We all know the saying “if the shoe fits, wear it.” But what if your favourite shoes don’t fit any more? Or what if that perfect pair is just a little bit too big?
In this blog post we’ll run you through a series of options for making shoes smaller. Whether it’s a much-loved pair that have grown looser over the years, a pair slightly-too-big pair gifted from a friend, or something else - after reading this guide we hope you’ll be able to wear them.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this shoe shrinking guide:
- The importance of well-fitting shoes
- Signs your shoes might be too loose
- 6 methods you can use to make your shoes smaller
- How to choose the right shoe size
The Importance of Well-Fitting Shoes
Aside from comfort, there are several important reasons to select well-fitting shoes. A good fit means your feet are properly supported, which helps you to distribute your body weight more evenly while walking. This reduces pressure on many areas of your body beyond your feet, including your legs, knees, hips, and even your back!
While wearing shoes that are too big might not lead to problems right away, your automatic efforts to compensate for the incorrect size can contribute to aches and pains that can flare up unexpectedly in the future.
We recommend getting accurate measurements for your feet before shoe shopping, to reduce the chance of getting something too big.
Signs Your Shoes Might be Too Big
Sometimes it’s obvious your shoes are too big: if your feet are sliding around whenever you walk, for example. Other times it can be a bit more subtle, especially when they’re only just beyond the optimum size.
If you’re wondering whether your shoes are too big, here are some things to look for:
- Do your heels lift off of the bottom of the shoe while you’re walking? Heel slippage can suggest a too-big shoe
- Do your toes bump up against the end of the shoe? If so, this can be a sign that there’s too much space for your feet to move around.
- Is there creasing on the shoe material? This can indicate excess movement caused by too much space.
- Do you have blisters on your heels and toes? The friction from too much movement can lead to blisters.
If you’ve got one or more of these issues, it’s likely that your shoes are too big. Here are some ways to make them smaller.
6 Methods You Can Use to Make Your Shoes Smaller
There are some simple solutions (like using insoles) and some more creative ones (using water to shrink them). Work your way through the list below and we’re sure something will help you to achieve a comfier fit.
1. Get Some Insoles
2. Visit a Cobbler for a Professional Resize
Cobblers are trained in the art of resizing shoes to make them fit more comfortably. If yours are too big, a cobbler can advise on whether or not they’re salvageable and carry out the work for you if so.
And if it turns out your shoes can’t be made to fit correctly, you can always check out our new-in collection to find that perfect new pair!
3. Wear Thicker Socks
Wearing thick socks with tight shoes can often encourage the material to expand to accommodate the size of your foot and help you stretch your shoes-they can also fill the excess space caused by a shoe that’s too big. Wearing thick socks - and you can adjust the thickness depending how much excess space there is - can reduce the movement of your foot within the shoe, minimising rubbing, and other discomfort.
4. Use Shoe Fillers
As well as insoles, which are purpose built to make big shoes fit more comfortably, you can also use ad hoc solutions to make shoes fit a little better. One popular example is bundling up cotton wool and putting it at the front of your shoe. You can also use toe filler inserts to achieve the same result.
5. Shrink Them with Water
We only recommend this technique with leather or canvas shoes, and the method is slightly different for each:
Leather
Dampen leather shoes with a little water, applied with a cloth or kitchen roll (not by submerging them!), then wear the shoes until they dry. The material should contract in size slightly, and wearing them gives it a better chance to mould to the shape of your foot.
Canvas
Soak the shoes in water, then allow them to dry naturally while you’renot wearing them. We’d advise a hair dryer or, if it’s a particularly nice day, sunshine. You want to make sure that they dry quickly, as staying damp for a long while will increase the likelihood of unpleasant damp smells.
6. Tighten the Laces or Straps
We’ll include this just in case, although most people will think to try this first when their shoes feel too big. Tightening the laces or straps more than usual can reduce the space inside the shoe, leading to a more comfortable fit. Be careful not to over-tighten though, as this can lead to problems of its own!
How to Test Your Shrunken Shoes
As you work through the methods above, here’s what you need to look for to see whether they’re working.
1. Sense Check
The most reliable test is to ask yourself whether they feel comfortable, or whether they’re still noticeably too big. If they’re very obviously too big after working your way through the list, it may be time to bite the bullet and buy a new pair.
2. Measure the Fit
Put your shoes on, slide your feet forward as far as they’ll go, then try to get a finger between your heel and the back of your shoe. If the gap is big enough for your finger, this is a pretty good indication that your shoes are still too big.
3. Walk Around
If you can’t fit a finger in but they still don’t feel right, walk around for a few minutes. Try to walk naturally, paying attention to how the shoes feel. Are your heels still lifting away from the base of the shoe as you move? If so, this is another clear sign that they’re still bigger than they should be.
4. Heel Lift
Stand still and move towards standing on tiptoes: do your heels come away from the base of the shoe? This is another sign, and a good way to corroborate your findings from step 3.
5. Sliiide to the Left
Stay standing still and try to slide your foot from one side of the shoe to the other. If it moves and your shoe doesn’t, they’re too wide.
That Shoe’d Do It!
We hope this guide has been helpful in diagnosing and troubleshooting shoes that are too big and testing whether or not the attempts to rectify the issue have been successful. Saying goodbye to a much-loved shoe because it’s grown too loose is a sad thing to do, but it’s better than dealing with the pain and discomfort an oversized shoe will cause. So, if you’ve worked your way through the list and discovered that your shoes are too big, take a look at our comfortable features. We pride ourselves on connecting our customers to shoes that are comfortable, stylish, and a good fit, and we’ll be happy to help you too!