Plastic Shoe Trees *gasp*

[tsacain]

I only get my shoe trees from the thrift store. (Besides the few from my grandfather which are a little small). I have tons of wood trees but for my work boots I use a pair of plastic trees which are made VERY well. The plastic is thick and the metal is rigid. They in my mind feel better than the club room or nordstrom ceder trees I have in my dress shoes

 

[MyOtherLife]

Originally Posted by Cary Grant

Once again... wood shoe trees do NOTHING for "absorbtion of moisture".
With respect, this is not fully true. Wood by its very nature absorbs moisture via capillary action. This is how all trees on earth drink water and stay alive. Wood shoe trees will 100% absorb moisture provided the wood is untreated/unsealed. Cedar shoe trees, when purchased, must be lightly sanded before their first usaage. and should be lightly sanded once a year to freshen them up. Lacquered or otherwise sealed finishes on wood trees will render the tree usless for moisture absorbtion because their surface has been sealed. Some high end shoe makers/cordwainers provide custom wood trees that are lacquered while others proveide them unlacquered or urethaned. Natural untreated wood (cedar or other) is the only way to go for moisture absorbtion.

 

[gj555]

Originally Posted by JDMills

Montreal im afraid

every cobbler and store I've been too sell them for 35 plus tax.

Try Golftown.

 

[razl]

I'm a cedar shoe tree believer, however I recently purchased a pair of higher end Sutor Mantellassi (plug: from SF affiliate ShopTheFinest!) and they came with plastic shoe trees. They aren't the usual craptastic types though; they are well built, hinged at the heel, and they fit the boot - toe, vamp, and heel - like a glove. I've taken to using them most of the time to retain the shape, but about 1-in-4 wears I through in a pair of my my cedar boot trees (double-plug: from SF affiliate Cedarville Store!).

My point being that I think a perfectly lasted plastic tree (especially from the manufacturer) has value for shape, but I still think it's worth throwing some cedar in there occasionally.

 

[JamesX]

Originally Posted by razl

I'm a cedar shoe tree believer, however I recently purchased a pair of higher end Sutor Mantellassi (plug: from SF affiliate ShopTheFinest!) and they came with plastic shoe trees. They aren't the usual craptastic types though; they are well built, hinged at the heel, and they fit the boot - toe, vamp, and heel - like a glove. I've taken to using them most of the time to retain the shape, but about 1-in-4 wears I through in a pair of my my cedar boot trees (double-plug: from SF affiliate Cedarville Store!).
I switch them out for wood tress as soon as I open the box. Filling out the vamp isn't all that important. The thing that lessens creasing is straightening out the sole.

 

[Cary Grant]

LOL... it's like broscience for wood v water...

Yeah, wood is more absorbent than plastic. Duh. But the tree doesn't absorb ENOUGH to matter.
Why do you think all the high end trees are lacquered?

You can ask Teemu, George, Tony, they'll all tell you the same.

Patrick- I don't advocate plastic trees- and what you say about pinning in moisture- I could see that though I have no experience... but my point is wood trees aren't magic little sponges like many think.

 

[VelvetGreen]

Originally Posted by 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?

Odour.

Oder is a river in Central Europe. It rises in the Czech Republic and flows through western Poland, later forming 187 kilometres (116 mi) of the border between Poland and Germany, part of the Oder-Neisse line. The river ultimately flows into the Szczecin Lagoon north of Szczecin and then into three branches (the Dziwna, Świna and Peene) that empty into the Gulf of Pomerania of the Baltic Sea.

 

[fritzl]

Originally Posted by Cary Grant

Why do you think all the high end trees are lacquered?

wut, they are not, dude

i talk to the producer and not a shoemaker...

 

[moltoelegante]

The time when I want to protect my shoes the most is when travelling (by air), and then every kilo counts, so I'd definitely be tempted to get some plastic trees just for this purpose