yet another shoe tree question

[sartorially senseless]

i just got some new shoes but couldnt afford the shoe trees they tried to sell me, so my question is: what can i use as a shoe tree before i can afford some quality ones

i have plastic ones with a spring on them (Better than nothing i assume) or news paper?

iknow for all the shoe purists, not using a cedar shoe tree is a sin, but for a broke person what do you use

 

[Englandmj7]

You can usually find very cheap cedar shoe trees for less than $20 at Target/Nordstrom Rack/Macy's, etc. I bought a pair of Woodlore's at Bloomingdale's for $16 (their normal price) and another great pair at Nordstrom Rack for $14. Men's Warehouse also sells them for $16 I believe. It is silly not to get cedar shoe trees because the main point of putting them in your shoes is not only to maintain shape, but absorb moisture/bacteria/odor that accumulates in them following daily wear (you cannot get this from plastic). Shoe trees are an investment that must accompany the shoe because in the long run, you are going to be purchasing a new pair of shoes much sooner down the line without them. Otherwise, go to Home Depot, get a block of cedar and get to carving! That will surely save some money........

 

[sartorially senseless]

im picking some up next week.

just in the interim? what do use.

 

[Englandmj7]

Well, I would say you shouldn't be wearing them more than twice a week anyways... I would say just wait the week to wear them, but I am obsessive-compulsive. Just make sure that after each wear they are left for at least 24-hrs. in a well-vented place to dry out and you should be fine.

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by sartorially senseless

im picking some up next week.

just in the interim? what do use.

Try stuffing them with newspapers or socks. That will do for now. (Handy tip for traveling, too.)

 

[j]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

Try stuffing them with newspapers or socks. That will do for now. (Handy tip for traveling, too.)
Yep. Newspaper is fine. Possibly better if they are really damp.

 

[sho'nuff]

crumpled newspaper or the tissue paper used in gift wrapping and those found crumpled in new shoes at the shoe stores.

there are excellent cedar trees at nordstrom rack for 12.98 each.

i have a few of those.

 

[Holdfast]

In emergencies, I use the crumpled up tissue paper found in shoe boxes too. Works fine for short periods, but you have to stuff a fair amount in.

 

[rssmsvc]

What do you use for Chukka's and boots ? I can't get a shoe tree into those.

 

[j]

Originally Posted by rssmsvc

What do you use for Chukka's and boots ? I can't get a shoe tree into those.
With few exceptions, the hinged and sprung tube type shoe trees (the most common) all fit in boots. Just fold them in half while putting them in. I've never had a problem.

 

[DocHolliday]

My standard trees fit in my boots, too. Just takes a bit of pushing.