Ah, it's so satisfying when the zipper glides right up. Thanks, Shoe Stretch! (Photo: Getty)(Zbynek Pospisil via Getty Images)
Tight shoes are no fun, whether they're too snug near your toes, press against your bunions or make your calves feel cramped. But before you toss that painful pair, it's worth giving this highly rated FootMatters Shoe Stretch a shot. Thousands of Amazon shoppers swear by this spray for expanding shoes of all types, from boots to sneakers, for a comfier fit — and it often takes just minutes to work its magic. Oh, and at just $10 for a 4-ounce bottle, it's much more affordable than splurging on new footwear.
These shoe stretchers work so well, it's no wonder they have little hearts on the ends!
Yeah, we're also wondering why we didn't have this sooner.
While you can certainly use FootMatters Shoe Stretch with a wooden or plastic shoe stretcher, many reviewers say the spray on its own is enough to tackle the job. To use, all you do is shake it up, apply a generous spritz over the area you want to feel looser, then wear your shoes with thick socks until they're dry. That's it! You can repeat if needed, and for best results, spraying both the inside and outside of the shoe is recommended. (The clear formula shouldn't affect the appearance of your shoe, but you might want to spot test a small area first, just in case.)
This spray can be used on pretty much any shoe material, from leather and suede to canvas and linen, and it also acts as a leather conditioner to give the material more softness and flexibility. Plus, it's effective on all types of shoes, including sneakers, heels and boots. Come fall and winter, you can also use it to stretch out leather gloves that are too snug!
"But, does it actually work?" you're probably wondering. Don't just take our word for it — over 18,000 Amazon customers with all sorts of needs have given the FootMatters Shoe Stretch their five-star seal of approval:
"I have an awful bunion," wrote a (now) relieved reviewer. "I have several pairs of boots and shoes that push on it and I get tremendous pain after a while when wearing them. I just tried this on a pair of ankle boots that I knew would start to push on the bunion. This worked amazingly well! I even put thick socks on to see if they would make the pain appear after spraying and stretching, and so far nothing. This product is miraculous."
"A dream for wide feet and calves!" exclaimed an enthusiast. "Bought a pair of leather boots that claimed to be wide-calf ... I couldn’t even zip them halfway up my leg. This spray saved the day! Sprayed it on the inside and outside of the calves ... and slowly stretched the boot and worked the zipper all the way up. Folded up a sock and put it in the back of the calves ... doused the area in spray to let it stretch and now these shoes are basically made for me!"
"I have a wide foot, so finding cowboy boots that I was able to walk in was impossible," shared another satisfied shopper. "I fell in love with a pair from Tecovas, so I bought them and then ordered this spray. I didn’t have high hopes, but oh my god, it worked. I sprayed the inside of the shoe and let them sit overnight. When I put them on the next day, it was like I was wearing my most comfortable pair of sneakers. I was able to wear them walking all around Nashville for a week! I’m so impressed."
And if you don't feel like wearing your shoes while they expand, you can use the FootMatters Shoe Stretch in tandem with these popular Lanny Shoe Stretchers:
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.
