Critique this Shoe Tree

[furo]

Please give me your opinions of this shoe tree:

Attachment 23510

I have about four pairs of these I got for $8.99 a pair. But I'd like to know if they suck or not. They fit my shoes okay but as you can see, they aren't split toe and they don't have the full heel.

So bottom line is: will they do the job?

Using them on Allen Edmonds (lasts 8, 0, and 2) size 8.5 D

 

[mouseandcat]

i suppose they will, assuming the shoe tree toe will fit the toe box of your 8.5D shoes. as far as not having the full heel, i like it with the full heel. springs tend to be strong in shoe trees and i don't like the way it makes my heel stretch legnthwise. i only had one pair like yours before i switched to costco trees (9.5-10D for me, so they work). http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=114899

 

[bonobono_k]

I think the split toe shoe tree is better than this

 

[Nick V.]

Much better off with a split toe/claw back. Fuller in the vamp and heel. Eaiser to insert and remove. About 20 bucks.

 

[NukeMeSlowly]

I also wear 8.5D. I swear by these in the Medium size. I have them in 99% of my shoes.

With the shoebuy membership and their regular 20% off coupons, these trees can be had for a little over $20.

 

[halpap]

Do all Costco's carry shoe trees? I have never noticed them in mine.

 

[dcg]

Originally Posted by halpap

Do all Costco's carry shoe trees? I have never noticed them in mine.

Not all, and they're not getting any more. If you're interested, best to call around to a few local stores. I think I heard they are down to $8 for 2 pair.

 

[furo]

Originally Posted by Nick V.

Much better off with a split toe/claw back. Fuller in the vamp and heel. Eaiser to insert and remove. About 20 bucks.

Yes I understand this point, but will the ones I bought do the job?

 

[Don Carlos]

The ones you bought will do the job, but they might not do the job as well as a full-heeled model or a split-toe model. This is because a split-toed model helps adjust itself to fill the shoe, and a full heel better fills the heel section while also minimizing stretching at, or stress on, the heel.

The reason I strongly recommend split-toed trees is that, unless you're getting a tree designed specifically for a given last, trees have to be one-size-fits-all. The best way to approach one-size-fits-all is to go with a tree that can adjust to various sizes and shapes to whatever extent possible. I've even seen some split-toe, split-heel shoe trees out there -- but in my opinion, that's overkill.

 

[DoubleDomer]

I have a variety of tree styles. The funny thing is that on some of my shoes that are narrower through the toe box (i.e. AE Thayer) , I find my cheap Johnston and Murphy's do a better job. They're the ones with a claw back and a spongy triangular, single-piece toe. My split toes trees don't fill as well.