Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Carroll Kelly and by How.com.vn staff writer, Amy Bobinger. Carroll Kelly is a Shoe Care Specialist and the Owner of Austin Shoe Hospital in Austin, Texas. With over 37 years of experience, Carroll specializes in sustainable shoes, boots, belts, handbags, and luggage repair. Carroll graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas. Austin Shoe Hospital is a family-run business that started over 105 years ago from a single horse-drawn carriage. Today they are the largest and most recognized shoe repair company in the world.
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A nice pair of boots can complement almost any outfit, but if you have curvy calves, it can be hard to find boots that fit just right. Luckily, if you have a pair of zippered boots that fit your feet well but are a little snug in the calves, you may be able to stretch them out!
Things You Should Know
- Spray stretching spray in your boots and put them on over a pair of thick socks. Wear them for at least 5 minutes, repeating each day until they’ve stretched.
- Or, put on a thick pair of socks, slide on the boots, and heat them with a hair dryer for 30 seconds. This helps relax and stretch the fabric.
- As another option, insert a calf stretcher in the boot. Twist the handle so the stretcher fits snugly in the boot and leave it there for at least 2 hours.
Steps
Examine the zipper to see if it’s strong enough for stretching. If your zipper is shoddily constructed, or if it’s not sewn in well, you may damage it by using too much pressure with the boot stretcher.
Insert a calf stretcher into the boot. Make sure you are using a stretcher designed for the calf of a boot and not one for the toes or instep. A calf stretcher will look tall and thin.[1]Advertisement
Spray the boot with stretching spray if you want extra stretch. You don’t have to use a stretching spray, but it will help soften the fabric and you will achieve better results.[2]
Twist the handle or wheel to widen the boot stretcher. Depending on the style of boot stretcher, you may have a lever or there may be a small wheel in the center. Use these to adjust the stretcher until it fits snugly in the calf of the boot.[3]
Leave the stretcher in for at least 2 hours or overnight. For best results, you want to leave the stretcher in for as long as possible. If you sprayed your boots with stretching spray, you’ll want to leave the stretcher in until the spray dries.
Zip up the boots as far as you can and wear them if they almost fit. By wearing the boots zipped up as far as they will go, you will slowly stretch the fabric around the zipper as well as the boot itself. After about 15 minutes, see if you can tug the zipper up a little higher.- This is perfect if you only need a little extra room.
Purchase a zipper extender to widen your zipper. There are products on the market which are specifically designed to attach to your existing zipper, creating a V-shape which gives your calf more room.
Spray the boot with stretching spray to relax the fabric. A stretching spray helps loosen the material of the boot. Spray the boot thoroughly, then put on a pair of thick socks and put the boots on. Zip them up as far as you can and leave them on for about 5 minutes. Repeat the process if necessary.[4]
Submerge leather boots in water then wear them for a custom fit. Leather will take on a new shape when it gets wet, so wearing your leather boots while they’re wet is an easy way to get them to conform to your calves. Just make sure you get the boots fully submerged in the water so they don’t get obvious water marks.[5]
Heat the shoes with a blowdryer to stretch them using heat. Put on a pair of thick socks to protect your feet, then put on your boots and zip them up as far as you can. Blast them with your hairdryer for about 30 seconds, being sure to move the nozzle around so you don’t damage the shoes. The heat should help relax the fabric, allowing the boots to stretch around your calf.[6]- Leave the shoes on until they cool so they don’t shrink back to their original size.
- If your boots are made of leather, follow up with a leather conditioning spray.
- Do not use this method on delicate materials like patent leather.
Place a bag of water in your boots and put them in the freezer for a cold fix. Since water expands as it freezes, you may be able to stretch out your boots by filling a plastic bag halfway with water, then placing it in the calf of your boot and freezing it.[7]- Thaw the ice for at least 20 minutes before removing the bag.
Visit a cobbler to have a panel inserted in your boots for professional help. You can have a special panel professionally inserted into the boot to widen the calf. You might have to visit the shoe repair shop more than once for measurements and fittings.[8]- A less expensive option may be to have the cobbler remove the zipper, then reinstall it along with extra fabric or elastic.
Community Q&A
- QuestionDo you know where I can find zipper extenders? I've looked online, but no one seems to have them.
Community AnswerAmazon has Dream Band Boot Expanders that come in black or brown in different sizes, but they cost $58 each.
Tips
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about stretching boots, check out our in-depth interview with Carroll Kelly.
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/8sHfonfYRCg?t=169
- ↑ https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-shoe-stretcher-shoe-stretch-spray-foot-matters.html
- ↑ https://youtu.be/8sHfonfYRCg?t=179
- ↑ https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-shoe-stretcher-shoe-stretch-spray-foot-matters.html
- ↑ https://blog.uspatriottactical.com/the-military-boot-the-art-of-breaking-it-in/
- ↑ https://www.self.com/story/how-to-stretch-shoes-that-are-too-small
- ↑ https://www.self.com/story/how-to-stretch-shoes-that-are-too-small
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/eustaciahuen/2015/02/05/3-most-expensive-shoe-problems-at-the-leather-spa/#2f71f3d48fc0
About This Article
If you need to stretch the calves in a pair of zippered boots, spray one of the boots with stretching spray and insert a calf stretcher into it. Once the stretcher is in place, twist the handle to expand it so it fits the calf of the boot snugly. Leave the calf stretcher in the boot for at least 2 hours, but the longer you can leave it in, the more the boot will stretch. When you’re finished, repeat with the other boot. Keep reading to learn how to widen the zipper on your boots!
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