How to Soften Leather Shoes?

Have you recently bought a pair of leather ankle boots? After a few minutes of walking, do you realize they hurt your feet? This is not so surprising for leather shoes, as this material can sometimes take a few days to conform to your foot. However, if this feeling becomes uncomfortable, there are ways to soften and relax the leather and make it less stiff without damaging your boots. Discover our tips to make them more comfortable to wear!

1) Wear them regularly to soften the leather

You may have already worn your leather ankle boots for a few days, but have you worn them with thick socks to protect your feet? They will probably feel tight, but this technique can be particularly effective for softening the leather. We advise you to do this at home for a few hours, as it may temporarily cause discomfort.

2) Steam to soften leather

Leather is sensitive to heat. Thanks to steam, the leather will gradually soften. This is an old wives' tale that works particularly well.

Start by wearing gloves to protect yourself from the heat and splashes.
Then, heat water using a kettle or saucepan.
Place your leather ankle boots above the steam for about 30 seconds so they absorb the escaping steam.
Observe if the leather has become more rigid; if not, repeat. Be careful not to expose your shoes to steam for more than 3 minutes to avoid damaging your leather ankle boots.

1) Wear them regularly to stretch the leather

You've already worn your leather ankle boots for a few days, but have you worn them with thick socks to protect your feet? Of course, they'll probably feel tight, but this technique can be particularly effective for stretching leather. We advise you to do this at home for a few hours, as it may temporarily cause discomfort.

2) Steam to soften the leather

Leather is sensitive to heat. Thanks to steam, the leather will gradually relax. This is a particularly effective old wives' tale remedy.

First, put on gloves to protect yourself from the heat and splashes.
Then, heat water using a kettle or saucepan.
Place your leather ankle boots above the steam for about 30 seconds to allow them to capture the escaping steam.
Observe if the leather has become stiffer, otherwise, repeat. Be careful not to expose your shoes to steam for more than 3 minutes to avoid damaging your leather ankle boots.

3) An effective spoon for leather that is too stiff

Less known than the steam trick, the spoon method can be particularly effective for relaxing the leather of your leather ankle boots.

Start by grabbing a wooden or metal spoon.
Dip it inside the shoe and lift all the parts that seem too stiff to you to gently loosen them. The spoon is suitable for relaxing the heel, which is often the cause of blisters due to friction.

4) The hairdryer to relax the leather

Just like water vapor, the heat produced by the hairdryer can also help relax the leather of your leather ankle boots.

Plug in and turn on your hairdryer and direct it towards your leather ankle boots for a maximum of 20 seconds. The leather will gradually relax. Be careful not to burn your leather shoes by getting too close.
Then, put on your leather ankle boots and walk until they are completely cooled and they mold to the shape of your feet.

5) Newspaper to soften leather

Using newspaper is the most well-known trick to enlarge or soften a pair of leather shoes.

Start by forming newspaper balls and place them inside your leather boots.
Stuff them as much as possible.
Let them rest overnight.
The next day, you should notice softer leather and your feet should feel more comfortable.

6) The freezer to make leather more flexible

You can also use cold to make leather more flexible. Putting your shoes in the freezer will not damage them; on the contrary, it is a very effective technique to soften them.

Fill freezer bags with water and make sure they are tightly closed. They should be voluminous enough to exert pressure on the shoe walls.
Slide them into your leather boots and enclose your shoes in a bag to protect them from moisture.
Place them in the freezer for a few hours, or even better, overnight.
The water will then turn into ice and stretch the shoe leather.

5) Newspaper to soften leather

Using newspaper is the most well-known trick to enlarge or soften a pair of leather shoes.

Start by forming balls of newspaper and place them inside your leather boots.
Stuff them as much as possible.
Let sit overnight.
The next day, you should observe a more relaxed leather and your feet should feel more comfortable.

6) The freezer to make leather more supple

You can also use cold to make leather more supple. Putting your shoes in the freezer will not damage them; on the contrary, it is a very effective technique to soften them.

Fill freezer bags with water and make sure they are well sealed. They should be voluminous enough to exert pressure on the walls of the shoes.
Slip them into your leather boots and enclose your shoes in a bag to protect them from moisture.
Place them in the freezer for a few hours, or ideally, overnight.
The water will then turn into ice and stretch the leather of the shoe.

7) A softener to relax the leather

If none of the previous methods suit you, you can buy a leather softening spray or oil. These products have the power to relax the leather and also protect it from cracking.

Spray or apply the oil to soften the rigid areas of your leather boots.
Waterproof to maintain the leather's shine.
Be careful about the composition of the products used. Some components can deteriorate the material.

We have detailed all the methods for quickly softening your leather boots. You can duplicate these techniques for all types of leather shoes for men and women (chukka boots, chelsea boots, sneakers, derbies, etc.). Once you feel comfortable enough, we advise you to maintain your leather boots regularly to keep them as long as possible.