QueenT
Well-Known Member
Have any of you tried leather stretch sprays? I’m afraid I’ll ruin my expensive tall boots, but they are reeeeeally tight around the calf...
Leather stretch sprays?
- Thread starter QueenT
- Start date
dogatemysalad
Well-Known Member
Years ago, when I was a Saturday girl in Dolcis, we used to hold the open leather boot over a boiling kettle to steam the inside and then brutally stretch it over the back of a chair. Worked every time.
CanteringCarrot
Well-Known Member
There are people in this world, braver than I, that fully submerge their boots in water (usually the bath tub) and wear them until they're dry. This stretches/conforms the leather to fit your leg better and apparently is an easy break-in method. I'm sure with a condition afterward, the boots are fine, but I'm still too coward to try!
I have conditioned the inside and outside of an area of a boot, such as the ankle, and done all kinds of odd stretch maneuvers around my house in an effort to break them in.
Or I've seen a small stretch panel be installed next to the zipper by a cobbler.
Leather stretch spray sounds simple enough, but I've never heard of it.
I have conditioned the inside and outside of an area of a boot, such as the ankle, and done all kinds of odd stretch maneuvers around my house in an effort to break them in.
Or I've seen a small stretch panel be installed next to the zipper by a cobbler.
Leather stretch spray sounds simple enough, but I've never heard of it.
The Fuzzy Furry
Old Timer
It used to be around in the 80s, haven't seen it for yrs tho, but on using Google I see there are a few!
When I get new boots, I wear them for a bloody good long march about in long wet grass, then ride and allow to dry on me. Usually shoving down the damp calf a bit if I can.
Then I give them a very good treatment at least twice over.
When I get new boots, I wear them for a bloody good long march about in long wet grass, then ride and allow to dry on me. Usually shoving down the damp calf a bit if I can.
Then I give them a very good treatment at least twice over.
cremedemonthe
Well-Known Member
Same technique as making saddle seats you "block" the leather, cobblers to it too to get the shape of shoes. With saddle seats we submerse the seat hide into water for a few mins, then tack it over the saddle seat using bulldogs (saddler's pinchers) as it dries it blocks it the required shape, when dry it will have the shape.
AS long as you don't soak too long it so all the fats come out of the hide then it can be done and once done condition it DON'T oil it!
Make sure the leather stretch spray doesn't contain lots of oil and becareful of any linings that could be affected by water/spray if you do do it.
The old fashioned way that Cantering Carrot has mentioned was the way I was taught too, put them on and stand in a bath of water and wear them until dry, good luck, Oz
AS long as you don't soak too long it so all the fats come out of the hide then it can be done and once done condition it DON'T oil it!
Make sure the leather stretch spray doesn't contain lots of oil and becareful of any linings that could be affected by water/spray if you do do it.
The old fashioned way that Cantering Carrot has mentioned was the way I was taught too, put them on and stand in a bath of water and wear them until dry, good luck, Oz
Meredith
riding reluctantly into the sunset
Apologies OP for asking a question on your thread but it is (sort of) related.
Oz, Would this method work to help my boots drop?
I have been wearing them round the house for ages with no wrinkles appearing and they are still too long.
Thanks
QueenT
Well-Known Member
Well, I ordered the spray online now and will give it a go with an old pair of normal boots - will let you know how I get on! Wouldn’t dare submerging in water, but would try steam!
cremedemonthe
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't have thought so, the leather blocks to shape, so whatever it is stretching round whether a saddle tree or a pair of human calves, it will follow the shape. To allow the boots to drop you'd need resistance pulling them down and then even if you did, you'd have saggy wrinkles, they won't look nice. I have shortened long riding boots before, quite an easy job and even easier for a traditional cobbler to do, see if you can find any local cobbler who may be able to help when lock down is over.
milliepops
Wears headscarf aggressively
get some heel lifts/wedges and ride in them, it's the only way I have ever found that they drop in the right place but the lifts take some of the pain away. You can buy them in different heights depending on how much too tall the boots are.
Keith_Beef
Novice equestrian, accomplished equichetrian
The old army method of breaking in a pair of boots was to put them on, stand ankle deep in a trough of water to soak them through, then wear them through the day until dry.
When I had a pair of riding boots that were too tight around the calves, I went to the boot man in town: he measured my calves, soaked the boots and put them on stretchers to pull them out to the right size and then slowly dried them. I went back to try them on, and he repeated the process again. In all, I think it took about four weeks.
When I had a pair of riding boots that were too tight around the calves, I went to the boot man in town: he measured my calves, soaked the boots and put them on stretchers to pull them out to the right size and then slowly dried them. I went back to try them on, and he repeated the process again. In all, I think it took about four weeks.
Meredith
riding reluctantly into the sunset
QueenT
Well-Known Member
I was a little worried that the stretch spray would stretch too much - it didn’t, I could barely feel a difference. Steaming worked, though! I held the open boot over a boiling pot, turning it until it was warm through, worr them until they had cooled off, repeated several times. Comfortable boots now!
Falmouth
New User
Can anyone recommend any stretch spray brands they have used?
I have also heard that saddle soap helps soften and stretch the leather, which one would be best for this?
I have also heard that saddle soap helps soften and stretch the leather, which one would be best for this?