Breaking in your boots. Say goodbye to pain!

First and foremost, make sure you have bought the right size. Try on your new boots or shoes at home on a carpet, until you are sure you have the right size for you.

If there is not enough room on the length, then most likely you should return the boots, as no stretching or breaking in your boots will help resolve that back to front length. If the boots are too big, and your foot is slipping around, then try an insole but be aware that if your feet are slipping around, this can cause blisters due to the friction.

Read more on our sizing guide to make sure you have selected the right size, or get in touch with us so we can review your measurements and help with establishing if you do indeed need to exchange the size you have.

To break in your boots at home, wear them with the thickest socks you have around the house, this will help with stretching the leather to your foot. Most of our leather is already quite supple so this method should be enough to assess if the boots are going to stretch out enough to be comfortable.

If the model you have selected is one with stiffer, thicker leather, here are some tips to break in your boots:

Start by applying a leather softener, natural beeswax shoe polish, or a conditioner as this will moisturize, soften and relax the fibres of the leather, making them easier to break in. Combined with thicker socks and gentle pressure from your foot as you walk around, this is the gentlest way to break in your new boots.

Be careful not to use too much product, as you don’t want it to change the colour and consistency of the leather, and - as always - don’t forget to give it a little patch test before going ahead. Or if you do need to stretch them further see our hairdryer method on the “How to stretch your boots” tip.