Stretching TC Pro's with hot shower... anyone tried it?

I've been blessed with Sasquatch feet, I wear a street shoe 13 and have had a very difficult time ever finding comfy climbing shoes. Sportiva's have never really fit my feet well, but I really want to like and wear TC Pros instead of 5.10 Mocc's for speed climbing/all day free climbing.

Size 46 is the largest TC Pro size, so I'm thinking about hot showering in them and leaving them on until dry, or possibly climbing easier pitches with them on while the leather is still wet.

Anyone have any success with this method, or specific success with getting at least a half size of stretch out of the TC Pro's?

Not basing this on TC pros but in my experience this doesn't work... You'll just end up with a slightly sloper shoe that still hurts. The problem areas don't stretch.

I guess it does depend on what kind of stretch you are trying to get out of them though. I had shoes pressing too hard on my big toe and the only thing that fixed it was switching shoes. That specific problem doesn't apply to TC pros due to the shape of the toe box.

As a rule though rubber isn't going to stretch in the shower but the uppers might a little. Water isn't good for leather though :/

As someone else with big feet I feel your pain

Just wear them. My TC Pro's stretched at least a half size much closer to a full size probably. Even when "they" say they won't stretch. I could hike in mine after less than 10 outings in them. Comfy but too sloppy up front. Hot shower will just make the leather crappy and do little for the rubber. Trust me they will stretch!!! Ordered a second pair full size smaller than usual and once broken in are right on.

If you want to stretch leather there is actually a product called "shoe stretch"

Actually just did a quick Amazon search, there are a bunch of choices not just 1 brand.

JeffL wrote:I've been blessed with Sasquatch feet, I wear a street shoe 13 and have had a very difficult time ever finding comfy climbing shoes. Sportiva's have never really fit my feet well, but I really want to like and wear TC Pros instead of 5.10 Mocc's for speed climbing/all day free climbing. Size 46 is the largest TC Pro size, so I'm thinking about hot showering in them and leaving them on until dry, or possibly climbing easier pitches with them on while the leather is still wet. Anyone have any success with this method, or specific success with getting at least a half size of stretch out of the TC Pro's?

Jeff - I'm in exactly the same boat size wise you are. The toe box will stretch some (but not a lot). The problem for me was that damn slingshot rand curves the heel in too much for my heel and does not stretch - it bites my Achilles something awful. If Sportiva would relax that thing it would be a much better shoe I think and might even fit we big footed people who are right on the edge of size 46.

Chris Rice wrote: Jeff - I'm in exactly the same boat size wise you are. The toe box will stretch some (but not a lot). The problem for me was that damn slingshot rand curves the heel in too much for my heel and does not stretch - it bites my Achilles something awful. If Sportiva would relax that thing it would be a much better shoe I think and might even fit we big footed people who are right on the edge of size 46.

I have the same problem with my TCs. They kill my Achilles too. I've found 5.10s fit me much better. I'm a 46 also. FYI, I got a pair of Pinks in 12.5 from Rock and Snow.

Have you tried the TC on yet? It sounds like my feet are bigger than yours (street shoe is 14 or 15 depending on brand), and the TC is my favorite shoe. I'm in the 46. They are pretty painful out of the box, but break in fast to be comfy while still tight enough to perform.

The shape of your feet will really be the determining factor. Sportiva doesn't really make any other shoes that fit me either (except the mythos, but that doesn't count), but that's usually because of length. I've typically found Sportiva to fit a more narrow, low-volume foot - which I have. If you have more of a 5.10 Anasazi (i.e. wider) foot, I'm not sure how the TC's will stretch. I have Moc's and the Anasazi VCS, but they are both pretty sloppy on me due to the width. And I have heard of some folks (as above) that just can't wear them due to the shape of the heel/slingshot-rand.

As for getting the shoes wet, I think the shower is overkill. For me, I need to get the shoe to loosen up a bit in the toe-box. The first few times I wear them, I might rub a little water on the toe area of the shoes and then immediately climb in them. I'm not soaking the leather, but getting it damp does seem to speed up the break-in.

Hope they work out for you! The TC has been the best shoe to come along for my huge feet in a long time. And as a bigger guy, my toes certainly appreciate finally being back in stiffer shoes. My attempts at climbing in down-turned and/or soft shoes were wrecking my toes.

A few careful slices with a razor blade will take the aggression out of the slingshot.

Gunkiemike wrote:A few careful slices with a razor blade will take the aggression out of the slingshot.

Have you actually tried this? I have thought about trying either that or taking a Dremal Tool to it and grinding/thinning it down - but was afraid I'd ruin them completely.

I did the hot shower thing with solutions, it worked. When I started I couldn't even put the on, now they are just a little too tight.

My experience with soaking shoes and wearing them til dry (not just climbing shoes, but work boots and hiking boots) is that's all the stretch you're ever gonna get, but you get it quicker than just wearing them.

Wet-stretch them and you can't return them. Wear them til they stretch, you still can't return them. If you do it, at least you'll know one way or another.

Same boat as you. My mocs sized down a full size stretched to fit like a glove. I wore them in the shower about 2-3 times. The TC 46s felt terrible until they didn't. They seemed to wrap around the foot over time--maybe 20-30 pitches of warm weather climbing. Not stretch but more like reform. Now I can wear them for 2-3 hours at a time before I need to take them off. I'd give it a shot before cutting the rand.

Chris Rice wrote: Have you actually tried this? I have thought about trying either that or taking a Dremal Tool to it and grinding/thinning it down - but was afraid I'd ruin them completely.

I haven't but a climbing partner has done it with good results.

What I have done a couple times - get some plastic shoe trees (old fashioned devices to keep dress shoes flat) and put them in the shoes with the heel part lined up with the slingshot. Adjust the length so they're quite tight. Store them like that and remove just before use. Worked like a charm on a couple pairs of too-tight new Mocs.

Gunkiemike wrote: I haven't but a climbing partner has done it with good results. What I have done a couple times - get some plastic shoe trees (old fashioned devices to keep dress shoes flat) and put them in the shoes with the heel part lined up with the slingshot. Adjust the length so they're quite tight. Store them like that and remove just before use. Worked like a charm on a couple pairs of too-tight new Mocs.

I do this on a regular basis (I actually made a two part "foot" out of wood that I can drive wedges in between to stretch things) - but it doesn't last all that long - I've got an older pair with slingshot - I think I'll give the razor blade idea a try and see how it comes out.

I just did the razor blade thing to a too-tight pair of shoes I have. Much more comfortable now. I made two slits in the slingshot, one on either side of the heel, top to bottom. If I were to do it again, I would probably make the slits farther forward, more at a point where the slingshot is running at 45 degrees to the sole, just to retain a little more security on the heel. Still, it worked pretty well and they don't feel like they'll pull off when heel hooking. It's possible that making the cuts all the way from top to bottom will cause too much of a weak spot. Time will tell.

I water stretch my new shoes often. The key tip I learned was to wear them around the house for a while, up to several hours if you have the time and then stuff with newspaper to dry them. I wear size 13 street shoes, my TC's are size 44.5. Stretched, they are comfortable for multi-pitch and all-day cragging.

JeffL wrote:...I wear a street shoe 13 and ... Size 46 is the largest TC Pro size

Could be that they are just not suited to your feet. I Also wear a 13 running shoe.. My 45.5 TC pros are the best fitting most comfortable shoe I have ever worn.

gription wrote: Could be that they are just not suited to your feet. I Also wear a 13 running shoe.. My 45.5 TC pros are the best fitting most comfortable shoe I have ever worn.

I think part of it is the heel - the slingshot rand cuts in differently than say my Katana Lace and other models that have a similar toe box.

Chris Rice wrote: I think part of it is the heel - the slingshot rand cuts in differently than say my Katana Lace and other models that have a similar toe box.

I admit I had this issue. It passed after two days out climbing

I bought the shoes yesterday, tried them on and they just but not as bad as I remember. I think I'll try the usual break in method of just climbing pitches and tolerating the pain. I'd they don't stretch nicely after 50 pitches I'll try water and maybe a slight heel cut. Fit what it's worth, I have a large heel that sticks out pretty far

mine only took 15 or so (pitches)