
I was wondering.......... is the trail name TenderFoot taken ??? LMBO !!
In all seriousness, THANKS to all for your invaluable advice. (except for the straw thing) lol”