How to Shrink Soccer Cleats: 7 Ways to Try At-Home
Knowing how to shrink soccer cleats can help your oversized cleats fit better, enhancing comfort, improving performance, and reducing the risk of injury. As a soccer player, from youth to the professional level, one of the best feelings in the world is getting a brand-new pair of soccer cleats, which are the most essential pieces of soccer gear.
But what do you do when you find out your brand-new pair of cleats is too big? Maybe the only available pair of cleats was a size too big, or someone gave you big soccer cleats as a gift.
Whatever the reason you need to shrink your soccer cleats, this blog explains various ways to make them smaller so they fit better. The first few options will not change the size of your cleats, but will make them fit better, while the last options will actually change the size of your cleats.
Try them out and see which technique helps you make your cleats fit more comfortably and securely.
How do you Shrink Soccer Cleats?
Properly Lace Your Soccer Cleats
One of the easiest ways to make your soccer cleats fit better is to lace them properly, and it is also important to try different lacing styles to see what works best for you. This should be one of the first things to check for when trying to make your cleats fit better.
Wear Thick Socks or Double Socks
If your cleats are too big, another one of the most effective ways to make them fit better is to wear a thick pair of socks or grip socks. Wearing a pair of comfortable, thick socks, or even using double socks will help your cleats fit better by filling the extra space inside them.
Really thin socks might make your feet slide around more in the cleats.
Wear Insoles
Similar to the last method for making your cleats more comfortable, this method will not necessarily shrink your cleats. If you don’t have access to a thick pair of socks or don’t like double socking, you can consider using high-quality insoles to help your cleats fit better.
The Freezer Trick
Now, onto the first method that can actually change the size of your cleats, the freezer trick. For this simple method, all you need is a plastic bag, water, your soccer cleats, and a freezer.
Place a plastic bag in each shoe and fill it with water. Place the shoes inside a freezer to allow the water to freeze, expand, and stretch the shoes.
Use Hot to Warm Water
The next technique for shrinking your cleats requires using hot water. For this trick, simply fill a bucket with hot water, put on your cleats with your game-day socks, and submerge your feet.
Let your feet and cleats soak for about 30 minutes, and you will find that afterward your cleats fit much better. You don’t have to use boiling water, but it should be hot, not warm.
Use Hot Air from an Airdryer
Similar to the last method, this method will require soaking your shoes in water first. After your cleats have soaked for about 30 minutes,, you can use a hairdryer to blow hot air into them, which will help shrink them.
Use a Dryer
The last trick, similar to the last two, uses water and heat. Begin by soaking your cleats in water for about 30 minutes and afterward put them in a dryer on low heat, which can help with the shrinking process.
Summary
To summarize, properly fitting soccer cleats are essential for comfort and performance on the field. Whether you’re dealing with oversized cleats or looking to improve their comfort, the techniques in this guide will help them fit and feel better.
In this blog, I covered everything you need to know about how to shrink your soccer cleats, your most important weapon and piece of equipment on the soccer field.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should soccer cleats fit?
Your soccer cleats need a nice, snug fit that provides a sock-like feel, but they must also allow you to retract your toes inside the cleats. There should be some space between your toes and the end of the shoe, neither too much nor too little.
How to stretch soccer cleats?
On the opposite end of knowing how to shrink your soccer cleats is knowing how to stretch your cleats if they are running a size too small.
Do soccer cleats run true to size, or do they run smaller or larger?
The answer to this question depends on the brand, which is why it is important to do some research before you choose a new pair of soccer cleats. For the best possible fit, get wide soccer cleats made of leather, as these will provide the most custom fit since the natural leather will mold to the shape of your feet.
