Runners, do you find that you often have sweaty and smelly sports shoes and simply can’t remove the smelly odour?

If you do, you might be interested in the Superba Hardwood Shoe Expander and Stretcher, which is billed as being able to absorb moisture in shoes, leaving them refreshed and at the same time, preventing any bacteria and fungus growing in your shoes.

At the same time too, the Superba Hardwood Shoe Expander and Stretcher can end toe soreness caused from squeezing your foot into an undersized pair of running shoes. Undersized shoes do not allow the feet to move comfortably and this in turn, will cause joint problems.

Manufactured by ShoeTree Project, a young startup that merges technology with shoe care, the company is on a mission to bring the stagnating, inaccessible shoe-care industry stuck in yesteryear, to no more than a few clicks away from doorsteps across South East Asia.

Thanks to ShoeTree Project, I recently had the chance to try out the Superba Hardwood Shoe Expander and Stretcher.

When I lifted the stretcher, my initial impression was that it felt  dense and solid, thanks to the premium Superba hardwood material that had been used to make the product.

Most shoe expanders tend to be made from pinewood, which can leave invisible micro-splinters in the shoe, which in turn, speeds up degradation and may even end up splitting or cutting the shoe’s interior. 

But for the Superba Hardwood Shoe Expander and Stretcher though, I realise that I do not need to worry about such problems, thanks to the material that it had been made from.

To try the stretcher, I picked a particular pair of running shoes that did fit me, but I would have actually preferred it if they had been slightly bigger around the toes, especially when going on my mid-distance to long runs with them. 

After my runs with these shoes, I tended to get problems such as black toenails and aching feet, with these shoes. Sometimes, the sides of my feet would also feel slightly sore, too.

And upon taking out the stretcher, my shoes seemed more refreshed. The Superba Hardwood Shoe Expander and Stretcher can wick moisture out of the shoes.

Another thing that I had quickly noticed too, was that the appearance of the shoes after stretching, now appeared to be more rounded. When I was running in them, the shoes had somewhat lost their shape, after prolonged use.

This full-shape shoe expander fully stretches the shoe in all directions too, so that it can restore the shape of your old shoes.

For my shoes, I had noticed that the fitting of the shoes was now more comfortable around the toes than previously, and after taking them for a short walk, my toes did not ache like previously, after my runs in them. I will be taking these shoes out running soon, and I am looking forward to the feeling of my toes not hurting so much towards the end of my runs.

Thanks to the design of the shoe expander, which comprises of 12 holes meant for spot stretching, the Superba Hardwood Shoe Expander and Stretcher is suitable for all shapes and sizes of feet, and it helps those with bunions. 

Personally, I admit that I have not really had any issues with painful bunions myself, but upon seeing the effects of the shoe expander myself, I would say that I can definitely see how they would help those who do have problems – by spot stretching of the sides of their running shoes. This will ensure that the shoes will fit the feet better.

The Superba Hardwood Shoe Expander and Stretcher has a retail price of SGD$20 and you can see more information on the stretcher here.