Stretch out a shoe's toebox?

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Synthetic materials don't really stretch. Unfortunately, you probably just need to find a shoe that fits out of the box.

Taking out the sock liner will give you more room. The Adrenaline is running a half size small this year. That's why you always try shoes on before you buy. Oh that's right you can't do that online.

Also you can try cutting about a 1cm slit over the first metatarsal joints parallel to the long axis of the foot. I do this to most of my shoes and it makes a huge difference. The only possible negative impact I've noticed is the foot getting slightly wetter in light to moderate rain,and some sand getting in when I've run across beaches.

The sizing changed for the Adrenaline this time around, everyone is going up at least 1/2 size.

Lughead wrote:

Taking out the sock liner will give you more room. The Adrenaline is running a half size small this year. That's why you always try shoes on before you buy. Oh that's right you can't do that online.

I just had the Adrenalines shipped to my house for $67.00. I wear 9 1/2 and felt same problem in the toes. I have 12 runs in them and have been jamming full water bottles in each after running seems to be helping. I also completely unlaced them and relaced them while on my feet.

I managed to stretch out the big toe on some trail shoes with a heat gun and some patience. It is a little risky - slitting is probably a better option.

You can also try thinner socks - there are some VERY thin ones out there.

I've had this same problem with shoes for years because I have a slightly wider than normal forefoot. Here's what I do.

1. Wear a thinner sock.

2. Put in a thinner insert.

2a. Trim off the outer edge of the insert in the toebox about 1/8". In most shoes this insert actually extends slightly up the inside of the toebox, taking up unnecessary room.

3. Skip the bottom eyelets entirely. Or in one or two cases, I've skipped the bottom two sets of eyelets. They're unnecessary if the shoe is already snug in that area.

I do all the above steps in almost every pair of shoes I own. When it's not enough, I'll add the following steps.

4. Cut a slit in the shoe about 1 inch long starting roughly where the bottom lace would be (but you've already removed it in step 3). Cut through the tongue, and the cross piece of material that sews the tongue to the front of the shoe and continue cutting into the mesh on the top of the shoe. The cut should be roughly in the middle of the shoe and runs from front to back. This cut will be almost invisible when you put the shoe on, but it will expand noticeably when you put weight on your foot. You don't need to go more than 1/2 to 3/4 inch into the mesh of the toebox. Cutting that connector strap is going to release a lot of tension and let the toebox stretch.

5. You should probably skip this final step, unless you are confident that you can do it without cutting into the mesh. Some shoes (not all) have a raised rubber rib around the toebox where the mesh upper meets the insole. Use a boxcutter or exacto knife to cut this rib off. Make the first cut as if you were shaving the material off the side of the mesh. Then pull that material off of very carefully cut it off without cutting into the mesh. Continue to do that until you are getting close to the mesh.

6. If there is a leather strap or toe protector that runs across the little toe, cut it off if you can. Carefully cut the threads holding it to the mesh. Lift it up off the mesh, and then carefully cut it off without cutting the mesh. The reason you do this is that the leather won't stretch, but the mesh underneath it can stretch. On some shoes, this toe strap is melted to the shoe itself so you can't cut it off. If you see threads holding it on, it can be cut off.

If this doesn't work, you should throw away the shoes. Running in shoes that are too narrow can cause Morton's Neuroma.

I just looked at a picture of the Adrenaline GTS 15. It looks like steps 5 and 6 wouldn't work. Those straps appear to be hot glued to the shoe. You won't be able to get them competely off and it will look terrible.

See if your Dad or an older neighbor has a shoe tree. They are adjustable & are perfect for what you need…..

I'm curious about how to possibly use a heat gun to stretch out a toe box. The main area I have an issue is the small toe being restrained (especially in my Hokas). I've wedged a saline spary bottle sideways to stretch it and its helped a little, and wanted to see if heating the side of the shoe helps, and how it is dones (I bought the heat gun). Otherwise the Hoka Huaka's are going under the knife and I am cutting a slit where the sole meeets the upper parallel with the small toe.Thanks!!!!

autoxfil wrote:

I managed to stretch out the big toe on some trail shoes with a heat gun and some patience. It is a little risky - slitting is probably a better option.

You can also try thinner socks - there are some VERY thin ones out there.

Re: the heat gun: Here’s how I’ve done it, but, caveat, it’s been a long time and more often on things like ski boot liners. 1. Be patient, and ideally practice on an old pair of shoes first. 2. You need a bit of pressure along with the heat gun – ideally a turnbuckle-like expanding shoe tree, or something like a broom handle that allows you to use a bit of weight (fix the heat gun in place so you can use both hands or get someone else to hold it). 3. Go easy because the different materials expand at different rates. 4. Hold it for a few minutes while it cools off, and adjust for material-memory. 5. A broom handle is handy but not the ideal end-shape unless it’s just for one toe – try to find something that’s the right shape. 6. It’s only good for small adjustments – if you go too far and overhang the foot bed it feels too weird, and you can ruin the shoe that way or by blasting a hole in them or something, so take it easy.

kmaclam wrote:

See if your Dad or an older neighbor has a shoe tree. They are adjustable & are perfect for what you need�..

Yes I have used a shoe tree successfully for this

fdr1031 wrote:

Otherwise the Hoka Huaka's are going under the knife and I am cutting a slit where the sole meeets the upper parallel with the small toe.

I'm not sure what you're describing here. I have the Hoka Huaka with the same problem. I also posted the 6 step process earlier in this thread. Here's what I did to the Huaka.

1. Relaced to skip the bottom laces.

2. Trimmed the outer edge of the insert.

3. Shaved the foam underneath the outer edge of the insert from the ball of foot past the little toe.

4. (Hard to describe this...) There is a ribbed area where the rubber outsole material comes up on the side of the mesh of the upper. It runs from the heel all the way to the toe. Using a razor edged knife, I trim this rubber material off to below the level of the insert inside the shoe. I start at the edge where the rubber meets the mesh and cut carefully parallel to the mesh, leaving a very thin layer of the rubber material over the mesh. I'm careful not to cut too deep to avoid cutting the mesh itself. I cut from the little toe down to just in front of the heel, but if you only have problems with the shoe being narrow in the little toe, you might want to stop at the ball of foot.

I'm leaving to run now. When I get back, I'll try to post a picture.

Stuff your shoe with dry beans & put it in a bucket of water. The beans will swell and stretch the shoe. My grandad swears by this method.

Agree - a spring loaded wooden shoe tree has worked well for me.

What a pain in the ass! I bought a second pair of Adrenalines and no wonder I had so much trouble with them. Does the Beast run small as well?

1) Sharp knife and scissors;

2) Cut off all material above the forefoot of the shoes;

3) Go for a run.