Appreciate all the helpful info here and
https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/does-an-all-leather-boot-shrink-or-stretch-over-time.185458/
I am a normally a size 11 boot, got Crispi Nevadas in 10.5 because they fit better. Baked them by a fire to dry out after an all-day hike in the snow. Wore them to next day to take out a load of elk, 12 mile round trip.
Did not realize boots had shrunk until I was a few miles from getting back to camp. My toes were in lots of pain, I wore my backup boots to get the rest of the elk out. I realized the fire had shrunk my boots by nearly a whole size. These are my toes today from when they were damaged 2 months ago. I anticipate the two big nails will fall off eventually.
When I got home I put 3/4 full quart ziplocks of water in the boots and froze them. Next, fully saturated boots in hot water and laced them on my feet in a 20 qt oval basin. I repeatedly flexed my feet and toes to re-stretch the leather for about an hour. Next, work the outside leather with saddle soap, about a half dozen applications, until leather was supple again.
Next step, lined inside of each boot with 4 layers of plastic grocery sack, fill with ice cubes, and pour cold water to the top of the boot. Laced the top tightly together, and froze. After 2 days removed. The ice expanded, stretching the supple leather back very close to original size. Dried out boots slowly, then treated liberally with boot oil.
I have wore the boots on 3 hikes since and they work great. The rubber rand over the toe is deformed/indented, however, my toes have space above them and in front of them where they are no longer bumping the toe box when I hike downhill. I'm sure I took some life off the boots with all the abuse I put them through, but I wasn't ready to drop $500 on a new pair if I could save the old ones. Here are the restored boots:
