thanks for the link. btw - the outsole bottoms came unglued on my tennis shoes after a long layoff from playing.
after reading the article - silica not good to use for long term storage.
"1) Shoes are made of pliable material. To be pliable, they must have some form of moisture in the material to remain that way. Sealing them in plastic bags, and adding silica packs, which REMOVES the moisture from the shoes, is going to literally ruin the shoes."
OP: I mean how long are we talking about? I have kicks from 5-9 years ago that I store properly and have no problem with the glue or the sole- I use some for basketball
It goes back and forth who's to say--
recommends for storage- but not in reference to prolonged storage
2) Silica packets help by taking moisture out of the air. Moisture will eventually ruin your shoes. It's recommended that a couple small ones be placed in the box. **** is a really good source to buy silica packets. Another suggestion is hit up your local electronics store. Ask them and their delivery guys to give you the little packs that fall out of boxes. Tell them to just put a tiny box somewhere and toss them in, and give them $5 at the end of the week or when the box is full.
Then this
4) I think everyone is overdoing the silica pack-and-replace every 6 weeks bit too. They're designed to last longer than people think. I'm using damp rid in the closet, which I think is a lot smarter than a 10 gram bag of silica in the box next to the shoe. With the Damp Rid, it's in a container, removes moisture from the air, and isn't sitting on top of a shoe. You realize that what a silica pack does is absorbs the moisture around it, but what happens when it can't absorb more? It leaks, all over what's next to it. Just get a $5 quart sized container of damp rid, and use the canister it provides, and leave it near the bottom of the closet where it can't be kicked over.
back to this
For storage, use a silica pack, not a gross national products worth of it. One is more than enough. Buy some Damp Rid in the canisters to put in the closet. It does wonders. You are trying to keep the sweat from absorbing into the shoes, not to keep the moisture in the leather from drying out. Also, try not storing one box on top of another, on top of another on top of another on top of another. All you are doing is putting a lot of smelly, sweaty shoes in one place, and they are basically keeping the sweat and funk from the other shoes in them. Stack them side by side, upright or horizontal on a shelf, with some room above them for air to pass through and clean them out.
As far as Ziploc bags, I don't think this is any better than Saran Wrap in regards to sealing them up. The leather has to breathe. Locking it in an airtight container, and then hoping 15 years down the road its going to be crispy when it comes out is insane. Once you take it out 15 years from now, you WILL pass out from the smell of rotten leather, and if you come to and wear the shoes, they'll crack like a sidewalk.
