Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with footwear

Spira shoes: fact or crap?

middleclasstool — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:06:34 -0800

Spira running shoes: horseshit? I'm looking for personal experiences running with them, particularly running marathon distance, but I'll take any solid data on them. Are they snake oil, or good shoes for running?

Help me find the male version of these cool ladies' shoes

Askr — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 07:48:53 -0800

I want the male version of a category of cool Skecher-esque fashion sneakers that women have been wearing for the past year or two. Within that category I want the kind where the laces are just vestigial, decorative. Best examples here and here. Do they exist? Can't find. I know exactly what I want in a casual fashion sneaker but don't know if it exists. There is a kind of cool, low-profile, futuristic-looking, fashiony, sometimes shiny, often gray/silvery, multi-material, knobby-soled, super-narrow sole at the arch snazzy sneaker that women have been wearing for a couple of years. Skechers has the most obvious examples but I've seen lots of different ones. Within that category is a kind that has laces, but they aren't actual functional shoelaces. They are spaghetti-thin stretchy cords and they don't tie - it's a closed loop, so it's really just decorative. The best examples are here and here.

I want the male version, maybe just a touch more butch. The first one above would be perfect if it came in a guys' model. In design, shape, laces, and color it's perfect. In women's Skechers, there are loads of them in a line called "Bikers" though that contains many that are more woman-shaped.

This is the closest I've found in men's. It lacks the all important vestigial laces, however, making it look naked. If this model had them, it would do.

That's as close as I can find. I can find the shape many places, but laced or strapped. Don't want tie laces, don't want straps. I've looked at zappo, yoox, adidas, amazon, kenneth cole, diesel, tsubo, tommy hilfiger, macy's, timberland, k-swiss, nike, salomon.

Take this one for example - right shape, great sole, material OK, but has tie laces.

Don't want jungle mocs a la Merrell, or Birkenstocks or Crocs, etc. Don't want women's version (probably couldn't find big enough anyway)

Nice thought, Merrell, but no. Right laces, wrong style.

Does my shoe exist? Where? European Mefites, maybe you've got something?

you're like, too old for this, man

Firas — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 02:08:06 -0800

Guess who needs boots like Marilyn Manson?! Yours truly! Here's the problem, it seems to be a very standard design but we need to try them on and take them home rather than buy them online and wait/pray it works out. Where (greater boston)?

Rubber shoes for all weathers?

Solomon — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 08:56:14 -0800

Please help me locate some rubber shoes. I want them to be completely rubber, so I can just rinse them clean under running water. They're not for what you think... ;) I'm looking for some shoes I can quickly slip on to my feet, and dash up the garden in. The main feature I'm looking for is to be able to get them on and off quickly. I want them to have no shoelaces. I want them to be completely rubber, so I can leave them out in all weather, and rinse them under the hose when they get dirty. Something that looks like a clog would be ideal - wellington boots are out. I want something that I can just poke my toes into and go, so I'd rather avoid something with a heel. Speed is of the essence (with regards to wearing them).

I'm not bothered by colour (though I'd prefer not to have fuchsia pink ones) or toe protection or anything like that. The shoes shown on this site are sort of what I'm looking for, but they have a heel, and the lining looks to be some kind of fur. I can just imagine myself rinsing them, and then getting a wet sock next time I put them on.

What are your experiences with such footwear, and where can I order some from (preferably from a UK based web company)? Any particular brand I should go for? Anything I should look out for when ordering, such as the size?

Oh my God shoes.

Ambrosia Voyeur — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 16:36:48 -0800

What are the most essential women’s shoes? As in… what styles of shoe should I add to my repertoire in a deliberate and ordered progression to attain the most versatility, timelessness, coverage and fashionability?

A good answer is “A black 4 inch unadorned pump in matte black leather.” But what else? And what after that?

I have a very varied fashion lifestyle: I’m a physically active professional glamourpuss. I use a lot of shoes.

I have big feet, so this is actually a good strategy for me to buy shoes. Instead of just taking whatever fits, and living in a continual in a panic that I'll never find a fit again, I could instead plan my lifetime of shoes wisely, and only be seeking one specific style at a time.

Please help me help my daughter!

visual mechanic — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 07:44:58 -0800

Help me find the right soccer shoes for my 7 year old daughter with ultra sensitive feet. My 7 year old daughter likes to play soccer, and she's good at it. She plays in a non-competitive league. HOWEVER, once we get the first pair of socks, the shin guards and the cleats on, she often freaks out, says it feels horrible and won't play. She in fact freaks out, it's almost an emotional response. She can't "play through it."

(She has very sensitive feet to feeling, she had to wear seamless socks as a child and in general won't wear shoes, just loose fitting boots and sandals.)

Are we doomed? Can we get any really comfortable shoes that she could wear? They don't have to be cleats, in fact she can wear ANYTHING as long as they work with shin guards. Help me out here, we're baffled.

(BTW, she feels like the cleats are too loose and she's afraid they're going to fall off, even though they are really really tight, and I'm afraid even too tight.)

Advice on lessening the agony from wearing heels all night.

angryjellybean — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 07:29:14 -0800

I need advice on lessening the agony from wearing heels all night. So, i've just bought some shoes very similar to this: http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=220195&CategoryID=2871 except the heel is a solid wedge. They are Nine West though; just can't find them online.

Anyway, I'm going to a party in two weeks and will be wearing the shoes. As it's at a club, the likelihood of spending a great deal of time standing is, well, likely. I've been able to find posts about how to walk in heels - not a problem for me - or where to get comfy heels - not really much use right now...

What I'm looking for is any suggestions regarding how to increase comfort for the evening! Such as, should I wear the shoes around the house as much as possible to get my feet used to them? Should I move around more on the night or stand with my feet still?

Any little tips appreciated. Merry Christmas season!

She's hoping to lose what feel like moon boots

blueberry — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 00:43:39 -0800

My friend has Morton's Neuroma but she'd still like some nice looking shoes. My friend has recently been diagnosed with Morton's Neuroma—specifically, each time the ball of her foot rolls (as in walking) she feels a painful shock shoot up from between her third and fourth toes.

(There's a surgery that can be done, but it doesn't always take, and when it does it often doesn't last for long and needs to be repeated. A friend of hers has had it done and is now going back under the knife for the second or third time.)

With that in mind, she'd like to see how she can do with just good neuroma-friendly shoes.

Right now she's wearing a pair of size 8.5 New Balance 925s. Comfortable, but not the dead-sexiest shoes you've ever seen and not really compatible with business attire. She's hoping there are nicer looking options out there. Basically, what she'd like is normal nice womens leather shoes (not sneakers) but ones that are compatible with the requirements of Morton's Neuroma.

Here's what the shoes would need to have:

a stiff bottom (to avoid her foot having to bend at the ball)
no heel
a wide "box area" for the toes (so the toes aren't all scrunched together and the shoe isn't held on by them)
needs to be able to accomodate an orthotic insert (a high-arched insert that has been custom-molded from her foot)
the part of the shoe that "holds" the shoe on has to be more towards the ankle, not the toe area

I figured there must be a place out there, some clothing designer that came down with Morton's and decided to make her own shoes...

Any ideas?

A really big shoe for you

acoutu — Tue, 16 May 2006 20:10:46 -0800

Toddler shoes -- what are the best brands? My son is 15 months old. He's currently wearing a pair of Striderite boots, having moved on from his Robeez slippers when he learned to walk a few months ago. I got the boots at an unbelievably low price, choosing the brand because my well-informed friend (an early childhood educator who has a friend who owns a shoe store) said that Striderite was the best brand for toddler shoes. However, I don't really have any research to support this and I don't know if there are other shoes that would be close seconds. I wear orthotics and a quality shoe is important to me. Can anyone out there help me understand the kids' shoe market? All I can find on the web is information on how to choose shoes, but that doesn't really give me the Consumer Reports-style low-down I'd like. (And AskMe just turns up a question on light up shoes.) Before I spend $70 on a pair of Striderites, I'd like to know that I really am making the best choice for my son.

Wherefore art thou, O stinkless sandals?

blue_beetle — Mon, 01 May 2006 15:23:23 -0800

Help me free myself from sandal stink? So I'm wearing some cheapo sandals from Wal-Mart (similar to these) and they make my feet stink. I've never had this kind of problem with other shoes, just certain sandals. I've noticed that different sandals make the ol' feet stink to different degrees. I want to be free from this horrible curse. To that end I am embarking on a sandal quest. Perhaps you, O noble footsman, would be willing to help me?

Where can I buy sandals (in the aforementioned style) that will not enstenchify my feet? I seek to me free of malodiferous experiences. Price is no object (within reason) but I'd like to hear recommendations of sandals that you have direct olfactory experience with. I'm not looking for random lists of footwear as I can do that myself. I've search amazon, and google, but no one speaks of the smelliness factor of their foot protectors. Meat-space stores are preferred over internet sites so that I can go and sample their wares before purchasing. Am I condemed to wearing socks with sandals through the remainder of my days or whilst thou have mercy on this poor soul?

slippery sneakers

hypersloth — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 22:56:38 -0800

Is there a non-Skid Spray for shoes? I have work shoes which prevent me from slipping on greasy floors, and I have tennis shoes which are much more comfortable and grip asphalt in a wonderful way. Is there a product which will make my tennis shoes work-safe?
besides this

I'm looking for some floppy shoes.

bshort — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 09:06:50 -0800

I'm looking for some floppy shoes. I have this pair of ultra floppy, almost slipper-like, shoes (Steve Madden Mammbo's) that I love love love. I have a second pair socked away for a rainy day, but I would like to find other shoes that are similar.

The don't necessarily have to be leather, but they should look professional enough to wear in an office. They also don't have to be loafers, although I'd prefer that.

I've seen the Nike Free shoes, which seem nice, but I definitely don't want running shoes.

No wonder foot fetishes are mainly a guy thing.

soma lkzx — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 18:06:18 -0800

Why do girls get all of the totally sweet shoes? I ruin shoes with great haste, and thus I often find myself trying to find new ones. As I'm browsing in stores or even online, it keeps hitting me: shoes for guys are just so boring! It's all greys and browns and maybe a little green or orange stripe or something, but overall it's just ladieswear that's stealing all of the energy out there.

Take KangaROOS, which are typically pretty crazy shoes. women vs. men: did masculinity miss the color train?

And let's get pragmatic: Since my size 13 feet aren't going to fit in girl shoes anytime soon, can anyone recommend some non-boring men's shoes?

Stinky Sandal Filter

nathan_teske — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 22:06:00 -0800

I have a pair of leather sandals that have a couple years of dirt, dead skin and miscelleanous grime worn deeply into the insoles. What's the best way to get rid of the foot-gunk without destroying the leather?

Sandal care

ludwig_van — Fri, 08 Jul 2005 16:06:49 -0800

How do I keep my sandals dry, clean, and non-smelly? It seems that whenever I get a new pair of sandals (This is my current pair) they'll be perfectly fine at first, but after a few days of walking around in the heat, the surface will act as a sponge for foot sweat and any other moisture it might come in contact with, leaving the sandal perpetually damp and eventually unpleasant-smelling. Is there any way to treat the sandal so that this won't happen? How should I clean it to make it nice and dry and pleasant again?

Good footwear for Costa Rica's wet or "green" season

Mercaptan — Sun, 08 May 2005 09:42:09 -0800

Soon to be travelling in Costa Rica during rainy June, I've got my quick-drying clothing, but are hiking boots practical/needed for light hiking and a lot of walking? I'm planning to bring comfy running shoes and Teva-type sport sandals (dorky looking but functional), but the real sticking point is whether we need boots. And if we do, what sort? Gore-tex lined boots for light hiking aren't cheap, and a hundred bucks would easily pay for an extra day or two of travel.

My friends and I will be spending a month tramping around Costa Rica (probably starting in the southeast and moving in a vaguely counter-clockwise direction), staying at hostels and low-end hotels, packing everything on our backs, and probably doing a good amount of walking. We're not going to be camping or doing any overnight hikes, but we're definitely going to see as much of that nation's natural splendors as we can (Tortuguero, cloud forests, volcano-climbing, jungle tours) in the form of day-hikes. I'm given to understand that it'll be humid with at least a little rain everyday. Something that will protect from mud and puddles but that will also (semi-paradoxically) dry quick seems to make sense.

Generally speaking, I'm in good shape, but I mostly run in the city rather than hike in the woods so I lack both the well broken-in boots and iron feet of seasoned hikers. I figure I should buy soon so I can give any boots some walking time before the trip.

Obligatory research trail: These guys don't really provide a final answer. The Lonely Planet guide is of the opinion that one is better served by the rubber boots found in-country, rather than fancy hiking boots. And a search of alt.travel.latin-america (quite useful) also pulls up mixed results. A lot of advice seems oriented towards the dry season rather than the wet.

Bottom line: Looking for footwear advice from those who've travelled CR in the wet season, and those who know hiking boots for recommendations.

Hiking Cornwall in August

anapestic — Wed, 20 Apr 2005 09:13:09 -0800

My summer trip to England will include a three-day, forty-mile hike through the westernmost part of Cornwall (Lands End and some on either side). Advice on the area and the hike would be appreciated. I've already started walking a lot more to build up to being able to do up to fifteen miles a day, but I'm a bit clueless as to what sort of shoes/boots will suit me best and what I should eat while hiking to keep me going and what I need to carry along with me. Also, I know that it's a beautiful area with a fair amount of up and down, but I know little else beyond some general info from the walking tour site.

Interesting shoes for men.

fire&wings — Tue, 05 Apr 2005 16:09:17 -0800

I'm looking for interesting and unusual shoes (male.) I can't find what I want in the high street so am looking for some sites selling interesting or unusual shoes for men. I like smart/casual boots or shoes rather than trainers or sneakers. I prefer footwear that can be worn during the day casually and will also work as part of a smarter outfit. When I say unusual I don't want anything too outlandish, I like interesting stitching, seams, cuts and fabric - different takes on classic shoe designs.

I am aware of camper.com and schuh.co.uk, but beyond that google is a depressing maze of resellers and the wrong stuff.

Any good quality retailers and designers are welcomed, price is unimportant (I like inspiration too!) but shipment to the UK is a must.

I'm trying not to be too picky and would really just like everyone to chip in with sites where they get their shoes. I have no hard and fast rules and may see something I like somewhere I might not expect to see it....thanks in advance.

Question number 11899

callmejay — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 09:27:01 -0800

Which basketball shoes are good for people with high arches? Information's easy to come by for running shoes, but I can't find anything for bball. I'd like to be able to put orthotics in them as well. (Yeah, I'm getting old.)

Question number 11255

oflinkey — Tue, 26 Oct 2004 20:50:46 -0800

Shoes and boots for the extra wide foot... [more insole]

Question number 10127

DrJohnEvans — Sun, 12 Sep 2004 20:01:37 -0800

How can I get rid of the odour that my sandals leave on my feet? They have a vinyl lining which creates an awful smell when contacted by sweat. This isn't a problem with any other footwear, and I've had a number of other people complain about this happening to them, so "wash your feet" would not be an appreciated response.

Question number 4304

@homer — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 19:22:28 -0800

I wear a 13 6E in whatever goofy sizing New Balance uses. I need something wider and I can't find anything out there. Does anyone make anything above a 6E width or am I screwed? Would moving up to a 14 6E give me some extra width?