How to Use a Shoe Horn to Wear Your Shoes Safely

Many intend to wear footwear without pain. That’s why they think of using a shoehorn. But they don’t know how to use a shoe horn properly. To solve their trouble, we’ve come up with this article.

While a stiff ankle can be pleasant to spend on a good leather pair, it may not look the best on your ankle. Fortunately, a boot horn can help slide out of your snug shoes except for discomfort or pain.

When you choose a horn, you need to be careful. We will discuss using a shoe horn apart from the right shoehorns below. So keep reading.

A shoe horn, a tool, aids your feet in sliding effortlessly into footwear. Essentially, it delivers a sleek ramp, pulling your footwear back heel. When your foot glides in the boot, this tool prevents it from pinching your heel.

Shoe horns achieved their moniker ago as they consisted of horns and hooves. Also, manufacturers applied glass and paper materials to make it. They used bone, silver, ivory, and shells to manufacture this tool for those leading in luxury life.

Nowadays, shoe horns are usually crafted from wood, metal, and plastic.

So why do you spend on boot horns? These tools are not just helpful in easing your feet into shoes. While comfort is a crucial achievement in compact footwear, preserving your footwear is also useful.

While wearing boots, ignoring the irritation of your shoes causing your heels is impossible. Yet, similarly, your heels are causing harm to your shoes. Both you and your shoes should make the process more seamless.

The product is comfortable to use if it is of good quality. The same goes for a shoe horn. So before using a horn, you select the best one. For this, consider the following factors:

Manufacturers essentially used horns and glass to make horns. Later, they used shells, ivory, and silver to make them attractive. Indeed, the use of horn in its construction has earned the shoe the peculiar name of ‘Horn.’

Today, shoe horns are available in various materials. They are:

Wooden horns offer many advantages, like other wooden products that are eye-catching and durable.

These shoehorn types become pleasant to hold. Also, the better-quality wood will have an excellent-looking grain. It brings over into the finished shoehorn.

Metal shoehorns consist of stainless steel and become long-lasting compared to their counterparts. In everyday use, sliding your feet into the shoes gets simple due to the smooth texture and finish of these shoe horns, even if you also think of being sockless.

The real negative side of metal or stainless steel horns is that they remain bulky, making them unsuitable for some people. Therefore, many people pick metal shoe horns only in small travel sizes. They give them a premium feel with a lightweight compared to the tall ones.

Plastic shoehorns are inexpensive. So, they are a good choice if you want to buy a lot of shoehorns to keep in your bags and drawers at home or work.

Compared to wooden and metal shoehorns, they will be very light. So packing and carrying is easy for them. However, excessive force can cause cracks and breaks in the plastic.

Horns are available in different lengths, depending on use. A small horn allows you to wear your shoes while sitting.

But longer shoehorns let you wear your shoes while standing. Above all, which ones you will pick depends on your preference and convenience.

These sizes let you wear your shoes while standing. They become the most suitable for those unwilling to sit or bend while putting on shoes.

To use a medium-sized shoehorn, you may have to sit down. But you don’t have to bend over to put on your shoes. They are better for users who feel problems with shorter horns but still like to put on their footwear well.

Shoehorns of this size are not well-suited for travel. But, they are not impossible to carry either. If you have enough space, medium-sized plastic shoe horns can be convenient.

Transporting these sizes is simple enough due to their lightweight. Touring shoe horns will usually be 4″ to 5″ in length and contain a small scoop-like handle between your toes. It does not imply that slightly longer horns (7-inch to 8-inch) can still be suitable for travel.

While wearing your shoes, you need to sit and bend over to use these little horns. For people with back problems, avoiding smaller shoe sizes that need bending is advisable. Instead, it is pointful to keep tall shoe horns in their closets as a helpful alternative.

By this time, we have covered the fundamentals. This time, follow the simple steps on how to use a shoehorn to wear your shoes safely.

For short shoe horns:

• Take a seat on a chair or stool.
• Place your shoehorn so the scoop remains upward and toward your heel.
• Glide your feet into the shoes.
• Shift the horn when your foot fully enters the footwear.

For long shoe horns:

• Keep standing.
• Place your shoehorn so that the scoop stays upward and toward your heel.
• Grip the handle and glide your foot under the tool and into your shoes.
• Shift the shoehorn when your foot goes into the footwear.

If you’re concerned about choosing between short and long horns, you’ll find other factors to consider besides your general comfort.

If it is tough to stand and balance, a small one is suitable, while sitting will be a better option. Conversely, if you suffer from back pain, a long tool will be better without requiring you to bend over to keep your shoes in place.

Boots might remain ankle length or longer, making them tough to fit. But, your feet have to adapt to the heels alongside them.

Short shoehorns might become futile in this case. Yet, medium or long shoehorns should be more effective with boots.

So, if you have shoes and boots and find a one-size-fits-all solution, mid-sized horns will be a better investment. The reason is that they’ll function with everything you own.

Using a horn mechanism with boots is similar to the previously mentioned steps. But, completely loosening the shoelaces becomes especially necessary.

• Ankle boots such as Chukkas should not be worn completely undone with laces.
• Chelsea boots don’t contain laces but elastic on the side. So, drag it up to create a bit of room for your feet and legs to slip.
• Most boots are taller than these two horns and will contain some way of side opening, usually a zipper. If it is, untie them and proceed with the remaining instructions.

Keeping shoehorns with you is a better idea in places where you might need to put off and wear your shoes.

But sometimes, you can’t carry a horn with you for various reasons. In this case, you can use the following items as an alternative to horns.

• i) Belt: It is the nearest substitute to a tall shoe horn, but using a belt while standing up is impossible.
• ii) Visiting Card: The benefit of using this card largely depends on its level of hardness or softness. But it is an elegant option for a travel shoe horn.
• iii) Folded Paper: Depending on how small the paper piece is, it acts like a visiting card. Many paper folds make it tough to use but also denser – so it will be hard to use in snug shoes.

Shoehorns play a crucial role as an effective shoe-care tool for wearing your shoes. Considering the length of long, medium, and short horns, all have their specific uses.

If you want to keep your shoes secure while using shoe horns, confirm the laces are as loose as possible. Besides, ensure you pull the shoe horn upwards when your foot slides into the shoe to avoid pushing it further inside.

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