Breaking in boots without breaking feet
New boots went on in the first week of April and stayed on for every errand, every dog walk and two short day hikes before they saw a real trail.
What helped
- Wearing them at home in the evening with the socks I hike in, not with whatever was clean.
- Lacing the ankle loosely on descents for the first few walks. The heel slipped a little, but nothing rubbed.
- Tape on the known hot spot (left heel, every time) before it turned into a hot spot.
By the third weekend they felt like mine. The old pair stays in the car as a spare, which has already paid off once.