Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Stretch sports shoes with ice overnight
• Method 2 of 3: Heat athletic shoes to stretch them
• Method 3 of 3: Stretch sports shoes without extreme temperatures
• Necessities
• Stretch sports shoes with ice
• Heat sports shoes to stretch them
• Stretch sports shoes without extreme temperatures
• Tips

If you are going to wear sports shoes - be it for exercise or if you just put them on during the day - it is best to have them broken in before you start wearing them for a longer period of time. There are a number of ways in which you can stretch sneakers so that your feet fit comfortably in them. If you are in a hurry, you can let water freeze in the shoes or stretch them with heat. You can also just wear them at home for a few days, use special shoe trees, or take the shoes to a shoemaker for a professional fix.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Stretch sports shoes with ice overnight

1. Fill two 3.5 l resealable plastic bags with water. Since water expands when it freezes, you can use it to stretch your shoes overnight. Fill both sealable bags to about half full to prevent the shoes from stretching too much. Seal the bags tightly to prevent leakage.
2. Push the water-filled bags into the sports shoes. Place a water-filled bag in each athletic shoe so that the front of the bag is at the very tip of the shoe. Insert your hand into each shoe, if necessary, and press the water-filled bag towards the front and back of the shoe.
   • Make sure the bags are still sealed at this point - a leaky bag can ruin a shoe.
3. Put the trainers in the freezer and leave them overnight. Place the shoes on a flat surface in the freezer with the tips facing up. Freezing the water in the bag takes at least 8 to 10 hours. As the water freezes, it will expand and stretch outward against the inside of the trainers.
4. Take the sneakers out of the freezer the next morning. Remove the trainers from the freezer, remove the pockets from the inside of the shoes and adjust them. They should now be stretched enough to fit properly.
   • If you don't want to freeze your feet, let the trainers warm up for 20 to 30 minutes before trying on them.
5. If the sneakers are still too tight, repeat the process. If the shoes are still pinching your feet after spending the night in the freezer, freeze them again. Fill two plastic bags with a little more water than the first time, so that they expand more in the shoes. Let them freeze all night and try on the sneakers again in the morning.

Method 2 of 3: Heat athletic shoes to stretch them

1. Put on two pairs of thick socks and the sneakers. Put two pairs of thick woolen socks on top of each other. Then put on the sneakers you want to stretch. Using socks to make your feet as big as possible will help stretch the trainers.
   • Only wear a pair of socks if the shoes are too tight when wearing two pairs of socks.
2. Heat the shoes with a hair dryer for 30 seconds at a time. Use a hair dryer with the shoes on to blow hot air over their outside. Set the hair dryer to medium heat to avoid overheating and possible damage to the shoes. Change shoes every 30 seconds.
   • Move the hair dryer constantly so that it heats all surfaces of the shoe: the tip, the sides and the heel.
3. Wiggle your toes and foot while warming the trainers. The fabric of the sports shoes will relax from the heat of the hair dryer. Rocking your toes and flexing your foot while heating the shoes will stretch the shoes.
   • Stretching the trainers so that they are comfortable can take up to two minutes per shoe.

Method 3 of 3: Stretch sports shoes without extreme temperatures

1. Wear your trainers at home for four to five hours at a time. The best way to break in athletic shoes is to wear them at home. They are even broken in when you are just dealing with them. The heat and sweat from your feet softens the outside of the trainers and allows them to take the shape of your feet.
   • Keep in mind that breaking in shoes can take five to seven days. This may not be the most effective method if you are participating in a running race or other sporting event the next day.
2. Use shoe trees when you are not wearing the sneakers. Shoe trees are wooden or plastic foot-shaped objects that widen the shoes and exert an outward pressure on the shoes when pushed into the shoes. Stretch the shoes even when you're not wearing them by keeping a pair of shoe trees in the trainers. Use the shoe trees by tucking their toes into the shoe and pressing the heel into place. This operation enlarges the front part of the shoe tree.
   • Even if you keep the shoe trees in the shoes throughout the day, it will take at least three days to stretch the shoes enough for your feet to fit properly.
   • Buy shoe trees from a sporting goods store near you or a large shoe store.
3. Take your sneakers to a professional shoemaker to get them stretched faster. Professional shoemakers have machines and specially designed tools for stretching athletic shoes and other types of running shoes. Give your sneakers to a shoemaker and explain that you want them stretched. Expect a 48 hour lead time for this procedure, which can normally cost around € 13.
   • If you don't know if there is a shoemaker in your area, perform an online search with a phrase like "professional shoemakers in my area".

Necessities

Stretch sports shoes with ice

• Sealable plastic bags
• Freezer

Heat sports shoes to stretch them

• 2 pairs of thick socks
• Hairdryer

Stretch sports shoes without extreme temperatures

• Shoe tree

Tips

• When buying sports shoes or running shoes, it is best to buy a pair that fits well. That way you don't have to stretch the shoes and you don't run the chance that they will be too big afterwards.