Got my first aromatic Cedar Shoe Trees, but how many do I need ?

[lakewolf]

Hi all, I am new to shoe trees, never used them... I have 16 pairs of shoes 4 of them I use regularly and the others in special ocassions, and finally I decided to get aromatic cedar shoe trees..

I found these ar $45 and are really aromatic.... man, when I opened the box it parfumed the room

...

Now I wanted to know how many shoe trees should I use and how to rotate them...

Also I was wanderin if using them would enlarge my shoes or not... I like them like they are... it is just that I would like to preserve them better and stop/make disapear the creases and wrinkles on them...

Thanks for your answers

 

[EL72]

Nice trees. I have one pair of trees in each pair of shoes but have only 6-8 pairs of dress shoes (casual shoes and sneakers don't need trees imo). You could get less expensive cedar trees for $15 if cost is an issue. They won't stretch your shoes.

 

[Tomasso]

Bexley will deliver the best value.
http://www.bexley.com/Bexley/index.a...Referrer=12141

 

[Artisan Fan]

I would get trees for each pair of shoes you wear. They really are that essential.

 

[sho'nuff]

I currently have 20 pairs of dress shoes, but only have around 7? pairs of cedar shoetrees.

The 7 workhorse pairs that I rotate for work on a weekly basis are distributed 3 trees that I use in always the last 3 worn shoes. So each shoe gets a good 3 days with trees in them upon usage each.

I use the other 4 pairs distributed amongst my 13 other nicer pairs I wear on more infrequent occasions. And again, the 4 trees are always in the last 4 pairs to be worn. But here in this case, each shoe that was worn may have a tree in them for days or weeks because I dont rotate these shoes that much, if I even rotate them, because I really just pick and choose which shoe to wear out of the 13 depending on the occasion and what I wear.

I know the ideal will be to have 20 pairs for all 20 shoes, but I think it is ok to pull them out after having them inside a pair for a few days.

Remember , the trees are NOT to absorb moisture (cedar is a catalyst to allow faster wicking of moisture, not an absorbing agent. cedar or any material does not INFINITELY absorb moisture, even silica gel must be heated to a certain heating point to get rid of oversaturated moisture before it can be used again), and trees are not to prevent creases.
Wearing shoes will evidently create creases, it is the quality of the leather that determines the degree and the look of the creasing, which in my opinion, adds character and is a part of the beauty of shoes. A straight out of the box non creased shoe looks artificial sort of and I always try them on and crease them initially even though I won't plan on wearing them anytime soon, just because i like the look of a slightly creased shoe, which adds dimension/curves and character/flavor.
What the trees will definitely do is while the shoes are drying and shrinking back into place after wear, the trees will not allow for accelerated fiber malformage or retraction (my own words, i dont know) and will stunt the development of bacteria and mold within where the insole is deep where the ball and toes of the feet reside (that is where most of the deterioration comes from, not the uppers, not soles<can be resoled> but if the insoles and the insides decay, the shoes are dead)/
It is sort of like to prevent tooth decay from the inside of the tooth. you know? it is not about absorbing water or preventing creases, although to some small degree it does this, but cedar is mainly to hold the shape while resting, and to prevent bacteria and mold buildup.

so after a couple of day or few days on a shoe tree, the shoe can exist in your closet without a tree in it fine i believe. until the next wearing and then repeat.

 

[Artisan Fan]

so after a couple of day or few days on a shoe tree, the shoe can exist in your closet without a tree in it fine i believe

I hate to disagree with a fellow member here but I'm not sure I agree. Ideally I think you want trees on all the time except for wearing of course.

 

[Englandmj7]

oops, sorry. double post.

 

[Englandmj7]

I hate to disagree with a fellow member here but I'm not sure I agree. Ideally I think you want trees on all the time except for wearing of course.

Hmm, I feel that generally, a shoe tree's most beneficial characteristic is that they absorb the odors/moisture which come about from wearing the shoe, not to mention that whilst the shoe has been worn for a while and does contain moisture, the leather is a little more prone to becoming slightly misshaped as a result. I have always felt that once a shoe has been left out "to dry" and "air out" (i.e. not in the shoebag) for at least 24 hours w/ the shoe trees inside, it is safe to remove the shoe trees and put them in another pair if needed. My shoes have lasted pretty long this way........

 

[j]

Originally Posted by Englandmj7

Hmm, I feel that generally, a shoe tree's most beneficial characteristic is that they absorb the odors/moisture which come about from wearing the shoe, not to mention that whilst the shoe has been worn for a while and does contain moisture, the leather is a little more prone to becoming slightly misshaped as a result. I have always felt that once a shoe has been left out "to dry" and "air out" (i.e. not in the shoebag) for at least 24 hours w/ the shoe trees inside, it is safe to remove the shoe trees and put them in another pair if needed. My shoes have lasted pretty long this way........

I agree. Basically, they hold the shoe in shape while it dries, and then they don't do much after that.

I have nearly enough for all my shoes, and I just buy them now when I see a good deal at a thrift store. I've gotten a bunch of perfectly good trees for ~$4 that way.

Also, I would not suggest paying a whole lot more to get brand new fresh cedar trees, as the cedar smell wears out pretty quickly and doesn't really do anything. They will continue to perform their function without the aromatic property. Buy them on discount when you can, or pick up ~4 good pairs and rotate them into your most recently worn shoes.

 

[kitonbrioni]

All shoes have their own shoetrees all the time--yes it's expensive but so are my shoes.

 

[Artisan Fan]

I guess I view trees the same as car wax; small cost for maintenance for a substantial investment. $15 for decent trees is not a major expense relative to benefit.

 

[luk-cha]

Originally Posted by Artisan Fan

I guess I view trees the same as car wax; small cost for maintenance for a substantial investment. $15 for decent trees is not a major expense relative to benefit.

AF are the ones from bexley any good??

 

[tbabes]

Each pair of shoes that you care about should have dedicated shoe trees

 

[acidboy]

considering the price you pay for better shoes, plus i assume, everybody's above-average love of shoes, i think a cedar tree for every shoe is not a big price to pay. i have read somewhere though about some members having reservations on putting a pair of shoe trees on a driving loafer. as diorshoe said, we dont want a case of accelerated fiber malformage, right?

 

[rnoldh]

Originally Posted by Tomasso

Bexley will deliver the best value.
http://www.bexley.com/Bexley/index.a...Referrer=12141

Agreed, the Bexley's look wonderful. Just wondering, do you use trees for every one of your casual shoes and your sneakers too?

I think trees are of no use for sneakers. I do use them on some casual shoes, such as soft leather loafers. But not on other casuals, such as canvass shoes, or mules.

Does anyone use trees for every single pair of shoes they own?