Breaking in work boots

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

I've never heard of "bear grease" - but have had very good luck with "Sno-Seal".

 

[/pine]

I've never heard of "bear grease" - but have had very good luck with "Sno-Seal".

Very similar products...I've used both with very good results

 

[ultrarunner]

I like the New Balance/Dunham link,,, Thanks. I've had very good luck with New Balance tennis shoes although my latest pair seem a bit stiff.

I just said the same thing to a co-worker today and he agreed... I wonder if NB made a change?

 

[Egon]

Those new boots and the dreaded hot spot! Duct tape works well. There are also proper blister packs available.

I'm fortunate that in that breaking in work boots has never seemed to be a problem.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Wow, having a foot beyond 4E, New Balance makes the only sneaker I can wear. I'll have to check out the Dunhams. I usually have to go 4E and one size larger to get them to fit.

 

[EddieWalker]

I also have a wide foot, but until recently, didn't realize it. I tend to wear out my boots off to the side and just thought that's because I walk on them that way. I gave Red Wing Boots a try just because I heard an ad on the radio and thought they might be good boots. The guy meassured my foot and told me that my foot was too wide for the boots I had been wearing. I was just going to the store, finding a pair that I liked, trying them on and then buying them. I haven't had my foot properly measured since I was in high school, if then. He brought out a pair of boots and told me that my toes should be loose in them, but that the rest of the boot should be snug. It was a perfect fit, and very comfortable from the very first time I wore them. I've been wearing them every day, for two months, and have never noticed any discomfort. No break in time. They were $140, which was more then I was expecting, and about three times what I paid for my previous boots. He said that I could get a new sole sewn on for $75 when I wore these out. For the last five or six years, I've been wearing work boots every day. They last six months, and that last month, they are pretty much tore up. It will depend on how long these last see how much more or less they cost in the long run. But for something as important as boots, I'm very happy with them and think of it as money well spent.

Eddie

 

[CurlyDave]

I agree with Eddie -- for steel toes, Red Wings are great.

If you are on your feet all day, try a pair of Sole footbeds in the Red Wings. https://www.yoursole.com/us/footbeds/

These guys are not cheap either, about $45, but you put them in a low temp oven to soften them, put them in the boots and stand in the boots. They mold to your feet and improve comfort a lot. Ever since I had surgery for heel spurs, they have been a lifesaver for me.

A buddy was having horrible problems with his feet and was about to give up golf. I gave him a pair of Sole footbeds two years ago and his foot problems went away.

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

Wow, having a foot beyond 4E, New Balance makes the only sneaker I can wear. I'll have to check out the Dunhams. I usually have to go 4E and one size larger to get them to fit.

yup - according to low end show stores I have a size 10 1/2 foot.
I wear 11 4E dunhams and 11.5 4E NB trail running shoes (or 12 4E in Nike) -- the other thing to look at is to pull back the footbed and see which last they use. in NB, I do best with the SL-2 in my runners, as it's a wider toe box. no matter how wide, the SL-1 pinches.

 

[caver]

Update The Dunhams I ordered have started to fail in the stitching. 7-8 months maybe since I bought them. Maybe I expect too much.

 

[jayste]

Believe it or not, try it and then belive it ... slip them on in the morning, stand in the creek, pond or any water supply until your feet are soaked ... wear them the rest of the day and BANG they are broke in!!

Blue, you took the words right from my "keys"!:laughing: Some will say this is bad for the leather or blah, blah, blah but I'll vouch for the method. I've got one pair in particular that I got caught out in a rain storm one day and I had to remain there for hours. My feet soaked to the bone and I had to wear those boots until they started drying. It's like they formed to my feet when the leather started to dry. Worked for me.