As men approach 40, their innermost desires turn to shoe horns.
April 2, 2012 5:44 PM Subscribe
I am seeking suggestions for shoe horns.
Well, hello there. I am looking to buy a shoe horn for a special someone as a gift. I do not own a shoe horn. I have never used a shoe horn. I am unfamiliar with what makes for a fine shoe horn, or what shoe horn options are available to me. I don't really get shoe horns, frankly. All I know is that I get a perverse, linguistic delight from saying "shoe horn," and that I am probably going to be buying one in short order.
So, please recommend your favorite shoe horn. Online and brick-and-mortar suggestions are both acceptable. Because this is a gift, I am hoping to invest in a quality shoe horn, though $75 is the upper limit I've set for myself (unless fine shoe horns are generally more expensive than this, which it something you can educate me about). In an ideal world, your suggestion would be easily described by one adjective: breathtaking. However, if you don't have a favorite, but are knowledgeable about shoe horns, you can instead give me tips on what to look for when shoe horn shopping.
All guidance and suggestions are welcome. Shoe horn.
Also, in case more details will guide your thinking: the recipient of this gift will be a man, in his late-30s, who is 6'4". He also likes: robots, lasers, contemporary art, and going on spontaneous, out-of-town adventures.
Well, hello there. I am looking to buy a shoe horn for a special someone as a gift. I do not own a shoe horn. I have never used a shoe horn. I am unfamiliar with what makes for a fine shoe horn, or what shoe horn options are available to me. I don't really get shoe horns, frankly. All I know is that I get a perverse, linguistic delight from saying "shoe horn," and that I am probably going to be buying one in short order.
So, please recommend your favorite shoe horn. Online and brick-and-mortar suggestions are both acceptable. Because this is a gift, I am hoping to invest in a quality shoe horn, though $75 is the upper limit I've set for myself (unless fine shoe horns are generally more expensive than this, which it something you can educate me about). In an ideal world, your suggestion would be easily described by one adjective: breathtaking. However, if you don't have a favorite, but are knowledgeable about shoe horns, you can instead give me tips on what to look for when shoe horn shopping.
All guidance and suggestions are welcome. Shoe horn.
Also, in case more details will guide your thinking: the recipient of this gift will be a man, in his late-30s, who is 6'4". He also likes: robots, lasers, contemporary art, and going on spontaneous, out-of-town adventures.
The Neatoshop Shoe Horn is actually a decent shoe horn as well as hilarious.
FootFitter has a nice selection of shoe horns. My dad used a similar leather-covered steel shoe horn, which he had gotten from some long-closed import shop that sold English haberdashery and umbrellas, and it lasted him for decades.
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:00 PM on April 2, 2012
FootFitter has a nice selection of shoe horns. My dad used a similar leather-covered steel shoe horn, which he had gotten from some long-closed import shop that sold English haberdashery and umbrellas, and it lasted him for decades.
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:00 PM on April 2, 2012
The old classic simple chromed metal style that was used and given away free from the 1900s to mid-1980s as branded store souvenir with a new pair of shoes. About 4 to 4.5 inches long. I have no idea where to find a new one, since shoe stores (for regular people) now have plastic ones if any at all, but search ebay for "vintage shoe horn" and find the simple ones. Get the type with the bend, that makes it easy to handle; most have the bend.
Right now on ebay I see one from Penney's and one from Red Wing and several more. These things are indestructible and work perfectly and will outlast everyone on mf. The bids are being won for around $5.00 plus shipping. There's one listed for 80 cents with no bids at this second!
The fancy ones don't get used. Plastic ones break. These old chrome shoe horns get used every day, if someone has one.
I use one that has Sears engraved on it. It may be 50 years old and it is as good as new.
posted by caclwmr4 at 6:10 PM on April 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
Right now on ebay I see one from Penney's and one from Red Wing and several more. These things are indestructible and work perfectly and will outlast everyone on mf. The bids are being won for around $5.00 plus shipping. There's one listed for 80 cents with no bids at this second!
The fancy ones don't get used. Plastic ones break. These old chrome shoe horns get used every day, if someone has one.
I use one that has Sears engraved on it. It may be 50 years old and it is as good as new.
posted by caclwmr4 at 6:10 PM on April 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
I personally am a huge fan of svpply for odd things like this. People only put things on it they find interesting themselves.
https://svpply.com/shop?search=shoe%20horn
posted by straight_razor at 6:17 PM on April 2, 2012
https://svpply.com/shop?search=shoe%20horn
posted by straight_razor at 6:17 PM on April 2, 2012
We got a long one at ikea for 69 cents about 6 years ago. It's spectacular.....
posted by pearlybob at 6:24 PM on April 2, 2012
posted by pearlybob at 6:24 PM on April 2, 2012
medium oxhorn shoe horn with leather strap - $65 from A Suitable Wardrobe
saphir rosewood long-handled shoehorn - GBP17.50 from A Fine Pair of Shoes (there may also be US-based retailers of this particular shoehorn)
saphir zebu shoehorn - GBP12.50 from A Fine Pair of Shoes (same comment as above) (i like this one)
ettinger bridle hide shoehorn - $95 from The Hanger Project (ettinger also has an official website, might want to check there)
mortimer shoe horn - $55 from The Hanger Project
Abbeyhorn Shoehorns - $35 - $120 from Leffot (i like these as well)
posted by nihraguk at 6:41 PM on April 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
saphir rosewood long-handled shoehorn - GBP17.50 from A Fine Pair of Shoes (there may also be US-based retailers of this particular shoehorn)
saphir zebu shoehorn - GBP12.50 from A Fine Pair of Shoes (same comment as above) (i like this one)
ettinger bridle hide shoehorn - $95 from The Hanger Project (ettinger also has an official website, might want to check there)
mortimer shoe horn - $55 from The Hanger Project
Abbeyhorn Shoehorns - $35 - $120 from Leffot (i like these as well)
posted by nihraguk at 6:41 PM on April 2, 2012 [2 favorites]
Seconding that a loooong shoe horn is really the way to go. I have one that I bought years ago for only $1. Made of plastic, 30 inches long, you can even use it while standing up.
posted by damo at 7:12 PM on April 2, 2012
posted by damo at 7:12 PM on April 2, 2012
I love the Slip shoehorn from Umbra - not sure if it's still available anywhere (a quick google search makes it look hard to find or possibly discontinued, but I didn't send a lot of time looking).
posted by Mchelly at 8:29 PM on April 2, 2012
posted by Mchelly at 8:29 PM on April 2, 2012
I found a lovely, thick, stainless steel shoe horn from Nordstrom not too long ago that I use on both shoes and boots. The company's name was Synovia, and the price was $7.00. More importantly, does he have cedar shoe trees?
posted by oceanjesse at 8:32 PM on April 2, 2012
posted by oceanjesse at 8:32 PM on April 2, 2012
Response by poster: More importantly, does he have cedar shoe trees?
Why, no. He does not.
Say more.
posted by vivid postcard at 9:05 PM on April 2, 2012
Why, no. He does not.
Say more.
posted by vivid postcard at 9:05 PM on April 2, 2012
Cedar shoe trees are nice because they keep the shape of a pair of shoes over time by limiting creases. The cedar removes odors. These are probably the nicest ones made in the universe due to the brass knobs. Get the sizing right.
posted by oceanjesse at 10:30 PM on April 2, 2012
posted by oceanjesse at 10:30 PM on April 2, 2012
In terms of function, there is handle length, and durability, but other than that, I'd hope they should all the do the job. So you're down to aesthetics. And since there is a chance that he might not get in the habit of using it, at least it might be nice as a decorative object.
So to that end, the most important question is where would he keep it? For example, if all his shoes are leather, arranged in a mahogany shoe rack, then "breathtaking" is going to mean something completely different from if most of his shoes are sports shoes and he keeps them under the bed.
So, where would he likely keep the shoe horn, and what would look great in that spot?
posted by -harlequin- at 2:08 AM on April 3, 2012
So to that end, the most important question is where would he keep it? For example, if all his shoes are leather, arranged in a mahogany shoe rack, then "breathtaking" is going to mean something completely different from if most of his shoes are sports shoes and he keeps them under the bed.
So, where would he likely keep the shoe horn, and what would look great in that spot?
posted by -harlequin- at 2:08 AM on April 3, 2012
On Shoe Trees and Shoe Horns:
Both of these things have a "usefulness value" that is directly related to the quality of shoe your guy wears. By way of illustration:
Cheap shoes ( less than 100$) are fine, but protecting the shoe with a horn and storing them with shoe trees is (sort of) like building a garage for your 1983 Toyota Corolla
Good Shoes (More than $200) are really going to benefit from both trees and horns. He'll want to protect and maintain these items so the gift of a horn/trees will be more meaningful.
So basically what I'm getting at is find out what caliber shoes this guy wears, it may influence how much you are willing to spend, and also whether you would choose trees or a horn. Personally, I'd suggest anyone with nice shoes that has neither should really invest in "nice" trees and can get away with using any old horn (if you must prioritize, your budget even allows for both)
posted by Patbon at 1:00 PM on April 3, 2012
Both of these things have a "usefulness value" that is directly related to the quality of shoe your guy wears. By way of illustration:
Cheap shoes ( less than 100$) are fine, but protecting the shoe with a horn and storing them with shoe trees is (sort of) like building a garage for your 1983 Toyota Corolla
Good Shoes (More than $200) are really going to benefit from both trees and horns. He'll want to protect and maintain these items so the gift of a horn/trees will be more meaningful.
So basically what I'm getting at is find out what caliber shoes this guy wears, it may influence how much you are willing to spend, and also whether you would choose trees or a horn. Personally, I'd suggest anyone with nice shoes that has neither should really invest in "nice" trees and can get away with using any old horn (if you must prioritize, your budget even allows for both)
posted by Patbon at 1:00 PM on April 3, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
I did google 'fancy shoe horn' and found this page that indeed offers some damn fancy fine shoe horns in the $50-$70 range.
posted by gnutron at 5:59 PM on April 2, 2012