This is not a real tree but the thing that is placed inside the shoe to maintain the shoe’s form. The shoe tree was very popular in the olden days but not anymore. Especially the men’s leather shoes, they last longer when there’s a shoe tree inside while in storage. Without using a shoe tree, the leather surface develops creases that leads to a shorter life. But if you want to save money, you can use crumpled newspaper in lieu of a shoe tree.
Wow. This is the first time I am hearing something like this and I immediately googled it and I don't think people are using it nowadays. I asked my father and he said he used it when he went to college and said nobody is using it nowadays.
@harijobs I normally see these things in cobbler's shops. I initially thought that they were used to repair shoes only. However, after asking the cobbler he told me that they are used were mainly used to keep a shoe straight. This is especially in shoe shops. However, they are a bit expensive to produce and hence people prefer using papers. I remember when I was in high school we would polish our best shoes and stuff papers in them.
I have never thought of that but now that I read about it it makes so much sense. I have seen a few shoe stores still have those in their shoes but to be honest we threw them away not knowing their purpose. Now I will keep them in there when they are stored.
I have seen something in a shoe repair shop that shaped like a foot and it's placed in inside the shop to maintain the form of the shoe while some areas of the shoe are being repaired especially if a bottom is being fitted to it. I am wondering if that is what's being referred to as a shoe tree. what I usually do to straighten out creases on my shoe is to stuff it with paper when it's not being worn.
They still make these things(shoe trees) and they are made out of some kind of wood,like cedar to absorb the sweat and moisture that you build up all day in your shoes. This prevents the leather from cracking,creasing,and keeps the shoes form as well. A couple of shoe tree tips though,is not to put them in wet shoes-and also they make some sort of lightweight plastic shoe tree as well for traveling,so you could check them out.
