Shoe trees for new shoes that won't be worn for awhile?

[theyare]

Is there any benefit or downside to storing shoes with trees if they have never been worn and won't for awhile?

asking in particular about some new tux shoes I just got that I have no use for until the spring.

thanks.

 

[theyare]

anyone?

 

[JayJay]

I don't know the answer, but I usually put trees in right away, even though I know it'll be quite awhile before I wear the shoes. My guess is that the shoes will be fine without trees until they're worn. I'm interested in what others say on this, too.

 

[gnatty8]

Many shoes sit in boxes for months until they are sold, and they usually do not have trees in them, so I wouldn't think it is a major problem.

 

[ChicagoRon]

I'm with gnatty8 ... the primary purpose of the tree is to absorb moisture and prevent the leather from changing shape while it is wet and has been stressed.

I believe we discussed in a thread a long time ago the fact that you could probably take the trees out after 3-5 days if you don't wear a pair of shoes very often. I do that with my formal shoes, in fact, and they have maintained their shape just fine.

 

[teddieriley]

Originally Posted by gnatty8

Many shoes sit in boxes for months until they are sold, and they usually do not have trees in them, so I wouldn't think it is a major problem.

+1. I don't think it's even a minor problem, in fact.

 

[DocHolliday]

If the fit isn't just right, trees can actually stretch shoes out, especially loafers, if left in for long periods. As such, I wouldn't tree unworn shoes for longterm storage, unless the trees came in the shoes. I leave my trees in once the shoes have been worn, but see no reason to subject them to the tension if they haven't. I've bought shoes that sat untreed in their boxes for 40 years and were perfectly fine.

 

[Spatlese]

+1 to what Doc wrote. I noticed this with new shoes recently, where I thought I was doing them a service by inserting trees. However I noticed the next day the trees didn't fit all that well and so promptly removed them (however this doesn't help my cause either now that the shoes have been worn, until I get better fitting trees

)