We often buy shoes that don’t fit us perfectly. Even though you should avoid getting shoes that don’t feel comfortable when you try them, there is no reason to throw them out just yet. These are some tips and tricks on how you can stretch a new pair of shoes and make them more comfortable and wearable.
Use Deodorant
Placing deodorant on the places where you tend to get blisters will help you avoid them. Deodorant creates a layer between your skin and the shoe, allowing you to wear it without it hurting or causing blisters. You can also invest in a specific product designed to reduce friction, like the Solemates Blister Blocker. It’s all-natural, fragrance-free, and reduces friction and rubbing.
Shoe Liners
These are especially good for the shoes that tend to dig into the back of your leg and give you blisters and small wounds. Placing shoe liners will provide you with some height, which will help with this issue as the back of the shoe will be in the right place and won’t rub against your leg. Try heel-specific liners, like the Solemates self-adhesive shoe cushions, if you’re trying to break in heels.
Wear Thick Socks
Socks act as a cushion between your feet and the shoe. They will also help the shoe to stretch and get more comfortable. You can also place chunky socks on the shoe shaper and put them into your shoes. This will help your shoe stretch without you having to wear it. If you don’t own a shoe shaper, you can try this technique out with a potato.
Blow Dry Your Shoes
This method works best on leather shoes, and it can damage the synthetic materials, which is why you should only use it on leather shoes. Wear the pair of shoes you want to break into with the thick pair of socks underneath. You want to determine where precisely the shoes feel tight and heat that part of the show with a blow dryer. Once the leather is hot and flexible, walk around with the shoes for a bit to allow them to shape according to your feet.
Freeze the Shoes
You can stretch your shoes at home by placing two bags of water in the shoes and putting them in the freezer. As the water expands when it changes its shape to ice, so will the shoes. This method is excellent for the pair of shoes that are a size too small or too tight for you. However, you need to be careful as you don’t want to overstretch the shoe. It’s a delicate balance because if you don’t place enough water, nothing will happen.
