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Doc martens3/23/2023 ![]() “The expansion seemed likely to follow the low resistance path out of the boot,” Ellerby says. The boot was completely filled with bagged water and laced tightly so that we could get the best possible stretch. To avoid ending up with an icy and soaked boot, we double-lined it with Ziplock bags to prevent leaks. Despite both of us being skeptical about the science behind it, the results were surprising. Intrigued by this thesis, I teamed up with Reviewed Senior Scientist Dave Ellerby to put it to the test. Because water expands by about 9% by volume, the theory is that if you fill a boot with water and freeze it, it should help stretch and expand the boots' leather. If buying branded leather balm isn't for you, the at-home boot freezing method is the frugal way to go. We were pleasantly surprised by the freezing results. I put them on and went for a longer walk than usual-the boots no longer felt tight on the sides of my feet and the shaft felt much softer. After a month of trying, that seemed to do the trick. As it melted and the leather began to soften from the heat, I rubbed it in and removed the soda cans. Another short walk later, the leather was slightly softer but the boots still pinched, so I decided to put an even thicker coat on and let them sit for two weeks with the cans in place.Īfter two weeks, the thick coat of Balsam still wasn't completely absorbed, so I improvised based on other articles I’d seen online and ran a hair dryer over them so that the leather rub would sink into the boots. Martens doesn’t indicate how many times you’ll need to use the Wonder Balsam, I had to use it five times total (about half of the jar) to break my Docs in. While it took half a can, the Wonder Balsam certainly softened the leather.īecause the shoes were still uncomfortable to walk in after two days, I decided to put more Wonder Balsam on the boots and let it soak for another two days, soda cans still in place. I wore my own Dickies boot socks for the remainder of testing. While the boots didn’t give my heels blisters, they were still tight across the bridge of my foot, and the socks were loose and slipped around. On day six, I took a short walk in the boots while wearing a pair of socks recommended by Dr. Two days later, they still weren’t wearable, so I applied another coat and let them sit for an additional two days, soda cans still in place. So, I gave them a coating of Docs’ Wonder Balsam and let them soak for two days to help soften the leather, and stretched the toebox out with soda cans. On the first day of wear, I tried the boots on for 10 minutes and they were so stiff that I could barely walk in them. With a brand new personal pair of 1460s, I applied the company-recommended method to see if it works and how long it will take, keeping a boot diary along to log the breaking-in process. The company also recommends using aluminum soda cans to stretch the uppers in place of your ankles and feet. The balm is supposed to soften the leather and help them break in quicker, while the heel pads and socks will prevent blisters. Martens recommends purchasing its socks, heel pads, and balm to hasten the process. OG Doc Martens are notoriously difficult to break in. ![]() Martens softening method to the test against the at-home freezing treatment to see if either of these claims hold weight. Martens’ Wonder Balsam to soften its own boots? Curious to answer these questions, I decided to put the official Dr. One leather-softening shortcut recommendation that does not involve purchasing more from the brand suggests freezing the boots, which purportedly expands and stretches them.īut which leather break-in method is the quickest? And is it actually worth investing money in Dr. Martens itself, which recommends purchasing their socks, balm, and heel pads. The Internet holds many theories on how to quickly break in Docs’ smooth leather boots, including one from Dr. Ever since, I’ve leaned toward wearing softer leather Docs, like the 1460 Pascal Virginia Boots. ![]() ![]() The rigid shaft rubbed against my heels and ankles, making every step excruciating. I had firsthand experience with this during a weekend trip to New York, which ended in painful, oozing blisters all over my heels and feet. Doc Martens 1460 Smooth Leather boots are a classic, but they’re notoriously hard to break in.
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