Stretching Leather Shoes?

[Woot22]

In the Army they seemed to issue everyone a pair of boots that were a bit too small. So what they made us do was put them on then fill them with water and we had to march around all day till they dried out. Believe it or not they ended up being the most comfortable pair of combat boots I ever owned in the Army. Just a thought anyway.

[BoldHighlander]

In the Army they seemed to issue everyone a pair of boots that were a bit too small. So what they made us do was put them on then fill them with water and we had to march around all day till they dried out. Believe it or not they ended up being the most comfortable pair of combat boots I ever owned in the Army. Just a thought anyway.

Good lord, when was this?
I was in the Army during Desert Shield/Storm, and we didn't have to do this (actually my boots fit rather well from the start).

Now my 2nd cousin (who served in WWII with Merrill's Marauders), had to have his boots custom made. Seems they didn't have size 14!

[Woot22]

Good lord, when was this?
I was in the Army during Desert Shield/Storm, and we didn't have to do this (actually my boots fit rather well from the start).

Now my 2nd cousin (who served in WWII with Merrill's Marauders), had to have his boots custom made. Seems they didn't have size 14!

1995 at Ft Jackson SC if you can believe that dude. Every one of in my platoon were probably "whining" about how tight our boots were fitting. That was the solution the Drill Sergeant came up with and to be honest it really did work great. They were my favorite pair of boots till they wore out in AIT.

[BoldHighlander]

1995 at Ft Jackson SC if you can believe that dude. Every one of in my platoon were probably "whining" about how tight our boots were fitting. That was the solution the Drill Sergeant came up with and to be honest it really did work great. They were my favorite pair of boots till they wore out in AIT.

Ha! Ha! I thought perhaps it was earlier

Thanks.

[Tobus]

In the Army they seemed to issue everyone a pair of boots that were a bit too small. So what they made us do was put them on then fill them with water and we had to march around all day till they dried out. Believe it or not they ended up being the most comfortable pair of combat boots I ever owned in the Army. Just a thought anyway.

That's good advice for pretty much anything leather. Folks around here will take a brand-new saddle, dunk it in a horse trough, slap it on the horse, and ride until the leather dries. That's the only way to break in a new saddle to fit the horse comfortably that doesn't take a long time. Works with shoes, works with boots, works with anything leather! You gotta wet-mold it to the user.