The Shoe Tree

Canada
June 1, 2017 8:00am CST
If you are as old as I am you probably remember “A Shoe Tree”: A shoe tree is a device approximating the shape of a foot that is placed inside a shoe to preserve its shape, stop it from developing creases and thereby extend the life of the shoe. It is a reusable alternative to wadded rags or newspapers. Wikipedia My parents had them in the house and used them when the shoes got wet and needed to dry out. That's my only memory of the “Shoe Tree”. Until later... When my sister and I started camping with our very young children, we camped and still do camp at a New York State Park on a mountain river in the Adirondack Mountains. Because its a shallow fast moving river there are lots of fishermen fishing and a lot of children camping and ending up with fish hooks in their feet. My oldest son was the first of our children to go for a shot after a fish hook was removed from his foot. From that day on we made sure all our children (and us) wore shoes in the river – usually old sneakers and eventually as they got older we all buy our own water shoes. We started camping with our own children; three for me and three for my sister. As the children grew they all started bringing their friends. Five or six children with five or six friends turned into a nightmare when we Mom's started tripping over ten to twelve pairs of wet shoes spread around our campsite. So a shoe tree arrived.... and it worked like a charm. We chose one tree on our campsite off to the side and away from our tents and our camp kitchen. It is named the “SHOE TREE”. When the children and we adults came out of the river we would find our dry shoes, sit at the picnic table to get off the wet ones, put on the dry ones and leave our wet shoes leaning against the “Shoe Tree”. As soon as everyone got used to it, it became tradition. No more wet shoes tripping us during the day and the night, and a neat and comfortable camp for all. Our children discovered if you lean your shoes in the right direction against the tree, they will be dry the next time you want to go back into the water... if you are lucky. The photo above is a Shoe Tree, don't remember how many were there but it might have been photographed when the majority were still in the water... Have you ever use a shoe tree?
27 people like this
28 responses
@Kandae11 (53601)
1 Jun 17
Looks like a good idea. However, do you ever worry about something not too nice crawling into the shoe?
6 people like this
• Canada
1 Jun 17
We do check the shoe before we put it back on. Especially if its a wet year, we have found ugly things inside. If its dry it doesn't seem to happen, when it does we encouraged the kids to hang then on the clothes line. They are grown now and the grands we leave to our children....but if they leave them in the middle of our site the shoes do disappear... for a short while...
4 people like this
• United States
1 Jun 17
That is very precious the shoe tree haha yes I remember the shoe trees, the wooden ones inside the shoes, my Mother used to use them. I like the way you have named that tree for all the shoes around it.
5 people like this
• United States
9 Jun 17
@PainsOnSlate Oh haha good.
1 person likes this
• Canada
9 Jun 17
It has become a tradition while camping, but some of our kids hang them on the clothes line when camping...but they are adults now and can reach the line...
2 people like this
@rebelann (110776)
• El Paso, Texas
1 Jun 17
OMG, dad used them but I thought they were to stretch the shoe.
3 people like this
@rebelann (110776)
• El Paso, Texas
9 Jun 17
I think I'll have to check out different kinds @PainsOnSlate I have shoes that have become too small as I gained weight. Can you believe yer feet get fat too?
2 people like this
• Canada
9 Jun 17
All I know is it keeps the shoe smoothe,
2 people like this
• Canada
14 Jun 17
@rebelann I have never heard that before...we learn something every day, in all my up and down yoyo life when it comes to weight my feet have stayed the same...
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48236)
• Canada
1 Jun 17
If memory serves me correct, my Gramma used a shoe tree on a few of her better pairs of shoes. She had a wide foot and relied on her very best shoes to give her the comfort and support that she needed, so she'd do anything to protect them. There is a shoe tree not too far from us, we used to pass it on our way here from where we used to live. It is a tree with pairs of shoes tied at the laces, hanging from the branches. And its out in the middle of no where beside the road.
4 people like this
@Juliaacv (48236)
• Canada
2 Jun 17
@PainsOnSlate These aren't nailed, just hanging there by the tied laces. I read somewhere that it means something, but do you think that I can remember just what it means? I think that it has something to do with employment, or lack thereof.
3 people like this
• Canada
2 Jun 17
Ha, you reminded while driving the back roads I found two shoe trees...I took photos and will look for them. Hundreds of shoes nailed into the the poor tree. I wonder if the tree lived.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157050)
• United States
2 Jun 17
@Juliaacv I think I did a Bubblews post on this but I do not remember. I thought it meant either you graduated from somewhere, or that you got out of jail, you were free. Or discharged from the military if they were combat boots.
4 people like this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
1 Jun 17
This is a great idea! If I ever get to go camping again, I hope I can remember it. Even as a solo camper, I can use this idea. No more having to remember where on earth did I put my shoes.
3 people like this
• Canada
10 Jun 17
It certainly works for us. I hope you get into Mother Nature soon to give it a try.
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
1 Jun 17
What a great idea! Still, I'd be concerned about certain things crawling into my shoes. I still used those old fashioned shoe trees in my good boots and my husband uses them in his good shoes. lol
3 people like this
• Canada
2 Jun 17
We always check to make sure there is nothing in our shoes while camping... sometimes we are surprised and glad we looked. I've never used the shoe tree from my parents era, I think we sold them at a yard sale after my parents moved on....
2 people like this
@DianneN (246452)
• United States
7 Jun 17
@PainsOnSlate It's always a good idea to check!!!!
2 people like this
@KrauseHome (36449)
• United States
5 Jun 17
Great idea especially since it is a great way for people to help keep track of where to put their Wet shoes. And I am sure if warm enough and in the suns direction this could help them all dry faster as well.
2 people like this
• Canada
9 Jun 17
We often have to put on the wet ones to get back in the river, but with age we learned to bring more than one pair of water shoes
1 person likes this
@Nawsheen (28644)
• Mauritius
3 Jun 17
I have never used a shoe tree before. That's a great idea that you put forward to dry the shoes
2 people like this
@Nawsheen (28644)
• Mauritius
3 Jun 17
@PainsOnSlate haha yes
1 person likes this
• Canada
3 Jun 17
Thank you, it certainly works when you have a bunch of kids around...
2 people like this
@CinnamonGrl (7083)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
1 Jun 17
Yes, I had a shoe tree in my closet for a long time. I don't even have very many shoes anymore! Your shoe tree, though, is very picturesque, haha.
3 people like this
• Canada
10 Jun 17
We really like our camping shoe tree...
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
4 Jun 17
I used a Shoe Tree, the traditional kind, when I was in the Army to keep my dress shoes looking right.
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
9 Jun 17
@PainsOnSlate They had to be near perfect, and shined to a mirror finish.
2 people like this
• Canada
9 Jun 17
I imagine while in the service they had to be clean and idy.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
1 Jun 17
As we still wear leather shoes, I have several shoe trees that I use in the most expensive shoes. The idea of a shoe tree at the camping was a good one.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
10 Jun 17
@PainsOnSlate I confess that I am a shoe maniac.
1 person likes this
• Canada
10 Jun 17
I never used my parents shoe trees,, but I don't have many shoes..
2 people like this
@mom210 (9023)
• United States
5 Jun 17
I have never done that but it sounds like a great idea.
2 people like this
• Canada
6 Jun 17
It works for us , we couldn't stand all those wet shoes everywhere.
2 people like this
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
2 Jun 17
That photo is so cool @PainsOnSlate ! humans in nature :) . I have never used a shoe tree .
2 people like this
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
2 Jun 17
@PainsOnSlate I really think that is so cool! And it was practical too. :)
2 people like this
• Canada
2 Jun 17
I don't think I have either, but we do use a big tree for the shoes while camping.
2 people like this
@MALUSE (69428)
• Germany
1 Jun 17
A simple and brilliant idea!
3 people like this
• Canada
1 Jun 17
Thank you, it certainly worked. Our children are now adults so its the grands that need to learn but we still will not allow wet shoes laying around the campsite.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157050)
• United States
2 Jun 17
I guess I thought they were for stretching tight shoes out a bit as well. Your camping shoe tree reminds me of my child care days when I would ask all the kids to put their shoes in one place so we would have them if we went everywhere, and so they were out of the way. Of course I had one child, not my own, who would not cooperate. Her shoes ended up under chairs and behind sofas and in the toy box.
2 people like this
• Canada
10 Jun 17
We're working on the grands now, my sister has 6 grand boys, so far, so good because their mothers take care of them if the just kick them off...
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Jun 17
I do remember the old fashioned shoe trees (my dad used them). However I like your new version of the shoe tree when camping
2 people like this
• Canada
16 Jun 17
We like it too! It works.
@cacay1 (83270)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
2 Jun 17
Those were memorable yesterday's, we do not have like that in our place. That was nice, cool and enjoyable.
2 people like this
• Canada
6 Jun 17
Glad you enjoyed the story. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@just4him (303392)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
2 Jun 17
I've seen a shoe tree, but never used one. I like your shoe tree. It's a great idea for getting shoes dried.
2 people like this
• Canada
10 Jun 17
We love it too, it's fun to see all the wet shoes leaning against a tree
2 people like this
• Banks, Oregon
4 Jun 17
I had never heard of a shoe tree before
2 people like this
• Canada
9 Jun 17
Very old fashioned but still used today, and our shoe tree is a earl tree...
1 person likes this
@BettyB (4117)
• Summerville, South Carolina
1 Jun 17
I remember the old shoe trees, but I like your tree shoe better. I wish my parents thought of that when we went camping. I took a major spill tripping over shoes when heading to the bathroom in the dark more than once.
2 people like this
• Canada
16 Jun 17
We were pretty smart moms, we got rid of the tripping...I tend to trip over roots in the dark so now, too old to fall, I always carry a flashlight.