Spoon saves shoes

Things school and University didn't teach you : No 3,842.

At the back end of last year my favourite pair of summer shoes, a pair of well worn and incredibly comfortable deck shoes decided they'd had enough and had to be abandoned before they abandoned themselves somewhere. A big loss, like losing an old friend.

Couldn't get any replacement from my first choice and favourite manufacturer, so instead, I hastily bought a replacement pair before our recent holiday from a different maker. While they fitted (a major feat in its own right), they, as shoes quite often do, decided they would quickly be unbearably painful to wear, even for short periods.

Looked again for some that I know would be instantly comfortable, but still unable to get any, so, some research on how to break the ones I had in to a point where they could be worn.

And, it turns out, the solution is simple. And cheap. And effective (TBC).
The answer (amongst a number of options) - Rub the heel of a spoon around the inside the heel and the rest of the inside of the shoe for a little while. It quickly smooths out the rough leather and also heats it up to make it a little more pliable and stretchy. Amazed at how quickly and easily these steel like shoes have become wearable. Not perfectly comfortable yet, but, can be worn for some time - I hope!

So, did a quick search amongst the accumulated household flotsam and found a couple of other older pairs that have only been tolerable for short periods. Now I have three pairs of summer shoes. Just need the weather for shorts and no socks....

Anyone else done this or has other solutions?