We have heard about people attempting to stretch their soccer cleats or hiking boots. But, do you know that you can stretch your soccer socks too?
One of the most conspicuous pieces of equipment worn by players is the socks. Unless you’re a follower of the sport, watching grown-ups run around a field in shorts and long drawn socks may seem comical and weird.
Yet, this piece of equipment has its place of importance in the sport. If there was ever any doubt, its inclusion as part of the list of compulsory equipment by the game’s governing bodies clears it all.
Since the foot produces more sweat than most body areas, soccer socks are made of materials that help absorb the sweat. This, inadvertently, prevents slippage of the feet in cleats.
On the other hand, socks help provide warmth to the feet during cold weather. However, with all of these benefits, socks are not known to be always comfortable.
Soccer socks manufacturers design socks with a perfect fit to keep shin guards in place. As a result, soccer players with bigger calves, ankles, and toes would normally experience discomfort running around the pitch.
The article focuses on ideal ways to stretch soccer socks properly.
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How to stretch soccer socks?
Soccer socks are commonly made from cotton, nylon, polyester, and other synthetic-fiber materials. This makes it easy to stretch and adjust their sizes.
There are several proven ways to stretch soccer socks. The socks’ material plays a vital part in the preferred method to use.
To effectively stretch a sock, you’ll need a better understanding of the parts of a sock. This helps you know the areas to focus on when stretching the socks.
- Cuff/Band: This is the top part of the sock. It holds the sock firmly to the calves of the leg.
- Leg: The main part of the socks that extends out of the cleat. This is the part that covers and holds the shin guards in place.
- Heel: An L-shaped cup pocket that connects the Leg part to the foot. It’s designed to have a good fit to hold the heels and keep the socks in place.
- Instep: It lies on the opposite side of the heel, on the top part of the foot. It helps create a good fit for the ankles.
- Foot & Gusset: The part of socks that covers the foot. It runs horizontally to the leg part.
- Toe: As the name suggests, it is the part of the socks that covers the toes. It is also the sock part with a seam to prevent the foot from slipping out.
If you are currently experiencing discomfort with your socks, it’s usually in one or more of these sock parts. To properly stretch a soccer sock, you can use any or a combination of these methods.
The heat method
Heat causes most of the materials used in making soccer socks to expand. You can apply heat with hot iron, hot water, or blow dryer.
Using hot iron
When using this particular heat method, the focus should be on the elastic band in the cuff area of the sock. When socks are too tight, one of the first culprits is this elastic band.
Without the steam feature, place the hot iron on the cuff area. Keep it pressed on each side for about a minute or two.
Some may advise wearing the socks immediately to expand the band. Still, this could result in skin burns for people with sensitive skin. The best way to stretch it is to immediately hold the band with both hands and stretch in opposite directions.
After pulling apart for about a minute, you can check to see if you’re satisfied with the new size. If it’s still too tight, repeat the process and pull harder.
You don’t have to worry about ripping the socks apart. Not only are you not that powerful, but for quality socks, only the elastic band is affected — the covering material will hold and conform to the new band size.
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Using hot water
There are a couple of ways to achieve maximum results when using hot water. You can incorporate them all if you’re not getting the proper stretch.
You can wash them with hot water in the washing machine for about 15 minutes. However, it would be best to refer to the recommended washing instructions on the socks to avoid damaging the material.
When the washing cycle is over, wear the socks around the house as it’s still warm and wet to allow them to stretch and conform to the shape of your calf and foot.
Another way is to hand-wash the socks—all of that hand-twisting tugs on the warm material and cause a stretch. Then, you can choose to dry them after a rinse or wear them for more expansion.
Blow dryer
The heat from the dryer can be used to cause a stretch in the sock material. You have to ensure you don’t hurt or burn yourself while working with the dryer.
Hold up the socks and introduce heat on the materials by moving the blow dryer to individual spots on the socks. For each sock area, use the blower for about 3-5 minutes.
If you’re satisfied with the stretch, you can either wear the socks to cool off or leave them to cool. You can also combine manual hand stretch as you introduce heat into areas of the socks.
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The hand manipulation method
This is the go-to method to stretch soccer socks. However, depending on the construction material of the sock, the success of the method varies.
With a better understanding of the parts of a sock, this method focuses on its pressure points. These are the cuff, heel, instep, and toe parts.
Cuff stretch
Get yourself in a comfortable position for tugging. Place the four fingers of each hand into the socks at opposite ends. Then, with the thumbs outside the socks, pull hard on the cuff area in opposite directions.
You’ll feel the band stretch out a bit but not significantly. Keep pulling until you feel the elastic in the band begin to break away. Don’t worry, the elastic is designed to handle the stretch.
Depending on the amount of stretch you need, it may take a little while (at least 5 minutes) of pulling to begin to get results.
Heel and instep stretch
Both of these areas function to give a snug fit on the ankles. If you need to stretch your soccer socks, chances are you’re having discomfort in this area too.
You can hold both ends (heel and instep) from the outside of the socks and pull apart, but the stretch wouldn’t affect the calf area. So, like with the cuff stretch, insert your fingers into the socks and fold down from the cuff to the heel-instep area.
When your fingers are comfortable and settled, pull the heel and instep points apart as much as you can. You can take occasional breaks and then go at it.
Ensure you confirm achieving the desired stretch at given stretch intervals. Overstretching this area will cause slippage in your cleats.
Heel and toe stretch
This stretch is done to achieve length. However, if you also intend to increase the sock girth in this area, you can alternate the heel-toe stretch with the sole and foot top stretch.
Hold the toe part on one hand and the heel on the other. Pull in opposite directions as you feel the sock material expand. Do this for about 3-5 minutes and observe the new size.
If the toe part of the socks is too tight and causes discomfort, try pulling the area with the seams. Just ensure you don’t give the sock an oversize feel on the feet.
Mechanical method
This method involves the use of objects to expand the socks. This method must be used on high-quality socks alone, as it could easily affect the sock’s integrity.
Hand screw clamp
This is an extreme approach to stretching soccer socks, but if you are looking to get an entirely new size of sock from the stretch, this is the best method to use.
Adjust the clamp in such a way that the top parts touch each other while the bottom is about three inches apart. When done properly, you’ll be left with the clamp having a triangular shape.
Now insert the socks from the pointed top area of the clamp. To achieve better results, stretch different segments of the socks (band, heel and instep, and toe) at a time.
Open up the top part of the clamp until you reach your desired size. Then, do the same for all the different sections of the socks.
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Object with bigger circumference
There’s no need to pick out a particular object for this method. Any big enough object to fit into the sock and cause a stretch will do.
To put things in perspective, you can use objects like water bottles or cylindrical containers. It just has to fit into the socks and not cause a tear on the material.
To begin, place the socks on the outer part of the object. Then, allow the stretching socks to sit on the object for as long as you can (hours if possible).
At the end of the process, the socks would have expanded to the new size of the object. You can combine this method with heat to allow for quick expansion.
When the warm, and maybe wet, sock sits on the object for a while, you can remove it and immediately introduce a cooling medium. This leaves the stretched socks in the new size.
Cut off the band Method
If none of the above methods have worked so far, this method will do the trick.
The cuff holds most of the sock material in place. This design function allows the socks to expand together on the calves and feet.
Since the cuff is also the most discomforting area of a tight pair of socks, it’s logical to adjust it or take it off.
In this method, get good scissors and make a clean cut just below the band area. To avoid damaging both socks, start with one leg before proceeding to the other.
With the band off, the socks are free to stretch to the size of your leg and feet. However, depending on the design material of the sock, you may need help holding it in place.
Since the socks would need to be firm to hold the shin guards in place, you can use athletic tape to hold the top part of the socks to your feet.
A major disadvantage of this method is the flaking of the threads. You should always ensure a proper, neat cut.
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Conclusion
There are several reasons you may need an extra stretch on your soccer socks. What is most important is doing it properly without damaging the sock material and its functionality.
Getting a new pair of socks may seem a viable option, but there are times when the recommended size still doesn’t provide the needed comfort.
Again, no method is more important than the other. The aim is to get the desired stretch to allow you to concentrate on your game.
If a method does not give you the desired stretch, you can combine other steps. Just ensure you do not overstretch the socks or compromise their integrity.
Hi there, I’m Jay.
Soccer is everything in my life! My friends and I have created this blog with all our enthusiasm, passion, and understanding after years of playing pro soccer. Hope you will enjoy it!