Q&A for How to Stretch Leather Boots

Yes. Wooden shoe stretchers are effective at stretching leather boots. Outside of taking them to a professional, it's going to be your best option.

They can, but it is better to just wear them since they stretch out faster that way and have a better shape (since they conform to your foot over time).

Rub a leather conditioner into the inside of the boot (I like Kiwi mink oil) and wear it as long as you can tolerate. If you are not initially able to zip it all the way, heel lifts may help with positioning. I know when I put mine on, I initially have to put my heel all the way down to zip it up to the ankle, then stretch the back of my leg and create a gap under the heel to get them to zip over the calf. Be as active as you can while wearing them. Do this until you have reached the desired size.

No, the leather will definitely not stretch 6 inches, and if you try, you'll likely do irreparable damage to it.

No, you haven't. You can get your boots wet to stretch them. Just make sure to wear them until they are all the way dry, otherwise the leather will shrink. Once they are stretched, put leather conditioner on them.

You cannot make your boots longer. They can be stretched for width, but not length.

It depends on the material that they are made from, but most of this will not work.

This might be a little harder because of the rubber on the outside of the shoe. You could try using a boot stretcher, but if the rubber stretches too far, it could turn brittle and start to break. Try stretching the shoe in small increments to see if that makes a difference.

Get a heel stretcher. It's an apparatus that can be expanded in the heel-section of your boots to make them wider. You could also try wearing thick socks when you wear the boots to see if that makes a difference, too.

Try using the freezing water method! Fill a gallon-sized bag halfway with water, then insert the bag into your shoes so that the water is resting in the toes. Prop the shoes up so the water stays in place, and freeze the shoes overnight. In the morning, take the shoes out of the freezer and let the water defrost. The expanding ice should simultaneously have expanded the toes of your shoes.

The hot water will soften the leather, but won’t stretch it. You could maybe keep the hot water bag in them until they get really warm, then put your double-socked foot in them until they cool down.