[Rossini]

Following up some comments on a recent thread:

Where possible and, particularly with more expensive shoes, I buy lasted shoe trees with shoes (e.g. Edward Green).

However lasted shoe trees are not always available: for the upper mid-range of shoes - from Trickers to C&J - there are "own-brand" shoe trees that appear to be both a) expensive (often 30GBP and up) and b) generic in terms of last.

My first question is does anyone know whether lasted shoe trees are actually available from these UK firms?

Secondly, In the absence of lasted trees, I have always used cheaper generic cedar shoe trees from various manufacturers (Clarkes, etc). Is there any additional value in buying the own-brand ones from C&J, Trickers, etc., if they are not specifically lasted instead of what I am using?

Lastly, many on the forum enthuse about shoe tree manufacturers from the Hangar project to Bexley and Woodlore. But, I have read that if you do not have a lasted shoe tree that fits, these can do more damage than not using them at all. The alternative proposed from various quarters is to use newspaper instead. I can see some logic in this but, on balance, I would veer towards using some sort of tree even if not cut for the same last as the shoe. Does anyone have any strong views on this?

Thanks!

 

[eagle2250]

I have been using woodlore, or similiar, shoe trees for as long as I can remember, always shooting for a snug fit in the shoes. To date, knock on wood(!), I have not experienced any damage or unintended stretching of my shoes. I suspect those who have experienced such unintended stretching/damage, have really had to force the trees in to their shoes.

While I can't really comment on the availability of lasted shoe trees from the UK firms you cite, I do know AE and Alden don't offer such an option. So, I guess, I will stick with Woodlore.

 

[cdcro]

i've used bass trees exclusively for 10 years or so, and have noticed no ill effects. I do use lasted trees made from the last's on my custom made boots. :icon_smile:

 

[marlinspike]

The only time non-lasted trees will do more harm than good is if they bulge certain areas of the upper. This WILL result in permanent stretching/bulging in those areas. This is why I've taken to buying woodlore Ultra trees (which have a very large toe box part) and then whittling them down to fit a particular shoe, and marking them with the shoe model name.

 

[Rossini]

That's very proactive of you, Marlin!

Yes, I think it is as suspected: if the shoe tree fits, don't worry!

 

[marlinspike]

That's very proactive of you, Marlin!

Yes, I think it is as suspected: if the shoe tree fits, don't worry!

I've also found that something as simple as skinning the front edge of the tree (the Woodlore Ultra trees meet at a point at the front, whereas the toe of your shoe has some height to it), it GREATLY reduces the pressure exerted on the toebox of shoes made from soft leather (I got this idea when I realized I could see the outline of the tree in the toe of my cape cod bit loafers, and once I did this, that was no longer a problem because the pressure was being exerted over a wider area).

 

[brokencycle]

From what I understand Woodlore makes AE shoe trees.

 

[Rossini]

From what I understand Woodlore makes AE shoe trees.

Woodlore is owned by Allen Edmonds. So, actually, AE makes Woodlore Shoe Trees. :icon_smile:

 

[cvac]

I believe Jos Bank shoe trees are also made by Woodlore / AE. They look identical to me, other than the brass plate logo being different, obviously.

 

[brokencycle]

Woodlore is owned by Allen Edmonds. So, actually, AE makes Woodlore Shoe Trees. :icon_smile:

You say tomato...

 

[Rossini]

No, actually I say tomato :icon_smile_big:

Oh, wait, hang on.... !

 

[Leather man]

But do you say potato!:icon_smile_big:

I find EG shoe trees ( which are not in fact lasted in the strict sense of the word) very good and Gaziano and Girling trees to be amazing!

However I find shoe trees for the mid-range Northampton shoes I own, C&J and Church's to not do the job very well. The trees look very nice but they are never big enough to do the job of stretching the vamp back into place. They fill the shoe but not enough if you see what I mean.

I have shoe trees from Shipton and Heneage which are good value and cedar and they do a very good job. They don't always fill all the space inside a shoe but they do stretch the shoe just enough , which my local retailer of high end shoes told me is really what shoe trees are for - ie not to fill every inch of the inside of the shoe but to level the sole out again and so pull the creases out of the vamp.