1. Socks - Begin by wearing the sock combination you will eventually use with your boots. We recommend a range of options from a single, medium to heavy weight sock, to a medium weight combined with a liner sock.

2. Toe Slide to the Front - Insert your foot into the boot. Before lacing, slide your foot forward so that your toes barely touch the front of the boot. 

3. .08cm - 1.7 cm - With your toes touching the front of the boot, you should be able to insert your pointer finger (roughly 1cm) between your heel and the back of the boot.

Optimal heel lock is achieved when the boot is laced while fully weighted. Begin by kicking your heel to the back of the boot.

• After your heel is in position, flatten the sole to the floor to apply weight to the back of the boot while standing, kneeling, or sitting, but make sure the heel is weighted and pushed back as far as possible.
• Lacing the boot while weighted helps account for the proper volume inside the boot while you are moving.

Our number one objective is for your heel to become AFFIXED to the back of our boots!

• During the break in, be sure to depress the tongue while lacing the boots. There is about a 1/2 inch of foam that will depress over time, and keep your heel positioned at the back of the boots.
• Note - If you do not depress the tongue, it can feel like your feet are moving forward in the boots during the break in process.
• Center the tongue and fold the bellows on both sides so they are perfectly even (tuck them in on both sides, as far as they can go).

There are a wide variety of lacing options, but begin by lacing for snugness, without pressure that is uncomfortable.

• Cross Lacing - Note - Be sure to pull your laces directly across from each of the hooks or eyelets, while keeping the foot fully weighted.
• Do not pull up, for proper tension, pull across.
• Over Hook (Lock Lacing) - Some people may benefit by locking the 4th hook by lacing on top of the hook and wrapping below, which makes a nice “x” before moving up to the 5th hook. (not shown in photo).

Our Boots are designed to fit like a firm handshake, but what does that mean?

If you were to "shake hands" with the arch (right hand/right arch, left hand/left arch), the fit through the arch should feel firm.

4th Hook- Be sure to pay attention to properly lacing the 4th hook or eyelet. The lace tension on the hooks just above & below the stitching seen in this photo should be firm to best support the arch.

In this photo, the darkened area where the arch connects to the boot indicates that the curvature of the arch is being supported by the boot.

Our boots are ergonomically designed for your heel to lock into the heel cup. If fitted correctly, your heel should not move.

• If you feel a smidge of movement during the initial fitting process, that is okay. When the boot is new, the leather is very stiff, making it difficult to snug in all the right places.
• During the break in, the leather will begin to crease above the heel counter (see the creases between hooks 4-5 and 5-6 to the right).
• Again, our hope for your heel, is that it becomes affixed to the back of the heel pocket!

• If your heel moves, but the length and width of your boots are correct, we recommend the following steps.
• Heel Jam - First, start the process over again, and really focus on sliding the boot as far as you can to the back of the boot. 
• Lacing - Second, start the lacing process again. Pull the laces a little more snug, be sure to pull them across your foot, not up. If you did not try the Lock Lacing technique, try lacing over the top, and wrapping below on hooks 4 and 5. 
• Sock - Third, try a slightly thicker sock combination or add a thin liner sock to take up a smidge more volume.
• Footbed - Fourth, take a thin footbed from a pair of shoes that your feet are accustomed to from previous use. Reducing a small amount of volume in the boot and positioning your heel slightly higher in the heel pocket may help accomplish the Heel Lock.
• Size & Width - If those small tweaks do not work, we recommend that you try a smaller size, last, or width.

Warm Up for 20-40 Minutes- During the initial fitting process, be sure to allow 20-40 minutes of wearing the boots and walking around indoors to help your feet settle in, and warm up the boot. Warming up the boot will help assess if the fit is appropriate or not. 

• Indoor Use - During the initial break-in period, wear your boots for a few hours at a time indoors. If the fit is incorrect after a few days, we will be happy to exchange them for a different size, as long as they have only been worn indoors and are in new condition. 
• Outdoor Use - Once you confirm that the fit is correct, begin to wear your boots outdoors for work, daily walks, and light hikes. 
• Discomfort - If your boots fit well, it takes a little time to break in the boot. If they cause any discomfort or perhaps even a hot spot during the first few months of wear, please remove them and try again after a day of rest.  
• Flex Areas - Once you have established the flex areas, you should begin to attempt light to moderate hikes, but be sure to bring along an older pair of boots or shoes to avoid any issues from wearing the boots too long before they are properly broken in. 
• Leather Insole - Over time, your foot will begin to sink into the 3.5 - 4mm leather insole. Initially, it may seem a smidge different, or rigid from other boots you have worn, but the leather will mold specifically to your footprint, creating a unique comfort and unparalleled fit in comparison to other boots.
• Damp Sock - We do not recommend soaking your boots in hot or cold water during the break in process, but slightly damping your sock can help your foot settle into the leather insole. 
• Invest in the Process - We do not accept the notion that discomfort and blistering must be part of the break in period, or further use of any of our boots. If you take your time, we believe our boots will mold to your feet and provide you with many years of exemplary use.