Do Shoe Trees Stretch Shoes

Imagine going way over your budget to buy that pair of leather shoes just because they looked absolutely gorgeous. Yes, I can relate! 

However, after spending a fortune on good shoes, you must be expecting them to last long. But shoes lose their shape easily over time and they can become unusable if not taken care of. I had some pairs of leather shoes which I did not wear often, and they shrunk with time. 

Naturally, I was very disappointed and was on the verge of discarding them when my husband intervened. He told me all about shoe trees and how they can help prevent the shoes from becoming unusable. 

Moreover, your shoes can lose shape or retain moisture and sweat odors when you wear them frequently or for prolonged periods. Now, you may be wondering: do shoe trees stretch shoes? So, here I am to answer all your queries. 

Hi! I am Stacy Smith, and today, I will tell you all about whether shoe trees stretch shoes. Dive in! 

Shoe Trees: An Introduction

Before I go any further, let me tell you what shoe trees exactly are. These are nothing but a type of accessory that can be put inside unused shoes so that they do not shrink over time. They help retain the shape of the shoes so that you can wear them even after years. 

I have been using a couple of shoe trees to keep my dress shoes in shape, but my husband has used them for his leather sneakers and boots too.

What Does A Shoe Tree Do?

In this section, I will tell you all about what a shoe tree does. You can use them for both men’s and women’s footwear, and it does offer a range of benefits. 

1. Offers Stability

If you polish shoes often, you must have noticed the difficulty in keeping them straight. But a shoe tree will provide more stability to them and will ensure that you can clean them easily. My neighbor uses it while polishing her daughter’s shoes before school, and she believes it makes the work less time-consuming. 

2. Removes Moisture

Moisture can cause a lot of issues in shoes, including the growth of mildew and molds. As the growth progresses, it may well damage the entire shoe. 

However, a shoe tree can stop this from happening by absorbing some of the moisture and preventing the fabric or material from going bad. It can also prevent sweat odors from staying inside the shoes, thereby making them more hygienic to wear.

3. Prevents Creasing

Shoe trees do stretch the shoes a little, but they also prevent the formation of creases. In the case of leather shoes, they will ensure that the leather stays in place and does not become very rigid. 

4. Maintains The Original Shape

Shoes are prone to wear and tear, and if you wear them regularly, you will find that they are retaining moisture and forming creases. These can, in turn, lead to the distortion of the original shape, which is not something that you’d want. However, you can easily retain the original shape of the shoe by using a shoe tree.

Not only that but shoe trees can also be used for shoes that you wear occasionally, as they will prevent the outer material from shrinking. Long story short, you can improve the longevity of both regularly and frequently worn shoes with shoe trees at your disposal.

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HOUNDSBAY Cedar Shoe Tree - Shoe Trees for Men & Women, Sneakers, Widener & Shaper

• Premium Aromatic Cedar - Our fresh cedar shoe shaper is an adjustable shoe tree that absorbs moisture and dissipates odor to preserve the shape and integrity of your shoes.
• RIGHT and LEFT Engravings - Always helpful when inserting shoe trees or a shoe stretcher, we strive to make our shoe accessories easy to use. These cedar shoe trees are made with a spring loaded shoe expander to hold the shoe form.
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EchoDone 5 Pairs Practical Adjustable Length Men Shoe Tree Shoe Stretcher Boot Holder Shaper Support (Black Color)

• Material of shoe stretcher: Made of sturdy and durable plastic and steel. environmental friendly. Light weight, easy to carry.
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• Flexible men shoes stretcher design: the length of men shoes tree stretcher can be adjusted. This shoes stretcher can keep your shoes in great shape, adjustable length let it easy to put into shoes, Perfect for travel, your closed-toe heels, boots & tennis shoes, moccasins, sneakers etc.

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Do Shoe Trees Stretch Shoes?

I have many friends who do not believe in using a shoe tree because they think that it will stretch the shoe too much. However, let me tell you that this is a misconception, and the shoe tree cannot really stretch footwear to a great extent. There will be a marginal increase in the size, and hence they are generally used for very tight shoes. 

So, you can use a pair of shoe trees if you have very very tight shoes that need to be loosened up a little before wearing. They will exert pressure on the top and the sides of the shoes, which will expand them just right.

Besides, they will prevent the sides from creasing despite expanding them. But keep in mind that they won’t increase the fiber length, as the spring mechanism used in shoe trees is not very strong. Simply put, the front part of a shoe tree would gently stretch the top of the shoe while preventing any crease formation. 

But in case you want a significant increase in the size of your shoes, I’d recommend going for shoe stretchers. They will help in enlarging the shoes from all sides, which will be extremely beneficial for people who have odd-shaped feet. You can also try some DIY methods to stretch the shoes if you are looking for an inexpensive option. 

When Is The Best Time To Use Shoe Trees?

My husband always puts in the shoe trees right after removing the shoes from his feet. And as I have mentioned before, doing so will remove the sweat and moisture accumulation from wearing them for prolonged periods. For best results, let them stay inside the shoes for at least 24 hours. 

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