Epic Trees vs. EG, JL, Vass Trees

[william]

I know that everyone is pretty satisfied with the epic trees...but how do they stack up against manufacturer trees in your opinion?

My C&J trees stretch and fill out a shoe a little more than the epic trees do. This has the effect of really "ironing" out the creases. But what about EG, Vass, etc?

Do you think that shelling out the extra $$ for the manufacturer's trees is worth it?

 

[josepidal]

Yeah, I'm not quite sure the small Epics sufficiently fill out my size 9 shoes, while the mediums are much too wide.

I have lasted trees that came with Purple Label shoes and those are great for the creases.

 

[argoth]

Vass 3-piece trees are my favorite shoe trees. I typically buy manufacturer shoe trees over generic because I have had problems with stretching (unwanted) and lack of support from generics (or any other non-sized/lasted tree really, even manufacturer ones).

JL trees are much like CJ trees. EG seem a bit heavier.

Arg

 

[aportnoy]

The biggest advatntage is that the manufactuerer's trees are usually made to fit a specific last like the U, 888, 8000 etc. That will always be better than a generic tree.

As for the materials and finishing, Bexley and Epic are quite nice but will always be a notch below the others because they were not designed for the shoe itself.

 

[william]

That's what I thought. Thanks for everyone's replies.

 

[zjpj83]

Originally Posted by aportnoy

The biggest advatntage is that the manufactuerer's trees are usually made to fit a specific last like the U, 888, 8000 etc. That will always be better than a generic tree.

As for the materials and finishing, Bexley and Epic are quite nice but will always be a notch below the others because they were not designed for the shoe itself.

John Lobb makes lasted trees? Whenever I buy them, I just say "size 7E please." They are generally rounder toe than, say, the 8000 last shoe that I am buying them for.

 

[Maxten]

I can't speak to the manufacturer's shoe trees, but purchased both the Epic and Ultra shoe trees in the recent group buy. Both are excellent. I wear a size 9.5 and found the small Epics slightly short, and the medium Ultra's did a little better job of putting pressure on the sides of the toe box. Overall I'm liking the Epics.