Don't Buy Cheap Shoe Trees

Shoe trees are important for your shoes. That is, if you are wearing quality shoes and care for those shoes. They help to maintain the shape of your shoes, particularly in the vamp area, pushing out the creases as best as they can so that they do not 'set' into your leather too deeply. Deep creases that form create weak points in the leather that can crack if not properly maintained. Shoe trees help to prevent that.
The issue with cheap shoe trees is that they are really aren't designed well and do the bare minimum, at best. Sometimes, they even go so far as to deform your shoes with too much spring-loaded force constantly pushing outward on a smaller size.
Everything is relative in shoes. This video is aimed at those who buy shoes as an investment into their wardrobe and want to maximize the lifespan of their shoes. If your shoes are cheap, then by all means, please also buy cheap shoe trees. But if your shoes are of good quality, having a good-quality shoe tree makes sense to take care of your investment.
Check out my other ventures:
The blog that started it all, where I discuss all things shoes:
👉 theshoesnobblog.com/
The shoes that I sell in my unboxing videos, as well as my personal shoes:
👉 theshoesnobblog.com/shop/
A shop where you can find exclusive discounts that you won't find anywhere else by some of the best brands in the industry:
👉 theshoesnobmarketplace.com/
The shoe company I launched in 2013, which offers the world classically welted shoes with a twist in my own unique styling:
👉 www.jfitzpatrickfootwear.com/

[@rudyhurtado8765]

Always with great information, knowledge and tips Justin, always looking after the shoe aficionado's interest! 🙏

[@theshoesnob_official]

Thanks Rudy! I appreciate it ;-)

[@billday7599]

So we shouldn’t be gullible about what “salesmen” tell us, but we should absorb whatever you say. Got it.

[@theshoesnob_official]

You can do as you please. I am not selling you anything. Whether you choose to listen or not is your problem, not mine.

[@richyclubsport5155]

I own several pairs of Crockett and Jones and Trickers boot's, i bought proper tree's for them from the factory shop at C & J. My father always said store boots and shoes in proper wooden trees

[@theshoesnob_official]

Nice! And great advice

[@ABC-rh7zc]

So what can we use when lasted shoe trees are not available?

[@theshoesnob_official]

Lots of mid tier shoemakers sell good generic trees that will fit most lasts. I do, to say the least. Skoatiebolaget does too.

[@johnet22]

I use lasted when i can find them. Minimally i buy the trees along with my shoes, from reputable shoemakers. My wife purchased a multipack of crap trees online last year. I thanked her and quietly threw them all away without using a single one, and she's none the wiser.

[@theshoesnob_official]

Hahaha thanks for sharing!

[@ekoller]

Thank you thank you!! I feel vindicated now.

[@theshoesnob_official]

Hahahah happy to help!

[@milkshakeplease4696]

i use lasted trees with my high end shoes when possible but the cheaper allen edmonds one when i dont have lasted ones and i havent had a problem with shoes 10 years old using them with them thankfully but yes lasted is better

[@theshoesnob_official]

Thanks for sharing

[@ericwalles]

even if you use the cheap plastic shoe trees is necessary to have at least one decent pair of cedar wood trees to have something to keed the sahpe in a water emergency

[@theshoesnob_official]

Thanks for sharing

[@as-vw3oz]

Patrick, what shoe trees do you recommend?

[@theshoesnob_official]

Here are some good ones: www.skoaktiebolaget.com/collections/shoe-trees Also the name is Justin 😎

[@as-vw3oz]

Thank you

[@gamemaker1234]

My Rax Collection shoe tree: the nub you use to take out the shoe tree came off.

[@theshoesnob_official]

Thanks for sharing

[@Maitreya0208]

Upgrading my shoe trees has been an ongoing project. It’s often difficult to get good shoe trees, especially off Amazon. Woodlore in particular has been a disappointment. Now I just buy the manufacturer’s shoe trees when I buy the shoes, whenever possible.

[@theshoesnob_official]

Nice. And yea it can be costly to replace a larger collection

[@Maitreya0208]

@@theshoesnob_official I’m going to come up to NYC from DC this summer to get scanned for shoes by Carmina and to get measured by Proper Cloth (although everything has fit very well so far). When I do, I’ll stop by J. Fitzpatrick. I’ll email you before I come so you know what I’d like to try. Plus I’d like to be in your books for future MTO’s.

[@theshoesnob_official]

@@Maitreya0208 will look forward to it!

[@pierrecolombo4654]

Strangely enough, the shoemakers sometimes don't offer decent shoe trees themselves, Alden being the first one I think about.

[@theshoesnob_official]

Very true. Some shops lile Arteron London and Skoaktiebolaget make up for them though ;-)

[@gagecarty4290]

So it's best to purchase the shoe trees from the makers of the shoes, makers of shoes priced above $300 ,sell them that way

[@theshoesnob_official]

Ideally yes, if they offer a nice tree. If they dont there are 3rd party suppliers or use the tree from another maker

[@mtbokor1969]

So dont buy lasted trees, dony buy low end trees. Is this a trilogy and I have to wait for the next video on what are the best shoe trees? 🙂

[@theshoesnob_official]

Hahaha no third video. And the lasted trees was not saying to not buy them. It was warning that they are not always worth it if you do not like to fuss. I wish all of my shoes had lasted shoe trees that were easy to insert/remove. The "best" trees are well shaped generic ones for someone that just wants quality without fuss. They are neither cheap nor crazy expensive. And most good brands offer them. Its pretty logical in reality

[@timd5700]

If not from the shoe seller, where do you recommend buying quality shoes trees.

[@theshoesnob_official]

Many brands shoe trees will fit in other shoes but if you desire other than looks at multi brand shoe stores or accessory companies such as Arterton London, Skoaktiebolaget and/or Saphir

[@timd5700]

@@theshoesnob_official Thank you.

[@MauricXe]

Yes! Thank you for this one. They are sh1t

[@theshoesnob_official]

My pleasure!