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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    John Lofgren (Speedway)

    Footwear
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    • mikebarhootM
      mikebarhoot
      Iron Heart Deity
      Joined:

      Yes. Always. In boots and dress shoes.

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • MizmazzleM
        Mizmazzle
        見習いボス
        Joined:

        Thanks @mikebarhoot….do you go shoe trees or boot trees in the engineers?

        In the easy chair with my boots on, melted whiskey in my hand. Could'na been asleep for more than three hours...time to go to work again...

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • DmartD
          Dmart
          啓蒙家
          Joined:

          I only have shoe trees.

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          • MizmazzleM
            Mizmazzle
            見習いボス
            Joined:

            Thanks @Dmart

            I’m wondering since shoe/ boot trees are meant to help a boot keep its shape, do they prohibit the leather from getting those cool rolls (horse butt leather) or the patina that we are all working for with the rich multi tones in the leather that come with creasing and folding etc. ?

            In the easy chair with my boots on, melted whiskey in my hand. Could'na been asleep for more than three hours...time to go to work again...

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • GilesG
              Giles
              IHUK Crew
              Joined:

              Depends what you want.  If you want them to look old and worn as soon as poss, don't bother.  If you want to let them properly dry and stay looking newer for longer, then use tree's….

              "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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              • mclaincauseyM
                mclaincausey
                見習いボス
                Joined:

                I use cedar show trees in mine @Mizmazzle

                I have not been wearing boots at all in this heat. Been wearing sandals mostly, which is not hugely typical for me; I don't generally regard boots as seasonal.

                Think it, be it.

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                • MizmazzleM
                  Mizmazzle
                  見習いボス
                  Joined:

                  Alright then! Seems so far everyone uses trees. I guess I lean towards what Giles said about wanting them to break in faster and not using trees. I live in a fairly arid climate so my boots always dry out fast. As for keeping the shape, that’s where I lack the expertise.

                  In the easy chair with my boots on, melted whiskey in my hand. Could'na been asleep for more than three hours...time to go to work again...

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • GilesG
                    Giles
                    IHUK Crew
                    Joined:

                    Putting trees in allows them to dry "to shape"…

                    "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

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                    • DmartD
                      Dmart
                      啓蒙家
                      Joined:

                      Every pair of shoes I own has shoe trees, with the exception of the Birkenstocks and Crocs.
                      We could debate on the use in sneakers but in leather shoes/boots, I would always use trees. It certainly adds to the longevity of the shoe because they properly dry and stay in shape. This doesn’t mean that you don’t get creases and wrinkles (if that’s what you are after) but it protects the leather from cracking which can be the death of a shoe.
                      So far I went well with it and will continue using them.

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • goosehdG
                        goosehd
                        Mod Squad
                        Joined:

                        I am about 50/50 on shoe tree use.  If I consider them a work boot (Wescos with heavy lugged treads) then I tend not to use trees, and for a dressier boot (Vibergs, Trickers, and Cowboy Boots) then I do.

                        "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • mclaincauseyM
                          mclaincausey
                          見習いボス
                          Joined:

                          I maintain that ANY quality footwear should be unfinished-cedar-shoe-tree'd. It is unquestionably better for your footwear to do so. The leather doesn't know or care if the shoe is a dress shoe or a workboot, but you'll benefit from less mold/mildew and bacteria buildup and eventually becoming smell, less damage to the leather and other constructional materials from moisture, the creases that form being from how they are worn and not how they are stored, them keeping their shape, etc… It is well worth the investment and time to keep anything off your foot on a tree.

                          And I take @Giles ' recommendation around eschewing trees for aging aging to be a tongue in cheek way of saying the same thing, but don't want to put words in his mouth.

                          Think it, be it.

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • goosehdG
                            goosehd
                            Mod Squad
                            Joined:

                            excellent point and received…need to get some more trees.

                            "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • MizmazzleM
                              Mizmazzle
                              見習いボス
                              Joined:

                              Well ok! Getting some great input now!! As always this forum is a wealth of info that I appreciate immensely!!

                              In the easy chair with my boots on, melted whiskey in my hand. Could'na been asleep for more than three hours...time to go to work again...

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • mikebarhootM
                                mikebarhoot
                                Iron Heart Deity
                                Joined:

                                @Mizmazzle:

                                Thanks @mikebarhoot….do you go shoe trees or boot trees in the engineers?

                                in my RWs i use shoe trees as well as my Roperesque square toe Luchesse’s. all others which are western and newly acquired Drews, i use boot jacks. because of the instep addition to the tree.

                                im really persnickety about my shoes and boots. mostly because thats how my dad taught me and due to the numerous foot and ankle injuries leaving them jacked. by no means am i afraid to use em and get em dirty,  but i keep em clean and ready to use however and repair/resole as needed.

                                i consider myself to have a decent collection of shoes and boots (Made in USA). some of which ive had 40+ years. and have done everything from mucked horse and pig stalls to wade through Houston floods and hurricanes.

                                maybe TMI but hope it is helpful.

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • mikebarhootM
                                  mikebarhoot
                                  Iron Heart Deity
                                  Joined:

                                  @mclaincausey:

                                  And I take @Giles ' recommendation around eschewing trees for aging aging to be a tongue in cheek way of saying the same thing, but don't want to put words in his mouth.

                                  lol. eschew obfuscation.

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • M
                                    Memphisakers
                                    Iron Heart Deity
                                    Joined:

                                    Been on vacation the last two weeks… the Lofgrens caught about 80% of it.

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • M
                                      Memphisakers
                                      Iron Heart Deity
                                      Joined:

                                      It was a very long two weeks. The 777 142OD caught a bunch of wear as well…

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • M
                                        Memphisakers
                                        Iron Heart Deity
                                        Joined:

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                                        • M
                                          Memphisakers
                                          Iron Heart Deity
                                          Joined:

                                          Oh yeah… @Mizmazzle I agree with what others here have said about using cedar shoe trees. I buy a new pair with every pair of leather shoes I buy and if they are not on my feet they have trees in them. It seems to eliminate ugly breaking on the toes! Every pair I’ve had since I started doing that have nice uniform breaks  😎

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                                          • M
                                            Memphisakers
                                            Iron Heart Deity
                                            Joined:

                                            @Pipeboss713 Ive been putting some heat on the Causeways

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