Why Should You Use a Shoehorn?

Today, let's talk about a remarkably useful and necessary item, as well as a simple tool that we should use when putting on shoes. If your shoes are the type with a full upper that wraps around the shoe and has a heel tab, sometimes referred to as a "heel counter," you need a shoehorn. The shoehorn has a long history that shows how humans have always sought to make daily tasks easier and improve the comfort of using objects.

What is a Shoehorn Made Of?

A shoehorn is very simple in construction and is designed to perform one task: to help your foot slide into the shoe. Therefore, the bottom of the shoehorn is appropriately shaped to fit the contour of our heels and is slim enough to allow the foot, along with the shoehorn, to fit into the shoe when putting it on.

Originally, shoehorns were made from animal horns, hence the English name "shoehorn" (horn being the term for horn). Horn is an excellent material for shoehorns because it is fairly flexible to work with and strong enough to avoid breaking or bending excessively under pressure. Additionally, once polished, horn is smooth, which greatly facilitates its use. Shoe horns have also been made from glass, ivory, shells, precious metals, and bone. Some of these materials are considered luxurious, and shoehorns made from materials like silver likely served to highlight the status of the owner or recipient, as a shoehorn can also be a unique gift.

Today, shoehorns are mostly made from plastic, metal, or wood. They typically come in various lengths: short (15-25 cm), medium (30-40 cm), and long (up to 70-80 cm). If you're putting on shoes while sitting, shorter or medium-length shoehorns are more convenient. If you're putting on shoes while standing, a shorter shoehorn can still be used effectively, just by bending slightly.

More important than the material and length of the shoehorn are other features. The shoehorn should be smooth, free of sharp edges, and properly contoured. The shape should ensure it fits the curve of the heel, meaning it should be concave. This will help the heel slide down the shoehorn. On the other side, the surface of the shoehorn can be flat or rounded. The handle should fit comfortably in your hand, meaning it should not be too narrow. Most handles are the same width as the bottom part. A shoehorn often ends with a small hook for the little finger, which helps to pull the shoehorn out of the shoe. This is not necessary and is sometimes replaced by a larger hole at the end of the shoehorn for hooking the index finger if the shoehorn gets stuck in the shoe. Despite its simplicity, the design and appearance of the shoehorn ensure maximum functionality.

How to Use a Shoehorn?

Now that we know what a shoehorn should look like and what it can be made of, let's move on to how to use it, as a shoehorn should be used properly. Using a shoehorn is not complicated. There is one basic rule to follow: do not use the shoehorn as a lever to support your foot in "pushing" into the shoe. The shoehorn should be positioned almost vertically and parallel to the heel along the Achilles tendon. The heel and the entire foot should slide comfortably into the shoe. What else should be considered is the position in which you put on the shoes. It is a personal preference whether to put on shoes while standing or sitting. Without deciding which is better, it is worth noting that putting your foot into the shoe while sitting is better coordinated and thus less strenuous on the shoes. Remember, even when using a shoehorn, you need to be aware of stretching the upper while putting on the shoes; the key is to minimize the intensity of this process.

Proper and Improper Use of a Shoehorn

If, despite the shoehorn, your foot cannot slide into the shoe, you should stop trying to put on the shoes. Your foot probably lacks space. This might be due to insufficiently loosened laces. If that’s not the problem, it might be that the size or shape of the shoe last does not fit your foot. This should not be a cause for excessive worry; you should choose shoes with a different last or style. A few words about "leveraging" and the potential risks of such use of the shoehorn. Using the shoehorn in this way can cause seams around the edge of the lining to crack, and in some cases, even tear the upper's leather at the edge, where the heel stiffening ends. Repairing such damage is very difficult and always leaves more or less visible marks.

Shoehorn Use Examples

1. Correct use of a short shoehorn when putting on shoes (Berwick 3010 Sadell Brown)

2. Incorrect use of a short shoehorn when putting on shoes (Berwick 3010)

3. With a long shoehorn, the issue of incorrect positioning is practically non-existent (metal shoehorn)

4. The hole at the end of the shoehorn helps in removing it after putting on the shoe (shoehorn)

Why Use a Shoehorn?

First and foremost, for your own convenience. A shoehorn helps you put on your shoes comfortably and quickly. Since shoehorns come in different lengths, using a 55 cm shoehorn, for example, means you won’t even need to bend down to put on your shoes. For shoes without laces (loafers, moccasins, chelsea boots) and with a longer shoehorn, putting on shoes becomes even more efficient.

Secondly, and most importantly when using a shoehorn: using one helps care for your shoes, specifically the part around the heel, preventing damage to the leather in that area. It protects the heel edge, seams in that area, and prevents excessive stretching and widening of the upper. The heel area of a shoe is one of the stiffest parts of its construction. Particularly in more formal shoes, where the shape of the upper is more compact/stiff and needs to be maintained, the heel stiffening seems armored. The heel in shoes consists of several layers: from the internal counter, the lining leather, a stiffening material like celastic or thicker leather, and then the outer visible leather. The finish of the heel can vary, with additional stiffeners like a stitched heel counter further reinforcing the heel. However, this doesn’t mean the heel can’t be damaged or the internal stiffening can’t break. If the heel edge is pressed by the foot while putting on the shoe, and if we add lateral movements to help the foot slide into the shoe, we have a perfect recipe for damaging your shoes by your own actions.

What is Passive Shoe Care?

Using a shoehorn can be classified as passive shoe care, similar to caring for the sole. Cleaning shoes with creams and polishes, brushes, and cloths requires time and effort. Passive shoe care happens almost automatically and incidentally. You use a shoehorn for the convenience of putting on shoes, and in the process, you care for the heel tabs and avoid damaging the shoes. You use a shoe cleaner, and in the process, you care for the soles. You insert shoe trees, and that’s it—your shoes won’t develop deep creases and wrinkles because the shoe trees fill the shoes, replacing your feet and allowing the leather to rest and regain its shape. Passive care involves smart practices in the world of classic and other shoes.

Can You Replace a Shoehorn?

What can replace a shoehorn and why shouldn’t you do it? The most common improvised shoehorn is the index finger. While effective, using a shoehorn is definitely more comfortable and better for your fingers and shoes. Of course, sometimes you may not have a shoehorn on hand, and using your finger is the only option to put on shoes. However, once you develop the habit of using a shoehorn, it becomes the obvious choice, and using your finger becomes a last resort. The finger may work for putting on soft athletic shoes, where the heel area usually has soft padding. In formal shoes, the stiffness of the heel can cause friction or even crush your finger. Why cause yourself harm? Additionally, no matter how slim, a finger will never be as flat as a shoehorn, so putting your foot into the shoe will stretch the upper more and make it harder to slide over the edge, possibly even catching the edge of the shoe at the end. These extra strains and catches are unnecessary and can easily be avoided by using a shoehorn. Unless you want to use a 24-karat gold shoehorn encrusted with diamonds, buying a plastic shoehorn is a fraction of the price of goodyear welted shoes, and often such a shoehorn comes with new shoes as a promotional item. Just use it and enjoy the smooth process of putting on your shoes.

Of course, at Love Classic Shoes, we offer both long metal shoehorns and short ones: metal and plastic.

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