Keep Your Sneakers Fresh: Crease Guards, Pills and Deodorizer Explained

Two things kill a pair of sneakers before the sole wears out: toe creases and smell. Crep Protect makes a fix for each, and we keep three of them at the counter. Here is what they do and how to get the most out of them.

Memory foam crease guards

Crease guards are inserts that sit inside the toe box, under your toes, and hold the upper flat as you walk so the leather does not fold into permanent lines. Crep Protect’s version pairs memory foam against your foot with a rigid core that keeps the shape. They are the single most effective thing you can do for Air Force 1s, Jordan 1s, Dunks and any other leather toe.

• Pull the insole, drop the guard into the toe box with the curve matching the shoe, put the insole back on top.
• Trim the back edge with scissors if it presses on your toes. They are made to be cut to size.
• Give it a day or two to get used to the feel. Pick the size that matches your shoe size range on the pack.

Pill sneaker freshener

The Pill is a reusable capsule filled with zeolite, a mineral that pulls moisture out of the air inside the shoe and traps the odor molecules with it. Twist it open to activate, drop one in each shoe after you take them off, and it keeps working while they sit. No spray, no residue, nothing to dry.

• Best for: everyday rotation, gym shoes, anything you wear without socks.
• Move the pills to whatever pair you just took off. They last around two years with normal use.
• Twist it shut when the shoes are in a bag or box so it is not working on the whole closet.

Vanquish deodorizer spray

Vanquish is the quick reset. It is an aerosol built to fire into the shoe: shake it, point it into the toe box and heel, and a short burst neutralizes odor on contact. Use it when a pair needs to be wearable right now, then let the Pill handle the long game.

• A one-to-two second spray per shoe is plenty. More does not mean fresher, and soaking the lining traps moisture.
• Let the shoes air out for a few minutes before you put them on.
• Safe on leather, mesh, canvas and knit uppers because it goes inside, not on the material.

Habits that make all three work better

• Rotate. A pair that gets a day off dries out completely and will smell less and crease less.
• Loosen the laces fully before you put sneakers on. Jamming your foot in is how toe creases start.
• Wipe the uppers with a damp cloth after dusty days. Grit grinds into the creases and makes them permanent.
• Store with the guards in. They double as shoe trees for the toe.