Stretching Your Own Calf Boots Instead Of Going To A Cobbler

If your calf boots aren’t fitting, you don’t need to rush out to the cobbler to get them stretched.

In fact, there are two methods that you can do by yourself at home that you should try before heading to the cobbler. 

Stretching Your Own Calf Boots Instead Of Going To A Cobbler

One of the methods includes you purchasing a boot shoe stretcher. It may be an investment, but it seems if you ever need to stretch any shoes again, you already have the equipment you need.

Or you can try the leather treating method and use a stretching spray on your boots.  

In this article, we will be going into further detail about these methods and how you can do both of these methods at home yourself. Thus, you will never need to take your boots to the cobbler again, as you will be able to stretch them at home. 

Solution 1: What You Will Need

The first way, we are going to show you how to stretch your calf boots. With this method, you will need to purchase a boot stretcher in order to be able to do this. 

However, it is important to note that boot stretchers can be quite pricey. As a result, you may be purchasing a boot stretcher, yet if this is a constant issue that you keep facing, then in the long run you may need to purchase one to save your cobbler bills. 

With that being said, a boot stretcher is one of the most reliable ways to stretch the leather on your boots. They stretch the leather, while also not causing any damage to the leather itself.

In addition, you don’t have to add any harmful chemicals that actually ruin the look, texture or color of your new leather boots. 

The thing is, if you don’t want to pay this money, you’ll find that the cobble that you take your calf boots too will be using a very similar instrument to stretch your boot with anyway.

When you boot your new calf boots on, if they feel tight around the ankle and at the top of your foot, which is also known as the instep, you may need to try an instep stretcher. 

The calf area should feel fine, but if the foot area is what feels tight ten you will need the instep stretcher, otherwise a boot stretcher will be needed. 

Solution 2: What You Will Need

The second solution is very different to the one we have just spoken about above. The other way that you can try to stretch your boots, without having to take them to the cobbler, is by spraying a leather stretching spray onto them. 

Leather stretching spray is commonly quite affordable and may only cost you around $20. These sprays are also very effective, if you don’t want to purchase a boot stretcher. 

For some cobbers, they may use a mixture of both methods. For example, they may use the spray and then apply the boot stretcher, to stretch the boot they require. However, as you are doing this at home, you don’t need to do this. 

You can easily apply the spray to the inside of your boots and place your feet inside to do the stretching. After a few hours, the boots will start to relax and the leather will mold to the shape of your legs. 

How To Use A Boot Stretcher

How To Use A Boot Stretcher

In this section of the article, we will be going through, step by step, how to use a boot stretcher if you have never used one before. Thus, by the end, you will understand how to use one on your own boots. 

Step 1: Get Your Equipment

The first step is to get all your materials together. This also includes purchasing a boot stretcher. Once you have purchased your first boot stretcher, you will start to feel like a cobbler. 

Step 2: Applying Pressure

Now, it is up to you whether you want to add some water t o your boots beforehand. Yet you don’t have to. 

You need to place your boot stretcher inside your boot, and apply the pressure. To do this, you will notice that there is a small mechanism on the boot stretcher that you can pull or twist to apply more pressure inside your boot. 

It is best to apply pressure to your boots in different stages. This will mean that you will achieve a better and more effective stretch. In addition, it also ensures that the stretch is being applied evenly all over your boot.

Begin twisting the boot stretcher, so you are applying a light pressure to your boot. Continue to twist until you start to meet a bit of resistance from the boot.

Then this is when you stop twisting, and allow the boot to rest in this position with the stretcher still inside for around 12 to 24 hours. 

Step 3: Check Your Boots

After around 12 to 24 hours, it’s time to check your boots, and see how they have stretched. You may find that you want the boots stretched even more.

In this case, turn the boot stretcher once again to apply even more pressure to the leather boots. Once you are happy with how far you have twisted, allow the boots to rest for another 12 to 24 hours. 

You should continue with this process, until you have stretched the boots far enough for your liking. However, you should be careful how much you attempt to stretch your boots. If you overstretch them, then your boots may look warped. 

However, once the leather warms up while you are walking in them, then the leather may shrink a bit over time. This is because once the fibers of the leather are heated, they will loosen up and bounce back to more of their original shape. 

Using Leather Stretching Spray

In this section of the article, we will be going through, step by step, how to use a leather boot stretching spray.

Step 1: Spray The Inside Of Your Boots

There is no denying that this is the more affordable method that a lot more people turn to and use. 

After you have purchased your leather boot stretching spray, you want to apply this to the inside of your boots. Ideally, you want the entirety of the inside of the boot to be fully saturated with this spray.

Be careful not to apply too much, otherwise you will soak the leather completely. Instead, you want to make sure that every area has a covering of this spray. 

Depending on the size of your boot, this can affect how many sprays you will need to apply to cover every area.

Step 2: Put The Boot On

After you have given every area inside our boots a good coating of the leather boot stretching spray, you need to put the boots on.

With the boots on, you should wear them around the house for a couple of hours. It may feel uncomfortable to begin with, however after a couple of hours the boots will stretch a lot and mold to the shape of your legs. 

However, if the boots are too uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. Then we would suggest that you take the boots off and complete these first two steps the next day. This spray will do an excellent job at stretching your boots. 

If your boots don’t need to be stretched that much, then you will find that you can stretch your boots to their desired time in half the time than it would take the boot stretcher to do. 

With that being said, both methods can take a couple of days of stretching to get them to really stretch to the size that you desire.

Although, you should still be careful about not overstretching and warping the boots. As it can be difficult sometimes to overcome the warping if you have stretched far too much. 

Going To The Cobbler

Going To The Cobbler

If you are really uncertain and worried about stretching your boots at home, then the best thing you can do is take your boots to a professional.

A cobbler will know exactly how to stretch your leather boots without causing any damage to them at all.

If you are concerned about ruining your boots, because they cost you a lot of money, then you may want to consider going to a professional, if you don’t trust yourself to stretch the boots at home without causing them any irreversible damage.

With a cobbler, all you need to do is explain to them which areas of the boots are causing you an issue. Then they will know exactly what to do and stretch the boot to the right widths in those specific areas. 

Although, if you find our shoes or boots not fitting is a common problem, then you may want to invest in a boot stretcher, otherwise you will end up spending thousands of dollars on going to the cobbler, when you could have done it home. 

Can You Stretch Boots To Fit Your Calves?

Your boots can be easily stretched, if the issue is in the calf area. If your boots are too in the claves, then the best method to use is the leather stretching spray.

Spray the calf area of the boots, and put the boots on. Continue to wear the boots, until the leather has expanded, and the boots feel more comfortable to wear. 

How Long Does It Take To Stretch Your Boots?

Depending on the thickness of the leather, the stretching process can take anywhere between 3 and 5 days.

It all depends on how much you want your boot to be stretched, and this process shouldn’t be rushed. Otherwise, you risk warping and damaging your boots. It’s best to stretch them a little and often. 

What Methods Should You Avoid Using?

There are a lot of methods online on how to stretch your boots. You may be tempted to try anything to get your boots to fit as quickly as possible.

However, there are some methods that it is best to avoid at all cost, otherwise you could damage your boots. 

You should avoid any methods that talk about using saturation or heat. In addition to that, when using the leather stretching spray, you should avoid spraying the liquid onto the outside of the boot.

This is because all these methods can cause discoloration on your leather boots and remove any oils or waxes that had been put on them to keep them safe and durable. 

Final Thoughts

The easiest way to stretch your leather boots is to take them to a professional cobbler, however, there are other methods you can try at home that will save you some money.

We have gone through the two safest methods that you can try at home, which will allow you to stretch your leather boots easily. 

We hope you have found this article useful, and now know two ways in which you can stretch your boots at home, without having to run to the cobbler. 

June Pais