10 Ways To Stretch Steel Toe Work Boots FAST

Steel toe boots are the best choice you can make when you think of comfortable and durable footwear for work. But, making the boots a comfortable fit is a challenge that you will have to face once you buy the respective boots.

The most effective way to stretch your steel toe boots is using a shoe stretcher or a boot stretcher but before that, you need to spray your boots with a boot stretching spray to get the utmost effect!

In this post, you’ll discover 10 amazing tricks to stretch your steel toe boots fast and effectively!

To know how to get the most of all the ways let’s read the article below…

10 Easy Ways to Stretch Your Steel Toe Boots Fast

1. Use Oil to Widen the Boot

One of the simplest techniques to make the steel toe work boots wide is to either apply a generous amount of leather conditioner or mink oil to the outside of the boots. You will have to apply the lubricant at night, so that the leather of the boot becomes soft enough for your wear.

You will need to clean the excess amount of oil from the boots before you wear the boot in the morning to your work.

If you feel that the toe space is still a bit tight, repeat the process.

2. Heat from Hairdryer Outside boot make leather soften and stretch

This is another process that proves to be highly effective and not as much time consuming as the oiling process, but it has to be approached with extreme caution.

The easiest way to get it done is by using a hairdryer. Wear a thick pair of socks before you wear the shoe and start with the stretching process. Apply the heat supplied by the hairdryer only on the outside of the steel toe work boots.

The leather of the boots will become much softer and no harm will be caused to your feet from the heat as they will remain wrapped within the thick socks.

Keep wearing the boots until they are cooled down completely and afterward apply enough leather conditioner so that the leather does not look frayed.

You can use hot water if the hair dryer is not available to you and only if your boots are water-resistant.

3. Freezing water ziplocks expands the toe and heel area

It is another most effective way to get what you are after- making the steel toe work boots wide. Fill two bags, preferably zip-lock ones, with water. Make sure that the bags do not contain air and seal them.

Place each of these bags inside the steel toe boots near the toe or heel area. Place them inside the freezer and let the laws of physics do the job for you.

You certainly remember the phenomenon that when water freezes it expands. It will help the area that you need to pinch widen enough to make it comfortable.

When you take the boots out of the freezer, do not remove the ice bag instantly as its immediate removal will damage the leather of the boots.

4. Household Items like Stick can help to loosen the tight area

Another effective and easily available method is to use a stick whether is it a mop or a broom. You need to insert the stick inside the steel toe work boots to loosen the area that is causing you to wince as you walk.

You cannot leave the stick inserted for a long time inside your boots; instead, insert it in and pull it out until you can see the leather of the boots start to relax.

5. Stretching Spray loosen leather fiber and widens steel toe boots

Another method, albeit a bit expensive, is to use a stretching spray. The spray can be bought online or from any shop.

The spray helps to lose the leather fibers and widens the area of the steel toe work boots that are causing you discomfiture.

Use the spray on the boot and then wear the boot to your work as it will speed up the process.

6. A steel boot stretcher can stretch the boots effortlessly

Above all, if you are ready to invest a bit, then a shoe stretcher or a boot stretcher can perform the task most effectively in no time.

But I will tell you the most effective way to stretch your steel toe boots using the boot stretcher the most effectively: (Discover best shoe stretcher in the video below)

1.) Begin by spraying your steel toe boots with a boot stretcher spray. This will aid in the stretching process

2.) Spray not only on the outside of the boots but also in the inside including the insoles of the boots

3.) Now insert the shoe stretcher inside the boots and stretch it to the maximum limit and let it remain in the position for few hours

4.) Try the boots on your feet and see how it fits

5.) If you want to stretch the boots further, repeat the process from the first step ad try on the boots once again until you get the desired shape and size of the boots.

7. Rubbing alcohol can stretch the fabric

Stretching steel toe boots is actually stretching the fabric of the boots. So, rubbing alcohol can do the trick easily because rubbing alcohol is used to stretch fabric since decades. What you need to do is:

1.) Put rubbing alcohol in spray bottle

2.) Spray it on your steel toe boots until the boots are completely soaked in rubbing alcohol

3.) Now wear the boots and let them dry on your feet. You can do this by sitting under the fan while wearing the boots

4.) As the boots dry on your feet, the rubbing alcohol will stretch the fabric of the boots according the shape of your feet

5.) You can repeat the process if you have not acquired the desired fit

8. Wearing thick layers of socks for few days to stretch boots

This process will help to stretch your boots definitely but might take a few days to work. For this you need to continue this process for at least 7 days at home before wearing the boots to your work.

1.) Wear thick woolen socks. You might wear 2 to 3 socks as well. 

2.) Put your feet on the boots while still wearing the layers of socks.

3.) Spray boot stretching oil on the boots.

4.) Keep wearing the boots until the boot stretching spray completely dries on the boots.

5.) The socks will help to widen the boots and stretch them to the fullest.

6.) Repeat this process for consecutively 7 days at home.

9. Stretch the steel toe boots using wet towel

At first spray the boots with boot stretching spray and then insert wet towel inside the boots. The wet towel will soften the boots from inside and help to soak in more stretching spray and thus widen the fabric even more. Also, as the wet towel dries up, it will stretch the fabric of the inside of the boots as well.

10. Conditioning the boots can soften leather and take shape of your feet

This trick will work a bit differently; let me explain how! Conditioning the boots will soften the leather fibers and when you wear them, it will help to stretch the fabric of the boots according to the shape of your feet. Also, well conditioned boots are more comfortable to wear because they are soft and supple.

You can learn about conditioning leather boots with our complete guide.

Why Stretch Steel Toe Boots?

Experiencing discomfort while walking around in the boots, foot aches, blistering of your toes, and the scrapping of the nails against the roof of the boots are just the minor troubles that the ill-fitting boots can cause you.

But, there are bigger problems that can occur if you continue to wear them without stretching the boots.

Major problems like-

• • • Hammertoes
    • Bunions
    • Crossover toes
    • Corns will arise if you wear steel toe boots that are too tight.

Sadly, wearing the boots will not help to loosen them; you will have to use special methods that are necessary to widen the boots.

You can choose from any one of the ten techniques that we have discussed above to make it a bit more comfortable fit.

In Conclusion

Select any method for widening the steel toe work boots as it will be effective and lessen the pain that has become akin to wearing too-tight work boots.