‘engage a brain cell’
anyone who disagrees with what you say is stupid or thoughtless? lovely philosophy. you have my sympathies.
not recommended. by dehner, who makes and sells the stiffer boots. and by other manufacturers as well. though I do believe they know it’s a losing battle :lol:
wearing leather boots when they are wet stretches the leather and weakens it and softens it where it wrinkles and stretches, making it prone to crack and tear later. something one doesn’t want with stiffer boots. it also causes an incorrect ‘break’ at the ankle, with too deep of folds; while making the first couple wears more comfortable these deeper folds tend to crack and tear, as well as get deeper over time and rub the rider’s ankles.
allowing them to break in more gradually weakens the fibers of the leather less and stretches them less.
i did this soak-and-wear with several pairs of stiff boots, based on such recommendations as given here.
i decided it shortened the life of the boots and led to more repairs.
i also changed from using a lot of oil, conditioner and the like, which also stretches the leather and causes deeper folds and cracks over time, to using polish, as the boot makers recommend. the oils and conditioners also eventually prevent the boots from taking a shine.
many people get stiffer boots that are very, very uncomfortable.
i bought them for years and had them fitted by someone who did not know how to fit them. he fitted them like softer leather hunt style boots. that doesn’t work. he fitted them too high in the leg and didn’t understand that the stiffer boots are meant to develop a specific kind of ‘break’ (when broken in properly) at the ankle and do not drop like softer boots.
all i had to do to end the agony was have someone more knowledgeable measure the boots. presto. problems gone. much better break in period, much more correct ‘break’ in the ankle, boots last far longer, too.:winkgrin:
the other boots would be ruined after a few year’s daily riding. i’ve had the most recent pair for twice as long (going by number of rides, not exact calendar time).
the correct measurement and fitting is the key.
how do they make someone ride better?
well, i have never seen a stiffer boot make a rider’s UPPER body stiffer as stated above (i think if someone dislikes stiff boots they will watch people riding in stiff boots and perceive that the person doesn’t ride as well in them - that’s just HN) - they support the foot and ankle a little better and the person’s leg is not so floppy and apt to get into really odd positions, with the ankle c0cked, and so the leg is a little more stable.
