These shoe stretchers will make every pair in your closet feel like new .... minus the whole 'having to break them in' thing. (Photo: Amazon)(Amazon)
Finding a pair of shoes that look and feel great is so satisfying. But while they might seem like the perfect fit out of the box, a few days or weeks later might prove to be a different story. Bunions happen. Swelling happens. And sometimes shoes that felt fine for a minute in the store actually need to be broken in for longer wear. Fortunately, there's a simple fix for this common problem: Lanney Shoe Stretchers. These handy tools provide four-way expansion to help eliminate painful rubbing and blistering — and a pair will run you just $19 at Amazon!
These shoe stretchers work so well, it's no wonder they have little hearts on the ends!
Not only will it help your shoes fit better, it'll condition the material to make them feel softer, too!
Unlike the wooden shoe stretchers of yore, which can splinter and rot over time, the Lanney Shoe Stretchers are made of heavy-duty plastic and a metal shaft designed to last many years. But what really sets them apart from the rest is the fact that they won't just expand the width of your shoes, oh no. They can also increase the length of shoes that are ever so tight, as well as raise the instep area via the three included heightening pads. Plus, they come with 12 bunion plugs, which are total game changers when it comes to expanding specific parts of your shoes to accommodate those bony bumps. You'll also get a helpful shoe horn to make slipping into tight new shoes less of an ordeal.
Using the stretchers couldn't be easier — all you do is place one inside your shoe, turn the handle until it feels snug, give it a few more twists for good measure and let it do its job for at least 24 hours. Depending on where you're experiencing painful rubbing, due to bunions, blisters or simply a poor fit, you can place the bunion plugs into the corresponding holes on the stretcher block for extra wiggle room without affecting the rest of the shoe. Genius!
Most any type of shoe can be expanded using these stretchers, from flats and loafers to sneakers and heels. Just be sure to select the correct size — there are styles to fit women's sizes 5.5–12 and men's sizes 6.5–13. Choose from four colors!
Over 13,000 Amazon customers swear by the Lanney Shoe Stretchers:
"Bought this product recently due to the great reviews and it works just great!" raved a (now) relieved reviewer. "Recently my bunion has been rubbing against my shoe and my podiatrist recommended shoe stretching ... Followed the directions, and in 24 hours my shoe felt like a whole new shoe with lots of room. No more rubbing of my bone against the shoe. Such a great product in that you can have flexibility in your shoes without having to buy wide shoes. Highly recommend this product for people who need it like me."
"After foot surgery, I have had a difficult time with shoes," shared a satisfied shopper. "My feet were already wide. But now my big toe on the right foot is permanently swollen, so shoe buying is even more difficult. I have already stretched two pairs of sandals and I am now working on my sneakers. I am so happy with these shoe stretchers. Especially helpful are the small knobs you can put on the sides of the stretchers to stretch your shoes in specific areas. Well worth every penny."
"Works great!" exclaimed an excited enthusiast. "I used this to break in nice, new leather shoes. This made it so these shoes felt broken-in and comfy from day one. Highly recommend. This also came with a shoe horn, which is super helpful with new leather shoes."
Psst: This highly rated FootMatters Professional Shoe Stretch is another low-lift (and low-cost!) way to expand tight-fitting pairs:
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $25 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
