Anybody every try DIY shoe stretching?

[Sakief A]

I bought a shoe stretcher from Amazon for 30 dollars and have used it on several pairs of used Allen Edmonds and they have all come out great and fit perfect.

[glen_delossantos]

It depends on the shoe.


I bought a shoe stretcher and used rubbing alcohol as the solution. Leather shoes, even without a leather liner, will stretch. Suede should stretch, too, but I'd be careful if it's a thin suede.


I tried stretching my circa 1970's wingtips but the leather is so friggin' thick that the shoe stretcher broke! Damn shoes are build like tanks.

[trash]

My understanding is that shoe stretching "solution" is just diluted rubbing alcohol, which you apply to the exterior of the shoe then use a stretching shoe tree or stuff some newspaper in the shoe. Anybody try this at home? I know it's cheap to do at a cobbler, but I have a few pairs that I wouldn't mind stretching a bit to get a better fit and if I can do it for (nearly) free I thought why not. Also, does anybody know if you can stretch suede shoes, or shoes that don't have leather liners?