Shoe trees extend the life of shoes several times and must be considered as a long-term investment.

In the ClassicButy.pl store we offer the best cedar shoe trees and light travel shoe trees, perfect when you take your shoes with you on a business trip or on vacation.

Unless we keep our shoes in the closet or on a shelf under a lampshade all the time. , and we use them as intended, i.e. we walk in them, there must be traces on them. Characteristic creases, wrinkles in the leather or material in the working areas of the upper are natural and normal. The sooner we understand it, accept it, and even like it, the sooner we will derive real pleasure from owning and using good shoes. Even in the best shoes, made of the best leather, this effect is normal and natural. This is a visible and desirable effect. If there were no traces of bending left on the leather, it would be a real cause for concern, as it would mean that we are not dealing with natural leather, but with a leather-like product.

You should also remember that the right shoe may break slightly differently than the left shoe because our feet are quite different (asymmetric, contusions, injuries, etc.) and the shoes work differently when worn. Inexperienced shoe lovers who would like their shoes to always be beautiful and flawless often have trouble accepting this fact. If you haven't experienced it yet, take our word for it - good 10-year-old, well-kept leather shoes with characteristic wrinkles are the essence of perfection.

Of course, we know methods of straightening shoe uppers based on high temperature, heated air and steam. especially by sneaker lovers, and sometimes, horror of all, also by specialized establishments. We definitely do not recommend these methods, firstly, they may cause damage to the upper, secondly, the effect is short-lived anyway, after some time the creases appear again, and as we have already written, this is a natural and expected effect.

If the creases must be, why use shoe trees?

There are many reasons. The first is to prevent natural creases from turning into pathological deformations of the upper and mechanical damage to the leather. During production, the shape of the shoe is determined by the last over which the leather is stretched. During use, the shoe is filled with the foot. When we wear shoes, our feet sweat and this moisture is absorbed by the leather elements of the shoe. Over time, the skin softens and takes on the shapes dictated by our gait. After removing the shoes, they dry in the same condition as we leave them, so it may perpetuate these creases and distortions, which will deteriorate the appearance of the shoes. When not in use, it is best to rest on a tree tree that will maintain its natural shape and ensure proper evaporation of moisture. An upper left unfilled when wet with sweat and/or rainwater can very quickly lose its aesthetic value and, in extreme cases, also its utility value. Then shoe trees will help us and we should put them into our shoes immediately after taking them off our feet. This filling has two basic roles to play here. Firstly, it tightens the leather of the upper, thanks to which the shoe dries and takes its original shape. Once it dries, it will remain intact even if you take out the filling. Secondly, shoe trees absorb moisture and unpleasant odors, thanks to which the shoes dry faster.

Streets or hooves?

Many people still confuse hoofs with shoe trees. Therefore, we explain that both topics of discussion are similar to each other, but they are used at completely different stages of the "life" of the shoe. The last is a three-dimensional model of the foot and is used at the production stage. The final shape of the entire shoe depends on the shape of the hoof. If we want to produce work shoes, we usually use massive and rounded lasts. If we want to produce women's, subtle high heels, we use slim and dynamic lasts. The shoe tree is also a three-dimensional model of the foot, but it is used at the stage of storing shoes, and its main task is to maintain the original shape of the upper.

Universal shoe trees are most often produced, matching many shoe models, but there are also luxury brands or shoe workshops that offer shoe trees based on specific lasts. Such boards are perfect for specific models, but unfortunately this is quite expensive. Not many brands allow this. Let's be honest, there is no need for this. Good quality, adjustable cedar shoe trees will be enough. The basic and most important function of shoe trees, as I have already mentioned, is to maintain the original shape of the footwear. Without good rules this is not an easy task. Therefore, a relatively good fit and adjustability are quite important. In addition, the shoe trees on which the leather is stretched facilitate care treatments on the upper surface using paste, cream and waxes. They also facilitate the removal of moisture from the shoe.

Cedar shoe trees

Cedar shoe trees are definitely the best, they smell beautiful and fill the inside of the shoes with a pleasant aroma. Good quality trees maintain the aroma for many seasons. Cedar trees have hygroscopic properties and absorb moisture found in shoes. And ultimately, the shoe trees have an aesthetic function.

Elegant shoes in good quality shoe trees look beautiful. Good quality shoe trees are adjustable, which makes it very easy to optimally fit them to individual shoes. Thanks to the mechanism, springs and screws, as well as the divided nose, both length and width can be adjusted. Wooden three-piece shoe trees are adjustable in length and width and can be truly amazing in both shapes and colors. The full heel of a wooden shoe tree is actually a mandatory element of a good quality shoe tree. Slightly too large plastic and wooden spring trees with a small ball end may deform the back of the upper.

Sizes of the trees

You should not be too attached to the sizes of the trees. This varies quite a bit. The size of your shoes will not always be the same as the size of the shoe trees. Quite often, shoe trees of a given brand fit a size smaller. Do not force the shoe trees into place. A good technique is to insert the shoe trees at a 40-45 degree angle and gradually straighten them as you place them inside. If, despite everything, you feel that you need to put a lot of force into this process, it is better to replace the boards with a smaller size. When buying shoe trees, it is ideal to take with you the shoes for which you are buying the shoe trees. The ClassicButy.pl store selects full cedar shoe trees directly for shoes, adjusting them correctly right away.

Travel shoe trees

In addition to cedar shoe trees, there are also plastic travel shoe trees. They do not have the advantages of cedar, i.e. hygroscopicity and beautiful smell, but they have one advantage - they are light. This feature is invaluable when we go on a trip and every kilogram counts.

Shoe trees are perfect as a gift

It varies, but often shoe trees and cosmetics for a shoe lover are almost as important as the shoes themselves! It is simply an element of a whole, a ritual related to passion and interests. Taking care of shoes is rarely a chore for their owners. It is more often a pleasure, relaxation and relaxation is often even a kind of hobby. Those for whom shoes are more than a necessity would be delighted if they always received a new pair of shoes from Santa Claus on their birthday or from Santa Claus. However, this is quite problematic due to the fit of the shoes. Shoe trees are the perfect gift. A beautiful pair of shoe trees can sometimes make a shoe lover more happy than the shoes themselves. The prices of shoe trees may seem quite high (some cost around PLN 200), but this purchase should be treated as an investment for years.

They fulfill several functions, first of all, they keep the shoe in its proper shape. It is best to invest in full shoe trees, if they have been selected correctly, they are able to ensure proper tension of the entire upper of the shoe. Deformations that occur during use are consolidated in the process when the shoe begins to dry after being taken off the foot. An additional threat is getting the shoe wet. It is important to fill the inside of the shoe with paper during the initial drying process and then insert shoe trees. Otherwise, permanent deformation of the footwear may occur.

Good cedar shoe trees, apart from not blocking the breathing of the skin, can also eliminate the unpleasant smell of footwear. Cedar wood is invaluable here, thanks to its properties it is able to "extract" moisture and unpleasant odors from shoes.