Wear them on real trails, not just around the house

You need to break in new hiking boots, but the method matters more than most people think.

Most advice overcomplicates it. You don’t need to soak them in water, walk through streams, or bake them in the oven. Just wear them on short, actual hikes. Walking around your living room or doing laps at a mall does almost nothing—boots need uneven terrain, uphill/downhill motion, and repeated flexing to mold to your feet. Your foot moves differently on a rocky