Plastic Shoe Trees *gasp*

[Style Pontifex]

Yes, yes, I know it's blasphemy: aside from moisture absorption, is there a functional difference between plastic shoe trees and cedar shoe trees?

I ask because I have some shoes that I barely wear. I'm finding a hard time using cedar shoe trees in those; figure I can just pop in the cedar on any particular shoe I've used recently. Then I'll rotate it to plastic.

Discuss. thx

 

[twosnapsandgo]

wooden shoe trees are not hard to find nor are they expensive. Aside from absorption wood is stronger than plastic. Wood particularly cedar absorbs bad oder. I am not sure how long the life of a shoe would be with a plastic shoe tree in comparison to the life of a shoe that uses cedar shoe trees.

I've never seen a plastic shoe tree before! Care to take a pic?

 

[Style Pontifex]

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&s...=&oq=&gs_rfai=

I have to look up the respective prices, but I'm pretty sure that plastic shoe trees are half or a third of the cost of cedar shoe trees.

 

[koolhistorian]

good for travel and storage - leave your shoes at least 48 hours on cedar or other wood shoe trees, then transfer on plastic ones if you have.

 

[rickimky]

I use plastic shoe trees only for my boat shoes. But I guess they're great for travel too. Better than no shoe tree.

 

[rickimky]

and yes. plastic trees are wayyyyyyy cheaper. well at least here in the little red dot.

 

[Style Pontifex]

Thanks for confirming my suspicions, gents. I guess one thing I want to be on the lookout for is a plastic shoe tree that is "split," i.e., puts pressure on the sides of the toe and vamp for better shape-retention.

Where do you guys get your trees?

 

[Newcomer]

Just buy wooden trees from our forum affiliate, cedarville store. Shoe trees will literally last forever, and they sell well if you want to get rid of them. If you spend several hundred dollars on shoes, why wouldn't you spend 5-10% of that amount to better preserve them?

 

[Style Pontifex]

I have purchased from Cedarville. They still cost triple or quadruple the price.

If people can explain to me the superiority of wood over plastic when it comes to storage (as in, not wearing the shoes for weeks), then I'm all ears. I've read quite a few articles on the issue and most end up touting cedar for moisture absorption--which has no relevance when it comes to storage.

I myself would rather buy another pair or two of shoes than spend money on cedar shoe trees that have no practical advantage over plastic when it comes to storage.

 

[Aldehyde]

I would expect that the breathabiltiy of the wood would be an asset, and the non-porous nature of the plastic to be an issue. Or, it could not matter at all. Without a proper study it's all just blah blah blah. Plastic is beter than no shoe tree. Though, if you spend more than $200 on a pair of shoes it shouldn't be an issue to spend an extra $10 or $20 for some crappy wood shoe trees (at very least). I don't expect there would be a disadvangtage to plastic when it comes to storage, except being a PITA to switch around.

 

[Style Pontifex]

Yeah, I think I'll just use plastic for storing some of my "cheap" shoes; I did a good google search but can't find split-toe plastic shoe trees. I do think that's problematic even for storage. ;/

 

[ljrcustom]

I've seen cheap would ones online, but I can't speak for the quality.

-LR

 

[musicguy]

I use plastic shoe trees when I travel. I can't bring an extra 3-5 lbs or so per pair of shoe on the plane. You can get them for as cheap as $2. It's good enough for me.

I have woodlore epic for all my shoes at home though.

It's a fallacy to believe that the wood is absorbing water. If anything, it'll just take longer to dry out. The shape is all that counts. Case in point: many high end shoe makers sell lasted shoe trees that are varnished. RLPL does this.

 

[BamaHater]

Go to Nordstroms Rack and get their trees. About $14 for nice Cedar trees.

 

[pebblegrain]

Originally Posted by musicguy

I use plastic shoe trees when I travel. I can't bring an extra 3-5 lbs or so per pair of shoe on the plane. You can get them for as cheap as $2. It's good enough for me.

I have woodlore epic for all my shoes at home though.

It's a fallacy to believe that the wood is absorbing water. If anything, it'll just take longer to dry out. The shape is all that counts. Case in point: many high end shoe makers sell lasted shoe trees that are varnished. RLPL does this.

agree, basically.

If you showed me a lasted, ventilated plastic shoe tree, I would prefer it to the standard junky cheap cedar tree.

cedar has some anti-odor properties but I rotate so much that I don't get smells anyway.

Unfortunately, the best shaped and designed trees are wood