How to Make Your Boots More Comfortable
The perfect pair of boots do more than look great — they have to be comfortable to wear all day. Browse our guide to learn how to find the most comfortable boots for women and men, and how to make your boots feel more comfortable for everyday wear.
1. Break in Your Boots
The simplest way to make your boots more comfortable is to break them in. A good pair of broken-in boots will conform to your feet, making walking, running and standing throughout the day much more comfortable. As your boots age and continue to break in, the materials become more pliable, giving them less resistance and allowing them to move with you. Try the steps below for comfortable boots with that broken-in feel.
- Wear them regularly. The easiest way to break in boots is through frequent wear. The breaking-in process can take a few days or weeks, depending on the boots and what you do while wearing them. Start with an hour or two and build up to a full day.
- Wear them with two pairs of socks. As long as it doesn’t cause discomfort, you can wear your boots for a few hours a day with two pairs of socks. The bulk of the extra padding helps stretch and break in your boots more rapidly than typical single-sock wear.
- Gently apply heat to leather boots. This is a go-to tip for how to make leather boots more comfortable. For most leather boots, you can use a hairdryer on low heat to gently encourage the leather to stretch and shape to your foot and leg. Remember to stop heating the boots before they’re hot to the touch, as going any hotter will damage the boots.
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2. Switch Up Your Laces
Relieve pressure points by switching up the lace pattern on your lace-up boots. Instead of using a standard criss-cross lace pattern, try another style of lacing like the Army Method to create additional space and alleviate pressure in the top of your foot, heel, arch and toes.
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3. Store with Care
When boots are stored properly, your boots keep their shape better and last longer. Boots with a long shaft can collapse and wrinkle between uses and become rigid and uncomfortable. This can be avoided with a boot tree that goes inside the shaft of your boots and applies tension so that the shaft maintains its shape. For long-lasting comfort, keep your boots indoors with a boot tree when not in use.
Care Tip: Properly cleaning cowboy boots and polishing leather boots are critical care steps that increase longevity and keep your boots pliable and comfortable over time.
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4. Remember to Resole
Support in the sole of your boots is critical for comfort. The soles on your boots take the brunt of the damage from years of use and abuse. With most high-end boots, a professional can remove and resole an old pair of boots that have holes in them or are just uneven and uncomfortable to walk on.
5. Shop for Comfort
If your old boots have reached the end of their useful lifespan, consider a new pair designed for superior comfort. Modern technology ensures that a well-made pair of quality boots are comfortable right out of the box. Most comfortable Western work boots and comfortable leather boots should be purchased from reputable brands like Ariat, an industry leader in boot design.
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