Move your foot around inside the boot or curl and stretch your toes for better stretching. Too much heat can damage boots, so never hold the hairdryer against them or heat them too long.

If it’s painful to walk in the boots, remain seated and stretch them by flexing your toes and foot.

There’s no need to moisturize synthetic material such as vinyl.

This method works because the water will expand when frozen, pushing into the shoe. It has nothing to do with the boots becoming wet, which could shrink or damage them.

Use a bag that will fit snugly into the part of the boot that needs stretching. A quart (liter) bag works for most toe and heel related adjustments, while you may need a gallon (4 liters) bag to stretch the calf of the boot. To remove the air, seal most of the way and leave a small gap. Gently press the portion of the bag containing air until most of the air has exited and the plastic is nearly flat. Bags not labeled for freezer use may break later in the process, leaking water onto your boots and potentially damaging them.

If you need to stretch the calf, keep the bag from slipping by stuffing the toe with newspapers.

If the bag slips out of the toe when you move the boots, tilt the boots forward and prop them up on a block of wood or anything else that will keep them stable.

Don’t try to remove the bags right away, as you could damage the boots trying to pull them out.

If your boots are made of rubber, they won’t stretch much since the material doesn’t have a lot of give. [4] X Expert Source Trent PotterShoe Care & Repair Specialist Expert Interview. 22 April 2021.

Leather stretching liquids will not work for synthetic boots. Some are specialized for patent leather or other subtypes, so read the label carefully. Check the label for special instructions. If a specific product requires a different method, follow its instructions. To avoid abrading the boot’s material, dilute the rubbing alcohol with equal parts water. [5] X Research source

Don’t use colored newspapers, as the ink can transfer onto the boots.

Only test the inside lip if it is the same material as the outside of the boot. Check for stains under both natural and artificial light, if possible.

Apply a spray about 5 inches (12 cm) away from the boots. You can apply the liquid to the outside or inside of the shoe. It should stretch either way. If the liquid begins to run off the shoe, stop and wipe off the excess.

If the shoes are only slightly abrasive, wearing only one pair of socks is fine. Use two pairs of socks for more significant stretching.

Don’t walk around in boots that are causing you pain. Skip to the next step instead.

Find a boot stretcher that stretches the correct area. Some are specialized for toe, instep, or calf stretching, while “two-way” varieties increase the general size of the foot area. Place the boot stretcher into the shoe. Push the foot-shaped object to the end of the boot. If you are using a calf stretcher, place it in the ankle shaft of the boot. Turn the handle of the stretcher a couple of times until you see the tight area visibly stretch outward. Don’t make it too tight. Leave the stretcher in for 8-48 hours. A small adjustment can be made overnight. A full-size difference requires a day or two.

A two-way stretcher will stretch the foot’s length and width. A toe stretcher lifts the toe portion higher. A vamp or instep stretcher lifts the foot portion higher. A calf stretcher will widen the shaft of the boot. The term “boot stretcher” can also refer to this variety or any long-handled shoe stretcher, so the packaging carefully. If you don’t know your boot size, bring it into the shop to compare to stretchers. Stretchers apply to a range of sizes, so the fit doesn’t need to be perfect.

If you don’t want to buy a shoe stretching fluid, mix your own stretching liquid by combining rubbing alcohol and water in equal amounts. Make sure the liquid you use is suitable for your boot material, then apply on the tight areas until the shoe is wet. Continue to the next step immediately.

This typically takes 1-3 turns, but you should judge the amount by looking for a slight expansion and a tight feeling.

If you test the boots and they are still tight, you can put the stretchers back in immediately or first apply additional shoe stretching liquid. After streching rubber boots, stuff the boots with newspaper if you do not wear them.

When stretching your boots with ice, be careful to only use freezer safe bags and make sure the seal will hold tightly.

Use moderation when stretching your boots with a hairdryer for exactly this reason.