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[00:00:00.00] A hiking trail. Text, L.L. Bean. How to break
in your hiking boots.
[00:00:04.75] Boot Breaker-Inner
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[00:00:05.75] Hi, I'm Mackenzie. Today I'm going to help you
break in your new hiking boots. Breaking in your boots will help
with any potential issues that you might have when you're ready for
the trail. You may be wondering to yourself, how much breaking in of
the boots do I actually need to do? Well, that's a great question.
And the answer is it depends on the boot.
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[00:00:22.12] A hiking boot travels through the air and she
catches it.
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[00:00:24.56] A more sturdy leather boot, like our Cresta
Hikers, may take about four weeks for your feet and your boot to get
to know each other. A more lightweight boot may be ready to hit the
trails as soon as you take it out of the box.
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[00:00:34.70] She tosses the hiking boot.
(SPEECH)
[00:00:36.09] For this video, we're going to focus on the
boots that need just a little bit more love. We've broken down the
break-in process to three easy steps that will have you and your
boots on the trail in no time.
[00:00:46.47] [UPBEAT MUSIC]
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[00:00:47.43] She runs and skips around a kitchen island
wearing hiking boots. Text, Step 1.
(SPEECH)
[00:00:52.28] Start by wearing your boots at home. Make sure
you're wearing the socks and insoles you plan to wear on your hike.
This will give your boots and your feet time to adjust to how
everything fits.
(DESCRIPTION)
[00:01:01.68] She holds up a colorful Katahdin Hiker Sock.
(SPEECH)
[00:01:04.24] Wearing the right socks is just as important
as wearing the right boots when you're out on the trail. Try to
avoid cotton. Cotton socks tend to soak up sweat and water and
become abrasive when wet. If you've had blister problems in the
past, your socks could be the culprit. But back to your boots.
(DESCRIPTION)
[00:01:20.95] She walks back and forth over the kitchen
floor.
(SPEECH)
[00:01:23.20] Wear your boots around the house for a couple
days, even up to a week. Really focus on the fit. Sometimes the
shape of the boot and the shape of your foot aren't quite right for
each other, or the size is a little off.
[00:01:35.86] No amount of breaking in can fix a bad fit.
(DESCRIPTION)
[00:01:38.59] She squeezes the sides of the boots and pushes
the toe area.
(SPEECH)
[00:01:41.60] Leather does mold and adapt a little bit,
though. So give it at least a week if you're unsure. After a couple
days around the house, if you're still feeling good, it's time to
head outdoors.
(DESCRIPTION)
[00:01:51.95] She walks on a sidewalk. Text, Step 2.
(SPEECH)
[00:01:55.03] Now that you made it outside, it's time to
take your boots for a walk. Pick a spot that's close to home,
whether that's around the block or a local park. Give yourself a
week of walking close to home before you head out on a trail.
Wearing them inside, we were trying to let the leather mold to the
shape of your foot. Now we're trying to let it adjust to your foot
in motion.
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[00:02:13.83] She continues on the sidewalk.
(SPEECH)
[00:02:15.39] You can gradually build up the length of your
walk here, even throwing in some easy hills for good measure. After
about a week, if you're still not having any issues, it's time to
hit the trails.
(DESCRIPTION)
[00:02:25.44] She walks over rocks and tree roots on a
trail. Text, Step 3.
(SPEECH)
[00:02:29.64] Now that you're here, your first hike should
be something short and easy, gradually building up the length and
difficulty. Test your boots going up and downhill, trying to vary
the terrain as much as possible. If you're planning on wearing these
backpacking, start with a lightweight pack, and then work up to your
pack's full weight. A heavy pack can change the way the boots feel
on your feet. So this is an important step.
(DESCRIPTION)
[00:02:50.99] She walks downhill.
(SPEECH)
[00:02:52.16] Like in step two, plan to give yourself at
least a week's worth of hikes, maybe even two, finishing up with a
hike that's similar in length and difficulty to what you're planning
on using your boots for regularly. Once you've completed these
steps, your boots are ready to hit the trail with you on your next
adventure.
[00:03:08.45] As our founder LL Bean once said, if your feet
are happy, you're happy.
(DESCRIPTION)
[00:03:13.17] A photo of L.L. Bean pops up with a caption
bubble.
(SPEECH)
[00:03:15.83] Happy trails.
(DESCRIPTION)
[00:03:17.11] She smiles and turns back to the trail.
(SPEECH)
[00:03:20.76] For more outdoor tips and inspiration, visit
our Get Outside Guide at llbean.com/outside.
[00:03:26.70] [UPBEAT MUSIC]
(DESCRIPTION)
[00:03:26.70] From above, trees fill a valley under a
cloud-filled sky.
