What Is the Purpose of Shoe Trees?
Shoe trees are placed in shoes to preserve their shape and absorb moisture. Often made of wood, they are also known as shoe stretchers, boot trees, or cedar shoe trees. The form of the tree is similar to the shape of a human foot and has a knob that can be adjusted to stretch the width of the shoe.
Shoe trees are designed for men’s and women’s shoes in various sizes and styles. Most have a split-toe design that mimics the shape of a human foot. The split-toe design is common in cedar shoe trees, but not all models have this feature.
This allows the shoe tree to be inserted into tight-fitting footwear without crushing it, provides support to the toe area, and helps preserve shoe polish.
Shoe trees can be used to stretch new shoes or boots that are a little too tight. They may also be used to reshape leather shoes or boots after they have been soaked with water or snow. Shoe trees absorb moisture from leather footwear so that it does not damage the material or cause cracks in the sole of the shoe.
9 Purposes of Shoe Trees
A shoe tree is a device that holds the shoe in the shape of the foot. It prevents the shoes from curling and losing their original shape. Let’s look at the incredible benefits they provide for your shoes…
1. Maintain The Shape Of Your Shoes
The main function of a shoe tree is to maintain the shape of your shoes. They are used mostly for leather shoes, though they can be used for other types of shoes as well. Shoe trees are made to fit inside the shoes tightly so that they do not move around.
2. Prevent Moisture
They also prevent moisture and fungus from growing on the insides of your shoes which can cause odor or damage to your shoes.
Cedar is known for its ability to prevent moisture from damaging the leather. The wood absorbs moisture from the leather and then releases it into the air once it dries out.
Look at a cedar tree and you’ll notice how dry the wood is in comparison with other types of wood. This is because cedar wood has natural oils that resist rot and decay by repelling water, insects, and fungus. When you use a cedar shoe tree, those same oils are absorbed into your shoes, where they prevent water damage and protect against mildew.
3. Absorbs Odors
Over time, your feet sweat, and perspiration seeps through the insole of your shoe and into the interior. This causes internal damage to leathers and fabrics, particularly around seams and stitching. The cedar absorbs this moisture and allows the leather to dry more quickly than if it was left alone in a shoe bag.
So, a shoe tree also acts as an air freshener because it absorbs odors and moisture from the inside of your shoes. The best way to use a shoe tree is to place them inside your shoes after you have worn them for a day or two. This will give them time to absorb any odors or moisture that may be present in your shoes at this point.
4. Prevent creasing
Once shoes are broken in, the toe box begins to wrap around your foot and form to its shape over time. Shoe trees will hold this shape in place so that your shoes look their best when you remove them from their storage box or closet.
This prevents an unsightly crease from forming on the vamp of your dress shoe that could become permanent over time if not treated properly.
5. Maintain fit
Shoes are known to lose their shape over time if they aren’t properly cared for. By using shoe trees regularly, you’ll maintain the original shape of your footwear and preserve its overall size and fit. This means you won’t have to buy new footwear as often as you otherwise would – saving you both time and money!
6. Prevent cracking leather
Shoe trees keep your shoes full of air, which prevents them from drying out too quickly and cracking in the process. Cracking leather is never a good look on any pair of footwear, but it can be especially unsightly on dress shoes worn with a suit or other formal outfit.
Keep your leather looking its best in between uses by incorporating shoe trees into your daily routine!
7. Retain quality
The wood used in shoe trees is porous and absorbs moisture from within the leather of your shoes. This helps to get rid of any odor that builds up over time and prevents mildew from forming inside your shoes, which can ruin them if left untreated.
8. Extend the lifetime of your shoes
As well as maintaining the shape of your shoes, shoe trees also help to extend their overall lifetime by absorbing excess moisture which can lead to cracking and warping of the leather. This is especially important if you wear leather shoes regularly – the moisture absorbed by shoe trees can prevent permanent damage to your shoes.
9. Improve comfort
Not only do shoe trees help your shoes last longer, but they can also improve comfort! A good pair of shoe trees will be designed with a spreader plate in the toe box which helps to prevent any creasing along the front of your shoes when you wear them for extended periods of time.
This makes wearing office-appropriate footwear much more comfortable when sitting at a desk all day; you no longer have to worry about pinching along the top of your toes!
What is a shoe tree?
A shoe tree is a device that is inserted into a shoe to maintain the shoe’s shape. The shape of a shoe is maintained by keeping the leather taut. This prevents creasing, which can cause cracking and wear.
Types of Shoe Trees
There are two main types of wooden shoe trees — hardwood and cedar. The cedar absorbs moisture from the leather and keeps it dry. It also has natural insect repellent properties. Cedar will also keep your shoes smelling fresh.
Hardwood shoe trees are a more affordable option and can be used in either wet or dry conditions. These are often made of maple or oak wood and come in unfinished or finished varieties.
Cedar shoe trees
The most common type of shoe tree is one made from cedar and they come in a variety of designs. Cedar is known to be light in weight, durable, and it retains its shape quite well. People also like the fact that they can easily transport them without any hassle.
They have the ability to absorb moisture and odors within your leather shoes, which will maintain their quality over time. Some people have concerns that cedar may be too rough for their leather shoes or may damage them with regular use, although this is believed to be an old myth with no factual evidence behind it.
Plastic shoe trees
Plastic shoe trees on the other hand are often preferred by people who travel a lot due to their lightweight design and durability. They are usually cheaper than the ones made from wood, so if you need something that is more affordable then this would be a good option for you.
However, plastic does not have the same level of breathability as wood does, so it won’t be able to absorb moisture and odor from your leather shoes as effectively. This could lead to an unpleasant smell building up inside your shoes if they are stored away for long periods of time.
Hardwood shoe trees
Hardwood shoe trees are the most traditional type. They come in a variety of woods and finishes, from simple unfinished cedar to high-end rosewood. They’re priced accordingly and can be found at different price points depending on quality and style.
Most hardwood shoe trees are made of cedar, though other woods are used as well, such as red cedar, mahogany, teak, and hickory.
Cedar is especially good for shoe trees because it absorbs moisture and odor (natural insect repellent), and naturally repels moths. Cedar is also a very strong wood that doesn’t split or warp easily – it’ll last years, much like your shoes.
Hardwood shoe trees are usually constructed using solid wood, meaning they’re made entirely of wood without any metal parts. This makes them very durable but also heavy – they can easily weigh a pound each.
The function of Shoe Trees
When you wear your shoes, the leather stretches out slightly in order to fit your foot snugly. When you remove them, the leather retains its stretched-out shape until it dries. This causes the leather to crack over time, which in turn causes the shoe to lose its shape sooner than normal.
In summary, Shoe trees are available in different materials like cedar, plastic, and metal. Cedar is one of the most popular materials because it has natural properties which allow it to absorb moisture and odors from within your shoes effectively. Metal may seem like an unusual choice but some find them more durable than cedar shoe trees.
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Allan Wilson who in the offline world has an extensive background working in research, analyzing statistics, improving work processes, team leading, and implementing training to improve results and now thanks to more than 3 years dedicated to this site is now also a highly regarded researcher of brands.
Allan has a long history of developing brands online way back before blogging existed creating websites using HTML code in Notepad. Allan established brands in the Info Product Marketing arena such as infoproductmarketing, ebookresellerkit, reprintrightsmarketing, along with many other successful websites (and a few failures along the way). Allan has also authored numerous ebooks, owned and operated membership sites, created eLearning courses, and more.
