How to Widen a Shoe

In this video we discuss and present multiple ways of stretching or widening a shoe. Understand what materials a shoe is made of and how different materials are best expanded.
Click here to SUBSCRIBE: bit.ly/2D1EfM8
Video Content:
✓ How to stretch a shoe at home
✓ Which materials lend themselves best to stretching
✓ What to look out for when stretching or widening a shoe
✓ How to soften the heel counter of a shoe
✓ How to know what materials the shoes are made of
For more information on Foot Solutions, visit us at www.footsolutions.ca/vancouver.
Connect with us on Social:
Facebook: / footsolutionsbc
Twitter: / footsolutionsbc
Pinterest: / footsolutionsbc
Website: www.footgeekz.com | www.footsolutions.ca
The content seen in this video is provided only for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

[@teagarden874]

This was very informative. Thanks so much!

[@FootGeekzTV]

Thank you for your feedback.

[@noumman]

great video!

[@farmpunk_dan]

I’m a wide-toebox minimalist shoe enthusiast but I hate spending hundreds on special running shoes when what I really need are affordable shoes for working and playing in. I’m always getting pinky toe pain and blisters in regular sneakers and boots! I’m hoping to be able to stretch out the toe box on some affordable canvas sneakers with a plastic front. Thanks for showing this process - now I just need to fashion something to do the stretching!

[@FootGeekzTV]

You can have them stretched at a local shoe repair shop, as they will probably have a stretcher in store. However, if canvas is stretched too far it may tear. We usually gently heat up the plastic with a heat gun to allow us to mold it better.

[@YasminYasmin-tb4cs]

Good explanation with a good voice

[@FootGeekzTV]

Thank you 🙂

[@YasminYasmin-tb4cs]

@@FootGeekzTV your welcome

[@sumayahali6210]

Hi FootGeekzTv, thanks for this information. May I ask you please how to expand the upper fabric of On Running Cloudnova shoes? I paid a lot for this pair of shoes to be arrived internationally. I like them but it’s so tight from the upper middle part of the foot, the platform is fitting properly but after wearing them for minutes they rub my skin. Unfortunately it costs a lot to send them back to size up to widen the shoes. Any recommendations would be appreciated greatly 😊

[@FootGeekzTV]

Is the tongue attached to the upper or can it be opened up?

[@sunnytoo2655]

Great video ---Thank You.. How would you stretch a indoor/outdoor moccosin with fur inside them.>? I think they more like a suede than a leather. My big left toe rubs itself raw on the inside top and side--even on 2 new pairs I got.. And I have a brand new pair of high top Reeboks that have to be stretched about 1/2 size to a full size?

[@FootGeekzTV]

Sounds like you're looking to stretch the shoe in length. If you haven't worn the Reeboks yet, return them and get a bigger size. If they're too lose in the larger size, add toe fillers to tighten up the front of the shoe. Stretching length in shoes is next to impossible, as stretching the material will not lengthen the base of the shoe, which in this case would be too short. Fur or no fur, the shoes would be stretched in a similar fashion. However, stretching shoes in length is difficult.

[@user-pj8rf3dh1p]

How can you stretch a Skechers GoWalk all Mesh upper shoe? Will heat, like using a hair dryer, make them expand or get tighter? ty

[@FootGeekzTV]

These are difficult to stretch as the fabric may tear when you apply too much pressure on it. Usually we put these on a mechanical stretcher for stretching over an extended period of time, but we wouldn't use heat on it, as this can burn or shrink the fabric upper in this case.

[@user-pj8rf3dh1p]

@@FootGeekzTV Thank you. I am currently using a hard plastic cup inside of the shoe to try to stretch them over a period of days. I did try the hair dryer with socks on and my feet in the shoes, prior to your response, I did expand them a little bit but like you said, I was concerned about it shrinking the fabric or it just returning to it's original state. I appreciate your response and enjoy your content.

[@OWK000]

The best way I have found to widen leather shoes, is to mink oil them and then wear them around the house in double socks for multiple short periods, then switch to thin socks if I want to wear them for real.

[@abigailgerlach5443]

Widening shoes only works if the foot bed doesn't need widening. I have very wide feet and the bed needs to be extra wide.

[@FootGeekzTV]

You're right about that. If the base of the shoe isn't wide enough for your foot, the outer edges of the foot will rest on the edge of the sole profile, causing pain or callousing.

[@addahandle-k8d]

Hi mate, are there ways to increase the width of the foam base? ​@@FootGeekzTV

[@austinsanchez320]

How do u stretch out a cleats for wide feet

[@FootGeekzTV]

Depends if they're leather or man made materials. With leather we wet the shoe and then stretch them on a mechanical stretcher. With pleather we use the same tool, but instead of wetting the material we heat it with a heat gun.

[@cw4623]

I've a simpler solution: Buy shoes with wide toe-boxes like Belenka, Freet, Vibram FiveFingers, Whitin. Problem solved! Your feet will be healthier, more comfortable, and you won't waste your time trying to widen shoes that can't be widened. Cuz no matter how much you try, you can't appreciably widen a conventional narrow shoe.

[@FootGeekzTV]

Wider shoes are always better, especially if the producer takes care to widen the sole profile and not just the upper.

[@oatstealer5075]

Yeah but no producer ever makes wide enough shoes for my claw of a foot

[@Liefvikerson]

Those shoes you mentioned fn sucks

[@adarshkashyap2587]

I bought an Adidas running shoes and at the mid part it is narrow and it hurts when I wore them...the size is perfect but I guess my legs are more wide...not much problem in right leg shoe but it gives pain in left leg in the toe side of middle area...how can I resolve the issue?

[@xTayehx]

Did you find a solution?

[@adarshkashyap2587]

@@xTayehx i didn't used it enough because of some problems but it become bit loosened after using it for 3-4 days...so it might become loose after using for some time I guess if not then i will try to stretch it if i can but right now it's not a problem