split or full toe shoe tree

maltess · Feb 14, 2009

Heelo to everyone

I want to buy a few shoe trees , but not sure if I should get split or full toe. In the past I used travel trees , so I don´t know what I should go for and the diffrences. Is the slip toe maybe design for wide fits? not sure at all. I use f or narrow fits

I am basicly deciding on this two models

full toe

https://www.shoetreemarketplace.com/Men_s_Shoe_tree_Solid_Toe_Washburn_p/8951.htm

split

https://www.shoetreemarketplace.com/Men_s_Epic_Twin_Tube_Shoe_Tree_Split_toe_p/78000.htm

Thans very much for your help

rbstc123 · Feb 14, 2009

I wear a D width and I use the split toe. I have one solid toe and that is from Allen Edmonds. I use it with the AE's pair of shoes I have. It works well. I also have 2 pair of the Washburns you are looking at. They work well with some shoes and poorly with others. The vamp is really high on this tree so if you have a low vamp shoe this shoe tree may not work well. I also had 2 pair of the Epics. I returned them. I did not like them at all.

Overall, I think the old school split toe (what Alden uses) is better because it somewhat conforms to the shoe. If the solid is to large it will stretch the shoe if it is to small it will not do it's job properly. I would only use a solid from the same company that makes the shoe. This way you know it will be a good fit.

maltess · Feb 14, 2009

Thanks for your help, so then something like this one is probably ok?

https://www.shoecaresupplies.com/product_p/251.htm

this one only separates in the front part of the toe

https://www.shoetreemarketplace.com/Men_s_Epic_Twin_Tube_Shoe_Tree_Split_toe_p/78000.htm

pichao · Feb 14, 2009

I bought the second model, with a split toe, and it is quite good.

You can buy them even cheaper (USD 19.99) if you go to the askandy recommendations page.

However, transportation from the US may cost quite a bit, and you may get customs fees above that once they arrive in spain. However, customs do not check all parcels, and most times you will be "lucky".

Andy · Feb 14, 2009

maltess:

If you had your own copy of The Encyclopedia of Men's Clothes :icon_smile_big: , you could instantly go to the Shoe Care Chapter and find:

Shoe Tree tips

Solid toe shoetrees work best on heavier shoes, while split toe shoetrees work well on soft shoes, like hand-sewn, boat, and athletic shoes.

And pichao is correct look at the Cedarville specials on the Recommendation Page!!

maltess · Feb 14, 2009

You are right Andy, I getting the encyclopedia this week no matter what. I am learning a lot already in the forum, that should be my next step

thanks for your help

GreenPlastic · Feb 14, 2009

I think Andy is spot on, but I would also point out that split-toe trees work better for shoes that didn't come with their own shoe trees. They're more versatile, because they can expand or contract to fit a broader range of shoes within a given size. Solid-toed trees are at their best when they were custom-made to the same last and the same shape as the shoe they came with.

If I found myself with a pair of shoes but didn't have a set of trees specifically for those shoes, I'd probably go with split-toed trees. Unless I could locate the sort of solid-toed trees that match my shoes, that is.

brokencycle · Feb 14, 2009

I'd probably do the split. I wear a 10.5B shoe, and the medium sized (if I remember correctly) split toe works quite well. I do have two full toe trees from Allen Edmonds.

I got the rest from STP. Try there, you can get them for ~$15/each.

Blueboy1938 · Feb 14, 2009

Split toe makes the tree more versatile in accommodating various shoe widths. However, if you can get the solid version in a width compatible with your shoes, they are going to be more durable because they have fewer moving parts. I've had some rather less well made split-toe shoe trees come apart.

maltess · Feb 14, 2009

https://www.shoetreemarketplace.com/Men_s_Epic_Twin_Tube_Shoe_Tree_Split_toe_p/78000.htm

Thanks very much for your help, just one more question. With the split toae can you adjust the witdh and leave it fixed? I remenber I saw a similat model to this one and the toe moving part has springs not very hard, so I had the idea that not much pressure on the shoe was done on that side.

Best regards

JLibourel · Feb 15, 2009

I have been told by knowledgeable A-E salespeople that there is no practical difference between split- and solid-toe shoe trees. I believe all Nordstrom's Woodlore-made shoe trees are split-toe. In any event, I have used split-toe and and solid-toe trees indiscriminately for years. I too have never notice any practical difference, much less had cause to regret this practice.

Don'tPanic · Feb 15, 2009

Depends on the width of the shoe

The AE shoe tree size chart is incorrect when at the extremes. They'll say a medium shoe tree for 10.5 AA, which is too large in my personal experience. The small split toe trees for that size are perfect.

82-Greg · Feb 15, 2009

Blueboy1938 said:
Split toe makes the tree more versatile in accommodating various shoe widths. However, if you can get the solid version in a width compatible with your shoes, they are going to be more durable because they have fewer moving parts. I've had some rather less well made split-toe shoe trees come apart.

+1

Split toe is essential if you have wide feet.

maltess · Feb 16, 2009

that´s not my case, I have narow feet and the fir is always F or similar, so I guess the full toe is a better option then,

brokencycle · Feb 17, 2009

I wear a 10.5B and find that the medium split-toe fits the best. I have two full toe sets that I use on my shoes that fit a bit wider, and they do the job.

split or full toe shoe tree

maltess

rbstc123

maltess

pichao

Andy

maltess

GreenPlastic

brokencycle

Blueboy1938

maltess

JLibourel

Don'tPanic

82-Greg

maltess

brokencycle

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities