Have you been presented your dream pair of shoes, only to find that the box is missing a gift receipt? Or perhaps you were tempted by an end-of-season sale and thought you could squeeze into the last pair available – the size below (cue dramatic music!)?
There’s nothing worse than too-tight shoes. Pinched toes and painful blisters are a nightmare when you’re dealing with life’s high-speed rollercoaster. But, the good news? There’s a solution! Knowing how to stretch shoes might just save your bacon.
Firstly a disclaimer; we don’t recommend buying shoes, boots or trainers in the wrong size, but if you’re unable to return them and are determined not to give up on your beloved new pair of kicks, our at-home tips and tricks for making footwear wider should help you achieve a more comfortable fit.
How to tell if your shoes are too small
Whether you’re feeling indecisive calculating your size from an online size chart, or you struggle finding the right fit with one foot bigger than the other, buying shoes that are overly tight is all too common.
In a previous study by Wynsors, we discovered that an incredible 58% of people have actually bought shoes that hurt their feet, and 76% haven’t had their feet measured properly since school! We recommend accurately measuring your feet and trying on shoes in-store for the best fit, but here are a few pointers:
- Look out for your toes – if they look packed together, are overlapping each other or facing one side, chances are your kicks are too tight. They should all be facing forward with enough space between each toe.
- Too-tight toe box – choose a style which offers the correct width and height at the front of the shoe.
- Shoe shape – feet come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s not surprising that sometimes a shoe might fit one person but not another – and that’s okay! Try on various silhouettes and designs to find one that does conform to the shape of your foot.
- Overall length – ever get your toe pinched when trying shoes on as a child? This thumb-pressing technique is a good way to gauge how much space is between your toe and the end of the shoe. If your longest toe is at the very end of a pair and doesn’t have around a centimetre of space leftover, they’re too small.
Wear them little and often
To stretch your shoes – be it a leather, suede or canvas pair – one of our simplest hacks involves wearing them at home for short but regular periods of time to help gradually loosen the material.
To speed things along, pop on a couple of pairs of thick socks for extra padding and wear the shoes for up to an hour a time. Repeat the process each day, increasing the time spent wearing them as they become more comfortable. Once you can wear them for a few hours without discomfort, they should be ready to take on the outside world!
Tip: try to wear your shoes on soft rugs or carpeted surfaces to avoid any scratches to the soles – that way, you can still return them if you need to.
Use a shoe-stretching spray
It may sound like a too-good-to-be-true, magical potion, but shoe-stretching liquids and sprays can work wonders when you’re trying to stretch a whole manor of shoe materials.
Depending on the product you decide to use for leather, suede or canvas shoes, stretching sprays loosen the fabric fibres and allow the material to give, especially when used in conjunction with shoe-stretching tools (more on those below.)
Get clued up on your product instructions first, before spritzing the formula onto tight areas and wearing the shoe while it dries. Et voila! Your once-pinching pair should have loosened enough for you to wear them without discomfort.
Invest in a shoe stretcher
A low-risk method that typically works best with leather or suede shoes – but can also be effective for canvas shoes and trainers – a shoe stretcher is a device that expands footwear that’s only slightly on the snug side. However, this is not the option for you if you’re looking for how to stretch a size 6 to a size 8!
They come in specific men’s and women’s sizes, and have the option to target problem areas (e.g. corns or bunions) with specially designed plugs. There are a variety of different stretchers depending on exactly where you need to secure some extra wiggle room:
- One-way stretcher: used to widen a shoe at the toe end.
- Two-way stretcher: expands the length and width of a shoe.
- Toe stretcher: lifts the shoe’s toe box, giving your toes more room to breathe.
- Vamp/instep stretcher: gives height to the part that sits on the top of your foot.
- Boot stretcher: widens the calf section of the boot for a better fit on your legs.
If you’re wondering how to use a shoe stretcher to make shoes bigger, we recommend using a stretching spray first to saturate the material and allow for a more efficient stretch. Insert your shoe stretcher and turn the adjustment handle until you feel resistance. It’s best to leave the stretcher in overnight for maximum stretch, and you may choose to repeat this carefully until you reach your desired fit.
Try gentle heat on leather and suede shoes
One of the most common methods for stretching leather shoes and boots involves the careful use of heat from a trusty hairdryer, which quickly softens the shoe and helps it to mould to the shape of your foot.
*For this method, be wary that too much heat could damage the material of your shoe and soften the glue used to fix the soles and any embellishments. Avoid this method for plastic or PVC kicks as the heat will not budge their size and toxic fumes could be released into the air.
- Put on multiple pairs of thick socks and fasten your shoes comfortably.
- On a medium heat, blast the hairdryer on them for between 20 – 30 seconds at a time, making sure to continuously move the dryer to avoid cracking or burning the leather.
- Let the shoes cool while your feet are still in them and repeat the process if necessary.
- Apply a leather or suede conditioner to replenish the leather and help keep its new shape.
Steam is a dream to stretch canvas shoes and trainers
A similar concept to the hairdryer method, using a controlled amount of steam is a good technique to consider when learning how to stretch canvas shoes and fabric trainers. The combination of heat and moisture prompts fabric fibres to relax for hassle-free widening.
Here are the four simple steps to follow:
- First ensure you’re wearing protective oven gloves and bring a kettle of water to the boil.
- Carefully hold your shoes over the steam for between three-five minutes.
- Put your feet into the now-warm shoes (not hot) and flex your feet to help stretch the fabric.
- Repeat the process until they fit comfortably.
Household hacks: newspaper, potatoes and grains
If you’ve just read the title of this section, you may be wondering if we’ve lost the plot – but it’s surprising how many household items can be a lifesaver when you’re struggling to make your new shoes bigger! Keep reading for some of our favourite hacks:
1. The potato
Though you may prefer your potatoes in chip form, they can come in handy for modestly altering the shape of your shoe’s toe box. Start by peeling a medium-sized spud and carving it into the shape of your toe box. Dry the potato and stuff inside, leaving overnight to gently widen your shoe.
2. The newspaper
Sometimes the old ones are the best, so this traditional technique deserves a mention. Slightly dampen pieces of scrunched newspaper (it must not be wet as this could damage the inside), and pack inside each non-leather shoe or boot to stretch. The paper will expand and harden and once dry, remove gently to enjoy your now-well-fitting beauties.
3. The starchy grain
No, we aren’t talking about what’s for lunch. This strange method involves filling a sealable, plastic bag with any grain that swells when wet (e.g. rice or oatmeal). Add a splash of water to cover the grains before sealing the bag and placing it into the shoe, making sure to work the mixture into the areas which feel tight, like the toe box. Leave the trusty grains in overnight and remove in the morning to see their handiwork.
Turn to the cutlery drawer
If you’re wondering how to stretch leather shoes on a budget, the simple spoon may be all you need to banish blisters for good. Take a spoon (wooden, metal or whatever you have!) and gently rub the back of it against tight areas such as the heel; this mimics the movement of your foot as it would naturally soften the leather, but more quickly.
Go to the professionals
Finally, if you’re struggling with our at-home widening hacks or you’d rather leave it to the pros, taking the pair in question to a cobbler or shoe repair shop is your best bet. Many of these places provide stretching services which use expert machinery and tools to alter shoes, boots or trainers without risk of damage. These services typically run at reasonable rates – around the £10 mark.
We hope our at-home tips have helped you find out how to make your shoes bigger. If you’ve tried all of our ideas to no avail, treat yourself to a new pair that fit first-time from our range of stylish men’s, women’s and kids’ shoes! Our handy kids’ foot measuring guide (complete with printable shoe sizer) will help you find the perfect fit for your little one, too.
