How to Organize, Display & Store Your Sneaker Collection

It all started when you finally got your hands on the white whale of sneakers, the 2016 Nike Air MAG. Return to the Future This lovely leather and rubber foot holder sparked your interest in sneakers. You've now accumulated 100 pairs of shoes, which are filling up your closet. So you're at a crossroads: do you keep them or display them? Correct storage will extend their life and protect your investment. But showing them off would fill you with pride (and make you the envy of all your friends).

First Things First

Before deciding how to display or store your collection, you should browse through it and figure out which shoes you wear (or want to wear). Remove these from your collection and store them in the closet. Pulling pairs off your display will cause unpleasant gaps in the presentation if you're showing your shoes. You won't wear them if you're storing them because it will reduce their worth.

Shoe Displays: A Work of Art

Count the total number of shoes you want to show off for the shoes you want to show off. Knowing this will assist you decide what type of display unit you want to buy or build.

Fortunately, there are many displays available today that are specifically built for sneaker display. Let us now examine them.

The Shoe Store

This is a beautiful concept that highlights the sneakers by using individual shelves that are lighted to emphasize them. The disadvantage of this design is that you can only display one shoe at a time, which means you'll have to store the second shoe from each pair.

Modular Storage

This design by Sole Stacks gives an appealing visual look. The shelves' angles are fascinating, and the design is adaptable, allowing you to add shelves as your collection grows.

Contemporary Design

This is a highly modern Ikea design that can be enlarged if necessary and displays a pair of shoes in perspective.

Sneaker Organization

Experts advise you to invest effort into organizing your sneaker display as well. You might mix and match colors, styles (high-tops, low-tops), or sports (basketball, running, etc.) You should allow enough space between each pair or solitary shoe to avoid the appearance of a cluttered mass.

Storing Your Sneakers

You'll want to store your collection appropriately if you've opted to do so. When we say "correctly," we mean storing them in an atmosphere that protects them from UV rays, which can break down and damage the materials. You should also restrict them exposure to air, which can cause rubber oxidation and discoloration. (If you have any shoes with this problem, you should use Angelus Sole Brightener.) The temperature and humidity levels should be moderate.

The bare minimum storage option for enclosures is the box they come in. Remove the paper that came with the shoes if you do this. Because this paper is slightly acidic, it may turn your shoes yellow. If you must have paper in your box, choose acid-free tissue paper.

The next stage of storage involves the use of custom-made plastic shoe boxes. These are available at The Container Store and are composed of polypropylene and polystyrene and have a drop-front opening with ventilation holes. Iris USA also provides easy-open shoe boxes in tall and broad sizes.

You might also use resealable bags to keep as much air as possible out. Finally, you can vacuum-seal or shrink-wrap your shoes to remove all air from the shoe environment. If you use a heat gun or a hair dryer, make cautious to only heat the plastic as much as needed, as overheating the shoe might cause damage.

Shoe collector Brooklynson proposes using silica gel packets in your box or shoe to absorb any water vapor caused by high humidity on the website SoleCollector.com. You'll want to make sure that this doesn't generate overly dry conditions, which might lead to cracking. Some collectors take their sneakers out of their airless container every few months to allow them to breathe.

To Keep or Not to Keep…the Boxes

One of the quandaries of having a huge sneaker collection is deciding whether or not to save the boxes. This is especially important if you intend to show a substantial portion of your collection. The disadvantage of not preserving the boxes is that when you attempt to sell any of your prized kicks, the value of the kicks decreases without the box. If you've discarded the original box, you might be able to find replacement boxes for some kinds of shoes online. Boxes for your Jordans, on the other hand, might be pricey. An Air Jordan XI Retro 11 Win Like '96 sold for $40 on eBay recently.

Where to Store your Sneakers

Given the preceding recommendations about preserving your collection in a cool, dry environment, you should think about a location other than your basement, attic, or garage. This will work if you have an unoccupied room in your house (with air conditioning and heat). Most people, however, do not have this privilege. Renting a storage container is a better option. Many facilities now have climate-controlled storage units that keep the temperature stable all year. Furthermore, this will free up space in your home for, oh, people? However, we've heard of sneaker collectors who are more concerned with their kicks than with their families!

So you now have various storage and display choices for your sneaker collection. Let's hope you get your hands on a pair of pristine Air Force 1s soon.