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Boot problem question

Pearl Sutton

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posted 3 weeks ago

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I'm trying new boots, as my old ones are literally rotting off my feet.
These aren't horrible, except....
The back of my ankle is being rubbed by some kind of padding.
Is there a reason for that pad? I'm inclined to take an exacto to it and remove it.
Any really good reason I want it there?

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posted 3 weeks ago

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The padding usually flattens to the shape of the foot in a week. But not always. I have luck with a clamp and a bit of wood to compress it when not wearing. Another option is a shoe tree (wooden foot for inside the shoe that stretches it to the shape of your foot. Not sure if people make trees anymore.

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Carla Burke

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posted 3 weeks ago

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Yup - they still make shoe trees. As to cutting it off/out - depends on the shoe/boot. Some are built in such a way that the part holding the padding is part of the structure holding the boot together - others aren't.

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posted 3 weeks ago

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if you don't have a shoe tree, find something that you can wedge in there to create some space. I find that wadding up kitchen or hand towels often works just great for the toe box of too-tight shoes. Really bang it in there and let it sit overnight. In your case maybe wad up a sock and put it in the toe and then wedge in some sort of kitchen utensil against something that will push back the irritating padding part, maybe a rubber eraser? see what you have around. It will definitely involve invoking the spirit of MacGyver, which I think you're probably darn good at!!

I would try that and maybe putting some tape on my heel where the thing rubs for the next few wears. I get blisters from almost all shoes, even when they're not new, it's constant. I have medical tape around at all times, and between that and wearing very thin socks (those low stocking socks ladies used to wear are ideal, you can sometimes snag them from shoe stores for trying on shoes) under my normal socks to make the friction go elsewhere, I somehow manage to wear shoes every day.

John F Dean

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posted 3 weeks ago

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What is the boot made of?

If leather, back in the day I had old timers tell me to soak the boot in warm water and wear it until it dries. Then, when thoroughly dry, oil it well. That said, I did not follow their advice.

I learn from the mistakes of others who take my advice.

Pearl Sutton

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posted 3 weeks ago

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Thank you all for answering. I wore them for about 5 hours of constant on my feet. I definitely need a better insole in them. I'll get that in and see if I still hate the back of the ankle. I have welding clamps that are about the right size to compress it if I still need it after getting the insoles right.
They are not leather. Cheap hiking type boots. No clue where I got them. Not a brand I recognize either. NEVADOS no clue where (or even when) I got them.

I fight with neuropathic pain from back damage, my feet HURT in shoes. Over the years I have bought a lot of shoes that fit at the time, but within a day or so of wearing them made me scream and not put them back on. I have been doing stuff that is helping the neuropathy a LOT, my feet don't scream much at all these days, so I'm going back through my shoe pile, looking for "new" boots for working in. These "fit" as well as any ever do, (I need a men's 7.25 7's are too small, 7.5 is too big, these are 7's, thin socks only) so they are worth seeing if I can figure out how to wear them.

Clamps to compress that back part I can do. Can even add heat while it's clamped.

Jill Dyer

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posted 3 weeks ago

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Our family always used a potato to stretch any not-quite-fitting shoes. Problem is, finding one of the right size to fix the problem. I think the moisture in the spud helped with the stretch without soaking the footwear.

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Carla Burke

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That's brilliant, Jill!

Pearl Sutton

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My old boots vs the new ones....

I'll be keeping the soles off the old ones for shoe making. They are over half off as is.
And when I took the good insoles out of them this morning, I realized I had taken a knife to the back of the heel on them, apparently I didn't like the padding in them either :D

Christopher Weeks

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Jill Dyer wrote:Our family always used a potato to stretch any not-quite-fitting shoes. Problem is, finding one of the right size to fix the problem.

Now I'm giggling at the vision in my head of someone standing at the potato bin in a big grocery store, with a boot, stuffing one potato after another into it, trying to find the right fit.

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Jill Dyer

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Ha! Christopher - my mother would have done it too, but she usually bought "loose" potatoes - not sorted into same size collections as they are today, so there was always a choice of size.

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Kathy Gray

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posted 1 week ago

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Is it possible to “soften it by sanding it”?
You could use a foot callus remover with a longish handle.
Or an electric Dremel with a sandpaper tip.

Pearl Sutton

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Kathy Gray wrote:Is it possible to “soften it by sanding it”?
You could use a foot callus remover with a longish handle.
Or an electric Dremel with a sandpaper tip.

The problem is the fabric encased padding at the back of the ankle. If it annoys me much longer, I'll take a knife to the fabric and pull out the fluff.
Still seeing if I will get used to it. Haven't worn them much yet. I'm putting them on... third time I think.

Coydon Wallham

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John F Dean wrote:What is the boot made of?

If leather, back in the day I had old timers tell me to soak the boot in warm water and wear it until it dries. Then, when thoroughly dry, oil it well. That said, I did not follow their advice.

This is known as "casing" the boot. It is a trade off- it allows the boot to conform quickly to the shape and flex of the user's foot and walking pattern, but does so by breaking the fibres in the leather and shortening the overall life of the boot. This was often done by soldiers in 'boot' camp to make the initial experience less grueling.

If using expensive leather boots, it is worth breaking them in through normal wear, treating the flex points with a non-petroleum oil to help develop a natural hinge there without as much damage to the fibres. I still have a pair of motorcycle boots from 18 years ago with leather in good shape despite all the storms and winter weather I've put them through over the years. The velcro fasteners, plastic buckles, and pleather fringe have long since bit the dust and been replaced by a cobbler, along with 2 sets of soles...

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