Stretching Leather Shoes?

[Tobus]

I purchased shoe trees for both my "good" pairs of (leather) shoes. I found that within the first two weeks, they both fit a little more loosely from the ball of my foot forward. I didn't intend for it to be that way, but that's how it worked. Shoe trees will apply constant pressure, so as the leather begins to stretch a little, it will keep the tension on it.

I would imagine that if you buy a shoe tree that's sized a little on the large side for your shoes, so that it's a tight fit into the shoe, you'll get more stretching action than a properly sized one.

Shoe trees are a good idea anway.

[BoldHighlander]

Thanks everyone.

[Lallans]

I walk a lot (by today's standards) which is partly why I'm blessed with wide feet, and at one point as I passed through the sizes had to buy my very own shoe stretchers to get things to fit without crippling me. A trick worth knowing is to wet the leather- some companies sell special fluids to do that, but those products all smell suspiciously like rubbing alcohol, which is generally at least 50% water as sold. The best solution is of course to buy footwear that fits in the first place, however you can't always tell or can't always find high arch or EEEEE sizes or whatever you need.

But speaking as a frequently frozen Canadian, I simply cannot believe I never thought of the frozen water in the boot trick. Thanks very much for that, Kett! What is the name of that other forum?

[Kett]

PM sent Canuck. I'm interesting in knowing if it really works - could come in handy some day!