Boots are beautiful, but what if you get a pair of boots bigger than your size? It’s your foot’s worst nightmare.
On my last birthday, my best friend gifted me a pair of mid-calf leather boots. And, oh, how beautiful they were! Only after I tried the snug boots, I realized that they weren’t the right fit for me. But since they were so beautiful, I decided to try and make them fit perfectly.
My husband reminded me of the time our neighbor Mrs. Johnson helped me shrink my husband’s leather boots. Without wasting even a moment, I rushed to our neighbor Mrs. Johnson, to ask her for solutions to shrink my leather boots.
Guess what, her solutions shrunk my boots and made them a perfect fit for my feet. That’s when I opened my laptop and decided to help my readers with their oversized boots. Hello everyone! I’m Stacy Smith, and today I’m back with yet another guide on how to shrink leather boots.
Let’s cut the chase and get straight into the details.
Boots bigger than your size are no doubt agonizing. But, worry not! I’m here to help you shrink your leather boots in different ways.
The first tip I received from Mrs. Jonson to shrink my leather boots is to soak them in a tub of water. Make sure you soak them in a properly filled bucket, otherwise, they will shrink craggily, which I’m sure you don’t want.
Next, you need to put on wet socks on your feet and put the boots on. As such, the boots will take up to 6 - 7 hours to perfectly snug your feet. During this time, you can go about your day. But, you must be very careful while doing this because the boot starts shrinking the moment it is out of the water.
This trick is perfect for those who cannot wait any further and are looking for quick ways to shrink their leather boots to their perfect size. Don’t forget to treat your boots with an oil-rich leather conditioner to make them shine.
But, if you’re someone like me, then you’d find this process icky. But, worry not, I’ve got other ways too.
It’s time to put your sewing skills to use. Another trick that Mrs. Johnson taught me was to sew the boots with an elastic band. A thick leatherworking curved needle and an elastic strip will be enough for this process.
Insert an elastic band into the heel counter of the shoe. I bought the elastic band from a local craft shop, you can get one too. Now place it inside the heel and secure it tightly (I used a hairpin to secure it).
Finally, take the needle and sew the elastic band into the heel counter. Once attached, remove the pin and cut off the extra elastic band, and you’re done! Your boots are ready to explore town.
This trick is by far my favorite because it shrinks your boots from oversize to a snug fit with perfection. What you have to do is drench them thoroughly. Mrs. Johnson suggested a sponge or old rag, but I found them exhausting. And so, to avoid the mess, I use a spray bottle.
Spray water at a distance of 5 inches, and once drenched, wear the boots. If you find putting wet boots on your feet icky, you can use a shoe tree. Finally, use a dryer to dry your sopping boots.
Simply hold the dryer approximately 6 inches away from the boots and let the dryer transfer heat evenly on both boots. However, I’d suggest you dry those parts first that are loosest on your feet because they’ll shrink the most. And, tada, your boots are ready!
If you don’t have a flair for sewing or do not like your feet getting wet, don’t lose hope. Another tip that I learned from my husband is to wear thick woolen socks for ill-fitting boots. You can even wear two to make sure the boots fit perfectly. I’d recommend you do this only in times of hurry.
For your favorite boots that won’t fit, you can use insoles. For this, you need to buy thick insoles and good glue. Next, you’ll have to stick the insoles to the inner soles of the boots. Insoles work like a charm for fitting slightly oversized boots.
Finally, if everything fails, you can take your boots to the cobbler and get them resized. If your boots are too oversized, the cobbler will restitch them properly to ensure they hug your legs properly.
He’ll take your boots, measure the size of your feet and do his magic on your boots. But, keep in mind, the visit to the cobbler might be time-consuming as well as expensive in comparison to DIY hacks. However, if you aren’t confident in shrinking the leather boots yourself, I’d suggest you let the cobbler tackle it.
Leather boots are perfect if you’re looking for stylish yet durable boots. I personally love them because they are such a great fit and offer comfort. But ill-fitting boots are a big no-no.
Life’s too short to wear uncomfortable, oversized boots. Try the tips and tricks that I’ve mentioned above and shrink your leather boots to the perfect size. While shrinking your boots, make sure you handle them with care. Also, make sure you treat your boots with a leather conditioner to maintain their health.
With that, I come to the end of my guide. Let me know which one’s your favorite hack to shrink your boots.
Until then, take care!
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