Are Shoe Trees Important - Page 6

Originally Posted by MrTKN 


Go instead for ones that are solid. The greater the surface area of the shoe in contact with the shoe tree, the better (faster drying).

Originally Posted by NaTionS 

Just came across this thread. Any recommendations for decent cheap shoetrees?

Originally Posted by fxh 

Many problems with this experiment.
No blinding. Not even single blinding. Small number in sample. Is a pair of shoes N=1 or N=2?
The shoes may have had different levels of lanolin in each shoe this either increasing or decreasing the shoes ability to take up, absorb, water.
Did you weigh each shoe to determine if each shoe had taken up the same amount of water and had returned to the same weight afterwards in the same time? What was the Instrument used to measure time to dry?
Was the shoe tree weighed before and after to determine if it had actually taken up any, some or all of the water, alleged to be absorbed by the shoe leather?
The only conclusion that can be reasonably drawn from this less than optimal experiment is that shoe trees would appear to make no appreciable difference to measured sole/ toe curl in a single experiment comprised of dipping second hand shoes in water.
Certainly not acceptable in any refereed journal on mens clothing or footwear that I edit.

Originally Posted by NaTionS 

Just came across this thread. Any recommendations for decent cheap shoetrees?

Originally Posted by fxh 

Many problems with this experiment.
No blinding. Not even single blinding. Small number in sample. Is a pair of shoes N=1 or N=2?
The shoes may have had different levels of lanolin in each shoe this either increasing or decreasing the shoes ability to take up, absorb, water.
Did you weigh each shoe to determine if each shoe had taken up the same amount of water and had returned to the same weight afterwards in the same time? What was the Instrument used to measure time to dry?
Was the shoe tree weighed before and after to determine if it had actually taken up any, some or all of the water, alleged to be absorbed by the shoe leather?
The only conclusion that can be reasonably drawn from this less than optimal experiment is that shoe trees would appear to make no appreciable difference to measured sole/ toe curl in a single experiment comprised of dipping second hand shoes in water.
Certainly not acceptable in any refereed journal on mens clothing or footwear that I edit.

Originally Posted by MrTKN 

I managed to get a couple of pairs of shoe trees in spite of my deepest convictions otherwise.

Originally Posted by Man Of Lint 

There was once a member named Vox who gave the most absurd answer to this question. Though it was frightfully appaling to many it was also deliciously hilarious. I dare not repeat it.

Originally Posted by akatsuki 

So according to a couple of high-end shoe makers here in NY - don't use them unless they are built to the correct last - their argument being that they will stretch your shoes out in funny ways in they aren't shaped correctly.
They suggested stuffing them with socks or something to preserve the shape but be somewhat shape conforming...

Originally Posted by atlrus 



I agree with this, it makes perfect sense.

I personally never had problems with too much moisture or the shoes "collapsing" from just sitting on the shoe rack (I have a cheap pair of Dockers bought 6-7 years ago and they still look just fine), but if I had to use anything I would simply stuff the shoes with newspaper. Much greater and faster moisture absorbance than a piece of wood and will add uniform pressure throughout the shoe.

Originally Posted by NORE 


WHY DO YOU HATE SHOE TREES SO MUCH?????

Originally Posted by atlrus 

I personally never had problems with too much moisture or the shoes "collapsing" from just sitting on the shoe rack (I have a cheap pair of Dockers bought 6-7 years ago and they still look just fine)

Originally Posted by akatsuki 

So according to a couple of high-end shoe makers here in NY - don't use them unless they are built to the correct last - their argument being that they will stretch your shoes out in funny ways in they aren't shaped correctly.
They suggested stuffing them with socks or something to preserve the shape but be somewhat shape conforming...

Originally Posted by Sanguis Mortuum 

You wear Dockers, therefore your opinion is null and void.