 The Shoe Board recognized that fit would be imperfect, and recommended breaking in new shoes rapidly by standing in them in three inches of water for ~5 minutes, to soak the leather through, and then walking on a level surface outdoors for ~1 hour, or until the shoes have dried.Failing this, they suggested breaking them in by wearing them for initially short periods, progressively lengthened, to break in the shoe rather than the foot.They also recommended using special shoe stretchers with removable pegs to stretch the toeboxes wider, and stretch bumps over blisters, corns, and bunions.