Nothing’s better than a well-fitting pair of shoes. Feet free from blisters and calluses are happy feet, and you should settle for nothing less. But as you may have experienced, ill-fitting shoes are a dime-a-dozen, and you’re left with limping legs instead of a hop in your step.
Thankfully, the story doesn’t have to end there. With the help of a nifty shoe stretcher, you can stretch those ill-fitting shoes to fit better and restore comfort to your aching feet. Using a 2-way shoe stretcher is a fine way to stretch your shoes both lengthwise and widthwise.
It’s also useful in targeting trouble areas like bunions, corns, calluses, and hammertoes. It’s a versatile stretching tool that saves you from having to decommission your shoes that are a hair from fitting correctly. Wondering how to use a 2-way shoe stretcher? You’ve come to the right place.
It’s important to know if you specifically need a 2-way shoe stretcher in the first place. Ask yourself these simple questions:
- Am I stretching shoes and not boots or heels? (If you are stretching boots, we have a post for that: How to Use a Boot Stretcher! We also have high heel specific stretchers here: FootFitter 1-3″ High Heel Stretcher and FootFitter 3-6″ High Heel Stretcher.)
- Will widening the toe box and/or increasing the length of my shoe provide the comfort I need? (If you need relief in your instep or the top of your shoe’s toe box, you’ll want to take a look at these stretchers: Shoe Instep Stretcher and Vamp Raiser and the Professional Shoe Toe Raiser.)
Don’t forget that you can also use the 2-way shoe stretcher to target trouble areas that have corns, bunions, hammertoes, and calluses—thanks to the included spot-stretching plugs. Now, if you said yes to the previous to questions, let’s learn how to use a 2-way shoe stretcher!
Before we start, please consider the following:
- The FootFitter Premium Professional 2-Way Deluxe Shoe Stretcher works for both right and left shoes.
- Shoe stretchers will certainly free up to half an inch of space in your shoes, but please remember that they are not miracle workers. If your shoes are two sizes too large, you’re best getting a new pair of shoes.
- Shoe stretchers work best on natural materials like leather and canvas. While the shoe stretcher will stretch synthetic materials, you may need to repeat the process again in the future to retain the stretch. Synthetic materials like polyurethane tend to revert back to their original size over time.
- The 2-way shoe stretcher can be used to stretch shoes widthwise and lengthwise. While you can stretch your shoes width- and lengthwise simultaneously, you can also stretch solely widthwise or solely lengthwise.
How to use a 2-way shoe stretcher…
To stretch your shoe widthwise:
- Prepare your shoe for stretching by spraying the inside and outside with the FootFitter Shoe Stretch Spray. Concentrate on areas that are particularly tight.
- Insert spot stretching plugs where you need pressure point relief.
- Place the shoe stretcher into the shoe. Ensure the toe block is fully closed and that it touches the end of the toe box.
- Turn the handle to ensure the fit is snug. Rotate the handle clockwise to make the toe block wider. It’ll take 2 – 3 full turns before you can see the shoe expanding.
- Leave the stretcher in for 6 – 8 hours, and then check for fit. If you need additional stretching, put the stretcher back in and wait another 8 hours. It may take 1 – 2 days to achieve the right fit.
- To remove the shoe stretcher, turn the handle counterclockwise, and pull out.
To stretch your shoe lengthwise:
- Prepare your shoe for stretching by spraying the inside and outside with the FootFitter Shoe Stretch Spray. Concentrate on areas that are particularly tight.
- Place the shoe stretcher into the shoe. Ensure the toe block is fully closed and that it touches the end of the toe box. Also make sure that the heel block is tucked within the shoe.
- Turn the lengthening wheel to ensure the fit is snug. Rotate the wheel counterclockwise to move the heel block towards your shoe’s heel counter. It should take 5-8 full turns to get the heel block to the back of the shoe.
- Leave the stretcher in for 6 – 8 hours, and then check for fit. If you need additional stretching, put the stretcher back in and wait another 8 hours. It may take 1 – 2 days to achieve the right fit.
- To remove the shoe stretcher, turn the handle clockwise, and pull out.
CAUTION: Do not leave your shoe stretcher in your shoes for too long, as overstretching shoes will make them too loose. To retain the new shape of your stretched shoes, we recommend using shoe trees during storage.
Now that you know how to use a 2-way shoe stretcher, you can stretch to your heart’s content. We’ve made sure that our shoe, boot, and heel stretchers are built to last with robust materials and quality construction, so that you can stretch closets full of shoes with ease and reliability. Get yours now and save your shoes from the donation bin or a costly trip to your local cobbler.
For printable instructions for viewing or download on how to use a 2-way shoe stretcher, please click here (you will be taken to our Dropbox account): FootFitter Premium Professional 2-Way Deluxe Shoe Stretcher Print-Friendly Instructions.pdf.
Check out our full line of FootFitter shoe stretchers at FootFitter.com.
