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Original poster

Saltwater sandals - how much do they stretch

19 replies

CityDweller · 22/07/2014 16:28

Ordered a pair of saltwater sandals on line and took a risk by not sizing up (as they didn't have any colours I liked in size up). They're pretty tight, too tight really, but I've read that they stretch a lot if you get them wet and wear them until they dry? Has anyone experienced this? I don't want to risk doing this unless I'm certain it'll make them fit me properly, as then I won't be able to return them!

OP posts:
Sleepthief · 22/07/2014 18:17

Just to clarify - are they your actual size? What's the length like? I always buy my size and soak (4 pairs Blush), but I have wide rather than long feet.

Original poster
CityDweller · 22/07/2014 18:58

They are my actual size (6), but I have trouble in general getting shoes that fit me properly as I have wide feet. The length is ok (just), so the fit issue is with the width.

How d'you do the soaking? Get the sandals wet first and put them on, or put them on and then dunk your feet?

OP posts:
emsyj · 22/07/2014 20:17

I have wide feet and they were tight on me at first but they are perfect now. I think the first time I wore them they were tight and I had them on for a very long day (DD1's birthday party, massive kerfuffle and on my feet for hours and hours with lots of fetching and carrying) but after that they were fine. I haven't ever soaked them.

Original poster
CityDweller · 22/07/2014 22:24

Hmm, I don't think I could wear them as they are currently emsyj. At least not for more than about 20 minutes. Is it unrealistic to hope they'll stretch enough to fit properly?

OP posts:
MrsGWay · 23/07/2014 00:07

Mine were long enough (end of toe on stitch line) but too narrow and not very comfy. After wearing them for quarter of an hour I put my feet under the bath tap. Not long after they were nice and comfy.
When I got them out of the box I didn't think I would be able to get my feet in them. I have wide feet and high arches and they molded (sp?) really well really quickly.

MrsGWay · 23/07/2014 00:08

Actually I think if they hadn't been tight when I got them they may have ended up being too big.

Original poster
CityDweller · 23/07/2014 08:51

Hmm, well my longest toe is definitely over the stitch line (pretty much to the end of the coloured bit of the sole). But I do feel that if the width stretched then they'd be wearable.

Maybe I'll just risk it and soak them and then if they still don't fit I can always ebay them (as there seems to be a roaring trade in them on there)...

OP posts:
rootypig · 23/07/2014 10:37

Why don't you just return them for the size up? (it's the length that is making me say this, rather than width). Whenever I've hung onto clothes or shoes that don't quite fit from the off, they never get worn.

Original poster
CityDweller · 23/07/2014 11:01

They're out of stock in the size up. But you're right, I should prob just return them and wait for next summer...

OP posts:
rootypig · 23/07/2014 11:09

Ah. Want a hand looking for them elsewhere?

polyhymnia · 23/07/2014 11:20

Interested in any suggestions for places that will still have m size (8) in stock if you know some.

rootypig · 23/07/2014 11:24

What colour?

polyhymnia · 23/07/2014 11:28

Well ideally silver. But tan or navy possibles, or light blue if they do it.

rootypig · 23/07/2014 11:37

Yikes they really are sold out everywhere, aren't they!

If you're confident of your size, Modcloth has a few colours in all sizes (no silver, but navy and tan) that ship from the US - $40 for the shoe, $19 for shipping to the UK.

If anyone's looking for a size 37 in silver, navy or red, KJ's laundry has them.

Toast has a few sizes left in shiny purple and pink, or lime.

Original poster
CityDweller · 23/07/2014 12:30

Sunsandals.co.uk still have a few colours in size 8 (dark brown, turquoise, pinks).

I bought a 6 in navy (last pair I think) but could prob do with a 7 and I'm not into the few colours they have left in that size.

Anyway, as I know you're all agog with my sandals saga, I'm thinking I might keep them. I've been wearing them around the house and they're actually not painfully tight. I thinks with soak-stretching they'd be just about ok (if a teensy bit too short).

OP posts:
Mrsfrumble · 23/07/2014 14:00

I got mine from Amazon.com. They were cheap, about $35, but I'm not sure what shipping to the UK would be like. If you have a Amazon.co.uk account the password and payment options will work on the US site.

The more often you get them wet, the more they stretch. I keep mine on when I go paddling with the children and they've gone from being very snug to very roomy.

MrsGWay · 23/07/2014 14:19

ran
Ran.co.uk have silver size 7. I used the measuring chart on the salt water website to find my size.
I know they recommend that your toe isn't in front of the stitch line but why do they? Do you have more or less room than any other pair of sandals? My big toe goes closer to the end of most of my other sandals.

MrsGWay · 23/07/2014 14:21

Sorry I've blended two different posters' replies.

polyhymnia · 23/07/2014 21:27

Thanks for Amazon.com idea.

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