Despite steel toe boots’ incredible protective functions, they can be troublesome and torturous in the first few weeks. That is why a break-in period is crucial before you wear them to work and perform high-risk tasks. Typically, it takes up to three weeks for the boots to conform to your feet. But no worries! We’ll provide all the tricks to make this period brisk and pain-free.
Breaking in steel toe boots begins with well-fitted boots. If your shoes don’t fit correctly, they’ll feel uncomfortable regardless of your break-in methods. Once you have the right shoes, wear them indoors for one to two weeks. Then, pair them with steel toe socks and go outdoors for another week. There are various techniques to alleviate the toughness such as massaging the leather, bending the soles, and storing the boots in shoe trees.
Without proper break-in, steel toe boots might hurt your feet before they can protect them. So, dive in for a step-by-step guide on how to break in steel toe boots.
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What to Prepare
Before breaking in steel toe boots, make sure they fit you properly. You can check out our tutorial on “how should work boots fit”. If the shoes are not the correct shapes for your feet lengthwise and widthwise, there is not much you can do to right the fitting. Take your time to ensure you’ve got the accurate size.
In addition, diagnose the problems you’re having with the boots. Is it the tongue, the heel, or the sole? Is the safety toe cutting or hitting your feet? In this article, we focus on dealing with the steel safety cap. If your problem involves the uppers or soles, you can always refer to other posts on our website. Other than that, prepare the following:
1. Steel toe socks
Any nice socks can make your experience with heavy-duty boots much more comfortable. But socks designed for safety toe shoes are the best to break in steel toe boots fast.
The added weight of a steel cap does not necessarily weigh down your feet, but it can make the boot around one pound heavier than regular ones. This heaviness might cause the caps to rub against your toes when you walk and wear down socks quite quickly.
Steel toe socks come with Kevlar fiber reinforcement in the toe and heel areas, delivering cushioning and abrasion resistance. Plus, the padded toe and heel will provide extra protection in the event of impacts, cuts, or punctures. Take note that socks are available in many sizes, be mindful to get your correct size.
2. Leather cream or mink oil
Leather cream or mink oil will soften the leather so it can mold into your feet. Also, they will help shield leather cracks, which can appear in the toe box areas. Be careful that mink oil can darken light-colored leather. If you’re dealing with soft-hued boots, read the leather care product’s label carefully before purchasing.
3. Bandages
Pinching or blistering might happen during the break-in period. Keep some bandages handy, so you can protect the parts of your feet that get painful. Don’t ignore skin blisters or scratches. They might only feel itchy at first. But left unattended, they can become infected and spread to other areas.
Steps to Break in Steel Toe Boots
Step 1: Tighten the laces properly
To begin, take care to lace your shoes properly. When you first put on a pair of heavy-duty work boots, the tongues feel very firm and rigid, especially gusseted and Gore-Tex lined ones. You want to tighten the laces snugly, but not tightly. Be careful to fold the tongue correctly so it won’t rub against your bridge and cause chafing.
If you’re breaking in slip-on work boots, you don’t have to worry about the tongue. But do not pull them aggressively to put on or you will damage the leather. It’ll take two to three weeks for your feet to slide in easily.
Step 2: Wear the steel toe boots around the house
Pair the shoes with your regular socks and pads and wear them indoors for a few hours each day. Feel free to carry on your daily tasks, but avoid carrying heavy loads. Walking and standing in the boots are the best methods to train them to conform to your foot shape.
After several days, you might notice the leather and the soles are softer. That is when you take off the laces, gently bend the boots back and forth with your hands, massage the rigid leather parts, and re-lace the shoes.
You should repeat this procedure for one to two weeks. Remember to only wear the boots indoors so you can take them off whenever they become too uncomfortable. You can use shoe trees to store the boots at night to quicken the process. Also, if wounds, red spots, or scratches appear, immediately stick a bandage on the areas.
Step 3: Pair them with steel toe socks
Now, your feet are used to the boots, pair them with steel toe socks and go outdoors. Once you are used to walking in them, try jogging. There is no need to spend a lot of time doing this.
You can wear the boots for two to three hours, give them a break, and return after a couple of days. Don’t forget to stand in various positions to break in the boots thoroughly. You can raise the heel, lean forward, stand on your tippy toes, and rock your feet side to side.
The steel toe socks should cushion the toe areas, allowing your feet to be at ease with the heavy boots. If you have more than one pair of socks, switch them regularly. Changing socks during this period will help the boots stretch and adjust to different sock thicknesses. After two to three weeks of breaking in work boots, you can wear them to work.
Step 4: Take good care of your boots
Maintenance is key to helping your boots age gracefully and last longer. Thus, re-apply leather conditioner periodically. During the break-in period, work in the leather cream whenever you spot a crack to prevent it from expanding. You can also rub mink oil on the tough leather parts to help soften them.
However, the best way to break in a leather boot is to use it. You should not depend too much on external products to ease the leather. Watch this video for comprehensive explanations of each step:
Conclusion
A boot size fits many people, but a pair of boots that is broken in properly by you won’t suit anyone else but you. They mold perfectly into your unique foot shape. As a last reminder, breaking in work boots fast is not as important as keeping your feet comfortable.
To sum up this article on how to break in steel toe boots, take the process slowly and cushion your feet with padded socks if necessary. As long as you are diligent and consistent with the provided steps, you will eventually break in those tough heavy-duty boots. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need further advice. We will address your questions as soon as we can. See you then!
Veronica is our content editor. She is a talent in delivery. Her main work is editing and writing articles that are both informative and simple to follow. She is in charge of synthesizing our understanding of what personal protection equipment (PPE) is needed in each job, how to best apply it, and how to visualize that equipment.