Leather Boot Stretching Question --

[Telerock]

Wearing them wet around the hoyse I mean, not skiing with them wet…

[Telerock]

Wearing them wet inside, around the house, or outdoors in good weather, not skiing…

[rongon]

You waterlogged your Asolo Extremes to fit them?
I guess if you did that and they survived, maybe that's what I should do.

The ones I got are almost new, and are quite stiff.

I rubbed in a fair amount of Limmer Boot Grease, just across the forefoot and in the tongue and gussets. I was careful to keep the grease off the welt and stitching. The grease soaked in readily, which took me by surprise. I thought the leather on these boots has some kind of waterproof plastic coating, but I guess it's really just a thick layer of shiny black boot polish.

I guess I'll buy one of those boot stretchers, since I have a problematic left foot that makes it so I always have to stretch the width of any boot I get.

[aclyon]

I have whack feet. I feel your pain.
I've had good luck with the following procedure:
Fill a long ski sock with uncooked rice. Tie it off. Put it in the oven at 200-240F for 15-20 min or until it's nice and warm. Stick it in the part of the boot you want to stretch for 20 minutes. Now take it out, put it back in the oven, and put your foot in the boot, and try to stuff some stuff in the boot around your foot in the area where you want it to stretch. Walk around with the boot on for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse/repeat as necessary with the warm rice-sock.

[phoenix]

"I was careful to keep the grease off the welt and stitching."

Which is good; but have you sealed the welt and stitching? That's really important.

[rongon]

Good point! Any advice on what to use to seal the welt and stitching? Thanks.

[phoenix]

Seam Grip (comes in a little black tube) is most definitely my preferred sealant for this use. Held up on my Alico's for decades, easy to apply, remains flexible, stitching stayed perfectly in tact. Keep in mind that it may add a very slight increase in thickness around the duckbill.