How to break in long leather riding boots?

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Has anyone got any tips to break in long boots? They are a bit snug around the calf but the worse bit is the rubbing on the sides of my ankles and cutting into the back of my leg.

Have heard people sit in the bath and then wear them until dry :/ does this actually work? Really hoping they will soften up and drop a bit.
 
I basically just put up with it until it stopped to be honest. I did put plasters on the areas where the boots rubbed though which helped a lot.
 
You just gotta wear them!

Do you need a heel raiser? just a thin one to stop the point of rubbing - it worked for me
 
Second getting heel risers til they drop. Tried some on at the weekend and one was agony but less so with riser. Ended up with much less painful pair but haven't started wearing them in yet.
 
I only buy Ariats now. For some reason I have never had a problem with any of their long leather boots rubbing. I ended up selling all my other pairs after trying to break them in. If a boot is not comfortable after two wearings, I just can't put up with the rubbing and sell and move on. My Ariat Volants have been comfortable from day one. Same with the bromonts.
 
I just put up with it too and still have the scars to prove it!

I found plasters useless but the blistex blister plasters were brilliant - in the end i just used to put them on where they were causing a problem and they were fine.
 
Wear them around the house! Smother them in saddle soap to help soften, and wear them around whenever possible - even for walking to the corner shop.

I wouldn't chance the bath tip, personally. I'd be too afraid of ruining a brand new pair of nice boots!
 
Those gel cushion plasters aren't cheap but brilliant they stay on a few days too get some of those and wear them.

I second the ariats never had a problem and mine are full leather and quite tall.
 
I bought a pair of riding boots from an elderly polo playing ex Guards officer. The boots were really tight fitting on me and I was young and skinny then! I asked him how he had worn them/got them on and his reply was "Silk stockings and ballroom chalk my dear!" Perhaps you should try this!!!
 
You just have to wear them. I have a pair of Ariats that I love but have given up on as they just won't drop enough to ever be comfortable and not dig into the back of my knees and don't seem to be breaking in enough round the ankles and calf. Such a shame really but perhaps I just got taken in by the sales person when I bought them and they said they would drop enough.
That said I have had boots that only took a couple of rides in to be comfy, I think it depends on the the leather.
 
I feel your pain, I've recently bought a pair of long boots and I'm having the same problem. They're now ok on one leg but not the other, I think time is the only way to truly soften them. I have yet to try wearing them around the house.
 
When mine were new and I had that problem, I wore them around the house with the thickest socks I could find that would physically let me still get the boots on.

It definitely helped and didn't take many wears either.
 
Thanks for all the ideas :) They're Treadstep da vinci boots weren't cheap so thought the leather would be easier to break in. Looks like I'm just going to grin and bear it! They're still really stiff to walk in but as bad to ride in.
 
Think the better the quality the harder they are to break in to be honest. Mine are donatellos. The shop lady said wear them for at least 30 mins at a time so the leather warms up to your legs. Didn't think they were too bad in the shop but just put them on for the first time and can feel the blood pulsing in my legs. Eurgh!
 
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I used to rub either saddle soap (the old bar type) or any old moisturiser on the inside of the boot - sinks in quicker and softens the leather from the inside out. do it when warm and then stuff full with old newspaper etc. Used to work for me and I've got really awkward feet!
 
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