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Boot shapers

Antje

Veteran

A few weeks ago, I finally heeded Angie's sound advice to get boot shapers for protecting and storing my boots. I bought these at the Container Store: http://www.containerstore.com/.....oot+shaper

Well, they drive me NUTS. I didn't find them that cheap ($10 per pair, and I bought 5 pairs) but they are extremely cheaply made, and they constantly pop apart, and I pretty much spend ten minutes every time I take my boots off to reassemble the boot shapers and put them in again. I am so way too impatient for this. I've also had boots falling off them (I use the little hanger things to put them on a clothing rack.) I'm close to just throwing my boots on the bottom of the coat rack again. Is there a better solution?? A better product?? The only real other option I've seen are cedar wood shapers for $50 a pair - which I am NOT going to spend.

Any experience with boot shapers and any recommendations? Or am I just especially clumsy and these work fine for you? Thanks!!

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14 replies

Latest reply was from Antje

Kari

Veteran

Antje - I bought a few pairs at Bed Bath & Beyond that look similar to the pair that you bought, but have NEVER popped apart, and I use them with every pair of boots I have.

Edited: this is the pair that I bought. They look pretty similar to yours, but I can't tell whether they are the same brand or whether they might be made differently. I've been using them for 6 months and have never had them pop apart or break. Putting them in the boot is pretty easy - I just zip up my boot, squeeze the shaper together, and it slides right in. (I don't use the "hanger" because I don't have that much closet space, but the boot shaper helps keep my boots vertical on the shelf that I store them on.)

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I just roll up a magazine I'm done reading. It expands on it's own to fill the boot.

Kari

Veteran

Mo, I used to do the same thing with plastic shopping bags stuffed into each other & shaped to fit the boot.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

WELL HELLO FORUM STRANGER!!!

I can't view the link, sweet Antje. Which shapers are you using? Things that fall apart drive me batty too. I use these:

http://www.amazon.com/Styrofoa.....001O4VG04/

Cheap as chips. Nothing falls apart. What is the challenge?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

Nice, I like the free options

Antje

Veteran

Hi ladies, thanks so much for the input, MUCH appreciated! Kari, the ones from your link are exactly the ones I have. And they fall apart every time I use them (that middle metal "strap" pops out)! Drives me bananas. Love the idea with the magazines or plastic bags, and Angie, the ones you point to look great - would definitely fix the popping apart issue. I'd lose the option of hanging them, though, which works well with our storage options. I guess I have to rethink this and settle with a "filler" boot shaper without the hanger, and store them on the floor or a shelf somewhere. Thanks!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I have ones from the Container Store and a different brand (they're black) from Storables. I've had them for a couple years. I've only had two break at the metal joiner.
I do hang about 1/2 my boots. The only pair that slip off are my skinniest and softest riding boots.

Lisa

Veteran

I have the same one's as Kari with no issues. I also don't hang them though. Before I purchased these, I used cardboard cut into shape with tissue paper wrapped around it.

Kari

Veteran

Antje - this may be a really silly thought, but what if you used a "filler" boot shaper, and then used pants dress hangers (with very gentle/padded clips) clipped to the boots so you could hang them up? I'm thinking about what I have seen Nordstrom do when they have boot sales in the shoe clearance section. I'm not sure if it would work, or whether it would be too hard on the boot or too much trouble to deal with.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Angie, I ordered five of those styrofoam shapers on Amazon, just to get a refund a few days later and an email saying they were out of stock. I hope they refill them soon! I don't want to pay for $10 ones that don't work.
All of my boots are still in boxes since it's too warm to pull them out just yet, but I really want to have this sorted before I pull them out.
Antje, keep me posted on what you find. Can you return the ones to the Container Store?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Rotten luck, Sarah. I guess they are out of stock because these particular shapers are effective and very good value. I am sure that they will restock for boot season.

Marigold

I really like the styrofoam ones..Hopefully they'll be back in stock soon! I'm scared the plastic ones will stretch the leather of the boot a little with an extended use?

EDIT: I found them here:
http://www.shoeandfootcare.com/p/101-028-02/
they're 4.95 but you're better off buying quite a few pairs as the shipping is another 5 or so... They also have plastic ones and foam for slightly more expensive!

Anonymous

I've heard that some people cut down swim noodles and use those.

I have a set of those plastic "spring" boot shapers and it drives me nuts. Huge hassle to get in so most often it is stored BESIDE the boots. I definitely want to replace it.

The ones I've been liking are the shaped foam that came with the boots. Probably the same thing as what Angie uses but free with the boots. My most recent pair of boots only had one of the foam shapers in the box and I was really miffed. I wonder if the store will let me have one that they have lying around.....

Antje

Veteran

The styrofoam ones look definitely tempting (price is right) but they're sold out at shoeandfootcare.com as well. My oh my. I think I'll experiment with "home grown" stuffers and maybe try Kari's tip re: hangers on clips. I'm bummed - I felt to virtous and "all set" after my trip to the Container Store, really thinking my boot storage related to-do item was checked off the list...
Thanks again for all the helpful responses!