When hiking in the mountains, we must bear in mind that feeling comfortable is a fundamental factor in order to have a pleasant time and to achieve the goals we have set ourselves, for example, to cover a certain number of kilometres. In this sense, our feet and our boots are our main ally. We offer some tips on how to soften your hiking boots.
Some simple tips on how to soften your hiking boots
A pair of hiking boots that bother us can ruin a day that could have been a fabulous day. How can we soften them? Well, it’s much simpler than it sounds. However, it is important to bear in mind that we should not choose homemade methods that can spoil them.
1. Walk around with them at home for a while
Walking around at home for a while every day with our boots is one of the best ways to soften them. It is a mistake to wear them for the first time the day we go to the mountains. A few walks from one end of the house to the other for a while is enough. We can start with a few minutes, and then increase the time little by little.
2. Walking around the city on different paths
If we want to adapt to our boots without problems, it is advisable to take short walks with them around the city. To check how far we can walk without them bothering us, we can take an App with an odometer. In addition, we can change the routes: walk up steep areas, choose cobblestone floors, etc.
3. Wear socks and do not tie them tightly.
To make sure that your hiking boots do not hurt you, it is essential to combine them with the right socks for the climate. It is crucial to choose resistant but breathable socks for summer and thick socks for winter. If in doubt, it is best to go to a professional shop where they sell special socks: anti-blister, anti-bacterial, breathable, thermal, etc. ….. It is also important not to tie them tightly during the first few uses.
4. Refreshing cream and other products
It is important to put on some anti-blister strips before putting on your boots and to carry a few in your backpack. We can also carry other products from the emergency kit that can soothe our feet, such as refreshing cream, Vaseline, moisturising cream for feet or plasters of different sizes.
5. Above all… be patient
If there is one secret that really works when it comes to softening hiking boots, it is patience. Depending on the model we choose, it may take us more or less work to mould them, so the best thing to do is to be patient and think that sooner or later they will eventually give way.
With these simple tips on how to soften hiking boots we will make them our best friend on our trekking route.