Vans are typically the size advertised. I purchased a new vans shoes in a smaller size than normal to see if they would fit perfectly. However, I found that they were too snug and needed to be stretched as I couldn’t flex my toes comfortably.
If you inadvertently bought vans shoes from vans store without checking the size chart first, they might be too narrow for your feet. Although Vans’ size chart is a good guide, sometimes a pair of shoes from them will still be too tight. If that’s the case, then you’ll likely want to know how to break in slip on vans.
How to Break in Slip on Vans
Vans stretch because they’re made of canvas and suede. It usually takes a few days before you notice any stretch, although heating them in the microwave for 30 seconds at a high temperature or using a hairdryer for 20 to 30 seconds might help you speed up the process. Inserting a wet towel, newspaper, wear socks, or shoe tree inside the shoes can also help vans stretch faster.
Wearing shoes that are too tight can result in a variety of foot issues, including blisters, numbness, bunion formation, inflammation, and heel pain. To prevent these foot problems, you must stretch and break in your vans using the proper technique. We’ll look at several ways to stretch and break in your new or existing vans in this article. We’ll also discuss how long it takes to break them in and why vans are so tight at first.
Do Vans Stretch Overtime and How to Break in Slip on Vans
Yes, Vans stretch over time as you wear them on a daily basis. However, this may take a few days to several weeks before you notice any significant stretch. Vans are generally constructed of canvas uppers with rubberized bottoms, which is why they expand and break out in only a few days of usage.
Vans Slip-Ons are said to stretch with time after being worn for a few hours every day. Vulcanized rubber soles on Vans loosen over time. Vans are incredibly durable and long-lasting, so canvas shoes will take longer to break in than suede footwear.
In contrast, the Vans authentic shoes take less time to break in. They have a canvas upper, low top profile, and rubber grip. Vans authentic are both comfortable and adaptable sneakers. Breaking them in is quick and easy due to the waffle outsole and canvas toe box.
Vans shoes are extremely flexible and long-lasting. With time, they will only get more comfortable the more you wear them. If your Vans have lace up styles (like Vans Authentic, Vans Chukkas, or Vans Chima Pro), it’s easy to make them looser and stretchier by simply adjusting the laces while letting your feet relax. While this method might not make your entire foot 100% flexible, it does provide flexibility near the vamp region where your toes start.
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How to Break in Slip on Vans – Quick Ways
How to Break in Slip on Vans Using a Microwave
Stretching your vans is easy–it only takes a few minutes in the microwave. Check out these quick and easy steps:
Before you put your vans in the oven, always check for metal fragments inside the shoes rubbing. The next step is to set them in the microwave on high temperature for 30 seconds. It’s essential that you take them out after no more than 30 seconds as leaving them any longer will cause the vans to melt and significantly damage due to overheating.
Be careful when removing the shoes from the oven. They will be hot, so it’s best to use potholders or oven mitts to avoid burning your hands.
Remove the shoes from the oven and let them cool for 10 seconds. While they’re still warm, put them on and walk around your house until they’ve cooled off. To make sure that vans uppers, toe box, and heel region are spreading out according to your feet, stretch your toes and feet back and forth for a few minutes.
After the shoes have cooled, put them in the microwave for 20 seconds. You’ll see that they’ve widened up after you take them out. If they’re still too tight, feel free to try another method.
How to Break in Slip on Vans Using A Hair Dryer
One of the most effective ways to stretch canvas shoes, including Vans, is to use a hairdryer on them for 20-30 seconds at medium temperature settings.
Put on your Vans shoes after wearing thick socks. Chunky socks protect your feet from the dryer’s direct heat and also help to loosen up your footwear. For 20 to 30 seconds, set your dryer to a medium-high setting.
Aim the hair dryer at the areas of the shoes where you want them to stretch, but keep in mind that you need to hold it a few inches away from the fabric to prevent burns. As you apply heat, wiggle your toes and back heels to loosen up the material in the shoes.
Once you feel that your feet can flex properly in the shoes, remove your feet and take the socks off. Try putting the vans shoes on again–you will see that they have loosened up. If they still feel too rigid, repeat this process 2-3 times until they break in.
How to Break in Slip on Vans Using Steam
In this method, we’ll apply steam to the Vans for a few minutes. To avoid burning your skin, take precautions such as putting on gloves.
First, boil a pot of water. Then, remove the cover from the kettle and place your shoes above the steam for 3-5 minutes. The steam will cause the fibers in your shoes to expand, allowing you to stretch them to fit your feet.
If you’re still not satisfied with the fit after steaming your Vans for 3 to 5 minutes, try them on and stretch your feet until you feel the shoes have been flexed around the areas where you felt uncomfortable and confined. If your Vans don’t seem to have expanded much, repeat this process two to three times.
Flexing and Bending Vans To Stretch Them Faster
Vans have a waffle outsole and a rubberized interior, which means they stretch more readily when bent and flexed. This contributes to the canvas’s rapid stretching as well.
With your hands, hold the toe of the Vans and the heel of the Vans. Bend your Vans inwards gradually until it develops a “U” shape. Stretching your Vans front to back is easy; all you have to do is grab your toes and heels and stretch them out.
How to Break in Slip on Vans By Freezing
You can achieve the same effect on a van’s lock by freezing it as you would if you heated it in the microwave. This is an effective way to enter a van without ruining your shoes in the process.
To begin, fill two Ziploc bags with water and tightly seal them. You can also use a second layer of plastic wrap to keep the water from seeping out. Slide these filled bags into your shoes, making sure they’re positioned in areas where more stretching is needed – like around the toes.
Place the bags and shoes in the freezer, along with each other. The water from your footwear will freeze and expand, resulting in your shoes expanding out in the areas you needed them to.
After a long day, remove your shoes and let them soak in water for 20-30 minutes. Next, take out your shoes and clean them with a cloth. Notice the difference in how Vans have stretched to fit you comfortably. If they’re still snug, repeat the process once or twice more until desired results are achieved.
How to Break in Slip on Vans: Other Methods To Loosen Vans
Stuffing The Vans
Vans can be stretched by tightly screwing newspaper, socks, or damp towels inside them. You can leave the shoes overnight to stretch and then remove the stuffed materials in the morning once they’ve done their job. Thick pair of socks work similarly to newspapers – stuff your shoes with them overnight and wake up to slightly enlarged shoes in the morning. To guarantee that the canvas shoe’s toes get a good stretch overnight, pack the ball of socks tightly into it.
Using a Shoe Tree
A shoe tree is a lifesaver for anyone who wants to keep their shoes looking new. They help preserve the shape of the shoe and can be used on materials such as canvas, suede, and leather. In particular, Vans are made from canvas – so using a shoe tree will make it look like you just bought them!
The shoe tree should be placed inside the shoes first. Bunion plugs are used to stretch parts of the shoe, such as bunions, toes, and side sections. The vented slot in the shoe tree keeps the footwear moist and allows air to flow through them, keeping them breathable. A variety of shoe trees in a variety of sizes is available.
How to Break in Slip on Vans Bottom Line
Without the proper method, stretching your vans is more detrimental than helpful. Not only does it reduce the lifespan of your shoes, but you can also get injured in various ways; for example, if you don’t stretch them using the steam or microwave methods, you run the risk of burning yourself.
As noted before, the transformation of Van’s shoes is attributed to suede and canvas. If you’re in a rush, zap them in the microwave for 30 seconds on high or use a hair dryer set to low for 20-30 seconds. For those who prefer the slower route, steam can also be used loosen up the vans. To make things easier (and faster), try putting a damp towel, newspaper , socks, or shoe tree inside while they cool off.
Using a shoe stretcher is helpful, but it’s best to use a two-way stretcher because not only can it stretch or break in your shoes, but it also helps remove odor. Wearing the shoes regularly can also help stretched them so they better conform to your feet. Now you know how to break in slip on vans, it’s time to rock your fashion.