How do you stretch shoes without damaging them?
My wife bought me these shoes when she was on vacation and she really likes the way they look on me. The problem is that they’re like half a size too small. I can’t actually tell if it’s a length or a width thing, to be honest. In any case, I can’t go back to where she bought them in Costa Rica to exchange them for a better fit, so I’ve resorted to trying to stretch them out. Any tips here? I think the shoes are leather, but they could be some kind of synthetic material, I’m not sure.
To stretch out leather shoes that are too tight, purchase your own wooden shoe stretcher and hand-crank them to the appropriate tension to stretch them. In order to get a good stretch, stretch them for at least three days, and you should wear them for the remainder of the day to ensure that the stretch lasts. To further maintain the stretch, use a cedar shoe tree to hold the stretch when you are not wearing your shoes.
If this is too difficult, you can always google your local shoe repair or shoe cobbler and take them in to have them professionally stretched.
If this is too difficult, you can always google your local shoe repair or shoe cobbler and take them in to have them professionally stretched.
When I get new shoes I stretch them out and break them in with 1) THICK socks and 2) heat. I have these thick wool socks that I wear to both stretch them out and prevent them from causing blisters (not exactly a picnic to wear wool socks in the summertime but fall/winter it's nice). If you don't have thick socks you can just double or triple up your regular socks. I will also take a hair dryer and blow it at the shoes for about a minute to heat them up and make them looser/bigger.
Shoe repair shops have a specially formulated shoe stretch solution that's safe for leather and doesn't discolor it. While the solution is wet, they put a wood shoe stretcher in the shoe and turn it and then crank it up till you know stretch it to the correct width. As that solution dries, the leather will stay in the new stretched position.
Just to add to this, I would highly advise against soaking your shoes in anything. If your shoes are actually leather, water and moisture are going to destroy the material. If they’re synthetic, they’re probably water-resistant but not waterproof. In other words, you can wear them in the rain but if you soak the shoes they’re going to warp or become waterlogged.
I've gotten shoes that were just sliiiiightly too small before, and I tried the freezer trick. What is the freezer trick, you ask?? Sounds insane but fill a gallon baggie with water, close it TIGHTLY (make sure it's closed so it doesn't leak!!!!), then stuff it in your shoe. (This is more of a trick for sneakers than high-quality leather shoes, btw!) Put the shoes in the freezer overnight, and the baggies will swell because water expands when it freezes. They'll stretch out the shoes a bit. The next morning, remove the baggies and the shoes should be big enoguh to fit your feet comfortably.
The more you wear them, the more your feet will swell and the shoes will stretch. Just wear the shoes all day, preferably at home so you can change out of them if they start giving you blisters.
Wear thick socks, heat the tight spots with a hairdryer, and flex your feet. Cool while wearing. Use overnight for width/length adjustment. Apply before using stretchers or wearing. Place water-filled bags in shoes and freeze to expand.
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Reader Tips from How to Stretch New Shoes
Carry strips of moleskin (available at drugstores) with you when you're breaking in new shoes. You apply it to the skin on any irritated area and it protects your skin and helps soften the inside of the shoe.
If you get new shoes and are trying the frozen water method, let the shoes cool for 24 hours first or the fabric of the shoe might rip.
Reader Tips from 9 Fast Ways to Break in Your New Shoes
For women's flats that aren't made from leather or pleather, soak them in warm water and wear them until they dry so they conform to your feet really well.
Don't lace new shoes all they way up because it makes the shoe tighter and harder to break in. Keep them a little loose instead.
Reader Tips from How to Stretch Sneakers
Tightly stuff your shoes with newspapers or rags so it's easy to mold your shoes into the right shape.
Try replacing the insoles of your sneakers with a thinner material so your feet have more room.
