Stretching Shoes Yourself at Home

This video highlights a test of a mechanical shoe stretcher I got from a company called Simple Shine. I attempt to increase the width on a pair of full grain Johnston & Murphy Aristocraft cap toe Oxfords I own and love, but the right shoe is a little too tight to be comfortable.
Here’s a link to Simple Shine:
www.amazon.com/simpleshine
Here's a video I refeer to in the video:
"Wide feet? Allen Edmonds 3E vs D width dress shoe"
• Wide feet? Allen Edmon...
Here are some great videos from Lee Morrison's KZbin channel "Bespoke Addict The Brighton Gentleman":
- "Bespoke Addict Series 2 - Episode1: Introduction to Shoe Stretching" • Bespoke Addict Series ...
- "Bespoke Addict Series 2 - Episode 2: Shoe Stretching" • Bespoke Addict Series ...
Music Credit: KZbin Audio Library
"Stuff" by Otis McDonald

[@bekki2308]

As a woman who needs an E or EE in US men’s width fittings (awkward but I like brogues so wear “men’s”) I thank you for sharing

[@abitoffcenter]

I really appreciate your cautions and caveats to your advice and your willingness to share your experiences. Well done!

[@Dortch3]

Thank you Robert for such a detailed description and use of this brand of shoe stretcher. Like you I am a bit wider than standard, so this is of great benefit and future reference.

[@jennytaylor3324]

Just bought one of these fantastic contraptions. Very heavy and a bit daunting, and not yet unboxed, so great to have guidance from a fellow shoe devotee. 😊

[@gritsteel4559]

Thanks for the video, some useful info there and in the comments. I've done that on $1000+ brand new shoes (after using a conditioner to make the leather more supple), in gradual steps, no problem for me, saved my foot from pain or discomfort and not having to use the high-priced shoes, which would be a bigger waste. My take is that if the shoes' leather splits up, it's a bad pair in the first place and best to throw away. It looks scary at first seeing the shoes bulge up really wide, but when the stretcher is taken out, the leather shrinks back to a presentable look. Anyway, I find this stretcher very useful for me, who most always needs at least an "E" size for dress or leather loafers, and many shoes that I like don't have an "E" size, especially these days when narrow and more pointed dress shoes are the fashion. Saves me from bringing the shoes to the cobbler to stretch (except for some boots as I think their tool is better than the boot stretchers in the market). I tried this on a brand-new Florsheim Berkley moc loafers, with corrected leather, size 3E and still not wide enough for me (the risks we take when we buy online). The stretcher didn't work well unlike with full-grain or top-grain leather. I assume the coating on the corrected leather is going against it, with the leather losing its suppleness. Rather than stripping the coating away, it's a cheap pair so I just sold it away.

[@jordangordon7292]

We have the same size and nuances with our feet. My wife bought me a pair of Allen Edmonds Exchange Place 11D (my first pair of AE). Inevitably the squeeze was crazy. I was about to bring them to the Allen Edmonds store but then you posted this. Great timing with this video. Thank you.

[@CobblerBob]

Jordan Gordon - you’re welcome! I would advise going to local thrift stores and finding a pair of full grain leather Goodyear Weltes shoes (even if they don’t fit you) and do a trial stretch on them 1st! Be liberal with the stretching fluid. I did one more stretch after shooting on the left shoe and I sprayed the shoe then wrapped it in plastic to keep it wet longer. Don’t try to stretch too much at once.

[@Ari-sw9ef]

Thank you! I didn’t know how to adjust the shoe stretcher to make it fit into my shoes properly. This video helped a lot! 😁🤝

[@frankmarti8984]

Thank you as always very informative and helpful

[@McSnacks930]

I really appreciate this, I needed to widen my one park Ave a bit and this was really nice to learn and see

[@CobblerBob]

Be careful and go slow. It will make small adjustments, not major changes.

[@redwoodsquirrel432]

Just caught up with this video, I must have been so busy in December that I didn't notice! I normally have a problem with one of my feet being slightly wider than the other and it's fine if your shoes are the right size to match your larger foot, but not the smaller. I may consider buying some shoe stretchers this year. Love your work as always, Happy New Year to you and your family.😊💖

[@kennydesai7802]

Bob, please do a video on comfort vs. style in shoes, that answers/includes questions like what makes soles comfortable/hard/ soft. Support, breaking in time periods, etc. Would love to see an intelligent, researched video on something like that.

[@CobblerBob]

Kenny Desai 🤔 great idea! My biggest concern is can I do that without too much personal bias? In other words, will I wind up doing a video that is applicable to everyone and not just to me?

[@guillermosander7981]

May I suggest a video on how to "shrink" shoes, especially for slip-ons. Some of us have narrow heels.

[@Lobo_Loco1]

I came here just to get a good basic idea of how to stretch shoes but, found this video so informative and helpful that I ended up staying for the whole vid lol

[@CobblerBob]

Glad it was helpful! Sorry I took so long to reply though.

[@Iberian247]

Maybe stuff a sock or a rag in the toe before inserting the stretcher. That should back the stretcher up a bit and you can try to focus on the area you’re looking to change. Also, I’m guessing that a Renovetour or leather lotion treatment between stretchings would help prevent a future tear, since alcohol dries the leather in addition to stressing the fibers.

[@snudder.s.m.l.5026]

Great video 🤗 Hugs from Denmark 🇩🇰 🌹 🌺

[@edf2953]

Nice video Bob. I purchased a shoe stretcher from Woodlore. It’s pretty much the same design as yours. It’s made out of cedar, but you only get one shoe stretching device. So, if you’re trying to stretch a pair of shoes, it takes twice as long. Your device looks like it does the same job as Woodlore’s. I’ve only used it once and I was so concerned about ruining my shoes, I don’t think I did a good job, as I was afraid of ruining my shoes. Anyway, nice work and nice video! I’d be curious to know if the shoe maintains its new wider form...take care...Ed

[@baberoot1998]

Thank you Robert for this video!!! I recently thrifted a pair of black Lucchese Lizard Skin boots, at size 8.5, for $80. (They look practically brand new). The left boot is just a tad too tight, and wondered if they could be stretched a bit. I am encouraged that I may not have wasted my money, and get them stretched, where they are a bit more comfortable. After purchasing them, I went to a local cobbler, who said he could stretch them for $25, and that he seemed pretty sure, that the stretching would work for me. I did not drop them off, because I wondered if maybe I could stretch them myself. I think I may try it first myself, and then if they are still a bit tight...take them to the cobbler. He said it would be about a 4 day process, where he would soak them, and gradually stretch them over that period of time. So I am really encouraged, that this may work for me. (I really love these Lucchese Lizard Skins, and it would be disappointing should I not be able to actually wear them). All the way from Houston, Texas...thank you for the video...I am excited to know this information. Two thumbs up...👍😎👍

[@CobblerBob]

be CAREFUL with the Lizard skin... it MAY react differently than calfskin? I'm not familiar with it, so I can't say for sure. The key is realizing that stretching is only going to give you a SMALL gain, but often just 1/8" or a millimeter or two of room is all you need. Just don't expect to add 1/4" or 5-6mm of room by stretching. The other challenge is that on these pair of shoes in the video, the stretching DID help, but after wearing them some weeks later, I could feel my right pinky toe resting on top of the welt. Because the upper stretched, it DID give the outside of my toe room, but now my toe was not resting on top of the area of the insole with padding underneath. It was resting on top of the area of the insole that was above the welting, and it felt harder. It didn't hurt, it just feels a little odd.

[@bekki2308]

Totally unrelated but I love the shirt.

[@daved6708]

Wow, awesome video! Very professionally done. Thank you very much!

[@CobblerBob]

Thank you very much!

[@atomicdmt8763]

good video! in my view......the best shoes are no shoes

[@redrobiin]

Great review, i be checking your future video to this to see the result. Another vthing i have thought of,is, wont you need to buy two these shoe strecthing tools.

[@CobblerBob]

No, just do one at a time. They are not left/right specific. If it's for home use, there's no need to get it done "fast" where you'd need to do both at the same time. UPDATE: They DID stretch the J&M Oxfords in the video, and the uppers DID have more room in them afterwards, and they did not shrink back down, but there was one long term effect I didn't account for. Although the stretching aleviated the tight pinching of my foot, because my wider left foot was overhanging the side of the shoe more, I could now feel the welt under the side of my foot. In other words, the padded part of the bottom of my feet were then over top of the unpadded part of the insole they should not have been. Bummer. Product worked as advertised though and does come in useful. It's not gonna change a narrow shoe into a wide one though, It's gonna give you a small adjustment.

[@joejones7852]

Fantastic video! Would love a follow up on how the shoe has held up. Based on your experience Would it be possible to take a d to ee? Also, if I remember correctly, the crown aristocraft has the side of the tongue stitched to the vamp. When wearing a shoe that is smaller then you typically fit it, would the tongue look off center? I love the look of the CA probably even more then park avenues and found a pair on eBay that’s just too narrow for me. Hoping I can get them stretched in a way that will generally preserve the shape of the shoe but still be comfortable.

[@CobblerBob]

Thank you! I’ll try to answer your D to EE question with an update on those shoes. I would up selling them on eBay, even though I loved how they look dearly (the color combined with the semi brogue with a medallion). Although the upper width was fine (my foot was no longer being squeezed), I noticed after releasing the video that the outside of my foot was now on top of the welt. I could feel the rib of the gemming under the outside of my foot. It didn’t hurt, but was irritating. So I believe one letter width is more than likely the limit. I would ask a Cobbler though, I really don’t have enough experience to tell you definitively if it would work.

[@GaryYoung-eq1ph]

What 2 do for shoes 2 big?

[@retiredgoon512]

Good information 👍 Do you know if you can stretch shell cordovan? 🤔

[@CobblerBob]

Michael Anderson - I would NOT attempt to stretch Shell Cordovan‼️ Shell is famous for being very tough and durable, but it is also notorious for TEARING when you try to stretch it. Even shoe manufacturers say this. I wish I would have thought of this fact or I would have stated in the Video not to stretch Shell!

[@TheRuthyc]

You would be a great Felix Unger!

[@jimmy737]

I stretch my own shoes also.

[@ThePlumbum1]

Robert: Would using the buttons at the appropriate spot help the stretch where you want it?

[@CobblerBob]

Uncle Warren - I’m not sure, but I didn’t think so because they were tight all the way from the little toe to behind the ball of the foot. It wasn’t just one spot but the whole area in front of & behind the ball is tight. It might be worth trying on another tight pair?

[@HoglyStevenson]

great video Bob

[@CobblerBob]

Hogly Stevenson thank you ! 🙏🏼

[@SerjioDufour]

Hi great video! Did the shoe shrink back so far?

[@CobblerBob]

Serjio Dufour - no, but to be very honest I did get rid of the shoes (put them on eBay) a few weeks afterwards. Here’s the reason: although the uppers were now more comfortable because they were a little wider, I found the outside of my foot stepping onto the area of the insole that had the welt under it. I could feel a hard edge under the outside of my foot. I realized I was really just trying to make something into something else it is not, so I sold them and banked the money and I’m putting them towards a new pair of Allen Edmonds strands.

[@SerjioDufour]

@@CobblerBob okay understood. Keep up the good work as usual.

[@leq7137]

Bob, do you half instagrams?

[@dustyrhodes8672]

Robert! I have a chance to buy a pair of Florsheim wingtip Oxford shoes for $30.00 ! In very good shape ! Your opinion? Thanks

[@CobblerBob]

Dusty Rhodes - it depends... Florsheim has made shoes ranging from very mediocre to very high quality. It also depends on their condition. The ones that aren’t worth as much are their newer ones with false stitching (glued on rubber soles that appear to be stitched) and the ones with leather soles with no stitching at all.

[@johnsantello9731]

What about stretching an alligator or crocodile shoe from D to EEE?

[@CobblerBob]

I've actually never owned aligaor or croc... The Brighton Gentleman on KZbin would be the expert on exotics and would know more about stretching, but my gut tells me I would absolutely NOT try it: 1. That's a HUGE difference in size, far too much for stretching. IMHO you should only expect to get one width increase (D to E) from it. 2. I think aligator and croc will stretch less and be more prone to cracking than calf. I think, I'm not 100% sure. 3. Even if you COULD stretch them that far, you will almost certainly have a new problem: the welting. The uppers would then let your foot be overtop of the welting. the part of your foot that contacts the footbed in a well fitting Goodyear welted shoe is sitting on the part of the insole that is over top of the cork, not the gemming. That far of a stretch will put your foot over top of the hard gemming and you'll feel it. See this video if you're not sure what gemming is (it's the rib I show in the video that the uppers and the welt are sewn to): kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKGooaSAZcqCZsk

[@johnbaptist6285]

How long do U leave them in

[@CobblerBob]

My apologies for missing your comment, leave them in overnight (one day).

[@spotsill]

If you have narrow feet unfortunately there is no way to shrink the width ☹️☹️☹️.

[@musicfashionstyle9269]

Not working and make your shoes damage.