We read many reviews on a couple of boot stretchers, but none of them would help our situation. We both had issues with the instep of the boot being too tight. When we saw this stretcher we knew this was exactly what we needed. This devise is easy to use and if you use it on the boot for 24 hrs it will do what is intended, it will stretch out the instep of the boot. It didn't stretch it too much, it was just right, and I haven't had a problem with the boot being too tight since. My husband used it on his boots that he's had for almost a year, but was having issues with the instep on one boot. It's very easy to use, we have no fear of breaking it, and it is very solidly made, and very heavy. The product was a bit expensive, but it was well worth the cost since both of our pairs of boots cost were in the $200's and not wearing the boots because of pain was not an option I cared to look at. As my husband always says, pay for quality and cry once, don't pay for crap and cry twice. It is an item we will probably use in our lifetime. Thank you for a great product.