Methods of Stretching Tennis Shoes   

Tennis shoes are designed to be comfortable on the court, but they may require some stretching.

It’s all too easy to buy shoes and then discover that they’re too small for your feet.

You must find the best way to stretch tennis shoes to achieve a comfortable fit.

Methods of Stretching Tennis Shoes   

THE STUFFING PROCEDURE

Many types of shoes require stretching, but stuffing tennis shoes is the most effective way to expand them.

METHOD:

• Socks or cleaning cloths are good examples of clean, thick fabric-based goods.
• Pack the cloth securely into your shoes, starting in the toe box and working your way up.
• If you think your shoes need more time, leave them overnight or for a few days.

RESULT:

When you remove the stuffing, your shoes will not have expanded significantly. They will, however, have evolved sufficiently to accommodate wider feet.

THE HEATING PROCESS

You can only use this trick on your tennis shoes if they are not made of leather. The leather may dry out or warp as a result of the heat.

When using this approach on synthetics that include some leather, proceed with caution.

The heating process is more effective on textiles since it has a more significant influence on stiffer materials.

METHOD:

• Heat your shoes for two minutes using a hairdryer.
• Put the boots on, but not while they’re still hot.
• Wear the shoes until they’ve completely cooled off.
• Reheat the shoes after removing them.
• Repeat the process until the tennis shoes are correctly fitted.

RESULT:

When heated, many materials expand. If you don’t let the fabric shrink as it cools, it should stay the same size and stretch your feet.

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THE STEAMING PROCEDURE

This is similar to the heating process but with the addition of moisture. The same concept causes your clothes to expand more when they’re wet.

We recommend steaming cotton tennis shoes but not leather shoes.

METHOD:

• Bring some water to a boil.
• Place your shoes in front of the steam for around five minutes.
• Wear them until they’re cool and dry after trying them on to stretch them out.
• Rep until your shoes are no longer a pain to wear.

RESULT:

The stretched shoes will most likely keep their shape as they dry around your feet.

As your shoes dry on your feet, the spaces where moisture collects continue to enlarge. As a result, the shoes are stretched. Water might also aid in this process.

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Tennis shoes with stretchers

If you don’t want to use home methods, you can purchase a tool to assist you with your stretch shoe experience. It works whether you have large feet or purchased a size too small.

You’ll need the following items:

1. Stretcher for shoes.
2. Set the plug for the spot setting.

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METHOD OF WIDTH-STRETCHING:

• Consider applying a stretch spray on your shoes, particularly in the tightest spots.
• Stretching plugs should be placed where you need the most width.
• Close the stretcher and make sure the toe block is in touch with the top of the toe box.
• Begin turning the handle and opening the toe block to expand the shoe.
• Leave the stretcher in for 8 hours once you have reached the appropriate width.
• Check to see whether it fits, and if it does not, put the stretcher back in—it may take a few days to get it perfect.

RESULT:

This procedure may stretch your shoe up to an inch, making it suitable for broader feet and mild stretching for bunions or hammertoes.

METHOD OF LENGTH-STRETCHING:

1. Use a stretching spray both inside and out.
2. Place the closed-toe block in the toe box and the heel block tucked into the sneaker on the stretcher.
3. Turn the extending wheel until the heel block comes into contact with the heel counter.
4. Continue spinning until you reach a stretch, then set aside for 8 hours.
5. Check the fit and try again if you haven’t gotten the desired result.

RESULT:

The problem with the shoes being too tight at the heel should now be resolved.

Pro tip: Using shoe trees to store the shoes can help them keep their new, larger shape after using a shoe stretcher.

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THE METHOD OF GRADUAL WEARING

For leather sneakers, the gradual wearing process is ideal. Leather, exceptionally soft leather, has a lot of giving to it.

METHOD:

• Obtain and wear thick socks—multiple thin pairs worn simultaneously will suffice.
• Insist on putting your feet inside the shoes.
• Walk around and flex your feet in the shoes, even if it hurts. Shifting them side to side helps a lot.
• Remove the shoes after a few minutes.
• Later, put the shoes back on, but this time for a more extended period.
• Gradually increase the amount of time you wear the thick socks with the shoes until they’re stretched out.

RESULT:

Your feet may be too big for the shoes, but they aren’t big enough to extend quickly. The addition of the socks will hasten the progressive stretching process.

Between sock stretching cycles, make sure to test the shoes. It’s also not a good idea to go too wide.

Try gradually wearing them sans socks instead for a more custom-fit result.

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