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 😁)

I actually do have one of those somewhere 😁
I'd forgotten!
Off to search through the cupboard of doom.

They are bloody ON!!!
Long shoehorn and pop socks did the trick!
@Houseplanter you're an angel, I'd never have remembered about shoehorns.

I'll wear them around the house today and give them the occasional blast with a hairdryer and hopefully one day soon I can get normal socks on with them.
(Although feet are quite toasty and comfy with the pop socks actually)

Yay, I'm so happy 😁
Thanks everyone.

Make sure they are not pressing down on your instep. I had a pair that did and after wearing for a few hours my foot went numb in places.

It turned out that the nerve was compressed and it was 18 months before the feeling returned

@FaeryQueen thanks for the warning, I'll keep an eye on that.
It was pretty painful getting my left foot past the instep part but now they are on it's not feeling painful (for the moment anyway)

@FartingAgainstThunder result!!

I have a pair I always have to get on with a shoehorn even though they're more than big enough once on. Getting my foot 'round the corner' is impossible though.

Enjoy your lovely new boots!

Thank you so much. 😁

Don't blast them with a hairdryer as that can actually tighten the leather.

All you need to do is what we used to do (when I was a Saturday girl in a v. fancy shoe shop and told my customers I would use the stretching machine) - boil the kettle and angle the part of the boot you wish to stretch over the spout so the steam penetrates it. Inside is best but by all means, do the outside but beware water marks. Then, with a broom handle or your hands, stretch. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat as necessary.

You really don't need to spend any money on fancy sprays or whatnot!

Edited to add that as you've not got them on, just wear them around the house and flex your foot a lot. They'll loosen pretty quickly!