Imagine that you ordered sneakers from a foreign online store, and they turned out to be too big. You’ve walked in them and understand that you’re uncomfortable: your leg is “dangling,” calluses have already appeared, and in general your legs get very tired in them. You'll probably be frustrated, not knowing what to do with them now. This problem can be solved in no time: just insert special tabs into the toe or heel of your shoes to reduce the size!
Everyone knows that if you wear shoes that are smaller, they will press and rub, causing pain, calluses and corns. However, if the shoes are too big, this is no less, if not more, harmful to the health of the feet. And that's why. In such shoes, with every step, the toes have to involuntarily bend in order to stay inside. The constant tension of the fingers causes spasms.
While the toes are trying hard to stay in the shoes, the rolling motion of the foot is disrupted. Because of this, when walking, the heel hits the surface harder and harder than when rolling smoothly. The load on the metatarsal joints also increases, and over time the middle part of the foot will “cramp”.
Shoes without lacing and Velcro are kept on the foot due to a tight fit to the foot. If the shoe size is too large, it does not fit tightly enough to the foot due to the presence of free space in it. In this case, the toes move towards the toe, and the heel begins to “dangle”.
In order not to harm your feet when wearing larger shoes, you need to “adjust” them to fit you. For this purpose, there are special “reducers” that can reduce shoes to one and a half sizes.
Full heel protection for sports shoes: minus 0.5 sizes
- How much shoes are reduced: 5 mm - 0.5 sizes
- How to use: paste into the heel area
- For what kind of shoes: sports shoes with a heel
You ordered excellent running sneakers from abroad, but made a mistake with the size and received shoes half a size too large. During the first run, it turned out that the heel in the new sneakers was “shaking.” Instead of exchanging the product for another and again waiting for the package to arrive, or trying to return the payment, you can simply glue these inserts into the heel of your sneakers. They will “eat up” empty space and will cushion you when playing sports.
What to do if the sneakers are too big?
Sneakers and sneakers are primarily shoes for running and training, so they must be comfortable. The main advantage of sports models is that they are of a closed type and can be made smaller in a trivial way, for example, with insoles. Choose a thick liner to reduce the size and tighten the lacing. In winter, fixing the problem is even easier - put on two pairs of socks at once and it’s done. You can also put cotton wool or foam rubber in sneakers, but due to the increased softness, the filler will have to be changed often.
Absorbent pads to reduce sports shoes by 3mm
- How much shoes are reduced: 3 mm
- How to use: stick to the inside of the heel of the shoe
- For which shoes: sports shoes with a heel, fastened to both textiles and suede
If the sneakers or sneakers do not fit you, the heel will “dangle” in them, and the heel of the shoe will rub the heel area. There is a solution - these are soft foam pads. They will reduce the size of your shoes and prevent them from rubbing your skin.
Some tips for choosing shoes
To avoid all these problems and manipulations with your favorite shoes, you need to have the right approach to trying them on and purchasing them. Remember some tips:
- When trying on shoes, stand up and walk around. If the store has soft carpeting, go to a hard surface to maximize the comfort of the shoes under normal conditions.
- When going shopping for shoes, it is better to choose daytime. By evening, the legs swell, get tired and slightly increase in size. An evening purchase will become a big deal in the morning, and if you buy shoes in the morning, your swollen and tired feet will not be able to bear the new clothes in the evening.
- After putting on your shoes, try moving your toes in them. If successful, the shoes fit both in size and width.
- Choose shoes according to the season. If it is summer, let there be more open parts - the nose or heel. In closed models, it is worth looking for “breathable” parts of the product.
If none of the shoe reduction methods work, it is better to seek help from specialists. Shoe workshops will help you “fit” your shoes to size and do it professionally.
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Super-absorbent inserts in the toe of sports shoes: minus 1 size
- How much shoes are reduced: 1 size
- How to use: insert into the toe of the shoe
- For what kind of shoes: any closed-toe shoes, even tapered toes
Did the store mistakenly sell you a size too many sneakers? Dont be upset! Just place these inserts in the toe part of the shoe, and then the foot will stop sliding into the toe of the sneaker, and the heel will stop “dangling.”
Methods for different types of shoes
They allow you to reduce shoes, but when they are a little small, more precisely, by 1 size.
Products made from genuine leather
Leather is a material that can both stretch and contract. We have the first option after frequent and long-term wear. Due to constant pressure, skin proteins change shape and size. To reverse the process, you need to use a special composition. Spray it on the inside of the shoes. Then put on your shoes and walk around in them. As a result, the skin adjusts to the size of the foot, and the shoes stop falling off. It can be worn without fear for the health of your feet.
If your leather shoes are stretched out, how can you reduce their size? There are several solutions:
- They can be slightly moistened, then left to dry in a well-ventilated place. If necessary, the procedure must be repeated until the desired level of comfort is achieved. The main thing is to avoid direct sunlight, as well as proximity to heating devices.
- When warm water or boiling water is used, treatment with a fatty composition is required. Otherwise, the natural leather will crack and lose its shape.
- To shrink shoes, they must be dipped in a soap solution, after thoroughly stirring the powder. So that the active components dissolve, and additives from red and blue grains do not remain on the surface of the shoe.
To make shoes made of natural suede smaller, you need to choose inserts or insoles. They help maintain the shape of the shoe and reduce its fullness.
But there is a more radical method, in which the suede must be exposed to steam, and then frost. Accordingly, hold it over a pan of boiling water, and then throw it in the freezer. It will be possible to make the shoes smaller, but their appearance will be clearly spoiled. Therefore, if you need it without risks and experiments, it is better to give suede boots or shoes into the hands of experienced craftsmen.
High heels
If such shoes are too large, the problem can be solved by using heel stickers or special relief pads for the toes. With them, the foot does not slip out and the toes do not rest on the toe. If the situation has not improved, there is a workshop where they know how to change the last and sew in the width. The main thing here is not to overdo it and not to make your shoes smaller than necessary.
Sneakers
Sports shoes must fit exactly on your feet. If the sneakers are big, you will have to do something with them. Everything is banally simple:
- We change the insoles to thicker ones and tighten the laces.
- If necessary, instead of a whole insole, you can use a half-insole.
- There are also options in the form of special stripes for any part of the foot.
- During the colder months, an extra pair of socks will add warmth and make your sneakers smaller.
- There are other options: foam rubber or cotton wool. The disadvantage of such soft fillers is that they will quickly require replacement.
To fix the foot more tightly, special ready-made stickers are used. They are usually attached to the back of sports shoes, after which they stop slipping.
Advice! You can make your shoes smaller in a repair shop, where for little money your oversized sneakers will be restored to perfect order.
Open models: sandals, sandals
Firstly, with open summer shoes that are one size larger than the required parameters, you can contact a shoemaker. He will work on the straps to make them shorter.
Author:
Zakharova Nina Afanasyevna
I hope you like my article! If you find any shortcomings, just write to me about it! I am always ready for a conversation and will answer any questions you have, ask them!
