I'm not quite sure what people are talking about when they complain about breaking in these boots.  If these boots make you say "ouch" when you first put them on, they are not going to get much better.  If you are getting blisters they are not going to get much better.  If you need to do all kinds of voodoo in order to "break them in" they are not going to get much better.  I suppose if you haven't ever worn a top grain leather boot or shoe you may find them too stiff to wear all day but any and all top grain leather takes time to mold to it's surroundings and is a little stiff at first but should not be painful to the point of blisters and "ouch".  That is part of the beauty of these boots.  There is the "getting to know them" period that you will remember 20 years from now when you put them on.  If you are not wanting that experience, buy some inexpensive Walmart boots and just replace them once a year.  Nothing wrong with that.  We've become accustomed to shoes that are super comfortable right out of the box, genuine leather shoes instead of top grain leather and many materials that are anything but "natural" so many of us complain when there is a "break in" with shoes but if you want to experience good, old fashioned footwear, try on a pair of Red Wing Beckman boots.  My advice is that if they give you blisters or are too painful to wear, return them.  You have an ill fitting pair.

I was able to wear them without complaints straight out of the box.  As soon as I put them on for the first time I realized that they were only going to get better as time passed.  Maybe a little stretching along the instep.... a little softening of the insole and collar, the outer sole should bend more with time.....but not much more.  If you are getting horrible pain and blisters, just as with any other type of footwear, it means you have a bad fitting boot that may or may not get better but will never be very comfortable.  I see it along the same lines as a good, thick, top grain leather jacket.  The more you wear it, the more comfortable it's going to be but if your first impression when trying it on for the first time is, "Ouch", you are not going to ever enjoy it.

They seem to run consistently a half size bigger than normal so buying a half size down is recommended.  I have no idea why a company like Red Wing would make this boot half a size wrong but they do.  It would be nice if they at least advertised the fact that you should purchase a half size smaller than your regular size but if you've read any reviews at all, you'll know to buy a half size down.

I've owned many Red Wing boots and shoes and these are right up there in quality as the first pair I purchased in 1985 (which I still have and regularly wear).  These boots are definitely high quality and well made.  Stitching is exactly as it should be.  Leather is flawless.  You can even smell that cobbler's shop aroma when you open the box.  Highly recommended for those that appreciate old fashioned workmanship and durability.