FootFitter Cast Iron Ball & Ring Shoe Stretcher, Spot Stretching Device, Target Stretching for Bunion, Corn & Hammertoes

This may look like some Medieval torture instrument, but it is actually very good for its purpose. The ball part goes into a shoe where a bunion touches and the ring part goes on the outside. The ball and ring are locked together and after a day or so, stretch the leather so that the shoe is more comfortable to wear. I have several leather “dress” shoes on which I’ve used this shoe stretcher and am happy to be able to wear the shoes again.

I gave this product a five because it is simply the best product that i have found on the market to stretch only the area of the shoe where it needs to be stretched. I have gone through four pair of not inexpensive shoes in the last year to find a shoe that that does not cause me tremendous pain. i have purchased the traditional in-the-shoe wooden stretchers with the inserts to stretch for bunions and have even modified the location of the inserts. while the wooden stretchers did offer some relief, it was impossible to stretch just the right spot. i had already offered to donate two more pair of new shoes that didn't work to a church when the FootFitter Bunion Stretcher arrived (sooner than expected) and rather than stretch my new 200 dollar shoes (still in the box) I thought, why not try out the FootFitter on one of the shoes I was going to give away. Well, I'm sorry to say, I will not be giving the shoes away. after a couple of days of trial and error i have stretched just the right spot on the offending shoe.A word of caution, as is stated in the brief instruction for use. Consider placing something between the ring and the shoe so as not to mar the finish of the shoe and don't try to stretch too much too soon. The instructions are simple and clear, if one is suffering as I have there may be a tendency to want to get the stretching done all at once; resist the temptation and do it in increments. I have not stretched my very expensive new shoes but from my experience so far I am confident that they will feel even better on my suffering feet after using FootFitter. I will also be taking some of the casting imperfections on the ring off to achieve a perfectly smooth finish where the ring will be in contact with the shoe. I don't consider the finish of the ball and ring to be an issue, and it may be simply a little OCD being put to good use.Other stretcher are good in their own right and I offer no complaints for their function or usability; however, FootFitter Bunion Stretcher is the only solution for my particular needs.

Due to being born with club feet and getting a number of other foot issues, I have had a LOT of foot surgeries over the years. My right foot now has a very prominent bone spur on the top, right around the base of the big toe. Getting new shoes has always been an exercise in pain tolerance for me while I wait for the leather to stretch around that lump.My most recent pair of shoes (New Balance 928 v2) was way worse in this regard than my prior "original" 928's, and the pain was so bad one day that at one point I nearly passed out just walking a block from the car to a restaurant. I had to go back to the older worn-out shoe just to get some relief.I'd never heard of a "bunion stretcher" before. I was searching for any kind of "vertical" shoe stretcher here on Amazon and found this tool. I am SO glad I did and bought this! It's taken nearly two weeks of maneuvering the tool around that area of the shoe (it's where the side, toe box, and tongue flaps meet and are stitched together) and clamping it as tight as I can, and I really need another couple of days, but it's already MUCH more comfortable than before I started using it. Now that I know how it works and how WELL it works, I'll be using this on every pair of new shoes I buy before ever putting them on my feet.Per other reviewer comments, I'm combining this with Moneysworth & Best's shoe stretching fluid. I clamp the stretcher on, screw the clamp as tight as I can, then apply the shoe stretching liquid inside the ring part (on the outside of the shoe). After a few hours, I tighten the clamp *again* to maximize the stretch. Let it go overnight, release and move slightly, then repeat. My situation is unusual, I know, and I'm guessing others who buy this will find the job gets done a lot faster. But considering my only other option would be a fully custom-made shoe that would cost hundreds of dollars, the time needed to get it fitting right is absolutely worth it!

I developed a bunion on only my left foot about 6 years ago after I walked 5 miles in wooden shoes that were not meant to be worn for long distance walks; I got in an argument with my then boyfriend (now husband) at a bar, took off on foot, and am now paying for it with an ugly bunion. To this day I still jokingly blame him for my "hallux rigidis." My bunion is not on the side of my foot, it's directly under my big toe nail which has made wearing some of my most favorite shoes out of the question. I like funky shoes...different shoes...unique shoes...and over the years I've acquired quite a collection of expensive pairs. They've sat unused in my closet for years because of my bunion. I've tried those silicone bunion protectors, but they did nothing more than take up even more precious space between my protruding bone spur and the leather of my shoe. I had all but given up hope when I did a last ditch search on amazon for the term "bunion stretcher." Let me preface this by saying I work in a library...research is my bread and butter. I've searched amazon many times for anything that could help me shrink or at least live with my bunion. I've scoured youtube videos and come up with nothing that really helps enough to make a difference. But when the term "bunion stretcher" brought up this device that I had never seen before...I gave it a shot. AND IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM! Today I'm comfortably wearing a pair of John Fluevog shoes that have not been out of their box for years. When I received this device, I slipped my foot in the shoe and used my index finger to mark exactly where my bunion was...then I inserted and set the device overnight and was amazed at how quickly and efficiently it stretched the leather. I look forward to FINALLY being able to wear all of my favorite shoes again!

Excellent quality made to last

Now I can get exactly the stretch in my shoes that I need. Previously the shoe shop did it and it was never quite right......and every time it cost me. This tool is so simple and easy to use.

I have suffered with gout for over forty years and during that time I’ve tried many shoe/boot stretchers some of which have helped a little. Over the last six months my gout condition has worsened because I’ve developed an heart condition and have been advised by the heart consultant to stop taking turmeric, which helped considerably to relieve me of the pain experienced with gout. However because it reacts unfavourably with the medication he has prescribed for my heart condition. I have taken his advice and so I was now looking for a shoe/boot stretcher that hopefully would relieve me of this awful discomfort gout was now giving me, although I was taking prescribed medication but although it helped to a degree I could no longer enjoy walking for any length of time. I felt optimistic that this ball & ring device would target accurately where the shoe/boot was aggravating my gout. I was right in deciding to purchase this device only wish I’d known about it years ago. Stan Williams

Agrandir chaussures

I needed it to stretch shoes in several areas (hammer toes). It is not as good as the bigger tool used by my podiatrist so is taking longer but hopefully will have the same result.