I Tried a Shoehorn, and I’m Never Going Back
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I never really gave much thought toshoehornsaside from viewing them as the kind of thing used mostly by geriatrics and fussy people with butlers. Occasionally, I’d receive one included with a pair of newshoes, but it always went unused. But after an especially catastrophic kitchen accident that left me with a swollen, bandaged foot for weeks, my doctor suggested ashoehornmight spare me the agony of wrestling my foot into its shoe on the floor like a toddler. It worked like a charm, and I haven’t looked back.
Having since upgraded from a cheap pharmacy purchase to a sleek horn version, I use my shoehorn on a daily basis.Chelsea bootsslip on with ease, and now I can step into snugsneakerswithout difficulty. I’ve even given several to friends and loved ones as gifts. If you have feet and wear shoes, then you should own a shoehorn. They’re underrated, smart, and quite honestly worth the extra five seconds it takes to use before you head out the door.
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As far as “starter” shoehorns go, this handsome yak horn model is a solid bet. It’s well priced and provides a good slide, and its moderate length works with most shoe heights, from snug sneakers to ankle boots.
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I bought this for my brother, a tall fellow who had back surgery last year, to offer some ease putting on his winter boots. At 16.5 inches long and with a curved leather handle, it has spared him — and anyone within hearing range — the pained groans of a middle-aged man bending down.
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Normann Copenhagen’s springy green shoehorn is sleek and bold and comes with a magnetic wall mount (because of course you’ll want to show it off).
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A recent search on Etsy and eBay turned up tons of shoehorns that, dare I say, could even be described as objects of desire. Take this brass horse-head one that doubles as a horse jack. It’s the chicest gift for your “horse girl” friend.
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Portable, pocket size, and the sort of thing you’d find in a Dopp kit, this leather-covered one will only get more handsome with use. The only caveat: It’s not great for boots or shoes with a shaft extending above the ankle.
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For your friend who missed out on the Iris Apfel estate sale: another vintage design worthy of display, this time made from Lucite.
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Bey-Berk’s over-two-feet-long teak-and-brass-finished version is basically the Logan Roy of shoehorns.
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I never considered describing a shoehorn as “adorable” until I saw this petite travel version by the heritage leather-goods brand Ettinger. Available in a range of colors, from nutty brown to bright red, it’s a charmingly diminutive four-inch scooper that folds down to an even more compact height.
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