The Advantages of a Split Toe Shoe Tree

Function

• The front half of a split-toe shoetree has a tapered shape like the front portion of most shoes, but it’s split down the center so that the two halves of the front spread apart when a knob or lever near the heel section is turned or pressed. Unlike a solid-toe shoetree, the adjustable split toe fits a wide range of shoe widths and toe shapes.

Pressure

• Some split-toe shoetrees are constructed to exert pressure in all directions when their adjusted to fit the shape of a shoe. The equal pressure helps remove wrinkles in the shoe lining and creases that develop on the exterior vamp, which is the upper portion of a shoe that covers your instep and toes.

Moisture and Storage

• Inserting a split-toe shoetree into your shoes shortly after you take them off helps them maintain their shape as moisture from perspiration and damp weather evaporates from your shoes. Some shoe retailers promote shoetrees made from cedar as the best type for absorbing moisture and odors. You can use sandpaper to lightly sand cedar shoetrees to renew their fragrance as they age. The Good Housekeeping website also recommends storing out-of-season shoes with shoe trees inside to help your shoes retain their shape until you're ready to wear them again.

Considerations

• The Esquire website recommends choosing unvarnished shoe trees. Although varnished varieties are appealing, varnish prevents shoetrees from absorbing moisture. Unfinished split-toe shoetrees made from cedar with fully shaped heels are the best models to use to maintain the proper shape of your shoes. It’s important to insert shoetrees into your shoes for one or two hours after you first take off your shoes. Otherwise, the shoetrees likely won’t be effective for shaping your shoes.