Stretching leather boots!

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nicnag

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Another boot related query!

I have some Regent Cotswold boots which were given to me for my 21st, beautiful boots but traditional with no zips and garter straps. I had a skinny leg back then which is slightly less skinny now and boots are now a bit tight to get on and taking them off involves a living area door in the lorry and two burly men! But I hate to see them wasted so was wondering if anyone had ever had their boots stretched as a saddler did suggest it to me ? Does it give much room and doe's it affect the look of the boot?
 

Yes, I had mine done a few years ago, at a very good saddlery which has since closed down (??)
They measure my calves, then put them on some sort of machine which stretched them. Worked a treat, BUT, you have to keep them really supple and use them loads and loads and loads, as they shrink back.
My current boots have zips in them, and i recently found i couldn't do them up as i havent used them for yonks. I had to just wear very thin long socks, painfully got my other half to force the zips up, then just wear them all the time (even into town, under jeans). I put tonnes of softening cream on them, every other day or so, and eventually they softened, and stretched. Its rather painful to begin with, but it worked a treat.
 
I swear by Oakwood Leather Conditioner. Its available in most saddlers/shoe repairers etc

I had to be quite obsessive about stretching my boots, and had to get through a pain barrier too.

I put on a very thin pair of long socks, and did up the zips as far as they would go. Wear them like that for half an hour or so (under jeams so you dont look a right plonker)

When the leather has warmed up from wearing them, you will prob find you can (with a struggle) get the zips done up the rest of the way. (dont do the poppers or they will get damaged, as mine did) Then keep them on - walk in them - do houswork/gardening/mucking out/poo picking etc etc. Put cream on them whilst they are warm (wearing them) - put on loads, but rub it in well.

when you take them off, rub more cream in.

also, get them wet when you are wearing them, right up the legs.

then more cream, more wearing, more cream, more wearing for about 4 weeks.

Im sure my neighbours though i was wierd, as i sat on the patio, every day, rubbing cream into my boots.

Now, I have LOVELY SOFT BOOTS
 
This is the no pain way to do it.

Take boots, apply plenty of shoe stretcher spray then take large 2 litre bottle - Tesco value water is perfect and pop round some paper and insert into the boot so it is very tight. Next day, more spray and add another layer of paper round the bottle, again as tight as possible to stretch the leather.

Repeat until boot fits without pain. I stretched mine over two weeks but I have very chubby legs and needed a fair bit more room.
 
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