Riding Boots - How to Make Them Fit

[carolinarider09]

I have been using the riding boots pictured below (not these exact ones but this type and brand) since 2005 or 2006. 

The boots pictured below are my second set.  I had to get a larger size after I broke an ankle (not wearing these boots). 

The actually timing of all this is a little up in the air but, in 2022 I used these boots for every ride that I did. 

Now, 2023 was a down year for me and riding (family issues).  Last year, 2024, was a better year but,,,,,  I only put a little over 10,000 miles on my bikes in the 2023 - 2024 time frame.  However, I could not wear these boots. 

My first thoughts were since I gained 20 lbs in 2023, the weight increase might have caused ankle and foot swelling.

Only the right boot is a tight fit..  So, today, I tired the right boot on again and it barely fit.  And I could walk with it on.   

So, my question is this.  Is there a way to stretch the boot to make the fit a little easier?  Is there an inflatable "thing" that I could use to stretch the boot, just a little?   

Oh, I would be happy to buy a new pair of boots but these Sidi boots are no longer available and they are great boots. 



And the "name" plate on the boots interior.



Thanks for reading.

[Oldfishguy]

If you can find a shop that fixes boots (shoes), etc, they will have the tools.  I have a dress pair of boots that I had stretched out.  It is simple mechanics like putting in a device and screwing it open further and further over a few days.

Now saying that, it didn’t take long for the boots to shrink back down to the original size.  I’ve learned to wear a thin nylon sock with those boots now.

Best of luck.

[GiG]

Not inflatable, screw activated shoe stretchers, I have inherited from shoemaking relatives.  Boot specific ones have a slight modification to the screw mechanism. I had similar fate as you with long time broken ankle ( recently rebuilt).  Keep ‘em stuffed with stuff when not stuffed with feet. Thin socks help too,  

[Jess from VA]

Like has been said, call around to shoe repair places and ask if they can stretch your boots for you.

Assuming they're leather, some riding boots are man made materials and won't stretch (like a pair of my Alpinestars).

Or, you can get them soaking wet, force them on and go walking for a few hours.  

(I think the shoe repair places also get them wet before stretching)

BTW, ordinary shoe trees ought to be put in all good leather shoes and boots when they will sit in the closet for long periods.  Without them, the toes will curl up over time.  I had to wear suits and ties to work for many years, and all my good dress shoes (now in the closet for 15 years) are still in excellent shape (in shoe trees).  Not that I will be wearing them unless I go to some wedding or funeral.  

My current dress up footwear is a nicer pair of sneakers.   

[carolinarider09]

Thanks Oldfishguy, GIG, and Jess.  I knew something like the tool you both mentioned was used for other things.  I will find a local person I can trust to do the job right and see if I can make them fit.  

I really like these boots.

[sidecarwilliam]

GO to Amazon and type in shoe tree and you will have many to chose from.


bill.

[old2soon]

     Glad you brought this up. After my lay down in 16? and the broken left ankle my Red Wing-AMERICAN Made NOT the chinese copies-dress boots are danged difficult to git up over that left ankle. What I usually wear for riding boots And the ones I had on in 16? are wallywurld leather linesman? bootds the use Only laces to snug up. Steel toes lug grips and Easy to walk in and good for 600 700 mile days RIDDING!  What all y'all laid out bout boot stretchin I see what I can do bout them Red Wings! RIDE SAFE.

[LadyDraco]

Sidi "On Road" ... 
My favorite boots.
They  changed  the style And  took away they used  the   hook ups.

You can try  the spray  Boot Stretch , I use to sell it when I  had  the  westernwear  shop .
   You can really  feel the  leather  ease..  When your  foot in in the boot and  spray.
You can also stuff with rumpled  up news papers.

[John Schmidt]

Years ago I broke my little toe on the left foot, snapped it straight out at 90 degrees. Pain was like nothing I've ever experienced. Once healed, it has left a good sized bunion on the outside of that foot so when I get a new pair of shoes that bump has to be addressed. I fill a small squirt bottle with rubbing alcohol and spray the area needing stretching, rubbing it in after each application. After 2-3 applications I get out the old "plumbers friend" (plunger) and stick it to the floor...might need to wet the surface a bit. With the rounded off handle sticking up, I press outward from the inside of the shoe/boot wear it needs stretching. Just roll the shoe back and forth over the end of the handle and maybe add more alky. After a couple sessions the bulge at the base of the little toe now has room and can be worn without pain.

[Jess from VA]

I also have a pair of the older style Sidi 'On Road' Boots Tracy.  But I just don't care for long tall boots anymore (although they are nice in colder weather).

I have a wide foot, and must get a properly made D or even EEE, and this makes ordering any without try-on a risky proposition.

These days, for riding, I want comfort and great traction, and a lot of motorcycle specific boots may be great for fit and protection in a tumble, but many lack good feet-down basic traction (which I need with short legs and heavy bikes).  And two pair of my bike specific boots give me very sore feet, if I stand or walk around in them for any time at all.  

The best pair of boots I've ever owned are 8-inch Danner Acadia (goretex) military style lacers, and that's all I ride in anymore.  US made, perfectly fit, very comfortable, tremendous traction, you can walk in them all day, and expensive as hell.  They used to be sold in military clothing sales stores on base, and I looked at them longingly but never wanted to spend for them.  And if you enjoy the work, they take a perfect spit shine.  

John, I develop calluses (bunions?) on both big toes, and occasionally the little toes my whole life.  From time to time, after a shower, I file them off.  Not with anemic nail files which take forever, with a Stihl power tool course stippled file, which can be a little uncomfortable but get the job done right quickly.  And keeping after them and not letting them get big pays off. 

[LadyDraco]

I'm old school the taller the better! 
I always wanted to add another 5" to the tops 
I too have a very wide foot. in tony lama's I wear a C width .
 

[Jess from VA]

I'm old school the taller the better!  
I always wanted to add another 5" to the tops  
I too have a very wide foot. in tony lama's I wear a C width .
  

Ha, I also have a couple nice pair of cowboy boots (like my favorite Frye banana colored ones), but high heels are OUT.  They make me walk funny, and I'll break my freaking ankles in them.  

[h13man]

I'm fortunate that my Army blacks fit perfect from day one but are a bit chunky during shifting. I usually ride with my Justin slip on boots.

As for prep on a new boots, the slip on Justins I drowned the lower leather with WD40 and let soak/evaporate for 24 hrs. before wearing. Silicone spray also works per instructions. Test for color bleed beforehand.

[Jess from VA]

I run heel toe shifters on both bikes.  So all shifts up or down are a down kick (no having to get a toe under that little shift peg).  And my legs are so short I'd have to slide up in the seat to reach under the the dang thing. 

[carolinarider09]

They  changed  the style And  took away they used  the   hook ups.

You can try  the spray  Boot Stretch , I use to sell it when I  had  the  westernwear  shop .
   You can really  feel the  leather  ease..  When your  foot in in the boot and  spray.
You can also stuff with rumpled  up news papers.

I did not know there was a spray to allow leather to stretch.  So I looked.

I found this spray and I will order some later today.  And I believe that is the issue, although they have been resoled.  Took awhile to find someone who knew what I needed to keep the boots water "resistant" as part of the resoling event.   

I tired them on, again, yesterday, for a short ride and I got the right boot on after some "effort".  So, the spray might well be the solution.

Only issue with the spray linked below is they want you to use a "boot" stretcher also. Cost, about $100 for my Sidi boots. 

We shall see.  I have the money, so just a decision that I have to make.




https://footfitter.com/products/footfitter-shoe-and-boot-stretch-spray?gad_source=5&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInbmdrcD9iwMVGS-tBh1ZhQMZEAAYASAAEgL2wvD_BwE

[bassman]

FWIW.....took a pair of my wife's low boots (NOT M/C or cowboy) to local shoe repair shop and he stretched them for under $10.  Took about a week.

[carolinarider09]

FWIW.....took a pair of my wife's low boots (NOT M/C or cowboy) to local shoe repair shop and he stretched them for under $10.  Took about a week.

 

[LadyDraco]

Once you have a boot resoled , they ALWAYS tighten them up!
You should be able to find boot stretch alone.
I would get the spray put 2 pairs of heavy socks on .
Spray heavily walk around the house...

   All of my shoe makers  have closed up. In the last 20yr..
I can't find any with in 100 miles from me now...

My Lama's & Boules , sure could use a resoling ..
So I have been using Herculiner brushed on the soles..
It works ...

[henry 008]

My son just got new work boots. They would be paid for by his employer (City) if he gets a certain brand by a locally owned company. He ordered new ones because they didn't have the wide width he needed, but when they came in, they were regular width. He wanted to return them, but they said it was a "custom" order and couldn't' be returned. His wife had the idea of filling a heavy bag with water and freezing them in the boot! It helped him to be able to wear them but not as comfortable as the right boot would have been.

[carolinarider09]

My son just got new work boots. They would be paid for by his employer (City) if he gets a certain brand by a locally owned company. He ordered new ones because they didn't have the wide width he needed, but when they came in, they were regular width. He wanted to return them, but they said it was a "custom" order and couldn't' be returned. His wife had the idea of filling a heavy bag with water and freezing them in the boot! It helped him to be able to wear them but not as comfortable as the right boot would have been.

That thought never crossed my mind (water expands when frozen).

I will try the spray and two pair of socks technique first but it is an option.

[Timbo1]

Not necessarily the most comfortable way to stretch boots but one fall we went to the Talimena National Scenic Byway and temps were down in the 40's in the morning and evening, so I wore a pair of extra thick wool socks over my regular socks to keep feet warm.  Was pretty tight getting my feet in but they helped keep my feet mostly comfortable. But inadvertently my boots were and still are a bit loose feeling.

[carolinarider09]

Ok... The FootFitter Shoe Strecth Spray arrived this afternoon.   Opened the box and read the directions. 

The directions say spray the inside surface of the area that needs stretching.  That will not work on my Sidi boots since they are lined with cloth on the inside.

So, I will put the boots on, and spray the outside and see what happens. 

Will update this later this evening (if things work out).

[Jess from VA]

Bill, even though lined, spraying the inside may get to the leather anyway, if it's a cloth-pourous lining. And it will dry out with time. 

I have a pair of Sidi 'On-Road' boots and I just looked at them, and the inside is a cloth material, but I'm almost certain there's waterproof GoreTex under it, and I doubt the spray would penetrate the GoreTex.

[carolinarider09]

I have a pair of Sidi 'On-Road' boots and I just looked at them, and the inside is a cloth material, but I'm almost certain there's waterproof GoreTex under it, and I doubt the spray would penetrate the GoreTex.

That is probably correct.  I am wearing the boots and I spray then every hour or so.  We shall see what happens later tonight.

[Jess from VA]

If you have some shoe trees, adjust them as large as will still fit.  Then stick something small in the boot (rolled up small rag, piece of hard foam, etc) right where you are trying to stretch it.  Then shove the tree in on top of it.  Spray again and leave them to sit while not wearing.

[GiG]

Define: “waterproof “
Gore Tex is designed to allow moisture to pass one-way. It prevents outside moisture from entering & allows inside moisture to escape.
It should not prevent the spray from the inside from doing its job 

[Jess from VA]

Define: “waterproof “
Gore Tex is designed to allow moisture to pass one-way. It prevents outside moisture from entering & allows inside moisture to escape.
It should not prevent the spray from the inside from doing its job  

I didn't understand that Gig, though I now remember it being called 'waterproof but breathable.'

It still might impede the spray from going through well, but it's certainly worth a try.  

My feet get sore in well fitting shoes (all day), so I wouldn't be trying to stretch them out with my feet, I'd be wetting, spraying and stuffing them to stretch them.  Steam might also work (but not applying a hot iron).  

[carolinarider09]

I shall try it and see.  It will be difficult to spray inside the boot given the small interior and the need to use the hand on the bottle to make the spray functional.

[Jess from VA]

If the spray bottle your boot stretcher stuff came in is too large to get down into the boot and use, pour some of the stuff into a small 1 - 1 1/2oz atomizer pump spray (like eyeglass cleaner). 

[carolinarider09]

I did not have a problem spraying inside.  The area was bigger than I remember.  I also got some shoe stretchers I have had in my "dress shoes" which I rarely wear (lace up black leather shoes) and they fit into the boots.

So, I put the stretchers in and then sprayed then interior and exterior of the back part of the boots.  That part is very, very tight and does not move (probably by design but....).  We shall see.

When I put them on this morning, I had less trouble with the left foot then yesterday and and the right foot was still very tight but not as tight and yesterday when I first started this process.  We shall see later tonight.