Tips On How To Make Big Shoes Fit Small
How often do we find just the right shoes that fit exactly to our feet? If we buy shoes a size down then we are bound to get numerous blisters, but if we buy a size up then our feet are gonna slip around and rub on the back of our heels and get more blisters. This is an unfortunate cycle.
So how can we make big shoes fit smaller? After scouring the web for the best possible solutions, we’ve narrowed it down to 6 that are highly recommended, depending on your budget and needs.
People Whod Benefit From Sizers Shoe Inserts
So yeah, Im giving this novel little product that happens to create big results, a 2 thumbs-up. That all being said, I do highly recommend buying shoes in your exact size for optimum comfort & fit.
Nothing will fit & feel better than your actual shoe size.
But ladies, I get it: once that too large shoe has been purchased/has possibly been stretched out/your feet have shrunken in the winter .
These fun little shoe inserts are your best bet to fix shoes that are or have become too big.
Now if Sizers could only make a reverse insert that makes small shoes fit bigger, wed be all set You can purchase Sizers as a multi-pack, or individually directly from their website at shoesizers.com or similar ones from Walmart.
Need more options for your closed-toe too big shoes!? Try some unisex shoe fillers from Toronto-based Shoolex.
Check out my comprehensive post on how to make shoes smaller, for all shoe types Some of these hacks might surprise you!
xo ShoeTease
Breaking In Your Shoes
Some people might try to break in their shoes somehow. Simply, you wear your shoes and walk around the house as much as possible. This helps your feet get accustomed to wearing the shoes to no longer impact your balance in the long term. Besides, this teaches you how to stop heel slippage in boots and shoes.
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How To Fix Shoes That Are Too Big
Generally, it is relatively easier to fix shoes that are slightly bigger than your actual size. On the contrary, one should not wear shoes that are way too bigger in the long term as it can be harmful. Likewise, it is also not feasible to shrink and fix shoes to a great extent. However, the following are how one can shrink the shoes that are only 1 or 2 inches bigger.
How To Fix Shoes That Are Too Big & Make Them Fit

The shoes were too nice to leave in the store? But unfortunately, they are a size too big? With our tricks, theyll fit you like a glove. Dont panic if the shoe slips.
Almost everyone has faced this problem at some point: Your feet are constantly slipping out of your shoes. Sometimes the desired size was simply no longer available, sometimes an exchange was impossible. But what do you do now? In any case, dont panic, because with these tips the shoes will still fit!
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And Its Called A Cobbler
How to make shoes smaller that are too big. Depending on the type of shoe you have, this could actually work better than you would think. Using your fingers, press down on the top of the shoe, right at the tip. You should have about one half of an inch of space between the front of your longest toe and the front of the shoe.
When you are done, you must apply a good quality leather conditioning product, so that the leather doesnt dry up too much and crack. Purchase the right kind for your shoe size. If you know how to make big shoes fit smaller than you can consider that big shoe.
Because of this, check the care label if your shoes shouldnt be cleaned using water, avoid this. Put everything in the freezer overnight. These are my tips to make your shoes a little smaller to create the perfect fit:
You have to follow some tricks to make the fit comfortable and perfect for your feet. Make the shoes a full size smaller with a few steps. Check to see which places on the shoe arent.
A cobbler can seamlessly insert one or a combination of insole padding, heel liner, tongue pad & heel grip under the original lining of the shoe. Between insoles, inserts & various shoe accessories , there isnt a lack of choice when it comes to gadgets you can use to make shoes smaller. But many regular insoles will simply lift your foot, rather than correcting size length.
I had already tried insoles, but they didnt do the trick.
How To Make Big Shoes Fit Smaller! Shoes too big, How to
How To Tell If Shoes Are Too Big
The easiest way to tell if shoes are too big is to try them on and walk around the store.
Putting shoes on
If youre trying on sneakers or dress shoes, the first tell is in the laces. If your feet are only comfortable when you pull the laces extra tight, the shoes are likely too wide for you.
Another tip when you first put dress shoes on is to try a finger test. If you can fit more than one finger behind your heel with your toes touching the top of the shoe, the shoes are too long for you.
When it comes to heels, you should have less room to spare. If your feet are comfortably pushed into the front of your pumps, you shouldnt have more than 1 cm between your shoes and your skin. If your heels are popping out of the back, they are too long for you.
Walking in potential shoes
Next comes the walking portion of the process. If your feet slide back and forth while you walk, the shoes are too big in length and you may consider going down a half or full size.
However, if your feet are sliding side to side, the shoes are too wide for you. Downsizing in length with wide shoes may cause pain and injury to your toes and isnt always the right solution.
Yet, neither problem is a complete death sentence for the style youre attempting to achieve.
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Wear Thick Socks With Your Shoes Boots And Sneakers
Wearing thick socks will fill the gap to make your big shoes fit. You can even wear multiple pairs of socks on top of each other to bulk up your feet. This solution can work with athletic shoes and boots, but wearing socks with heels will only lead you to a fashion faux pas. Also, this can be uncomfortable in hot weather, especially if you tend to get sweaty feet.
The Decrease In Athletic Performances
Notably, an athlete should wear properly fitted shoes to get all the grip and control. No runners want wide shoes as they tend to be cumbersome and heavy, which deteriorates their performance. The lack of support makes pressure concentrate mainly on the calf muscles and reduces the propulsive forward force.
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How To Shrink Shoes If They Are Half A Size Bigger
After being tempted into buying a pair of lovely ballerina pumps which were half a size bigger than mine, I was absolutely determined to find a way to actually shrink them down to fit me perfectly. I was absolutely in love with them, and their price was great too!
So, after some extensive research, here are some of the methods I found and tried.
Tips & Tricks Of How To Fix Shoes That Are Too Big How To Shrink Shoes 2021 Guide
Shoes are the quintessential element that assists in styling your look for a noticeable presence. No outfit is ever complete without a good pair of shoes. On top of that, it adds unmatchable confidence to your persona when you walk in. Sometimes, we end up getting shoes that are bigger than the actual one. Now, the big question is how to fix shoes that are too big.
In such a situation, the most feasible and economical solution is to shrink them. Apart from making the shoes smaller by 1 or 2 inches, it also delivers a precise and comfortable fit. Another best part is that one can shrink the shoes easily at home using only the basic things. If you are still wondering how to deal with big-sized shoes, this blog will help you out.
Contents
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Buyshoe Strips To Make Shoes Smaller
Buyshoe is a shoe manufacturer. It makes shoes for a variety of different brands. Buyshoe makes a line of shoes that are small in size, however, because they are built for people who need a smaller shoe size. Their shoes are designed in a way that helps people who have small feet.
Buyshoe takes a very practical approach to making shoes. They dont make big, expensive shoes that you wear once and then throw away. They make shoes that last and look great.
Your Feet Slip When You Walk

When you walk, do your feet slip inside of the shoe? If this regularly occurs, be aware that your feet are slipping inside the shoe because its too big for you. The excess space allows your foot to slide out, causing pain and discomfort.
When this happens, you may not realize that your feet are slipping because you have become accustomed. If there is also a gap between your biggest toe and the front of the shoe when this happens, be careful because it can cause blisters underneath your toes.
If your heels always slip out of shoes, especially while walking, this is another sign that they are too big and maybe too wide. Some people have narrow feet, and some brands like Skechers have mostly wide sneakers.
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What To Do When Your Shoes Are Too Big
Weve all been there: you wear a pair of shoes and theyre too big. You could try to stuff the toes with tissue paper, but thats not going to last long. The best thing to do is take them back for an exchange or return. In this article well explore what size shoe you should buy if your shoes are too big and how to avoid the problem in the future.
When it comes to shoes, you cant have too many pairs. But when you start collecting too many shoes, theres a good chance youll start moving them around more often than youd like. What To Do When Your Shoes Are Too Big, Here are three strategies to keep your shoes in the perfect state.
Shoes can be a hassle to buy, but if theyre too big, you might also have a problem. Whether its a matter of your feet changing overtime or getting larger in pregnancy, adjusting your shoe size is going to take some work. Here are the steps you should take when that happens. Try different brands and styles of shoes until one fits well enough for now Buy inserts like heel cushions, arch supports, and orthotics which will make the shoe more comfortable and help with any foot problems. Consider buying new shoes from a store with a good return policy because chances are there wont be another sale on shoes anytime soon.
Second Adjustment Tongue Pad
To get better contact between the tounge and the instep of the feet we will add a tounge pad. This is made out of leather with memory foam which not only decrease the size of the shoe, it also make the pressure from the tounge very soft on the instep of the feet.After the tounge pad is attached we can see that the lacing forms a small V. This is not something that always is preferred, but for our test person this is what he likes.The tongue pad is self-adhesive and is easy to attach.When the tongue pad is attached we can see that the lacing forms a V whic our test person prefers.
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Your First Step To Getting Better
At Gotham Footcare in NYC, we strive at recognizing your individual needs and desired outcomes while formulating an effective and personalized treatment plan with the highest quality care available.
What sets Gotham Footcare apart from other podiatry offices is our dedication to providing you with the education you need to make well-informed decisions regarding your care. Regardless of what your foot and ankle trouble may be, at Gotham Footcare our team will work tirelessly to help you feel better. At Gotham Footcare, we help you put your best foot forward.
Ways To Make Your Big Shoes Fit
Are your heels slipping out of your shoes or your toes sliding forward? Weve all encountered this problem beforein the excitement of finding an amazing pair of shoes, youve purchased the wrong size for your feet. You may be wondering how to make big shoes fit you properly, so you can enjoy your new footwear.
Apart from being uncomfortable, shoes that are too big can cause blisters, arch pain, and other painful issues with the feet. You may have started looking for shoe inserts or thought about how you can shrink your shoes. If thats the case, youve come to the right place. We have some solutions to help you out.
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How To Avoid Buying Your Shoes Too Big
Buying your shoes too big happens to anyone. Maybe you were being allured by a great offer or perhaps you tried on the shoes at the wrong moment. To avoid a bad buy in the future, just keep the following instructions in mind.
- Have your feet measured in the shoe shop. This will prevent you from buying your shoes too large or too big.
- Measure your feet. Place your foot on a piece of paper and mark the big toe and the heel. Then measure the inches between the marks and convert this to the correct size.
- Check the sizing of the brand. Every brand has its own sizing. It happens that you wear a different size of Nikes compared to, for example, Adidas.
- Try on shoes at the end of the day. Your feet are swollen by late afternoon. Are the shoes too big when you try them on? Perhaps you may want to go down a size. At the end of the afternoon, shoes are supposed to have quite a tight fit.
- Keep max half an inch of space. More space in your shoes means that theyre too big.
Discover the best deals on shoes
Use An Elastic Band To Tighten The Shoe
One hack that you may have never considered is the use of an elastic band on the shoe. This solution works best if you have at least some experience with embroidery or sewing. For this hack, youll need to stitch elastic bands to the interior of your shoes to constrict them.
This will require a specific level of expertise and a lot of attention to detail. Youll need a needle, thread, and an elastic band thats at least 12 inches long. You can use safety pins to hold the band in place as you begin to sew it into one side of the shoe. Be sure to keep the elastic tight as you sew the band into the shoe, and upon completion, simply release it.
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Use Tissue Paper Or Toilet Paper:
This is best for fancy shoes.
This is the second easiest solution. We have many patients who use this in their shoes, take some toilet paper and patted up, and put it in the front of your shoe where your toes would normally go. This stuff is in there easily, and it will prevent your foot from sliding around. This does not work as well in the heel.
This works best for heels, flats, and boots.
This is more for special occasions and is not meant for shoes meant to walk for a very long time, like hiking boots or running shoes.
Heel Liners For Shoes

Heel liners for shoes, or back of heel inserts, are 3 strips that secure onto the inside back of the heel of your shoe. Great to both shorten the length of the shoe, prevent heels from slipping out of shoes, increase comfort & prevent blisters. Does a lot for such a little strip!
These come in many materials, including gel, fabric & special latex-free materials. I found these nifty heel liner-meets-insole that will help make shoes even smaller in & around the back of the shoe!
Heel liners are a discreet fix for open-toe heels that are too big, especially if the sizing issue is with the length.
Check top rated heel inserts, below:
Alt text: various back of heel inserts for shoes.
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