Shoe trees stretching loafers?

rk9 · Jun 3, 2010

I have relatively narrow feet so finding loafers that fit has been an issue. I have been wearing a pair of dress loafers from fratelli rossetti that fit great. I use shoe trees after wearing any pair of leather shoes and am concerned that the trees might stretch out the fit of the loafers and make them too loose to wear. Has anyone encountered this problem?

well-kept · Jun 3, 2010

Yes. You can try to find trees without springs. Certain older models were made with hinges or screw-set adjustment. These will fill the shoe without stretching it. If it's a width issue you can sand down cedar tress to your required size and shape.

brittain · Jun 3, 2010

Ive found the same thing happens to my loafers, which feel much looser after having trees in them. Im too lazy to find better shoe trees, so I just stick the front end in and leave the heel part sticking out over the heel of the shoe.

enarchay · Jun 3, 2010

Now I'm worried. I use spring shoe trees in my loafers as well, but I haven't noticed any stretching - yet. (My loafers are brand new.) Where can I find shoe trees that won't stretch, or is it unnecessary?

westinghouse · Jun 3, 2010

Never had this problem but my loafers are over $400.

well-kept · Jun 3, 2010

Originally Posted by westinghouse

Never had this problem but my loafers are over $400.

Cost is not a factor in my experience. My Edward Greens and Lattanzis are just as susceptible to deformation through the wrong tree as are my Alden shells.

Leather is flexible. That is why we use it for shoes.

Trees which are made expressly to accompany bespoke shoes are not spring-constructed, for this reason

brittain · Jun 3, 2010

Originally Posted by westinghouse

Never had this problem but my loafers are over $400.

so are the ones Im talking about, even more of a reason to not stretch them out.

westinghouse · Jun 3, 2010

Originally Posted by brittain

so are the ones Im talking about, even more of a reason to not stretch them out.

Then I digress. Is the loafer a thinner leather like a driving moccasin? I could see that being a problem. Is the back of the shoe tree only hitting the top of the shoe? It should go all the way to the bottom to enhance stability.

enarchay · Jun 3, 2010

Is it okay to use spring-loaded shoe trees for wing tips?

Which shoe tree models do you guys recommend for loafers?

brittain · Jun 3, 2010

Originally Posted by westinghouse

Then I digress. Is the loafer a thinner leather like a driving moccasin? I could see that being a problem. Is the back of the shoe tree only hitting the top of the shoe? It should go all the way to the bottom to enhance stability.

Ive got two pairs; one is a zegna fatte a mano penny loafer, the other is a casual prada loafer with a rubber sole. I wouldnt call either of them thinner leather, especially the pradas. the problem isnt the positioning of the shoe tree, its just that all of my trees are the spring loaded kind, which just pushes too hard on the shoes. I would think that maybe my shoe trees are too large, except that I wear an 11 or 12 shoe, so they are pretty large as well. I just need to get some of the non-spring-loaded shoe trees.

rk9 · Jun 4, 2010

Originally Posted by westinghouse

Then I digress. Is the loafer a thinner leather like a driving moccasin? I could see that being a problem. Is the back of the shoe tree only hitting the top of the shoe? It should go all the way to the bottom to enhance stability.
Mine are a relatively thick leather. Think dress loafers, not driving mocs. I think getting the non-spring loaded trees might be the way to go. The suggestion of leaving the back end of the tree out might also work well. Either way, I am no longer putting the entire tree in this particular pair of shoes.

Made in California · Nov 18, 2010

Could someone please provide a link to wear one can get shoe trees without springs? Preferably with a high vamp and silver knob. If not, would you guys recommend sizing down a shoe thee with springs?

RSS · Nov 19, 2010

Originally Posted by rk9

I have relatively narrow feet so finding loafers that fit has been an issue. I have been wearing a pair of dress loafers from fratelli rossetti that fit great. I use shoe trees after wearing any pair of leather shoes and am concerned that the trees might stretch out the fit of the loafers and make them too loose to wear. Has anyone encountered this problem?
If the shoe trees are sized properly this will not happen.

epa · Nov 19, 2010

I noticed that my spring shoe trees tended to stretch the shoes and misshape them at the heel part, so I "solved" it by just leaving the trees in for the night, then taking them out next morning and putting the shoes into the closet without trees. My sound harsh, but I haven't noticed any damage to the shoes.

danieljndube · May 9, 2013

I have a pair of $400-500 Italian loafers of somewhat softer than normal dress leather. My shoe trees stretched these to a disagreeable extent, making me cringe at the damage done to what had been very keen-fitting shoes. I will be trying these on theory that the spring will not be too strong in a horizontal direction: http://www.woodlore.com/mens-shoemate-pair/.

Shoe trees stretching loafers?

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