Shoe trees are often overlooked accessories, yet they are essential for maintaining and preserving your favorite shoes. Shoe trees can be used for all kinds of shoes, whether they are made of leather, suede, canvas, or rubber.
Your cobbler explains everything about this accessory that helps your shoes last longer!
The history of shoe trees
The creation of shoe trees dates back to the 18th century, when French bootmakers began using wooden forms to maintain the shape of shoes during their manufacture and especially during the drying period.
Over time, these wooden forms evolved and changed to become the shoe trees we know today. Nowadays, there are several types of shoe trees: wooden, plastic, or even metal. They are also designed to fit all shoe shapes, from dress shoes to hiking boots.
What is the function of shoe trees?
Shoe trees have two main functions:
- Maintaining the shape: They perfectly fit the shape of the shoe and prevent creases from forming. This applies regardless of the type of shoe tree used, whether it’s metal, plastic, or wood.
- Absorbing moisture: when you wear your shoes, your feet release perspiration that comes into direct contact with the leather of your shoes.
At the end of the day, your shoes are therefore damp and moist. But by placing them in your shoes, the moisture accumulated inside will be absorbed. This will make drying easier and prevent unpleasant odors from forming. Once again, the type of shoe tree doesn’t matter, although wooden ones are more effective.
The right habits to have!
With so many shoe trees available, it’s easy to get lost. If, after understanding the usefulness of shoe trees, you’d like to make a purchase, here is some advice on how to make the right choice and use them properly.
Choosing the right type of shoe tree
At Galoche & Patin, we recommend wooden shoe trees; they are less convenient to carry and generally more expensive, but they are more effective at absorbing moisture from your shoes. There are different types of wooden shoe trees: cedar, raw beech, or varnished beech. We recommend the classic cedar one. It has excellent absorption and is naturally scented.
As for plastic shoe trees, they have almost zero absorption; however, they are easier to use, take up less space, and are above all cheaper. If you don’t wear the same pair of shoes every day and let them dry for at least 48 hours after wearing them, this type of shoe tree may be suitable.
In addition to the material, there are many shapes of shoe trees: spring-loaded stretchers, toe-fillers, and full shoe trees. The latter are slightly more expensive, but significantly more effective!
Choosing the right shoe tree size
Normally, when choosing the size of the shoe tree, you take the same size as your shoes, but sometimes it doesn’t fit. If the springs are fully compressed, the shoe tree is too large, and if you remove it too easily, the shoe tree may be too small.
Inserting the shoe tree correctly
To use shoe trees correctly, simply insert them into the shoe when you are not wearing them. First, place the front of the shoe tree into the shoe, press the back of the shoe tree to compress the springs, and insert the back into the shoe. You can then gently release the shoe tree. Finally, make sure the shoe tree is well-positioned. It should stretch the leather and smooth out creases. If it doesn’t, it’s either poorly placed or the wrong size for your shoes.
Now, shoe trees hold no more secrets for you. As you’ve gathered, they are essential accessories for taking care of your shoes and keeping them for as long as possible. Shoe trees should also be used in addition to regular maintenance, such as applying a nourishing lotion to your leather shoes.
