If the new pair of leather boots you have long wanted and eventually managed to buy are uncomfortable and tight, you can stretch the leather to wear your footwear without sore feet. Likewise, if your hiking leather boots have shrunk over time, you can make them wider to resume their original condition. Here are some methods to enlarge leather boots at home.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: First Method: Freeze them
Step 1. Fill a resealable plastic bag with water
Fill this envelope one third or one half full. Throw out all the air you can before sealing it entirely.
- To remove the air, seal most of the bag, leaving only a small opening in the corner. Gently squeeze the part of the bag without the water until the plastic parts come together. Once the two sections have joined together as much as possible without spilling the water, seal the remaining opening.
- Use freezer-safe resealable bags to reduce the risk of them breaking in the freezer.
- Choose the best size for your boot. If it's the toe part or the heel part that needs to be spread apart, a one-liter sachet should suffice. If you need to enlarge the entire portion of the foot or the calf, choose a 4-liter bag.
- Alternatively, you can skip the filling part of the water bag and use freezer ice packs if you have them.
- Do not put water or ice directly on the skin. Water can make it brittle.
Step 2. Place the envelope in the boot
Put the water bag in the shoe, especially in the problem area.
- This is the easiest thing to do when the problem is the toe or heel area, but this method is also good for the larger parts of the boot.
- If you only need to widen the calf portion of the boot, fill the foot portion with newspaper and place the water bag in the calf portion. The newspaper should prevent the envelope from sliding towards the foot.
- Make sure the water is pressing against all sides of the boot that need to be spread out. Otherwise, the boot may not spread evenly.
Step 3. Put the boot in the freezer
Place the boot carefully in the freezer and leave it there for eight hours or overnight.
As the water freezes, it will expand, stretching the skin in the process
Step 4. Defrost the ice before removing it
When you take the boot out of the freezer, you should let the ice melt for at least 20 minutes before trying to remove it from the boot.
If you try to pull the bag out immediately, you could damage the boot
Step 5. Repeat if necessary
Test the boots to see if the leather has stretched enough. If not, repeat the process to widen them a little more.
Method 2 of 5: Second Method: Heat
Step 1. Put on the thickest socks you own
If you have "boot" socks or a pair of heavy socks, put them on during the warm-up process.
- If you don't have thick socks, put on two or four layers of regular socks.
- Having a thicker layer of socks will make it easier to stretch the skin further.
Step 2. Put the boots on
Push them to fit despite the socks.
- Remember that this method will probably be very uncomfortable for you, but a temporary disturbance will guarantee you more comfort in the long term.
- If you find it impossible to put leather boots over your socks, remove a layer of socks or opt for a slightly thinner pair.
Step 3. Heat the tight areas of the boots with a hair dryer
Any problem areas to be enlarged should be heated with a hair dryer set on high for at least 30 seconds.
- Fold and extend your feet into the boots as you warm them to stretch the skin even more.
- Make sure each problem area of the boot gets 30 seconds of heat.
Step 4. Put on your boots until they have cooled down
Turn off the hair dryer but keep the boots on until the outer part is at room temperature to the touch.
If you take off your boots before they have cooled down, they will likely tighten again
Step 5. Check if they fit you
Once they have cooled down, take the socks off your feet and put your boots back on. If you feel comfortable, keep them as they are.
If your boots are still tight, repeat the process a couple more times, wearing a thicker layer of socks each time
Step 6. Apply leather shoe conditioner to the boots
Rub a cream or shoe polish on the skin when you're done to restore lost moisture.
Method 3 of 5: Third Method: Isopropyl Alcohol
Step 1. Pour the isopropyl alcohol into a spray bottle
Pour the 70% isopropyl alcohol into a 60ml spray bottle and close the atomizer tightly to prevent leakage.
Use 70% isopropyl alcohol instead of a higher concentration. It contains 70% ethanol or isopropyl alcohol by volume, so it's safe to use on leather boots, but higher concentrations may be too abrasive
Step 2. Spray it on the skin
Generously dispense isopropyl alcohol to the area of the boot that needs to be enlarged. Make sure this area is quite humid after doing this.
- Do not spray on parts that do not need to be enlarged.
- The area that needs to be enlarged should receive an even delivery.
- Give the isopropyl alcohol 20-30 seconds to be absorbed into the skin before continuing.
Step 3. Put on the boots
After the alcohol has been absorbed into the skin, but before the boots dry, put them on. Keep them until completely dry.
- For best results, keep the boots as long as possible before taking them off, even after they have dried.
- The leather should stretch as soon as you put on the boots. If it still doesn't give in, spray more isopropyl alcohol on the problem area of the boot and try again.
Step 4. Check the boots a few hours later
Once you have taken off your boots and left in a corner for a few hours, try putting them back on. The leather should have stretched enough and the boots should still be comfortable.
If the leather is still a little tight, repeat the process to stretch the boots a little more. For even greater success the second time around, put on some very thick socks or a few layers of socks to stretch the boots even further
Method 4 of 5: Fourth Method: Commercial Boot Spreading Spray
Step 1. Read the label carefully
Before using the boot spreading spray, read any warnings and instructions that come with the bottle.
- Some boot enlargement sprays may not be safe for all skin types. For this, you should check if the label advises you against using them on specific types of leather boots.
- The instructions are usually quite similar, but there may be slight variations. To ensure greater benefit and little harm, follow the recommendations carefully.
- Also, take note of the active ingredients used in the spray. Some products are mainly made with isopropyl alcohol; in this case, they can be replaced with isopropyl alcohol in order to enlarge the boots.
Step 2. Test the spray in a corner
Try a small amount of shoe spreading spray on a hardly visible area of the boot, such as the top end in the back or the bottom of the leather, near the sole of the boot.
- Some shoe enlargement sprays may stain certain types of leather, especially fair ones. Performing this test can save you from creating a large stain on a clearly visible portion of the boot.
- If the area you are testing gets stained, do not spray the rest of the boot. If it doesn't stain, the spray should be safe to use.
Step 3. Spray it on the problem area
Thoroughly wet the narrow area of the boot with the spray, but also the surrounding area. Make sure the spray is spread evenly over the entire area.
- Apply the spray from a distance of 10-15cm.
- Let the skin absorb the spray for approximately 30 seconds.
- You do not have to spray the product on the areas that are not near the portion of the boot that you want to enlarge.
Step 4. Put the boots on immediately
Put on your boots as soon as the leather has absorbed the spray, but before it feels dry to the touch.
Keep the boots on your feet as long as possible to maximize the widening effect
Step 5. Repeat if necessary
Take off your boots when you need to, but check them again after a few hours to make sure the enlargement has worked. If not, repeat the process a second time.
Method 5 of 5: Fifth Method: Boot Widening Tool
Step 1. Choose the right boot spreader for you
In general, you should opt for this tool to widen the part corresponding to the foot and that of the calf.
- The difference between a boot spreader and a shoe spreader is that the former has a long elevated handle, which allows you to access the widening mechanism at the expense of the boot height.
- If your leather boots reach to the ankles, you can probably be able to widen the foot part with a shoe spreader instead of a boot spreader.
Step 2. Place the boot spreader in the part corresponding to the foot of the shoe
Carefully insert the wooden part of the device to spread the boots in the part corresponding to the foot of the shoe.
Make sure the handle comes out of the boot. You will need to be able to grip and turn it without difficulty
Step 3. Operate the tool once it is inserted into the boot
Turn the handle clockwise. This way, the tool will do its job by widening the area corresponding to the toes in the process.
Leave the boot spreader in this position for several minutes before returning the tool to its original size and removing it from the boot
Step 4. Slide the boots onto the professional boot spreader to widen the calf area
Let the part to be stretched slide over this tool so that it acts on the entire portion of the shoe.
Stop directly on the ankles of the boot to avoid damaging or distorting the part corresponding to the foot of the boot
Step 5. Turn the device to make the boot widen
Turn the handle on the top of the tool to make it work. Open the tool as far as possible in order to better widen the boots.
