How to break in Ariat work boots. Got a new pair of Ariat Amos cowboy boots for Christmas. I like the fit of my old cowboy boots, but I have to break in these new ones soon because they look great, and I want to wear them everywhere.
The best way to break in a pair of Ariat cowboy boots is to hold them over a pot of boiling water and let steam enter the shaft. Then put on the boots and walk around. The steam relaxes the leather so you can slide your foot in, and the leather stretches and molds to your feet.
Cowboy boots often need to be stretched to fit comfortably. There are many different methods of breaking into cowboy boots, and we've tried them all. Here are our suggestions for how to stretch your boots so they fit comfortably.
How to break in leather cowboy boots.
Got a pair of cowboy boots that are too tight and pinch your toes? They should be comfortable, but sometimes they can just be too tight to wear. Fortunately, there is an easy solution!
Stretching your cowboy boots gives them room to sit more comfortably on your feet. This article describes how stretching works and what you need to stretch your shoe. The methods I suggest for breaking in leather cowboy boots can be applied to any brand, not just Ariats.
Cowboy boots are an essential tool when riding our horses, so we need to make sure they fit well and comfortably.
First Step: Fit Your Boots
Make sure you buy the right size boots for your feet. Don't buy a pair of boots based on the size of your last boots. Companies make boots with different fitting styles and methods, resulting in size inconsistencies.
My feet fit boots in sizes 9, 9.5, and 10 based on the brand and style. I was shocked at how inconsistent the sizes were, even within the same brand. It's not difficult to measure your foot when you're in a shoe store, so measure your foot.
If your boots fit well, they are much easier to break in.
Your heel should move in cowboy boots.
Once you have the boots on your feet, walk around, the heel should lift a 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Also, move your toes. Regardless of the toe cap style, you should have room for your toes to move freely, so wiggle your toes.
Please note that your boot should fit snugly as the leather will loosen as you break-in. If the boot feels loose when purchased, it will be too big after breaking in. The boot must fit 100 percent before you buy it.
Second step: stretch your cowboy boots
You got the right size of your boot, but you still have some tightness around your foot, so what do you do? To break in your boots, you have to stretch them.
The parts of a boot that need to be stretched are the instep, shaft, and width.
Apply steam
To stretch a boot, hold it upside down over a pot of boiling water and allow the steam to rise up the shaft of the boot. Hold the boot in this position for at least five minutes to allow the steam to relax the leather.
You can also use a garment steamer as shown below...
Wear boots
Remove your boot from steam and allow it to cool to the touch. The moisture keeps the inside of the boot warm for a while, but not for too long, but be careful not to burn yourself.
When it has cooled down a bit, but the boots on your feet and walk with them. Spend enough time in the boots for them to release and mold to your feet.
This can take from 30 minutes to an hour, the longer the better. Wearing damp boots, from steam or stretch spray, will allow the leather to mold to your foot.
I wore my boots all day after steaming them, which made my boots break in relatively quickly, and they were comfortable when I had them on from day one.
Steam and hand (Alternative)
Try this method if you want a way to break in your boots without walking around in damp boots. Steam your boots, but instead of putting your foot inside your boot, reach your hand inside (after it cools).
I take the boot out of the steam, put my fist in it, turn it over, and put it back on the fire. I do this at least three times before trying to get the boots on my feet
Commercial stretch sprays work well on leather boots.
Commercial stretch sprays are available. These can be used effectively when stretching leather. Check the directions on the side of the container before using the product on your boots. Most are safe.
In general, spray the inside and outside of your leather boots liberally with the stretch spray, and then wear your boots. You can also use your hand or an object inside the boot to stretch the leather.
Boot stretchers work!
When your cowboy boots are too tight, it may be time to break out the boot stretchers! Boot stretchers work by stretching your boots so that they fit comfortably and last longer. This is great for when you want to wear your favorite pair of boots but can’t because they don’t fit anymore.