Knowing what size your feet are will allow you to buy shoes that fit perfectly. Won’t it? Well, not necessarily. Just because two pairs of shoes are the same size, does not mean that they are going to fit exactly the same. Sometimes, even when you find a pair of shoes in ‘your size’, they might feel tight and uncomfortable because of the way that they are made.
In fact, there is no global standard when it comes to shoe-sizing. Throughout the world, different metrics are used for measuring shoe sizes. Even when it comes to sneakers, you might find that one brand fits your feet better than another one does.
So what happens if you end up buying a pair of shoes in what you believe to be the right size only to find that they are not quite right. They might be too tight at the toes or across the bridge of your foot. But going a size up means they will be too big generally. Is there anything that can be done to stretch the new shoes?
How to Stretch New Shoes
The experts at ShoeFresh say that because shoes fit differently depending on the brand, there is definitely a market for shoe stretching products. For example, a shoe stretch spray might be just what you need to soften the material and allow the shoe to mold around your feet. Alternatively, shoe trees can be placed inside the shoe and then twisted over time to stretch it to the required size.
There are other ways to stretch new shoes. A common method is to place damp, rolled up pieces of newspaper inside the shoes. It is important to stuff the shoes with newspaper so that they are slightly stretched. The newspaper can be removed once dry.
A similar method involves half filling zip-lock bags with water and placing them inside the shoes. The shoes should then be placed inside a freezer overnight. When the water freezes, it should stretch the shoes.
If your shoes are expensive and you are worrying about trying to stretch them yourself, you may want to search out for a cobbler to do it for you. Cobblers have the tools, machines, and the skills to stretch shoes properly.
What if Stretching Doesn’t Work?
If you have tried to stretch your shoes to no avail, you may need to accept that there is not much you can do to make them bigger. There are some signs that stretching is not going to work. For example, if your shoes are so tight that you are simply unable to walk in them, no amount of stretching is likely to change that.
You should also forget stretching and look for a bigger size, if the shoes in question are squashing your toes. Even if they are the size that you normally buy, you may find a bigger size fits better if this is case. It could be that the shoes have been marked with the wrong size or that the brand runs small.
Conclusion
As there is no standard metric used for shoe sizing, it is not uncommon to find that some brands fit differently to others. If you have purchased a pair of shoes that feels too tight, you may be able to stretch them slightly so that they become more comfortable. Products such as shoe stretching sprays and shoe trees can help, but there are other methods that you can try too such as stuffing them with damp newspaper or placing them in the freezer overnight. You should also be aware that sometimes shoes are just not right, even if they are your size.
