High Heel Shoe Stretcher

Why You Need One

Maybe your shoes are just too tight and there's nothing going on with your feet or toes. Or perhaps you have bunions, hammer toes, calluses, or corns. They, too, can make a pair of shoes that used to fit become a nightmare overnight.

A shoe stretcher can eliminate at least part of your foot discomfort by creating more space for your foot—and your foot afflictions, if applicable. You can even get bunion-specific stretchers that make extra room in the appropriate area and leave the rest alone.

Shoe-stretching types include:

• Width Stretcher
• Two-Way Shoe Stretcher
• Vamp Stretcher
• Toe Stretcher

Using a High Heel Shoe Stretcher

So now that you know you need a shoe stretcher for your heels, you need to figure out how to use one. That's not hard at all, but you'll need to take it slow. First, decide if you need to stretch the width, the length, the width and length, the toes, or the instep (vamp). There's an extended shoe stretching how-to chart on Heeling Touch, but here's the breakdown:

For Width

It takes some time! You'll need to apply liquid shoe stretcher to the area first, then insert your shoe stretcher. If you're stretching for the sake of bunion relief, use the bunion attachment; if you just need a wider shoe all around, don't use the attachments. Slowly turn the handle of the stretcher and let the shoe—and stretcher—set overnight. When you want to remove the stretcher, turn the handle the opposite direction.

For Width and Length

There's a specific shoe stretcher for changing both width and length of a shoe. As before, use your liquid shoe stretcher and insert the stretching device. There will be two handles—one for width adjustments and one for length. You'll turn the width handle a few turns, then begin with the length portion until you can see pressure from the outside of the shoe. Leave the stretcher in the shoe overnight, and take care when removing it. That means turn the handles the opposite way of how you put them in rather than pulling them straight out of the shoe.

For Length

Skip the width portion under the "Width and Length section and there you have it: Longer shoes, no extra width.

For Toes

If your toes are feeling squeezed, you can open up the area by using a special stretcher. It's not a high heel shoe stretcher, per se. This type of stretcher is marketed as a method of stretching the toe area of the shoe. This one's especially nice for those with hammertoes. Again, use your shoe stretching liquid at the point that needs to stretch and insert the device all the way. Turn the handle slowly and wait overnight.

===For Vamp===' This is for the girls with high insteps. You'll need more room between the sole and top of the shoe to accommodate your high arches. Similar to changing the length of a shoe, changing the "height" will require you to turn the handle until you see pressure building at the surface of the shoe. This type of stretching is most common in boots.

Find Yours Now

At Heeling Touch, you can have your pick of shoe stretchers. While you may not use the high heel stretcher only when it comes to stretching out your tallest pumps, boots, or other styles of shoes, you can get one specifically meant for high heels here. It's $29.95 and comes in sizes small, medium, and large. You won't need to buy a right one and a left one; one stretcher works for both shoes. The site advises that it's for professional use only, and you should seriously consider using their Liquid Shoe Stretch product for your shoes.

Amazon.com always comes to the rescue these days. Believe it or not, they also have high heel shoe stretchers. Expect to pay roughly $20 plus shipping. The model available from ShoeMix via Amazon is made of hardwood, meant for shoes with heels from 1.5-4.0", includes two pressure relief plugs, and fits either shoe.

eMocs has a stretcher made of maple for $29.95 with $7.50 shipping. It's available in sizes 4.5-6, 6.5-8, and 8.5+.

Shoe and Foot Care has a stretcher for $18.95 with a similar sizing scale to the one on eMocs. There's no need to buy two; this one fits either the left or right shoe. You can also buy shoe stretch spray right on the same page.