Do Ariat Safety Toe Boots Need to Be Broken In?

When most people think of safety toe boots, they probably aren’t thinking of western boots or cowboy boots, but the fact is that there are a lot of western boots that have safety toes as one of their features. While it is well known that a pair of western boots need to be broken in before it will wear comfortably, whether or not you need to break in a pair of, say, Ariat Safety Toe Boots remains a question.

To answer the question posed by the title of this article, the answer is, it depends, but probably, yes.

True, full-grain leather boots, with a leather sole, heel, and liner, need to be broken in because the leather needs to be stretched and fitted to your contours before it will protect, support, and cushion you comfortably. New boots are terribly uncomfortable and feel tight and hard. After being broken in, though, a pair of western boots like Ariats or Durangos will fit like no other.

Not all Ariat Safety Toe Boots take on the form of a traditional pair of western boots though, which is where the question comes up. Basically, this is a question of whether or not work boots need to be broken-in in the same fashion as western boots.

Well, yes, they do, but not in exactly the same way, at least some of the time. If the pair of Ariat Safety Toe Boots in question are styled after western boots and have a complete, full-grain leather upper, including the vamp and shaft, then they will need to be broken in somewhat similar to other cowboy boots.

If they don’t and they’re made with a combination of some synthetic materials, they will need to be broken in, but not in exactly the same way.

A pair of work boots will not stretch in exactly the same way that nearly all-leather boots will, but they will still be stiff and uncomfortable before you get used to them and beat them up a little. That begs the question of how to break them in.

How to Break Them In

The good news is that boots will break in naturally over time as you use them. Work boots and cowboy boots both will break in as you stand, walk, work, stretch, reach and even ride in them. For both types of boots, you can simply buckle down and commit to a few uncomfortable weeks while you are getting the boots to accept your contours and soften around the rough edges.

However, there are a few tricks that some people might use for breaking in their boots, instead of just letting it happen slowly over time. Some of these are designed to accelerate the break-in period.

One trick that some people practice is wearing two pairs of heavy socks while wearing their boots for the first few weeks. This will help to stretch the boots out and break them in more quickly, and it will also lessen any discomfort you experience during the process.

Some people will also rough up the inside lining along the sole or heel of a boot in order to prevent slipping in those areas and thus, blisters. A better fit will naturally develop over time, but this is one way to accelerate it.

Also, some people will suggest soaking your boots in water. With leather boots, this is like wet forming, as soaked leather will adapt to any new shape that is forced on it while it is wet if it is allowed to dry that way. However, there is limited practicality for this, it only works with full-grain leather boots, and it has the potential to cause damage to the boots. We don’t recommend it - but we do recommend coming to visit us instead.

Visit Us!

Instead of trying to pull off any of these tricks when you’re wrangling with a tough new pair of boots, you should make it a point to visit us in our store in Wayland, Michigan. We have Michigan’s largest collection of western wear, including hats and boots, but there’s a better reason to visit us.

With the purchase of a new pair of boots, we will provide you with complimentary boot fitting, stretching, and break-in services so you can stroll on out in a new pair of boots, Ariats, or otherwise.

It’s one of the ways we show appreciation to our customers. Otherwise, you’d have to spend days if not weeks breaking in your new pair of boots - we can just do it for you.

If you’re too far away to visit us in our store but still would like to pick up a new pair of boots, you can order them through our website. We have a great selection of men’s boots, women’s boots, and even boots for kids. Then you can call us up at 269-792-2550 and we’ll fill you in on some additional tips and tricks for breaking them in, whether they’re true cowboy boots or just western work boots.