Where and How Cowboy Boots Break In (and where they don't)

Not all parts of the cowboy boot breaks in the same. In this video I talk about where you can expect a cowboy boot to break in and where it won't.
Remember fit is most important. Watch this video to learn about fit and how to find the most comfortable boot: • KNOW THESE THINGS when...
Contents and timestamps
00:00 - Intro
00:44 - Outsole
02:03 - Toe
02:49 - Vamp
04:19 - Heel
04:55 - Counter
06:05 - Shaft
07:29 - Insole
08:52 - Outro
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#CowboyBoots #BreakingInBoots #WesternBoots

[@oldman975]

I’ve found that 1 liter soda bottles work well to support the shafts when the boots aren’t worn. Now personally,I drink the contents first,usually Dr.Pepper,but I’ll leave that to the individual.

[@JeremiahCraig]

haha drinking the Dr Pepper first is a good way to go. That's my favorite soda too

[@communicationiskey-]

Got my first and new pair of cowboy boots thanks to your different video. Thank you for all the hard and detailed work 👍

[@patrickrourke3055]

Great video! I love the leather insole myself! I also agree there isn’t anything like the comfortable feel after a few years of having them broke in. Keep up the good videos for everyone else out there! Cheers!

[@gcuervogold]

Those 15 yr old boots have gobs of character that can't be duplicated🔥🔥

[@smackdadious]

gettin that important info out there! great video topic and great execution! im gonna have to link this video in some of my videos because its info people just need to know, and I couldnt do as good as a job as you did

[@melenahoward]

This was so helpful. Thank you so so much.

[@alwentzel4776]

Boot Anatomy good lesson Jeremiah.

[@dannycaruso1627]

Great video! Absolutely agree with the non removable leather insole. Once this type of insole takes the shape of your foot it feels absolutely amazing. Better than expensive sneakers!

[@JeremiahCraig]

100%! It's unreal how comfy they can get

[@JohnPickup-CDHS-ze6qd]

They sure smell a lot better too

[@JoseRodolfo22]

This man is passionate about boots 👍🏽

[@OldeThunderCC]

Just retired my 10 year boots today for a new set of ropers. Can’t wait for these to break in some! Hard miles on the motorcycle should do the trick!

[@bungendores_finest]

Another bloody amazing video Jeremiah. Those 15 year old worn in boots look 10x better than a new pair. Great work mate!

[@JeremiahCraig]

Thanks so much!

[@RSRtwothousand5]

love the look on those 15 year old Boots, there's something about a worn or aged boot with scuffs and scratches and more that just make it look better

[@leahcimd]

Great video!

[@jflint2987]

Can’t wait for the live stream tomorrow!

[@JeremiahCraig]

Me either!

[@LoneStarBootReviews]

Great video buddy

[@JeremiahCraig]

Thanks buddy!

[@smiggyballs3280]

Btw a leather heel stack will absolutely form to the ball of your heel, not the full thing but the top few pieces you’ll see begin to form

[@LawrenceCaldwellAuthor]

I condition the soles of my boots quite heavily. It makes them last longer. When you don't condition the sole, it dried out and sands down when you walk on it.

[@yankee4424]

I have that very pair of Ariats that are so broken in that they look a lot like your old pair there. They’re the most comfortable pair of footwear I’ve ever owned.

[@jaywashington2196]

Thank you for this information

[@JeremiahCraig]

Thanks for watching!

[@carlosmondragon6639]

Yo!! That's my boot the Ariat ones haha! Had them since January and they are great. Great info for those who always question boots

[@JeremiahCraig]

Nice! How are they holding up?

[@robertbrown8099]

What model are the Ariats?

[@motly93]

What model are they ?

[@MrMichael8516]

Are you thinking of doing a review on the Tecovas Knox boots? Would be cool to see :)

[@JeremiahCraig]

Maybe! I would consider it if I was able to work with Tecovas on it or get a different sponsor

[@BirdDogey1]

I have a pair of new Bruce boots from Frye. Comfortable when on but getting them off is really hard. I've read it takes about two weeks to break in the top where the shaft meets the lower.

[@JeremiahCraig]

No doubt. Breaking in that instep area can be a real pain! You might be able to speed up the process with a cobbler if you wanted

[@darronallen2015]

I like those ariat boots and nice ring band you are wearing Jeremiah

[@sservak276]

Geat vid, do you gonna review those ariats?

[@JeremiahCraig]

Yes. They are scheduled to be my labor day giveaway

[@eliseogutierrez5307]

Where you pickup that book rack behind you? Awesome video btw!

[@JeremiahCraig]

My mother in law got it for me! I think she got it from Amazon - amzn.to/2UX5brb

[@greene3562]

Hi jerimiah!!

[@JeremiahCraig]

Hey buddy!

[@stevenrobnett7390]

Honestly the way I walk hahaha I walk through my sneakers like all my life even as a kid and honestly my feet hate them for long term wear. I tried me some semi traditional and traditional boots and I fell in love I now have 5 pair of cowboy boots (ostrich, python, black leather, tan, brown) plus i picked up some really nice traditional brown leather shoes and I'm looking for more. I work in my boots I'm damn near in my boots all day I feel like doc holiday 😂

[@Lonestar1417]

The folds you can take out the folds I do it to my sons Jordans

[@martinduffy6422]

Great thankyou

[@heupelsgolfball5292]

Just bought some ariat qualifier boots online hope they fit

[@JeremiahCraig]

Fingers crossed! Nice boot. That Shock shield heel in those boots feels pretty cool

[@SonOfAHerbert]

If my “counter” is a bit too lose on my heel can an insole help tighten it up?

[@willtrax71]

Man I’m telling ya the little 8 dollar fabric steamer I picked up at Lowes worked great around the Toe Box on the edges softening it up. I steamed a little and put my feet in and BAM perfect lol.. Stay safe my Friend Semper Fidelis

[@JeremiahCraig]

Good trick! Although that may not work with every brand of boot. What kind of boot did it work on for you?

[@willtrax71]

@@JeremiahCraig it was the Ariat Wild Horse, Wolverine I-90’s and Dan Post 2552 Marlboro, I think on an Exotic it may be iffy lol I’m not sure I’d try it on Elephant or Lizard.

[@danielmiles1]

Great video, but I would contend that the counter does break in. It just does not flex. If it is leather it will mold to the heal which is how the heel slip lessens. I personally would consider that breaking in.

[@JeremiahCraig]

Thanks Daniel! Good point. I think that also has to do with the shaft sagging and it may not happen with every pair. Especially those with plastic inside the counter

[@danielmiles1]

@@JeremiahCraig Good point on the plastic counters. I got one of those years ago and will never do it again. It was hard and flat I had heal slip as long as I had the boot. It is well worth the cost to upgrade one tier to a boot with a leather, fabric, or heat molded counter on it.

[@JeremiahCraig]

Truth!

[@motly93]

What's the model of the Ariat? I want to try another pair so bad

[@JohnPickup-CDHS-ze6qd]

Even though they're not as cool, definitely go with rubber outsoles. It's sad how many great pairs off boots I have sitting around waiting to be re-soled. It's not a cheap date either. You might pay more than you paid for the boots

[@Pipisjuan]

Jeremiah does this apply to sguare toe boots 👢 also.

[@okancetintas16]

What model are those Boulet Boots? Do they still make them today?

[@melenahoward]

What are your thoughts on adding extra gel inserts to boots with a stationary leather lining? I find mine to be so hard because they have no give which causes them to be so uncomfortable for me.

[@JeremiahCraig]

I think that whatever is comfortable for you, you should do!

[@tylersaylor4435]

What is to say about the lucchese 7 toe sizing in D? I have several lucchese 7 toe boots and the 9D length is great, but the vamp area across the top of foot isn't exactly snug.. actually a decent amount of space not being filled out across the top of the foot. It's not a sloppy fit, but it doesn't fit like a glove like my chisos do. It would fit great if I were to where 2 pairs of socks, but to always wear 2 pairs of socks in Arizona is not ideal.

[@mitchs405]

Just got a pair of double h for work, the Robert. So far they are hell to break in. Love them though, real tough boot.

[@JeremiahCraig]

For real! Love their ICE outsoles

[@rogeliogonzalez1744]

That’s why some exotic skins like ostrich and lizard are so comfortable because the leather is soft out of the box

[@JeremiahCraig]

Totally! FQ and smooth ostrich especially

[@xirissxx_6407]

What about the part at the top of the boot. The part that hugs you calf. Does that stretch? Or do I need new boots?

[@JeremiahCraig]

That may eventually stretch to fit your calfs better but you can expedite the process by taking them to a cobbler and having them stretch the tops. Here's a video I made about that - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6uaYWqLadOli5I

[@nicolast.2710]

How is team used shafts?🤠

[@BigCountryKracker]

Why does the worn boot get darker around the middle area, I’ve always wondered

[@JeremiahCraig]

It might not happen to all boots but it happened on this pair because they cracked from a gas spill and then every time I polished them the brown color polish got in the cracks and darkened it up more

[@36jimmyc]

Old boots have sole! 👍

[@JeremiahCraig]

You know it!

[@TLricks]

👌

[@tburt44]

Just got a new pair of Ariat Square toe boots. I noticed when I walk and where the boot bends by my toes it has some some pressure/discomfort. Will this breaker in and soften up?

[@fuckingawesome99]

Has it?

[@tburt44]

@@fuckingawesome99 yes it has. Took about 4 weeks but now they are fine and comfortable

[@djviper2232]

I recently got a pair of boots that are 9.5 and they slip a little bit even with a double sock should I return and go a size down?????

[@GoatzombieBubba]

heel suppose to slip a half inch or so to prevent blisters and discomfort and once he boot breaks in the slip will get smaller over time.

[@frankmarti8984]

Those boulet boots have served you well

[@JeremiahCraig]

Yeah buddy!

[@surfviking2798]

Who makes a B width boot that looks like the boots on the left? Iv been looking for a long time and can’t find any.

[@JeremiahCraig]

That’s a Boulet and they don’t make B widths any more but BNV can make you one. They can pretty much make you whatever you want and have very reasonable prices. Here’s a video I did this year on a pair of BNV ostrich boots I got for my brother. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYSaZ6iVmbZqp7s

[@surfviking2798]

@@JeremiahCraig awesome I’ll check out the video. Right now I wear ariats and redwing pecos since that’s all that I can find in a b width. The pecos Iv had for 5 years look the best but are not that comfortable to wear all day.

[@jacobbuchanan4447]

What are the worn out boots?

[@davidallen346]

Round toes all the way 👢👢

[@cedrickization8159]

" Hello Jeremiah,sinceretly really , I prefer the boots of old leather ! I don't know the bullets boots and Ariats Boots mais it's better the vintage boots cause this boots have the old caracter , just on the leather and it's very cool,cool really ! I've buy of vintage boots just one week,Justin boots vintage old caracter just on the leather and i love his cowboy boots destructured old ! It's very cowboy ! Yeah ! "

[@thebackwoodsboysgarage9144]

gasoline spill helped break in the brown boulets

[@JustinKruger336]

Nocona snake skin boots are thin at the toe area yet are actually made in texas they will break in but the sole remains uncomfortable. They are so uncomfortable I only can wear them for 40 mins or so and they fit perfectly it's just not a good boot company no matter what the reputation says most people have never even heard of Nocona and its obvious as to why that is. Nocona was founded by daughters of Justin boots and both companies are failing now and Ariat is somewhat bypassing them because they make boots that fit right out of the box even my steel toe boots size 10 fit perfectly as soon as I got them and still do a year later. Steel toe were never comfortable in the past but Ariat is.

[@JeremiahCraig]

Those old US made Noconas usually have a hard leather insole. Is that what you don't like about them? Ariat has that soft removable insole they are definitely comfy right out of the box!

[@JustinKruger336]

@@JeremiahCraig Yep they are definitely hard as a rock so hard that the thin leather piece on the inner heel peeled off and the nails are exposed but I added another piece of thin leather and still after trying to break them in the only thing that happened was one boot makes more noise than the other and the left one seems to be more uncomfortable it's strange and if the heels ever broke that would be embarrassing lol.

[@S33EE3]

totally un related question but I been drinking 3 bottles of Jim beam a day my girl cheated on me I have no idea how to move on I'm 15

[@JeremiahCraig]

No matter what just stop drinking so much. I know what that feels like and the best thing you can do is go hang out with your buddies and talk to as many girls as possible. It feels weird at first but just power through and have fun

[@Jmoney0601]

Not including the Chisos insole 😅

[@JeremiahCraig]

haha true that does form to the foot some because of the leather lining on top!

[@bryanboard65]

Yeah, many years ago, in a former lifetime, I bought a pair of boots that were about a half size too small, thinking that the toe box would open up and stretch over time. Oops. Big mistake!

[@JeremiahCraig]

I've made the same mistake haha! It's a painful realization

[@angelmorales7983]

Probably the old boot was constructed much better than the new boot. It is not a fair comparison, the new boot will not last 15 years old.

[@sailingneil]

I think your Boulet boots are just about as broken in as any pair of boats can be. #perfection

[@JeremiahCraig]

I think so too haha! Thanks buddy!