Stretching leather shoes?

sassygirl_2

Hi, I have been given a new pair of boots but they are a bit tight and hurt my feet a bit. I dont really want to have to go buy some new ones myself if i can help it as im broke.

Does anyone have any tips on how to stretch them out a bit without getting them done at the shoe repairing place? Thanks

meanmarie

Years ago I heard a tip that if you soaked tight shoes in vinegar and wore them until they dried it would stretch them to fit....never tried myself and wonder if vinegar might do damage to leather??

MrsMW

You could try stuffing them with plenty of wet newspaper and leaving for a day or two. I have done this with shoes quite successfully.
Good luck.

beachbuffy

I stretch mine by just wearing them round the house with thick socks on a few times,I never go far in new shoes.

I tried the wet newspaper & it just didnt work for me.

SunnyGirl

When my DD & DS1 started in the Army Cadets they had to make their boots comfortable & break them in before annual camp. They were told by their CO to put thick, wet socks on & wear the boots until the socks had dried. Have to say they did it for a full day each & never had any blisters or rubbing with the boots. It moulded them to their feet HTH.

v1ckyt

Hi there,
I used, as a teenager, to work part time in an expensive shoe shop. We were paid partly on commission so sales were all important. If a customer complained a pair of shoes were slightly tight we would offer to soften and stretch them on the "machine" out in the store room. This high-tech solution was in fact a broom, with us standing on the head and working the area of the shoe which was too tight over the handle of the broom. Leather usually has enough give in it to work. The customers were delighted with our fantastic "machine"...and so were we with the sales! All sanctioned by the manager.
Might be worth a try,
Vicky

LameWolf

Would any of these techniques work with synthetic leather?

juliapenguin

I personally wouldn't try any of them on synthetic leather... I don't think the material could stand it.

I'm sure the thing about thick wet socks works - but perhaps try putting on very thin cotton socks first, then sandwich bags, then thick wet socks, then boots. Otherwise smelly slimy wet feet at the end of the day.... Actually, the feet will still be smelly but not so uncomfortable :rotfl:

ghp

v1ckyt wrote: »

Hi there,
I used, as a teenager, to work part time in an expensive shoe shop. We were paid partly on commission so sales were all important. If a customer complained a pair of shoes were slightly tight we would offer to soften and stretch them on the "machine" out in the store room. This high-tech solution was in fact a broom, with us standing on the head and working the area of the shoe which was too tight over the handle of the broom. Leather usually has enough give in it to work. The customers were delighted with our fantastic "machine"...and so were we with the sales! All sanctioned by the manager.
Might be worth a try,
Vicky

I think we must have worked in the same shop, Vicky - we too had a 'machine' back in the 70s! "Would you like me to put them into the electric shoe stretcher for you, Madam?" :rotfl:

sassygirl_2

Thankyou so much for your wonderful ideas. I might give the broom handle idea a go, sounds fun!! LOL
failing that ill try the newspaper. Think the last resort will be the wet socks *Eugh* LOL