How long does it take you to break in a new pair of hiking boots?

Boots? How bout tennies? Lighter, faster, no break-in, safer. Except in snow. Maybe.

But if you are sold on boots, either of the following works on good leather.

The slow way: pour warm (100 F max; not hot) water in each boot; let sit for 5 minutes; pour out; wear WHILE HIKING until dry with several changes of socks. When satisfied, allow to dry completely, then apply whatever leather treatment you prefer.

The fast way: Put boots on with usual socks, paint outside of upper with 70% or 90% rubbing alcohol until it sits on the surface for a few seconds. Wear WHILE HIKING until dry with several changes of socks. When satisfied, allow to dry completely, then apply whatever leather treatment you prefer.

These methods will not hurt your boots, and will conform them to your feet quickly – equivalent to 2-3 weeks of wear. However, fitting the boot to your feet does not complete the job; the REAL break-in with boots is to break your FEET into the boots. Even after conforming, a boot may rub your foot the wrong way. Individual feet callous up at different rates. That will be your real break-in time.

It took a weekend and some bloody blisters to break in a pair of new (too big) combat boots with thin socks. I won’t ever do that again.

Surprisingly, my Montrail Torre GTX boots (and three other pair of Montrail hiking/trail-running shoes) took no break-in time at all. I just put them on and went on a day hike, 8 miles with a 40# pack and no problems.

leater hiking boots take longer to break in than synthetic, and to break in the soles, just wear them every where you go, try running in them and playing basketball, and runing up and down the stairs for an hour. works for me.

One thing to remember is that you have to hike on hills to break in boots. I once hiked 35 miles on flat ground to break in a pair of leather boots. In the 5 miles on the mountain my feet were blistered.

Since then I’ve gone to a lighter pack and trail running shoes or mid-tops. Neither of these style shoes have required me to break them in.

I also use trail running shoes and with the socks I use I have never even felt a hot spot

check out Wrightsock Double layer cool mesh socks