Breaking in new Boots

My old Tevas are getting a bit threadbare so as we are climbing Mont Blanc in July I thought I'd treat myself to a new pair of boots in December to give them time to break in.

My old Tevas are a lightweight fabric and suede goretex type and very flexible (you can almost bend the sole in half), but decided to go with a more substantial boot for hacking around the mountains in, maybe a three season boot.

Anyway, I tried a load on and bought a pair of Meindl Burma Pro.  They felt really comfortable in the shop straight out of the box albeit a bit stiff (which I would expect being a much more substantial boot).

The first time I wore them, just for a short 1 hour walk, I was amazed at how stiff they really were with virtually no bending of the toe box - almost like I was wearing my ski boots but with more movement in the ankle.

They were so stiff I found it hard to close the boot with the laces as the sides wouldn't bend in much, so left them a bit loose, but then my ankle was chaffing on the inside of the boot against the padding which was a bit disconcerting.

Anyway, yesterday I wore them for the third time (skiing and work getting in the way of getting out of a weekend) and I did an easy two hour walk through the mud and rocks around the coast and back and they are easing up quite a bit around the ankle now.

But they still feel stiff around the toebox, with virtually no bending of the toe - I say toebox, but I guess I'm taking about the stiffness of the shank (if it has one) on the sole, which is hardly bending.

Don't get me wrong, they are still lovely boots and very comfortable and I am getting used to the different way of walking, but I was wondering if they will eventually start to bend around the toe, or is that it?  I mean there is no creasing at all across the top of the leather.

Just in case you hadn't realised it, these are my first three season boots.

I don't know the boots you've got , from description sounds like they are at least C1 if not C2's.

 They may 'bend' very slightly more over time. If you are going to do Mont Blanc, winter walking, these are the type of boots you need, (depending on what you intend to do).

 You need the 'stiffness' as when using crampons, "bendier" boots would not do. Can't use those with crampons.

 As a quick guide to which boots you have.

 Stand as close to edge of a stair/step as you can.

 If boot starts to bend at @ 2cm it's likely to be a C1, if it starts to bend at @ 1cm it's a B2.

 HTMH. Paul

The Burma Pros are B0 boots so won't take crampons, at least in theory. However, my gf has these boots and they're fine with Grivel G10s. Not sure if I'd want to go up Mont Blanc with B0 boots and C1 crampons like that though -- but others on OM will have more experience of this.

I'd say anybody with no experience of "traditional" leather boots like the Burma Pros will find them a bit stiff and clumpy feeling. Having said that, I wore such boots for most of my hill walking for years and still find they feel cumbersome on the odd occasions when I now use them in winter. But some people like the "fortress" feeling they give their feet.

If that stiff I don't think they will 'loosen' up much, if at all.

 I have all the categories of boots and haven't seen any noticeable change in stiffness.

 Some of them have been re-soled, still haven't noticed an change in stiffness.

I presume like Grivel's New Classic bindings?

Mike fae Dundee wrote (see)

I had a pair of Burma Pros. They will 'break in' slightly, but not that much. Clunky boots are clunky boots,
 I used an old pair of strapped crampons with them without any problems. Apart from the crampons falling off when i tried some vertical stuff to check their limits!