When it comes to keeping shoes in a safe location, free of dust and air, and not having to worry about them until I need them, I find shoe boxes to be a great way to store them. Even when I buy shoes used, and therefore without a box, it’s worth it to find some kind of box to keep them in to avoid damage. Here are some ideas that have worked for me in the past on how to do this.
If you’re storing a lot of pairs of shoes, you may want to consider clear shoe boxes to keep them protected. These boxes make them easy to recognize without having to open everything, and will keep them free of dust, animal hair, or anything else they might collect. Luckily, you don’t need to worry about getting fancy boxes if you’re in a pinch. Generic plastic containers will work just fine, so long as they can close without actually crushing the shoes. It’s best if the boxes can close without the shoes having to actually touch, but if they’re touching a little bit it’s not a big problem. This is a great way to use up those old containers that you don’t have any use for – this is no reason to break out the good sterilite containers, but it’s your call.
Plastic is not necessary though – any cardboard box, even a larger moving box, will work just as well. The big goal here is to keep the shoes from being crushed or crushing each other, and so practically any box that meets that requirement will work for you. Larger boxes may be awkward, but they do the job just fine.
Remember, a shoe that is kept in an unnatural position for a long time will take that shape on. Use boxes that avoid that effect, and you’ll be fine for a long time.