Let’s suppose you bought a new shoe for your upcoming basketball event, and as per manufacture guideline, the shoe needs some break-in time, and you don’t have much time to wait, and you don’t know How To Stretch Out Basketball Shoes?
There are two types of stretch
How to stretch shoes wider
How to stretch shoes lengthwise
There are some methods by which you can stretch out your basketball shoes. Some methods have highly recommended, but they need some time for proper implementation. For few methods, you need to consult with your Basketball Shoe manufacturer to prevent shoe life.
The primary methods of how to stretch shoes immediately are
Wear them Casually
Thick Socks
Blow Dryer
Zip-Close Bag
Peeled Potato Method
Use Stretching Tool
Before look into the above method one by one, watch the below video for the detail description of Strech out basketball shoe.
Wear Shoe Casually
Most of the shoes are uncomfortable; they need to wear casually for a few extra days without applying any method; your shoes will be fine. At the start, you might wear these shoes in the evening for few hours and increase the time as well if you didn’t get the required result.
When you wear basketball shoes out of the court for few hours, your feet are trying to adjust according to the shoe structure. On the other hand, when you wear basketball shoes directly on the court, you might feel that shoes are uncomfortable.
What do you think is the reason for this discomfort?
The reason is quite apparent; the inner and outer surface is quite hard and stiff at the start of the shoes. With the break-in of few days, the basketball shoe will be comfortable for you.
Thick Socks
The 2nd best method which will work is the use of thick socks. The towel sock has highly recommended in it.
How thick socks help you in break-in time?
Thick socks will give you a layer between the shoes & your feet, and this layer act as a cushion. Usually, basketball or any other sports player selects the shoe size that fits their fitness or just slightly over. The reason behind this tight fit is the over slippage within the shoe. So if you have thick socks, then it will help you in the stretch.
Using a blow dryer to stretch basketball shoes is a common technique some individuals employ. The idea behind this method is to apply heat to the shoe material, such as leather or synthetic materials, to make it more pliable and easier to stretch. Here’s a general outline of how you can use a blow dryer for stretching basketball shoes:
Prepare the shoes: Ensure that your basketball shoes are clean and dry before starting the stretching process.
Put on thick socks: Wear a pair you typically wear while playing basketball.
Heat the shoe: Use a blow dryer set to medium heat. Hold the dryer a few inches away from the shoe and begin heating the areas that need stretching.
Flex and stretch: While applying heat, flex and stretch the shoe using your hands.
Continue heating and stretching: Repeat the process of heating and stretching until you achieve the desired level of comfort and fit.
Cool down: Once you’re satisfied with the stretching, allow the shoe to cool down naturally. This helps the material to retain its new shape.
Best Blow Dryer For Shoes
Now a days there are specific blow dryer are available for the shoes and as per my experience the best blow dryer for shoes are
As per the shoe expert, this method will work perfectly on non-leather shoes. This method will give your desired stretch result in one to two nights maximum.
Take a zip lock or zip-close bag and try to fit this bag into your shoes in such a way that no corner is without a ziplock bag. Now fill the Water into it and put it in the freezer. After 8 to 10 hours, the shoe will stretch.
How Ziplock Bag Work
Generally, Water expands a bit while became ice in a close vessel. The Water in the zip lock bag will grow, and this expansion will help the basketball shoes to stretch out.
Peeled Potato Method
If you are looking for a medium stretch out, the peeled potato is the best method. The technique is also straightforward to apply.
Peel one or two potatoes according to the size of the shoe and slightly mold it as the shape of the shoe and stuff it into the basketball shoe tow and try to match the exact shape and press a bit so that it can perfectly fit into it. Leave the shoes for 8 to 10 hours, then take out the peeled potato, wipe out first with the dry towel, and then with the slightly moisturized towel.
Shoe Stretching Tool
If you apply all the above methods and it has not worked for you, or you didn’t get the desired result. Now you can use the shoe stretching tool.
Types Of Shoe Stretching Tool
Some majors types of shoe stretcher are
One side Shoe stretcher
Two side Shoe stretcher
Boot Stretcher
High Heel Shoe Stretcher
Cast Iron Ball and Ring Shoe Stretcher
Toe Box Raiser
Vamp and Instep Raiser
How To Use The Basketball Shoe Stretcher
First, use the shoe stretch spray. It will help in evenly stretch and without damage to shoes.
Insert the shoe stretching plug into the problematic area.
Insert the shoe stretcher
Rotate the handle slightly to get the required stretch you need.
Stretch time depending upon shoe upper matter. It usually will be between 1 to 3 days.
Conclusion
There is one of the other methods that will work for you. Before applying any method, please consult with your shoe supplier. As the material and buildup of all the shoes have changed to avoid any damage to shoes, it is necessary to consult.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
Q-1: How can I stretch my basketball shoes?
Ans: There are some primary methods such as
Wear them Casually
Thick Socks
Blow Dryer
Zip-Close Bag
Peeled Potato Method
Use Stretching Tool
Q-2: Can you widen basketball shoes?
Ans: Yes, you can widen your basketball shoes to a certain extent.
Q-3: Can you stretch a basketball shoe a whole size?
Ans: Stretching extent depends upon the material used for the shoes, but generally, the basketball shoes or other sports shoes have recommended the stretch to half size. The indoor court shoe outsole is soft as compared with the outdoor court shoes, so stretchability is also different in both.
Q-4: Do shoes stretch over time?
Ans: Yes, Shoes are stretched out over a period of time as basketball shoes have made with material that has some stretchability which will increase over the period.
