Stretching instep of boots...Anyone ever done this?

[FartingAgainstThunder]

My high instep means I can't get my foot in my lovely new boots.

The foot and calf will be fine if I could stretch the instep part.

No cobblers for miles so I'm thinking of buying some equipment and trying to stretch them myself.

Anyone ever done this?
How did it pan out and what equipment did you use?

Please help me get these boots on my feet, they are perfect (other than instep part 😁)

These are the boots in question, the leather is very very stiff.

https://cabotswood.com/product/winford-country-boots/

You can by a spray that you use inside the boot, it flexes the structure and does actually work.
I bought some beautiful tan Spanish riding boots in the Autumn that were a bit too tight around the ankle, Timpsons sold me the spray and lo and behold, wearable boots.

I only know of the freezing method, whereby you place a plastic bag in (double to be sure) and then fill with water and allow it to freeze. The freezing process then expands and stretches the leather.

But as a fellow high instep person, looking at those boots I think it's probably not worth doing. IME boots with this type of construction never ease up enough where you need it and you're forever rubbing up against a seam.

Thank you.
Was it timpsons own brand?

Did you need to use stretchers along with the spray or just on its own?

My freezer is too little 😁
I really feel it just needs a couple of ml in height at the very centre so should be able to avoid seams 🤞

I’ve had this done with a pair of ankle boots. I could get them on but they pressed down on the bone on top of my foot and within a couple of hours of wearing them I was in agony. Took them to a specialist cobbler and they charged about £50 🙀 and said it might not work. I loved the boots so took a gamble and it did - wore them happily for a few years although they’re pretty much dead now. I’m not sure I’d attempt it at home with those boots though.

I didn't use stretchers as the spray seemed to do the job but that could work as well. It's Cherry Blossom brand and probably obtainable on Amazon x

I've used shoe stretch spray - it can work, but it took a few applications, and days working at home building up the amount of time I could wear the boots, and the thickness of sock.

The freezing method does seem a good idea (certainly better than the wind out boot stretchers you can buy) , but will give an overall stretch in the boot, not necessarily where you need it.

I once stretched the toe box of some leather brogues by wiping them with a damp sponge and stuffing them with a combination of socks an older perfume bottle of just the right size and glass marbles. Once stuffed I heated them up with the hairdryer then left to dry. It worked and I've worn them for years since.

Thanks guys, I'll give these home remedies a shot and if no joy I'll just have to brave going to the nearest city for a cobbler to do them.

@ConstanceMartensCat when you took them in to get stretched, was it a done whilst you wait kind of situation?

I did this using a shoe stretcher from Amazon and stretching spray- it worked a treat. Left them for about a week, and put the stretchers in now and again when I wasn’t wearing them.

ill see if I can find the stretchers I used. I was sceptical but they definitely worked!

It was these, but they don’t seem to be available anymore…

No, I had to go back and pick them up. Think it took a week or so.

Same here. It's always the horizontal seam that pushes down on my foot. It will stretch eventually, but not as easily as the rest. As described by prevous PP it feels like all the bones in my foot are being grated together and my foot feels sore underneath for ages.

I've got some plastic shoe stretchers from Amazon. I don't use the boot spray, but a little garment steamer to slightly dampen the leather. It really works, but I do leave the stretchers in for days rather than hours. Also, it may be worth checking if the insoles come out? I found this in my last pair of winter boots and it did gain a tiny bit of room.

Looking back at all the shoes I've given up on over the years, i wish I'd known about shoe stretchers!

Okay I may have to try and do them myself as travelling back and forth to nearest city will really cancel out the saving I made getting the boots in the sale 😁

Unfortunately I don’t think that type of boot will stretch. I wear Dubarry boots and the leather is very sturdy. I imagine the boots you have would be similar. They’re not like ordinary boots in that they’ll more than likely have a Goretex lining like Dubarry boots… they’re very tough.

I used This shoe stretcher to help break in my DMs. I have orthotics, which raise my foot inside the shoe, which then press the top of my foot into the seam at the bottom of the tongue. The shoe stretcher did the job, but I think the model which stretches height would have been even better.

The size L model just fits into my size 8/42 DMs.

If you need the instep to be higher can you use a hard insole with a higher arch.

I’m confused. Why would you buy a pair of boots that you haven’t worn yet? How do you know that they would be perfect if you haven’t been able to try them on?

I find there are so many reasons that shoes might not suit my feet that I never buy them online, because it’s very likely they wouldn’t fit and I’d have to post them back.

Maybe I just have weird-shaped feet. 🙁

If you’ve already bought them, I hope you manage to stretch them so you can wear them. 😀

The OP’s problem is that her instep is too high, not that the instep of the boot needs to be higher. An insole would make matters worse.

@Zita60
You said...I’m confused. Why would you buy a pair of boots that you haven’t worn yet?

I'm also confused, of course I bought a pair of boots I haven't worn yet,that's how online shopping works surely?

Also...How do you know that they would be perfect if you haven’t been able to try them on?

I know the length of the foot part and width of the calf part will be perfect due to measuring them against boots that I already have and wear.

Ah, I see, I didn’t realise you’d bought them online and so still have the option of sending them back. 🙂

I do, But they don't have the next size up in stock and as it's a sale item I think they probably won't get any more.

So I need to decide whether to send them back 😞
Or try and stretch them rendering them unreturnable.

I really need a good pair of boots and most like these ones are way out of my budget.

I have this problem with any boots that don't have a zip or laces..

A shoe horn often means I can get my foot in and then they're fine once on. Have you tried this?

Then they'll give as you wear them

Just had a look at your link OP... might need a long shoehorn 🤪