Buying shoes is the easy part. Storing them is the challenge.

Throwing them on the closet floor just won't do, so we surveyed a few alternatives. There are hanging shoe bags, shelves and stacking racks, cubbies and cabinets and, of course, boxes.

But our favorite is the new Rakku Shoe Wheel, which spins like a Ferris wheel. Shoes slip into separate pockets through rows of elastic cord. Holds as many as 30 pairs of shoes, depending on size and type. Drawbacks: Assembly is required and, at 29 1/2 inches around, it is too deep for some closets. $65; www.rakkudesigns.com.