How To Break In Hiking Boots Reddit
How long does it take to break in hiking boots Reddit? A proper and blister-free breaking in on new hiking boots usually requires 1-4 weeks. The time that it takes to break in a pair of brand-new hiking boots depends on how well the new boots fit your feet, what materials they’re made from, and whether your feet are broken in.
How long does it take to break in hiking boots? It can take anywhere from one to four weeks to break in hiking boots, depending on the type of boots you have and how strenuous your hiking will be. Some of the newer lightweight hiking shoes require little to no breaking in at all. Traditional leather boots, on the other hand, often take a bit longer.
How many miles should you walk to break in hiking boots? Try to build up to two-thirds of your daily mileage of what you’re hoping to do on the trail. So if you’re planning to hike 10 to 15 miles a day on the trail, then try walking eight miles in your new shoes and see how it feels.
Do hiking boots need to be broken in? Different boots take different break-in times. Light hikers may feel perfect right out of the box, while burly leather models may require weeks. The leather needs time to soften up so your boots and feet can conform to one another. The break-in process won’t turn a poor fit into a good one.
Can you stretch hiking boots? If you don’t want to buy your own boot stretcher or don’t feel comfortable doing this alone, most gear stores can stretch them for you. Another way to stretch your boots is by using alcohol on them. Soak cotton balls with it, then moisten the spots on your boots where they feel tight.
How To Break In Hiking Boots Reddit – More related Questions
Is it normal for hiking boots to hurt at first?
It’s probably going to feel stiff at first, but that’s okay. Your only cause for concern at this point should come if you’re feeling any pinching, rubbing, or slight pain. If that’s the case, there’s a good chance you need to return them and try out a different pair that fits your foot better.
Why do hiking boots hurt my feet?
Hiking can inflame and irritate the fascia from overuse. The foot pain can become even worse if you don’t have proper insoles in your hiking footwear to support the heel and arch of your foot.
How long do boots take to break in?
Keep a Spare PairNew boots can take around 80 to 100 hours to break in. That being said, don’t subject yourself to wearing your boots for 4 days straight and expect your feet to be happy with you. Instead, space this time out to about 2 to 3 hours a day and keep a second pair of boots to change into.
How do I stop my hiking boots rubbing?
Wear a liner sock to wick moisture away and provide a barrier for friction. Put on a thin pair of natural-fiber socks under your thick hiking socks so that your feet don’t rub as much. The idea is that when your feet move in your boots, the liner sock will stay in place and absorb the friction.
How do you break in hiking boots with water?
“Soak them wet and walk them dry.” This is a time-honored way to break in boots to the shape of your feet. First apply moleskin to blister-prone areas of your feet. Then put on dry socks. Soak boots in lukewarm water; then start walking.
Should hiking boots be tight or loose?
Hiking boots should fit snug everywhere, tight nowhere and offer room to wiggle your toes. Try them on at the end of the day (after feet swell) and with the socks you plan to wear. Know your size. It’s best to have your foot’s length, width and arch length measured on a specially calibrated fit device at REI.
How do you break in leather hiking boots?
After your boots are nice and oiled, wear them! You can toss ’em on and wear them around the house, or tough it out and go for a short walk or hike. Getting the leather bending and molding will soften it and shape it to your foot.
Why do my hiking boots hurt my Achilles tendon?
Poor strength – calf muscle and other leg muscles. Poor mobility and flexibility of the ankle joint and calf muscle. Inappropriate footwear for hiking – too flat or poor fit (too tight or too loose with unnecessary movement) at the heel counter may cause compression on the heel bone.
Will hiking boots loosen up?
If their boots are snug, but not uncomfortably so, then you should be fine—most boots will stretch enough to ensure a comfortable fit.
How can I make my hiking shoes more comfortable?
Use insoles Using the right insoles for your hiking shoes can make a huge difference in the overall comfort of your feet. Some insoles just provide extra cushioning in the heavier impacted parts of your feet, like the heel and ball of the foot.
How do I stop my calves from rubbing my boots?
Duct tape or Moleskin: Just wrap the edge of the boots so it isn’t so sharp. Tops of socks: Cut the top off of socks. Glue or tape them inside the boots where the chafing is occurring. Long sock turned over boot: Wear long, very stretchy socks.
Should you buy hiking shoes a size bigger?
Many hikers suggest that a pair of right hiking boots should be a half or full size larger than their normal shoe size or even the hiking boots that fit you perfectly.
Why do my big toenails hurt after hiking?
With every step, your toe hits your shoe, and with the thousands of steps that you take, it damages the sensory nerves in your toes. When sensory nerves are damaged, they take away sensation from that area. They also make the area swell. It is often accompanied by pain in the toes too.
Do feet get used to hiking?
If you start feeling sore feet on a thru-hike, there are ways to manage pain and relieve it at your campsite every night. Note that this doesn’t mend any underlying injuries. Take your boots off! Give them a break from the confines of your shoes, and rest your feet in nearby water or snow to reduce inflammation.
Why do you lose toenails when hiking?
Wearing boots that don’t fit properly – wearing boots that are too short or allow your feet to slide forward can cause your toes to hit the top of your boots when you hike. Toenails get damaged from the repeated pressure. The nail can lift off the nailbed causing a blood blister to form under the nail.
How tight should new boots be?
It should not pinch across the ball of the foot or the toes, but should be comfortably snug in the instep area of your foot. Just like a good handshake. A new boot may slip some when new, but if it is snug in the instep, that slip will come out, after it is flexed from wearing.
Why do my boots hurt the top of my foot?
Extensor tendinitis If they become inflamed due to overuse or wearing shoes without proper support, they may get torn or inflamed. This is known as extensor tendinitis, which can cause significant pain in the top of the foot.
Do new boots always hurt?
The boots will hurt for a couple of days no matter what, but if you space out that wear-time over a longer period and in the comfort of your own home, it won’t be so bad. You should try to enjoy this period, even though you may be uncomfortable. Your boots will never be this clean and pristine again!
Are new boots supposed to hurt?
Some discomfort at first is expected (especially if you try to wear them all day), but definitely not pain. 1. First, ensure the right size. Sometimes you’ll see folks advocating buying boots a half-size or even full size too small so that when they break in, they’ll be perfect.
Why do my hiking boots give me blisters?
If your boots are filled with dirt, clean them out as well as you can. If there’s dirt sticking to your sweaty feet, dry your feet off as well as you can and brush off the dirt. Even a small speck of dirt can cause irritation—and blisters—on your feet.
Should you be able to wiggle toes in hiking boots?
Hiking boots should feel a bit snug around your foot while also providing a small amount of wiggle room for your toes. Your toes should be able to stretch freely within your footwear, but not necessarily enough room to where your entire foot is shifting.
Should toes touch end of hiking boots?
With a proper fit, your heel should be locked in place inside the boot to prevent friction and the blisters it engenders; your toes shouldn’t hit the front of the boot while going downhill (the number one cause of blackened toenails); and there should be minimal extra space around your foot, though you should have ...
Should your toes touch the end of shoes?
Your toes should have ample room to spread wide. Your toes shouldn’t feel constricted or touch the end of the shoe. Your heel should feel comfortably cupped in the back of the shoe, which ensures that your foot won’t slip out from the back of the shoe.
Does heel slippage go away?
As the outsoles flex and “break-in”, small initial amounts of slipping at the heel should disappear. Going to a smaller size to eliminate ALL initial heel slipping can result in a fit that is just too tight, especially in slip-on models.
Is heel slippage normal in boots?
When boots are new, your heel should slip up about 1/2 inch, but once the cowboy boots are stretched out, your heel shouldn’t move more than 1/8 of an inch. Boots that don’t allow any movement of your heel are too tight and will be uncomfortable.