Buckled down this morning to try and break them in (had them over a year!).. Put on the double doc socs and squeezed my feet in to them.. Painful but just about bearable.. Thought I could tough it out.. 20 mins later I felt like I was losing the feeling in one foot. Not good. Took them off.. Took out the insole (on a whim).. Put them back on.. Bloody hell they're like different boots! Not too tight and as comfortable as a pair of slippers! Had them on all day and not a twinge. Worth a go for anyone who hasn't tried that.