Shoe trees & why you need them?

Good occasions call for great shoes! But ever took out your favourite pair of leather shoes just to be disappointed looking at the creases on them? This happens even with the finest shoes. With time and usage, shoes tend to develop creases and go out of shape. Factors like weather & moisture caused due to sweat also impact the condition of your shoes resulting in bad odours and rotting of the inner lining. Shoe trees help keep your shoes in shape and smelling fresh.

What are shoe trees?

Shoe trees are foot shaped devices, usually made of wood or plastic placed inside shoes when they are not being used to help preserve their shape and avoid creasing. Some high-quality wooden shoe trees also absorb moisture caused by sweat which fights bad odours. 

In use since the 1850s, this unsung invention was patented by William C. Benkert in 1905 and has been extending the lives of shoes ever since.  This underrated object goes a long way in keeping your shoes fresh and crease-free.

How do shoe trees work?

Shoe trees simulate a foot inside shoes when not in use. They keep the shoes stretched and flat avoiding curling or creasing. Some come with adju stable spring guides to cater to multiple sizes and achieve the perfect amount of stretching. Wooden shoe trees absorb moisture caused by sweat resulting in an odour free pair of shoes.

Which shoe tree is best (Plastic vs. Wood)?

While lesser costing shoe trees (usually made of plastic and not adjustable) serve the purpose by keeping the shoe intact, these are limited to one or two sizes of shoes. Plastic shoe trees do not absorb moisture but some have dedicated vents to increase air circulation. 

On the other hand, wooden shoe trees (especially cedar wood) absorb moisture which prevents lining rot and leather degradation. These generally last for a lifetime and sanding them once in a year will help keep its pores open. 

Wooden shoe trees are clearly a winner as they are most effective. But depending on your budget and requirement, you can choose which one is best for you.

How to use shoe trees?

Now that you’ve made your mind on which shoe tree suits you best, let’s get to how you can make the most out of these mundane objects.

Once you have worn your shoes for a long time, it is recommended to put shoe trees in them and leave them there for at least 24 hours. Place them inside the shoes making sure it perfectly fits the shoe from the toe to the hind foot. This keeps the shoes flat and in shape. And with time the shoe adapts to this shape. 

Conclusion

Shoe trees extend the life of your shoes by keeping them in shape and preventing them from lining rot and leather degradation, saving you a lot of money on the long run. So, buying a pair of shoe trees for each pair of your shoes is definitely a sensible decision. 

While plastic shoe trees are cheap, lightweight and get half the job done, cedar wood shoe trees are the most effective considering they also remove bad odours. Make sure to get adjustable shoe trees that can adapt to the length of the shoe. They can be used for all your shoes and are definitely worth the investment. 

Having a pair of shoe trees for every pair of shoes is ideal. But if not, you can place the shoe trees in the shoes which were most recently worn.