| Who wouldn't want to own a good pair of boots | | | | you need to wear them for a week or two |
| cowboy boots? Almost everyone does; boots | | | | around the house, when you go shopping, or |
| play an important part of your feet's protection | | | | when you go to work. Breaking in means |
| and for fashion. | | | | softening the sole and getting the material of the |
| It's just that cowboy boots, such as Twisted-X | | | | boot to stretch and conform to your foot's |
| boots, are a bit more expensive than other kinds | | | | shape. |
| of footwear. The high price of cowboy boots is | | | | Without breaking them in, your boots will be |
| due to the materials and the construction | | | | uncomfortable to wear in the outdoors. Also, |
| techniques used in making the product. | | | | introducing your unbroken boots suddenly to |
| If you have a pair of cowboy boots, you know | | | | rugged terrain is more likely to damage them than |
| that you have a not-so-cheap investment. It | | | | not. |
| would be a waste to see that investment go to | | | | 3) Keeping them clean is essential. Scrape away |
| ruins. That's why your cowboy boots need to be | | | | the mud and dried earth from the treads. Then, |
| well-cleaned and well-maintained so they would | | | | wipe the boots with a nylon brush or with a soft |
| serve you as a classic, good-looking, comfortable | | | | cloth. If the dirt has dried up, you may need to |
| footwear that will last a long, long time. | | | | wipe the gunk off using a damp cloth before |
| Here are some tips on how to prolong your | | | | brushing the residue off. Be careful not to soak |
| boot's life. | | | | the boot. |
| 1. After purchasing your boots from the store, | | | | Once dry, apply a boot cleaner as specified in the |
| waterproof them immediately. You can usually | | | | instructions of the product. Cleaning your boots |
| buy waterproofing products from the same store | | | | should be done before waterproofing them. |
| you bought your boots in. For leather boots, use | | | | 4) Do not dry heat our boots. That means, do |
| an oil-based product. Do not use waxes or | | | | not place them near a fire or blow hot air on |
| silicones; these can actually shorten your boot's | | | | them through a hair dryer. This only damages the |
| life by clogging the pores in the leather. | | | | material, affects the fit, and melts the glue or the |
| For boots that are made out of synthetic | | | | stitch sealer that holds everything together. |
| material, do not use an oil-based waterproofing | | | | Instead, put them aside and let it dry naturally. |
| product. Oil won't work well for these boots and | | | | 5) Avoid storing your boots for an extended |
| can, in fact, damage them. Instead, use a | | | | period, especially if you live in a cold climate or if |
| synthetic waterproofing product designed | | | | you only hike when you travel. Wearing them |
| specifically for that material. | | | | regularly will help them keep stretched out and |
| The most important part that you need to look | | | | comfortable. This will also keep the soles soft. |
| for is the welt seams at the midsole; this is | | | | 6) Lace or strap your boots when you walk |
| where the water is most likely to seep if the | | | | around. Walking unlaced will cause unnecessary |
| boot is not waterproof. | | | | wear on the inner linings and shred the laces. |
| 2) Before hiking or taking your boots into the wild, | | | | Now your boots can last up to decades! |
| make sure you have broken them in. That means | | | | |