Hey gents, today I want to talk a bit about an unsung hero in any stylish man’s closet:

Shoe trees.

I recently traveled to the Woodlore shoe tree factory and I learned a TON! How these things are made, what materials go into them, what to look for, and most importantly, how to use them.

Want in on this? Keep reading.

Shoe Trees 101

First off, what’s a shoe tree? It’s a shoe-shaped wooden device whose main purpose is to keep a shoe’s shape and help prevent creases. But that’s not its only purpose (intrigued yet?). When you see shoe trees, quite often you’ll see them made of wood - cedar to be exact. Why? Because cedar absorbs moisture and odor, leaving the shoe fresh and dry for the next wear. One thing I learned on my tours is that the manufacturers of the best shoe trees look for cedar that contains at least 70% hart wood, which is what gives the shoe tree those absorbent properties.

(Quick tip: while it’s true that the deodorizing effects of shoe trees wane over time, taking some sandpaper and lightly rubbing the shoe tree will reactivate them. When you do this, you can even smell the cedar again!) 

The shoe tree industry is pretty interesting as well. Woodlore (founded by Allen Edmonds) manufactures a ton of the shoe trees on the market in the United States, including for such retail giants as Nordstrom and Joseph A. Bank. They even make shoe trees for AE’s competitors, which I find quite interesting. 

If you’re going to make the sizable investment high-quality shoes require, it only makes sense to protect your investment. That includes getting your hands on good shoe trees. We don’t think of it often, but we put our shoes through a lot of abuse. Every time we walk over a puddle, go outside in a drizzle, even stand around on a humid day, our shoes absorb a considerable amount of moisture. Result? The shoe leather’s chemistry will change, and the poor shoe will begin to bend in on itself. If you don’t prevent this, your beloved Italian double monks will begin to look like crescent moons or, worse, elf shoes. Since the shoe isn’t the right shape anymore, this will cause extra strain on the sole as well, leading to the increased likelihood of the sole coming apart from the shoe, no matter how well-constructed it is.

The simple act of inserting shoe trees in your shoes when not wearing them will easily prevent any of this from happening. 

Where The Magic Happens

The Woodlore facility is a plain building just off the highway in Port Washington, Wisconsin. The process starts with Eastern Red Cedar harvested from family farms in the Ozark Mountains. The raw cedar is shaped by industrial lathes before being cut in half, rounded, and finished. The smaller blocks used in the back of the shoe tree are then sent through a conveyor belt which smooths them out.

It’s worth noting that a considerable amount of machinery is dedicated solely to keeping dust off the finished product. Most of the machines are wired to dust removal systems.

They don’t let anything go to waste, either. Excess materials like shavings are shipped off to local businesses to be used as mulch.

I’ve made it sound like there’s a lot of automation - which there is - but there’s also a good deal of craftsmanship that goes into finishing and final inspections. But they’re far from archaic: a laser that burns custom insignias into the finished product.

Like many well-run businesses, Woodlore is surprisingly diverse. They don’t just make shoe trees, but also coat hangers, sweater boxes, and even birdhouses. Their whole white label process makes it easy for companies to come in, contract Woodlore without having to find their own materials, and still get high-end cedar products. It’s a win for everyone! 

Conclusion

Alright gentlemen, I hope this brief overview gave you a bit more appreciation for value in shoe trees. It’s not a tool that many guys consider, but it’s well worth the purchase. I certainly enjoyed getting to learn what I did by visiting the factory, and I was happy to share that knowledge with you guys.

So what do you think, gentlemen? Do you use shoe trees? How many pairs do you own? Do you find them effective at preventing odor and maintaining your shoes’ shape? Talk to me gents.

You can also message me on Instagram and Twitter. I’m always happy to answer your style questions.

Until next time, this is the Kavalier.

P.S. Woodlore wasn’t the only factory I’ve toured. Checkout the others here to get in on some awesome behind-the-scenes action!