5 Reasons Your Work Boots Smell Like Cat Pee (And 5 Easy DIY Solutions)

If your work boots started to smell at cat urine or similar to ammonia you might think there’s something wrong with your feet.

The vast majority of the times this doesn’t have nothing to do with your feet’s health. You’re probably just fine but you will have to look into what we have to share with you today because it could lead to potential problems if not addressed.

After talking about the topic with to our expert, Dr Bruce Pinker DPM, I came up with these 5 reasons why your work boots stink at cat urine and also 5 solutions to this problem.

Additionally we talk about how to prevent it from happening and much more…

Let’s get into it!

Why do your work boots smell like cat pee?

There are a few reasons why your work boots might smell like cat urine and the most common one, according to our podiatrist, is…

Podiatrist Note

Work boots can have a foul smell, like cat pee, due to the boots causing the feet to become warm and sweaty.

Dr. Bruce Pinker – Podiatrist & Foot Surgeon

So, in most scenarios, there’s nothing wrong with you or your feet. It’s just sweat produced by your body whilst working and that sweat is retained in your work boot’s footbed or insole.

Here are the known reasons why your work boots smell bad:

1. Your feet sweat too much

Some of us sweat more than usual. Not only that but some people’s sweat is more acidic and has a stronger smell than others.

I remember, many years ago, I used to work at a 4-star hotel and I was serving breakfast with another colleague of mine. The dude was the most amazing person in the world, an excellent waiter taking care of his customers…

…but his sweat was so acidic that the manager had to talk with him about having showers more regularly.

It wasn’t his fault of course but sadly that made him quit his job since the customers were complaining about the acidic smell

All this to say that some of us use sweat more than others and our sweat can smell stronger than other’s. My feet sweat a lot as well and that’s why I wash or change my insoles VERY regularly. I wash them maybe monthly and replace them every 4-5 months. 

2. The boots are not breathable enough

Work boots are designed to keep the feet dry and protected from the environment and different hazards at work, therefore, typically do not allow for an exchange of air.  

The boot’s material, usually leather, is not porous, therefore, preventing the feet from “breathing.” 

As the feet begin to become warm and sweaty an odor is produced which leaves the footwear smelly unusual. One of those smells can be similar to cat urine.

That’s why depending on your situation and type of work you should look into buying work boots that are breathable. 

These usually are not made of leather all the way through. Boots manufacturers incorporate some textile or synthetic materials that are more breathable than 100% genuine leather.

3. The footbed or insoles needs cleaning

As we’ve mentioned above, our feet sweat, some more than others. 

Add into that mix a bit of dust, dirt, and other things that might come in contact with your feet whilst working … and now you have a “deadly smelling perfume” inside your work boots!

The majority of people I talk to, no exaggeration, more than 95% of people I’ve chatted with never wash or clean their work boots or their insoles. 

Not until they might get to learn what is it like to have cat pee-smelling work boots!

So clean your work boots as often as you can in order to avoid this problem. Doing this actually can prevent even bigger issues such as bacteria and fungus from developing inside your boot.

4. You might actually have a cat that’s peeing in your boots

I had to include this one!!! Don’t laugh at this because pets DO love to do some crazy things. 

If you for example have a cat that’s somehow possessive or over protective, the cat might actually pee in your work boots to mark its territory, its property, its possession.

That and getting my boots chewed or scratched by my pet makes me place my work boots inside the cupboard away from pets and kids.

5. You might have perspiration problems

Having talked about some of the most obvious reasons your work boots might smell at cat pee there’s one last one that we need to mention. 

If the malodor develops regularly in your feet it’s a sign that you might have a perspiration issue according to Dr. Bruce Pinker.

This one might require you to go and visit a podiatrist to assess your problem.

What you can do about it? Tips & hacks that can help get rid of the smell

The internet is full of crazy ideas and THE hottest tips when it comes to getting rid of bad smells in work boots but here I’m going to share with you some simple ones that work.

Most of them I’ve used myself and some are recommended by Dr. Bruce.

Podiatrist Note

We often recommend spraying footwear with Lysol disinfectant.  Not only does this help reduce the foul odor, but it also prevents the growth of mold and bacteria in the boots. 

Dr. Bruce Pinker – Podiatrist & Foot Surgeon

1. Wash the liners of your boot (if they have one)

Not many work boots come with liners but if you’re one of those lucky ones just get the liners out and wash them in the washing machine with hot water.

If you’re not that lucky, you can have a go at washing your whole work boots in the washing machine. If you’re worried that the machine will damage your work boots then don’t do it. 

But I’ve always washed my work boots in the washing machine and nothing happened as long as I took some precautions.

2. Disinfect your work boots using alcohol isopropyl solution

Ok, now that we know that the smell of cat pee in your work boots might be due to sweat and bacteria building up inside your work boots the best thing we can do is to clean and disinfect the work boots.

For this, you can either prep your own disinfectant at home as I do, or just buy a bottle of rubbing alcohol online. (something like this one or similar). It has to be either 70% or 80% alcohol concentration if you buy it online.

If you make your own it has to be alcohol isopropyl 99% concentrated so you can mix it with water and other liquids in order to make disinfectants and soaps at home.

Anyway, the process is the same. Just spray the solution into your work boots as you please. Remember to take your insoles out and spray them on the footbed as well.

Now leave the work boots to dry naturally on the balcony or in the garden. Make sure it’s somewhere where it’s ventilated but there are no risks of getting the boots wet if it starts raining.

Repeat this process until the smell has gone!

Here’s how I do it if you’re curious about it…

3. Use a cat stain and odor eliminator spray

Rocco & Roxie
Odor Eliminator Spray

Yeah, I know. This is a carpet cleaner, but it’s a cleaner that can remove pet urine stains and odors.

It’s not going to break the bank by trying this and you might need it anyway if you have a cat at home!

To use a spray like this to remove the cat pee smell from your work boots just apply a decent amount of the odor eliminator solution into your boots (remove insoles if you have them). Then allow the solution to do its magic for about an hour or so.

You can use a little brush if you want or a toothbrush to make sure the liquid penetrates as deep as it can into the material and reaches as many areas as it can inside the boot.

Then leave it to dry naturally.

4. Absorb the moisture and the odor from inside the boot

If you already have a cat around the house you might also have some clay cat litter somewhere in the house.

If that’s the case one thing you can do to try to get rid of the smell is to fill up your boots with some clay cat litter and leave for a day or two. I’m assuming you have a replacement work boot you can wear for a few days.

If not, just leave it overnight and try this process for a few nights in a row. In the morning put on some of your oldest socks that you don’t mind throwing away and wear the boots for 5-10 minutes before you go to work. 

This should help remove most of the dust and dirt caused by the cat litter. 

Now put on clean socks and you’re ready to rock and roll. As I said above, you might have to repeat the process a few consecutive nights.

5. Vinegar and baking soda

My wife and I used this hack a few times to clean our mattress and the couch from pee stains and also pee smell. 

Personally, I haven’t used this on my own work boots so I have no idea if will work or not (great idea for a test though, I’ll update the post if I do this on my own boots).

But I thought I should add it to give you more solutions/ideas to can try!

6 Add talc powder

I’ve read somewhere an honest and helpful person recommending talc powder for this purpose.

Honestly, this should be done before this situation happens. Adding talc powder to your already stinky work boots won’t do much (other than making your socks all white).

What can you do to prevent your boots from smelling like cat urine?

To prevent the foul odor from developing in work boots, it is best to apply superabsorbent powder to your feet, or tap some into your socks, prior to wearing work boots.

I do both, especially in summer!

This will help absorb moisture and reduce malodor. Also, wearing socks with a moisture-wicking quality can also help prevent the foul smell in work boots.

Socks with synthetic materials, such as polyester, nylon, or rayon help wick away moisture from the foot to keep feet dry. Silk and wool socks will also wick away moisture, however, they can be somewhat expensive.

When it comes to your work boots, try and go for breathable work boots or at least make sure the boots you’re buying have mositure-wicking lining.

Is this bad for your feet? Should you seek advice from a podiatrist?

In the majority of the cases, you’re going to be just fine. Most of the time you can get rid of the cat pee smell in your work boots by applying one of the tips we’ve shared with you above.

 And then it’s just a matter of doing the simple things we’ve mentioned in this article in order to prevent it from happening!

But, if nothing has worked for you or if the smell keeps developing in your feet you might want to visit a podiatrist.

Podiatrist Note

A condition called hyperhidrosis [1,2,3] occurs when the feet perspire excessively.  
There are a few treatment options for this condition, such as using superabsorbent foot powder regularly, soaking feet with tea bags, and injecting botox to help reduce perspiration.

Dr. Bruce Pinker – Podiatrist & Foot Surgeon

Helpful external pages if you want to learn more

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyperhidrosis/symptoms-causes/
2. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/excessive-sweating-hyperhidrosis/
3. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hyperhidrosis2

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Team Members Working On This Page

Jessica Flynn – Writer And Researcher

Love technology, going to the beach, taking care of my body, and writing (amongst other things). You’ll see my face around here a little bit since I’m responsible for part of the research and writing of some of the articles you’re reading on BestForMyFeet.com. I hope you’ll find our content helpful and enjoyable! See you around, thanks for reading!

Victor Adrian – Editor And Webmaster

Construction Professional, driver, crane operator, cleaner, head chef … these are just some of the jobs I did in the past. Working in all these different environments taught me that having good footwear to protect your feet from different dangers at work IS PARAMOUNT for any worker! On this website, I aim to share all my knowledge and personal experience in dealing with different footwear and foot care issues, and hopefully, you can get something out of it. Enjoy!

Medically reviewed by our expert

Dr. Bruce Pinker – Podiatrist & Foot Surgeon

I am a board-certified podiatrist and foot surgeon based in New York. When not treating patients I enjoy exercising regularly by cycling 30-40 miles/week and lifting weights, writing music and playing the piano/synthesizer, and spending quality time with my family.  My approach to medicine includes offering many different treatment options to my patients so they can choose the one that is best for them. I enjoy helping out the guys here at BestForMyFeet.com answering questions related to foot problems. If you have concerns with your feet, feel free to schedule a consultation with me at ProgressiveFootCareNY.com and I will be happy to address your concerns.

source https://bestformyfeet.com/why-my-work-boots-smell-like-cat-urine/

Carhartt Vs Red Wing Work Boots (Which Brand Is Better?)

If you’re looking for your next pair of durable and comfortable work boots I’m sure you’ve considered any of these two brands. 

But which one should you go for? Red Wing work boots or Carhart work boots?

In this article, you’ll find some helpful information I’ve put together to help you out a little bit. I’ve done a lot of research. It took me and the Best For My Feet team somewhere north of 31 hours of hard work to put all this information together.

We’ll talk about the different types of boots Carhartt and Red Wing produce, the differences in price, fit, size and so much more!

So make sure you keep reading to learn more about the differences between Red Wing and Carhart work boots.

Let’s get into it…

What type of boots do they produce?

Both Red Wing and Carhartt have an extensive range of great-looking work boots for every taste and style out there.

Here’s a table with the type of work boots each brand produces:

Type of Boot	Carhartt	Red Wing
Classic Moc toe	Style CMW6095	Heritage Classic 6”
Round soft toe boot	Style CMW6174	Heritage Iron Ranger
Composite toe work boots	Style CMF6366	King Toe – Style 3506
Pull-on soft toe work boots	Style CMP1100	Dynaforce
Pull-on safety toe boots	Style CMP1200	Pecos 11-inch
8” Lace-up safety toe boot	Style CMF8720	Supersole 2.0
6” Lace-up steel toe boot	Style CMW6220	Truwelt
Metaguard work boot	Style CMF1721 – 11 inch	King Toe Style 4456
Wedge sole work boots	Style CMW6191	Traction Tred
Hiker safety boots	Style CMH4251	Truhiker
Logger work boots	Style CML8369	Loggermax
BOA System	–	Tradesman
Cowboy style work boots	–	Rio Flex
Rubber work boots	CMV1451 – 15 inch high	Injex – 17 inch
Insulated work boots	Style CMF8058	King Toe – Style 2244

I’m sure there might be more and we might have missed one or two but don’t worry, we’re always updating these pages.

Do Carhartt and Red Wing boots fit the same?

Now that we’ve seen a few examples of what type of work boots Carhartt and Red Wing make, let’s quickly check out how they fit.

As always, this is the hardest part when it comes to buying work boots online. 

It’s not going to be easy to purchase a work boot that’s comfortable from day one, especially online. 

But this section should give you an idea of what action should be taken when purchasing Red Wing or Carhartt work boots.

Both brands have too many boots to go through individually. What I did instead was I picked some of the most sold boots from Carhartt and Red Wing and looked at what people have said about how they fit.

How do Carhartt work boots fit?

Carhartt Composite Toe

For Carhartt, I’ve chosen the CMF6371 model. These boots come with a composite safety toe. 

And I mention this because most of the time, the work boots that don’t fit well are those that have some kind of toe protection in them.

This model has over 2000 reviews on Amazon alone plus another few hundred on other online stores altogether.

Not everybody left feedback about how their boots fit, but 967 awesome people did leave a comment about the size and fit.

Out of those 967 buyers, 808 of them said the boot fit them perfectly. So their Carhartt boots were true to size.

Some small numbers of people said the boots were either small or big for their feet. 

This is the breakdown of people’s feedback on that particular work boot size and how it fits.

Too Small	24
Somewhat small	37
True To Size	808
Somewhat large	65
Too large	26

How do Red Wing work boots fit?

Red Wing Heritage

For the safety toe Red Wing work boots I haven’t seen any customers saying the boots are running small.

Most of the time they fit perfectly. Sometimes they run a bit large or wide. That’s what I’ve seen on their website after reading hundreds of customer feedback.

It’s the same on Amazon. If we look at their classic Moc Toe boot, out of 1543 buyers who left feedback about the size and fit…

1025 of them have said the boots fit them perfectly. So they were true to size.

This is the breakdown of people’s feedback on that particular work boot size and how it fits.

Too Small	70
Somewhat small	106
True To Size	1025
Somewhat large	242
Too large	100

When you buy work boots online getting the right size and fit is the most challenging part of the buying process. You never know what you’re going to get.

Some people were saying that they bought the same pair of boots for years from both brands, however, the last pair they bought was either too small or too tight or large…

The good thing about buying work boots on Amazon is that they have the Amazon Prime Wardrobe where you can try on the work boots and you won’t pay for them until you’re happy with the product.

OF COURSE … keep in mind that there’s a limited time for this. You can’t wear them for 2 months and then say: “Hey, these boots are no good”

It’s worth checking it out before buying your work boots. It’s quite handy and it’s free if you have an Amazon Prime membership.

Anyway, it seems that both Red Wing and Carhartt work boots fit the same way if you’re looking at the numbers. In both cases

• Most people said the work boots were true to size
• Some people said the boots were a bit large
• And a small minority said the boots run small

Red Wing Vs Carhartt work boots: Where are they made?

Where work boots are manufactured is not an easy piece of information to find nowadays. I’ve searched the web for the most sold models from each brand and looked at where those boots were made.

Here’s what I found…

Red Wing work boots

Model	Specific feature	Where it’s made
Heritage Classic Moc Toe	Wedge sole	USA
Iron Ranger	Viram sole Lace-up	USA
Style 2233	Steel toe cap	USA
Truwelt – Style 971	Heavy-duty	Cambodia

Red Wing takes a lot of pride in manufacturing their boots in the USA, but like most of the businesses nowadays, they have moved some of their production overseas. 

You can look on the Red Wing website and see that some of the Red Wing boots in some of the below series are manufactured overseas. For example:

• Cambodia (King Toe series)
• Vietnam (Flex Force, Truhiker)
• China (Tradesman, Flexbond series)

Carhartt work boots

Model	Specific feature	Where it’s made
CMW6095	Soft toe	Overseas
CMF6371	Composite toe	China
CMP1200	Wellington boots	Bangladesh
CMF6356	Electric Hazard rated	China
CMC1259	Insulated	China
Traditional Welt	Square steel toe	China

As you can see, based on customer feedback I’ve gathered from the reviews online, Carhartt work boots are made overseas. 

Some old reviews were saying some of Carhartt’s work boots were made in the US. But it seems like that’s not the case anymore. 

If you find an online store that sells Carhartt work boots made in the US, make sure you ask them to send you pictures of the inside label of the boot.

That’s where it should say where it’s made. Also, look for the American flag on the tongue or on the side of the boot.

Those should be indicators that the boots are made in the US.

Carhartt vs Red Wing: Differences in price

Carhartt boots are not the cheapest work boots you can buy online but they’re not as expensive as Red Wing boots are.

For example, you can buy a pair of Carhartt work boots for around $100 on the low end and the most expensive work boots from Carhart are not going too much over the $200 mark.

This model for example cost $199.99 on the Carhartt website. Here’s how much costs on Amazon.

When we look at Red Wing boots though … it seems like their lower range prices start at the top of Carhartt’s.

That means that the cheapest Red Wing work boots you can buy are around $200. The lowest price I found is this hiker boot model (Truhiker) that goes for $164.99.

The most expensive Red Wings work boots go for close to $400 with models such as this Tuwelt leather work boot with metatarsal protection.

So it’s clear that if you want to own a cool pair of Red Wings, you have to have a more healthy budget.

What industries are they good for?

Both Red Wing and Carhartt have a wide range of work boots you can choose from.

I’m sure that no matter what industry you’re in you will find a boot that you like from either of them. It will come down to your taste and budget.

But Carhartt and Red Wing work boots are good for:

• Construction
• Warehouse
• Landscaping
• Food industry
• Farming & agriculture sector
• Automotive and mechanics in general
• Good for office work
• Retail
• Drivers
• Soldiers and police officers

Carhartt VS Red Wing: What do the reviews say about them?

Both brands have TONS of reviews online. It was a bit harder to go through Carhartt reviews since this brand doesn’t sell only footwear. They have a lot of clothing gear available as well.

But here’s what customers have to say about these two brands…

What people are saying about Carhartt work boots?

If you do a simple Google search you’ll see how many bad reviews Carhartt has on Trustpilot, Yelp, and other review sites.

The majority of disappointed customers who left a review were complaining about the customer service being too slow or non-existent (not necessarily about Carhartt products).

However, when I look at specific online stores that sell Carhartt footwear such as Zappos, Amazon, and a few more…I see a lot of happy customers.

The few unhappy buyers were mostly complaining about the sizing of the boots. The sizing is all over the place some customers were saying.

So make sure when you buy Carhartt, you buy them either at the local store if possible, that way you’ll know on the spot if the boots are going to fit you or not.

Or if you buy online make sure the store you’re buying from has a clear and easy-to-understand return policy just in case you need to return the boots.

I’ve mentioned this before, but in case you’ve missed it, Amazon has a great service called Amazon Prime Wardrobe that allows you to try the products before you buy them. Read more about it here.

What people are saying about Red Wing work boots?. 

Red Wing work boots have built a great customer base. These customers will not wear anything but Red Wing footwear. That’s how good some people feel about Red Wing work boots.

You can’t blame them. This company has been making great quality footwear for decades right here in the USA.

And this is one of the things customers have said when asked what they like the most about Red Wing.

So the users liked that Red Wing still kept producing boots in the US whilst many of their competitors are making work boots overseas nowadays.

Generally speaking, based on the hundreds of reviews I’ve read for this article, buyers are very happy with the work boots made by Red Wing. 

The only downsides I’ve seen a few people mentioning are:

• the price tag being a bit too high
• not too many models available online
• and the breaking period being too long

Other than that, the Red Wing work boots are worth every single penny.

Red Wing & Carhartt’s most popular work boots models

Let’s find out which work boots models are selling the most from each brand. The boots I’m sharing below are listed in no particular order. The last one is as good as the first one.

Carhartt’s top 5 most sold boots

Model	Features	Price
CMW6095	Soft toe  Wedge sole Removable insole	Check in-store
Traditional Welt	Steel toe cap Electric hazard Superior traction	Check in-store
RuggedFlex	Composite toe Insulated 8 Inch boot	Check in-store
CMP1200	Steel toe cap Oil & slip resistant Wellington boots	Check in-store
CMX4023	Soft Moc Toe  Lightweight Casual look	Check in-store

Red Wing’s top 5 most sold boots

Model	Features	Price
Heritage Classic Moc Toe	Soft toe 100% leather Wedge sole	Check in-store
Iron Ranger	Non-safety toe 100% leather Vibram outsole	Check in-store
Blacksmith	Soft toe Vibram sole Lace-up boot	Check in-store
Pecos	Steel toe 100% leather Wellington boots	Check in-store
Truwelt	Round steel toe 100% leather Electrical hazard rated	Check in-store

Alternatives to Red Wing & Carhartt: boot brands in the same ballpark

If you don’t feel like either Carhartt or Red Wing work boots are meant for you, I get you; after all, it’s not as easy as it seems to choose what’ll eventually become your daily work companion.

Not to worry, there’s plenty of other reliable and durable work boots to choose from.

Here are some brands that I’d also recommend, which I’ve also reviewed extensively over here on Best For My Feet.

• Thorogood
• Timberland PRO
• Danner
• Wolverine
• Sketchers
• Justin
• Caterpillar 
• KEEN

Red Wing VS Carhartt work boots: Which one is best for you?

The thing about Red Wing work boots is that you can’t find too many models for sale online. 

This makes Red Wing quite unique on the work boots market because if you want to own a pair of Red Wings work boots you have to either go to a local Red Wing Store or travel to a close one.

This is actually the best way to make sure you buy work boots that fit you right from day one! 

The downside is that if you like the convenience of buying a pair of work boots from the comfort of your sofa, I’m sorry but you won’t have too many options if you opt for Red Wing boots.

Both Carhartt and Red Wing produce great-looking boots (at the end of the day Carhartt was part of the Red Wing family not too long ago) …

… and ultimately choosing between Carhartt and Red Wing work boots will come down to preference and budget.

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Team Members Working On This Page

Victor Adrian – Editor And Webmaster

Construction Professional, driver, crane operator, cleaner, head chef … these are just some of the jobs I did in the past. Working in all these different environments taught me that having good footwear to protect your feet from different dangers at work IS PARAMOUNT for any worker! On this website, I aim to share all my knowledge and personal experience in dealing with different footwear and foot care issues, and hopefully, you can get something out of it. Enjoy!

Jessica Flynn – Writer And Researcher

Love technology, going to the beach, take care of my body, and writing (amongst other things). You’ll see my face around here a little bit since I’m responsible for part of the research and writing of some of the articles you’re reading on BestForMyFeet.com. I hope you’ll find our content helpful and enjoyable! See you around, thanks for reading!

source https://bestformyfeet.com/carhartt-vs-red-wing-work-boots/

How To Break In Work Boots? (7 Tricks I’ve Used to Soften Tough Leather Work Boots)

If you’re new to work boots and you just bought a pair of work boots that feel a bit stiff don’t worry, that’s normal.

In this article, I’ll share with you a few tips and tricks I’ve used to break in my own work boots over the past decade working in construction.

Editor Note

Before you go ahead and apply any of these methods of breaking in your new work boots there’s one thing you must do first. Make sure the boots are actually the right size and width for your feet.

Having the right size and width of the boot it’s important because no matter what we’re going to do to our boots, they won’t fit.

And trust me, you don’t want to do any of the things I’m sharing with you below to your new boots and later realize the boots are not your size. Simply because after you’ve done some of the things mentioned in this article, you won’t be able to return the boots!!!

Not all the tips I’m sharing with you below are going to fit your purpose. Some are better than others based on the different situations I found myself in when I needed to break in a new pair of work boots.

So check them all out and then choose the one that seems to fit you best!

1. Use mink oil to break in work boots

In my opinion and personal experience using mink oil is the best and the fastest way to break in new leather work boots. You can apply mink oil to your boots and go to work the next day wearing them if you want to.

But if you want to avoid blisters as much as possible (who doesn’t) you can apply mink oil to your boots and then leave them at home and let the mink oil do its magic. 

Make sure to put some paper, an old towel, or a boot stretcher inside the boot to help the boot maintain its shape as the leather becomes softer.

How to apply mink oil for breaking in your boots?

• Step 1: make sure the boots upper is clean of residues

• Step 2: Take your bottle of preferred mink oil (I use this one)  and start pouring the oil over the boots. 

Massage the leather and spread the oil well so it can get to all the parts of the boot, including the stitches where the upper and the sole are meeting.

This will not only soften your boot’s leather but also will moisturize it and make it water repellent.

• Step 3: Place something inside the boot to help it keep the shape and leave it overnight somewhere where it’s nice and dry. 

There’s no harm in doing this process so repeat it as many times as you want until the boots are soft enough for you. 

2. Use leather conditioner

The next best thing to use to break in your work boots is a leather conditioner. This is better than using mink oil especially if you buy work boots that are yellow or any light color for that matter.

That’s because mink oil does darken the leather of your boots whilst the leather conditioner won’t or at least not as much as the mink oil.

For this method all you need is

• A leather conditioner of your choice (this is what I use)
• A clean cloth 

How to apply the leather conditioner to help break in your new work boots?

• Step 1: clean the boots a little bit. Even if it’s just dust.
• Step 2: Apply the leather conditioner to the boots. 
• Step 3: wear them around a little bit and bend and flex as you would do at work.

Repeat the process until you’re happy with the level of comfort of your new work boots.

3. Break-in your new work boots by wearing them around the house

This method of breaking in new boots is not the fastest one for sure. But it’s the most common way to do it and you don’t have to buy any additional products as it’s the case with the other methods.

This method is recommended if you buy your work boots in advance. I usually don’t wait for my current boots to break down in order to replace them with new work boots. As soon as I see some signs of damage in the sole or the upper, I’m shopping for a new one pair of work boots.

If this is your case as well then simply wear your work boots at home for an hour or two every day for a few weeks until you feel they’re flexible enough to wear them for a full shift at work.

This is also the case if you buy handmade work boots. These boots usually have very high quality, thick leather that’s very tough to break in.  So it’s better to buy your work boots in advance and wear them at home. 

Some work boots such as White’s, Hoffman’s, or Nicks can take (in some cases) months to become pain-free and comfortable to wear for 10plus hour shifts.

Additionally, as I’ve mentioned above, a good reason you want to wear the boots inside your house first is that you don’t want to damage them in any way. Stores won’t accept work boots that looked that have been worn outside. So keep that in mind!

For this method all you need:

• your new work boots
• a pair of thick socks (or 2-3 pairs of thinner ones)

How to break in work boots by wearing them at home?

Put your thick socks on and then wear the boots whilst you’re doing your household tasks and see how they feel. Make sure you do some bends and flexes to spot if there are any possible pain points or hotspots.

If they don’t feel comfortable, just send them back and get a new boot with a different size or width (or both) until you find the work boot that’s most comfortable for you.

4. Use alcohol to break in work boots

Some websites out there forgot to mention that you MUST NOT use pure alcohol to break in work boots. That’s because the alcohol will strip the leather from its natural oils and fats and it will damage it.

Personally, I use alcohol isopropyl to stretch out and also to shrink work boots but it’s not 100% concentrated alcohol. I mix it with water in a percentage of 30% water – 70% alcohol isopropyl.

For this step you’ll need:

• Tap water
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Bottle sprayer

Here’s how to use alcohol isopropyl to break in work boots

• Step 1: Prep your homemade water + isopropyl solution (water 30% – alcohol 70%)
• Step 2: Place the solution in the bottle sprayer
• Step 3: Apply the solution in abundance
• Step 4: You can either put a boot stretcher in the boots, some towels, paper, or simply wear the boots around the house for 5-10 minutes until the alcohol dries up. 

Again, do some bends and flexes so the leather fibers break up a little bit and make the leather smoother. Do this until you feel the boots are comfortable enough to wear for a whole 10 hour plus shift.

5. Use boot stretching alcohol to break in new work boots

If you don’t want to mess with making your own solution at home, you can find ready-made rubbing alcohol to buy online or at your local store. 

There are two commonly used concentrations and both are good for this purpose.

• Water 20% – Alcohol 80 %
• Water 30% – Alcohol 70 %

The process of applying it is the same as the one above in which I’ve used alcohol to break in my work boots.

6. Use boots stretcher to break them in without wearing them

If you want to break the boots without wearing them and avoid blisters for the first few days have a go at using a boot stretcher like the one I’m using.

This will stretch the leather and in the process, it will become more flexible and comfortable.

For this method, you’ll need:

• A pair of boot stretchers 
• Liquid mink oil or leather conditioner

Here’s how to use a boot stretcher to break in your work boots

• Step 1: Apply the mink oil or leather conditioner to your work boots (abundantly)
• Step 2: Place the boot stretcher inside the boot and start expanding it until you feel the boot stretcher making some light pressure against the upper of your boot.
• Step 3: Next day release the boot stretcher and repeat the process

Personally, I recommend you to wear them for a few minutes per day as well when you come back from work for example. Even if it’s just to do a few bends and flexes.

This is something the boot stretcher can’t do for you and it’s one of the most important things to do since a new boot will give you a lot of pain around those flexing points.

Editor Note

Do not make too much pressure against the upper since this might actually stretch out your work boots instead of just breaking them in.

Some of the work boots I’ve bought and used were too wide and the boot strecher would not open enough to make any difference. In those cases I put some thick socks on the boot strecher as if it was my foot and afterthat I’ve placed it inside the boot. That helped!

7. Apply some heat to the leather to make smoother

Applying heat to your leather work boots will make the leather softer and maleable.  But it’s not the most recommended way to break in your work boots since applying heat to the leather it can damage it if you’re not careful.

That’s why I left it at the end. You can try it as last resort. Personally I did this many times and never had any problems.

Just apply heat from a safe distance and keep moving the hairdryer. Don’t point it in one place for too long to avoid damages to the leather and the boot in general.

This step will require :

• a hairdryer 
• some kind of leather conditioner

Here’s how to apply heat safely to help break in your work boots

• Step 1: put your hand inside your boot and start applying heat with the hairdryer whilst spinning the boot with the other hand.
• Step 2: As soon as you feel the leather is all warmed up and it’s softer, it’s time to apply the leather conditioner.
• Step 3: put the boots on and start to walk with it for 20-30 daily.

Do some bending and flexing to soften those points that are usually tougher to break and that are going to cause you pain most of the time. Those are: 

• Around the toes
• Around the heel
• And around the ankles

Q&A Related To Breaking In Work Boots

In this section I’ll add a few answers to some questions I receive from people like yourself who want to know more about this process. I’ll also update it when I have found new ways to break in work boots or any other things that come to mind related to this topic.

What is the fastest way to break in work boots?

The fastest way to break in work boots, especially leather work boots, is by applying a lot of liquid mink oil to the upper of the boots and wearing them a little bit around the house. You do this for a couple of days and the boots should be ready to go!

How long do work boots take to break in?

It’s difficult to put a number on how long it will take to break in your work boots but in my personal experience and research, it can take anywhere from 2 days up to a few months when we’re talking about handmade top quality work boots.

How do you soften a boot shaft?

It depends on how high your boot shaft is, but if your boot is less than 8” tall just apply some of the hacks I’ve shared with you above.

If it’s taller than 8-inches such as the pull-on work boots, the boots used by linemen, cowboys boots, etc, still apply mink oil or leather conditioner, additionally get your hands on a pair of calf stretchers like these ones. 

These will help the shaft to remain nice and straight in position whilst you’re doing the smoothening process of the shaft. 

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Team Members Working On This Page

Victor Adrian – Editor And Webmaster

Construction Professional, driver, crane operator, cleaner, head chef … these are just some of the jobs I did in the past. Working in all these different environments taught me that having good footwear to protect your feet from different dangers at work IS PARAMOUNT for any worker! On this website, I aim to share all my knowledge and personal experience in dealing with different footwear and foot care issues, and hopefully, you can get something out of it. Enjoy!

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