Get some dubbin,Amazon sell it.

Do the warm water in the bath idea, when you take them off put them in a plastic bag and leave them in the airing cupboard to gently sweat.

would the warm water trick work with motorbike boots? ive got some that need to be softened up around the ankle flexor bit, so i can actually flex my ankle joint to change gear and use the rear brake.

have tried dubbin, and tryed bending then with my hands over an over again, and even tryed walking about the house with them for a few days aswell and although they have softened up a tiny amount, its a hell of a lot of work to get boots that should bend around the ankle from the get go....

Just Man up and wear them. Many years ago I was working in the USA and had bought a new pair of shoes before I went, never worn them before.

Went to New York for the Easter weekend and travelled 'light' so only took the one pair of shoes which I wore the whole time, did lots of walking and got freakin' huge blisters on both heels.

Didn't wear them again for a couple of weeks but the next time I wore them they were a perfect fit.

No pain no gain...

As previously mentioned, soap or moisturiser! (It is skin after all....)

Wade through the sewers then emerge after 9 or 10 days with soft leather.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/310673174634

HTH