shoe tree design question...

[MrBorland]

We're staying put after getting hammered by winter storm Diego, so I thought it'd be a good time to ask about something I've been wondering about, but never found an answer, so I'll ask the Illuminati here...

When looking at the under-the-toe profile of cedar shoe trees, nearly all mine curve up. Matter of fact, from what I can see, same can be said for all cedar shoe trees made nowadays. Yet, a shoe tree I bought 25-ish years ago is relatively flat under the toe. When installed, this tree seems to straighten the shoe, whereas the contour of a shoe treed with a newer tree isn't much different than an un-treed shoe.

My questions, then, are...

Have they changed the toe design in the last 20-30 years? More importantly, does it matter? Is a tree that straightens the shoe a better tree? Does anyone currently make a straight-toe (without an upturn under the toe) cedar shoe tree anymore?

 

[Ich_Dien]

I'm quite sure I know what you mean, but post some photos to make it clearer.

 

[MrBorland]

Below is a photo of a new (left) and old tree(right). Note how the underside of the new one curves up, whereas the underside of the old one is relatively straight. The effect on shoes is similar when they’re inserted: The older one straightens the shoe out more, and I’m wondering if this makes it (all else equal) a better (or worse) design and better (or worse) for the shoe.

 

[Torulf]

I don't believe the left hand shoe tree is typical, looks very strange to me. I have lasted Vass shoe trees and two brands of generic shoe trees. All bought in the last five years and all curving slightly upwards, similar to your right hand tree. You should probably search some more.

 

[MrBorland]

The upturned new ones on the left are Stratton trees - probably the most popular tree on Amazon. Another new one (not pictured) is from Oak Street, and it’s curvature is similar. All other new ones I see have similar upturns. The left tree in the photo probably looks odd because it’s next to the straight tree, but I’m betting it’s more the norm nowadays.

At any rate, anyone know if the old “straight” style is actually better for the shoe, since it straightens the shoe more?

 

[Ich_Dien]

Personally I don't own any shoe trees like the ones on the left, and I've got sixteen pairs from various manufacturers.