Have you ever found yourself walking around in shoes that don’t fit quite right? Maybe your feet keep slipping out of them, or your toes painfully press forward into the toe box. Ill-fitted shoes can lead to discomfort, including blisters, bunions, and arch pain—often leaving you unable to wear your favorite footwear.

If you’re grappling with these issues and wondering how to alter your shoelaces or make oversized shoes fit better, you’re in the right place!

In this guide, we’ll share practical tips and hacks for dealing with big shoes. Whether you’ve purchased shoes for wider feet and missed the exchange period or simply want clever solutions to make oversized footwear more wearable, we’ve got you covered.

Why not skip the hassle altogether? Opt for shoes designed with comfort and versatility in mind, like Vessi Shoes. Vessi’s lightweight, waterproof sneakers adapt seamlessly to your feet while providing a secure fit, making them a perfect choice if you’ve previously struggled with ill-fitted footwear.

8 Too Big Shoes Hacks

1. Shrink Shoes with Water

If you have shoes that are too big, you can always attempt to shrink them using water. However, before trying this hack, make sure to read the dos and don’ts on the box, especially if the shoes are leather-made. Here's what you'll need: water, a spray bottle or empty bucket, socks, and a hairdryer.

The process is simple: wet the shoes. If they’re leather, use a spray bottle; if they’re canvas, place the shoes in a bucket of water for an hour. Then, either use a hairdryer or leave it out in the sun to dry (don’t use it on leather shoes, as it may damage them). After drying, try them on. If the shoes still don’t fit, repeat the process. Once they fit properly, polish or condition the shoes, especially if they’re made from leather.

Pro-Tips

• Wearing them while they dry can result in a snugger fit for leather shoes. This method works particularly well with the shoes-too-big hack.

2. Wear Thick Socks

If your shoes are only half a size too big, thick socks are a great solution. This is one of the easiest ways to make oversized shoes fit better. You can also swap a sheer or slim dress sock for a thicker crew sock.

If it’s winter or cold at night, layering additional pairs of socks can provide extra insulation while helping the shoes fit snugly. However, keep in mind that while this method addresses the length of the shoe, it may also make the fit tighter around the width, which could be uncomfortable.

Pro Tips

• This trick works best for athletic boots or casual shoes, but it’s not ideal for dress shoes.

• If it’s hot outside, avoid this hack, as wearing thick socks will likely make you uncomfortable.

3. Use Stuffing

If you don’t have socks or insoles available and don’t have time to find a pair, you can use cotton, toilet paper, thin rags, or even tissue paper to fill the space around your foot before securing the footwear properly. Placing the material in the toe section is also an option. This will help prevent your foot from moving forward and backward, which is a common cause of blisters.

Pro-Tips

• Stuffing is a common hack for oversized boots and also works well with flats and closed-toe-heeled shoes.

• Avoid using this method for long walks or exercise, as it may cause discomfort.

4. Use Balls of Footpads

The balls of footpads are equal to insoles but much more comfortable to wear than insoles. They are also cheaper and easy to come by.

Pro-Tips

• Ball-of-foot pads are very useful on larger sized heels and flats.

• Since these are available in various colors, these can be matched with the color of your bigger size shoe.

5. Try Insoles

Insoles offer an excellent solution for shoe sizing troubles caused by discomfort, shoe structure, or extra shoe size. The wide variety of insoles available on the market offers consumers convenient and cost-effective options to improve the fit of their footwear. Using two to three layers of thin foam insoles will give you additional firmness along with support.

Pro-Tips

• Always try the insole with the oversized shoes before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.

• Insoles work particularly well with dress shoes, heeled shoes, and open-toed shoes that are slightly too big.

6. Add Elastic Band Inside

Stitching elastic bands at the back side of shoes will assist in gathering the whole shoe snugly to your feet if they are wide. When sewing elastic to the sides you will need a sturdy elastic to hold the shoe up.

Pro-Tips

• Both the shrinking hacks can be used in conjunction with the elastic hacks, which are for shoes that are loose. This can be used as Sneakers too big hack and as Boots too big hack particularly for Ankle Length Chukka/Derby boots.

7. Use Shoe Fillers

There are a variety of shoe fillers available on the market, made from materials like silicone, polyurethane, and more. These fillers are inserted into the toe box of the shoe, reducing its length by a few centimeters.

Pro Tips

• Most cost-effective too big shoes hack.

• Combining fillers with heel liners helps to make this larger shoe-size solution a very comfortable one.

• Compatible with any type of shoe.

8. Seek Professional Advice

If none of these hacks for shoes that are too big are working for you, consult a cobbler or visit an online shop where you typically buy your regular shoe size. This will save you from wasting time searching for more shoe hacks for oversized footwear.

Final Take

Finding the perfect fit for oversized shoes can be a challenge, but with these hacks, you’ll have your shoes fitting better in no time. From using thick socks to trying insoles, there are plenty of ways to adjust your shoes for added comfort and support. If all else fails, consider seeking professional help to ensure you get the most out of your footwear. And remember, shoes like Vessi's provide a seamless, comfortable fit right from the start, eliminating the need for complicated hacks in the future!