Good quality footwear while going outdoors is very important, and you invest in them wisely. While going out on a hiking venture, you have a lot on your list. A good durable tent, comfy sleepwear, and cooking utensils are on top of your list.
The same goes for hiking boots which you should focus on because they are responsible for your overall foot health. Also, if you have weak ankles or are prone to ankle injuries, you should buy hiking boots wisely.
Hiking boots have many forms; they are heavy-duty, from military hiking boots to snow boots, and lightweights, such as trail shoes or running hiking boots.
Moreover, to compete on breathability, sandals and crocs are there to help you hike in the summer season without fearing blisters. Some people have problems with hiking boots because boots seem stiffer on the feet, especially when they are new.
Why are hiking boots so stiff? Stiff boots are a problem for every other hiker, especially those new to hiking. If you are one of them and have bought new pair of hiking boots that seem to be hard as a brick, then this guide is for you.
You may feel an urge to buy the softer boots, but if you are hiking in rough mountains, then you shouldn’t buy softer boots as they won’t be able to protect your feet on the terrains.
If you cannot find the perfect fit for yourself, whether it be the weight or stiffness of the hiking boots, you will get frustrated eventually and lose interest in hiking or change the boots. This guide is curated to help you figure out why hiking boots are so stiff? and what you can do about it.
Why Are Hiking Boots So Stiff?
Need For Stiff Hiking Boots
Many assume that only getting the high-cut boots will save them from all the injuries and they will have the best hiking experience, but that’s not true. You will also need stiffer hiking boots because they provide traction on the terrains and protect you against slippery trails.
If you are planning to hike up-hills or downhills, your boots must be stiffer to prevent slipping or twisting your feet during the hikes.
Also, the additional weight of backpack and trekking poles or hiking tools may unbalance you while hiking on the rough terrains. For this reason, you’ll need stiffer boots to provide you with all the support you need while hiking.
Reasons For Stiffer Hiking Boots
New Hiking Boots
If you have just got the hiking boots, they will feel stiff and hard because they will take time to adjust to the feet. You may feel they are tighter or wrong-sized, but that might not be the case, and you’ll have to wait for them to loosen up a bit.
Make sure that the toe fingers don’t touch the toe box and that there is some space between the feet and the boot’s inner surface (one finger space). If you feel like you can’t flex the feet even slightly, then you can change the boots because there may be a problem with the size.
What if the problem is only the stiffer boots? Should you throw them away? No, some tips can help you ease down the boots and make them softer on the feet, like wearing them at home or on short walks so that the boots can flex.
Tight & Small Size
As we have discussed earlier, there must be at least a finger gap between your feet and the inner boot’s surface so your feet can flex a bit in it. If you wear the boots and they seem to be tighter even after you have worn them for a week or so at home, then the reason hiking boots are so stiff can be because they are too tight or small in size.
It would help if you remembered that your feet would get swollen while on the hiking terrain and keep walking for hours. Swollen feet will require more space and will cause pain in the feet and ankles.
That is why the tighter boots are a big no for you. Moreover, don’t buy the bigger boots because your feet will wiggle inside the boots, and there are more chances of getting your feet twisted while on the terrains.
If your boots are just tight and not small-sized, then there are some tips to help you figure out how to fix them. The tips can flex the feet inside the boots, and use stretching tools to make them loosen up.
Tighter Upper Boot
Sometimes the upper boot is tight, especially if the boots are new or are being worn only once or twice by you. Tighter upper boots make the feet feel pressure, and you may as well experience blisters or red itchy skin on the feet because they get sweaty if you wear hiking boots for a longer time.
To get the tight upper boot fixed, consider going to the store and seeking professional help from shoemakers or shoe repairers. Ask them to insert the toe box stretching tools so that the tools can stretch out the boots.
You can try placing thick fabric inside the toe box at home and then put the boots in a dry place overnight. To avoid them getting tighter, avoid contact with water or anything wet.
Stiff Seams Of Hiking Boots
If your ankles keep getting hurt or bruised and you feel very uncomfortable wearing the high-cut or mid-cut hiking boots, then the problem might be caused by the seams of the boots.
You may have already experienced getting blisters or share bruises while you go climbing the up-hills or downhills. It is because the seams are too tight and rub against the ankles, causing pain and injuries.
So what is the solution if you are facing this problem? Athlete tape. You can use this tape around the spots where you feel like you get blisters when the boot’s surface touches the feet.
Also, when you are on the terrain, your feet swell, and the hiking boots seem to loosen up, but make sure not to hurt the ankles during this process. Put the sports or athlete’s tape on the spots to enjoy hiking ventures to the fullest.
Stiffer Material
Since hiking boots are made from different materials, such as synthetic leather and polyester materials, some materials are stiffer than others and have longer break-in times. It means your boots will take time to align with the feet or vice versa.
If you have bought synthetic leather boots, then it will take less time to loosen up these boots, but the grain leather or nubuck leather is stiffer, and they have very long break-in times. Moreover, the polyester material is easier to break into and feels softer on the feet.
To fix this matter, stretch the leather, and we swear that leather takes time to stretch out. You have to work more on the boots you frequently wear on the walks or at home, do some cardio or ankle exercises while wearing them, and insert the thick fabric balls inside them to make them more stretchy.
For the full-grain material, you’ll have to use the wax to stretch them up a bit. Put the wax on the hot spots such as the toe box and ankle area to loosen them up quickly or say faster. Applying wax on the boots will also make their soles soft and make your hiking venture comfortable and memorable.
Tips To Make Stiffer Boots Softer
- If you have tried walking and trying the hiking boots at home, try adding backpacks to add the extra weight so that the boots can stretch up with a little pressure.
- Leather boots have special lotions to keep them moisturized and dry. Use this lotion on the boots to make them softer and avoid getting them stiff.
- Like lotions, some oils can help you make the stiffer boots softer if you apply them once a week or after cleaning the boots.
- Please don’t use the hair dryers or direct heat on the hiking boots as they will damage the material.
- Also, please don’t put the hiking boots inside the freezer or apply ice to them because the cold will never make them stretch out. Rather they will get tight.
- If you want to experiment with hot or cold water, use a hot water damp towel and place it inside the boots. It will help you stretch out the boots.
- Use leather or fabric conditioners to make them fresh and stretch out.
- Applying alcohol can solve your problem faster but be careful because it can also ruin the boot’s material, and you will see the color fading out.
Final Thoughts
Hiking boots are made comfortable, and manufacturers put in their effort to make them all-rounder, but sometimes the hiking boots are stiffer. Why are hiking boots so stiff? Stiffer hiking boots provide much traction on the ground, and you will feel comfortable, all fueled up to climb the rough mountains or terrains.
To avoid stiffer shoes or to make them stretch out, there are some solutions that you can use, such as wearing the boots at home or walking in them around the block, also going on small hikes on inclined surfaces. It will produce pressure on the boots, and they will loosen up. Moreover, applying the lotions and ointments will soften the hiking boots, and you will get rid of stiffer boots problems.
Trying and experimenting with different things will eventually make you a pro hiker. We have curated guides for you, so you don’t have to dig it all yourself. Hiking boots are a great investment and must be taken care of while they last. With tips and tricks, small problems like stiffer boots can be solved by you in no time.