My feet are very difficult to fit - plus orthotics. I had a lot of trouble until I found a NZ company that sells shoes for approximately $250 per pair - no breaking them in, they were wonderful. Then, for financial reasons I suppose, they changed the last and now the only ones that will fit are a German brand which are usually $400 per pair! (I wait until they are on sale). It is an expensive price to pay for mobility.I would never put them in boiling water and part of the process is that they have a water protection treatment already applied- it would be like negating the purpose.