Breaking in Lowa Tibet Pro GTXs

[PA 5-0]

For the back country guys that have experience with mountain boots:
I am breaking in a pair of Lowa Tibet Pro GTXs for an Aug sheep hunt. Probably have 60 hunting/hiking miles on them so far. Love these boots as the EEs fit my foot like a glove. My question is regarding water dunking them. Read somewhere that to properly break them in you have to wet them and walk them dry. Supposedly the wet leather can stretch. Yes or no??? If yes, do ya just walk through a creek for an exterior soak or dunk them??
Thx for the help, Dan

 

[AZ Ron]

IMO, if the boots are feeling good and you have 60 or so miles on them, you'll be fine. I personally have never broken in boots like that (on purpose) and if the leather does stretch, I'd be worried it would over stretch and/or shrink.

With a modern boot lined with goretex, I personally don't feel that method has much merit any more. I'm by no means an expert, but I've worn my share of backpacking and mountaineering boots and never had to do that...

 

[MattB]

After 60 miles, your boots are broken in. You have read some bad advice.

 

[justin davis]

I've never had much of a break in period for my Lowa tibets.

 

[Backstrap]

That's old school advice for all leather heavy mountaineering boots. In fact, you might damage modern boots that contain all the environmentally friendly materials and adhesives. If you're at 60 miles and they feel good you're not going to improve on the situation.

 

[PA 5-0]

Thanks for the info guys. Its a no go on the dunk. Appreciate it.

 

[BPB]

I used to break in skates that way. Filled them with very hot water just before practice, laced them up barefoot and practiced with them like that a couple of times, the hot water would mould the skates to your foot. It worked real well. I never tried it with boots, I never found the need to do it but I would think it would work on the leather boots. Not sure about the walking them dry part of it though.