I need shoes.
October 23, 2011 8:19 PM Subscribe
I'm in need of a new pair of shoes. I'm looking for basic sneaker recommendations but with the caveat that I am really hard on my footwear and I'm looking for something that will last.
For whatever reason (probably something to do with me not having a car and walking everywhere) regular sneakers tend to only last me about a year before the adhesive that holds the shoe together starts to come apart. Once this happens it is pretty much the end and I need new shoes.
The worst offender I've found is Converse (not hugely surprising), but I've had bad luck with Vans, Adidas, Nike, Airwalk, and (most recently) Simple whose failure has been rather spectacular (the top half of the sole just popped out of my right shoe).
Conceivably hiking or sports shoes would hold together better, but I'm married to the idea of sneakers if at all possible.
For whatever reason (probably something to do with me not having a car and walking everywhere) regular sneakers tend to only last me about a year before the adhesive that holds the shoe together starts to come apart. Once this happens it is pretty much the end and I need new shoes.
The worst offender I've found is Converse (not hugely surprising), but I've had bad luck with Vans, Adidas, Nike, Airwalk, and (most recently) Simple whose failure has been rather spectacular (the top half of the sole just popped out of my right shoe).
Conceivably hiking or sports shoes would hold together better, but I'm married to the idea of sneakers if at all possible.
Six years. Granted, I don't wear the same pair of sneakers every day. But these guys have such a thick foam sole coupled with thick rubber treading, and they're still in pretty great condition after having them for six years. And they are probably the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned.
posted by erstwhile at 8:31 PM on October 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by erstwhile at 8:31 PM on October 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
I also walk a lot (I own a car but rarely use it, and live in one of America's more walkable cities), but I've never found any pair of shoes to last that long, of any kind. Certainly any single pair will be dead before too long; you'll get more total life having multiple pairs and rotating them, giving each time to 'rest' between use. Simply put, 365 days is a pretty good run for a pair of shoes, and particularly if you're going with sneakers, well, that's how long they'll last - more formal types of shoes (eg, oxfords) can be repaired, the soles replaced, etc, but modern sneakers, glued-together as they are, simply are not going to last much beyond a year.
I will say that before I switched to fancier shoe-types, a year was just about my own maximum lifespan for shoes. I did get a few more months sometimes out of "country walking" New Balance ones, though - the kind that are basically meant to be everyday sneakers that can double as low-impact hiking footwear when the need arises.
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:32 PM on October 23, 2011 [3 favorites]
I will say that before I switched to fancier shoe-types, a year was just about my own maximum lifespan for shoes. I did get a few more months sometimes out of "country walking" New Balance ones, though - the kind that are basically meant to be everyday sneakers that can double as low-impact hiking footwear when the need arises.
posted by Tomorrowful at 8:32 PM on October 23, 2011 [3 favorites]
New Balance shoes are amazing for fit, but they just won't last if you're as hard on shoes as you say you are.
posted by Yowser at 8:35 PM on October 23, 2011
posted by Yowser at 8:35 PM on October 23, 2011
Keens?
But really, a year may be all you get out of one pair of shoes you were everyday.
posted by dchrssyr at 8:39 PM on October 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
But really, a year may be all you get out of one pair of shoes you were everyday.
posted by dchrssyr at 8:39 PM on October 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Keen would also be my choice. I usually throw them away because they stink, but its always sad because they're still near perfect.
posted by ddaavviidd at 8:50 PM on October 23, 2011
posted by ddaavviidd at 8:50 PM on October 23, 2011
um, I mean . . .
one pair of shoes you wear everyday.
posted by dchrssyr at 8:54 PM on October 23, 2011
one pair of shoes you wear everyday.
posted by dchrssyr at 8:54 PM on October 23, 2011
I had the same problem you did, but now I just give up and buy new Cons yearly. Probably two pairs at once, so you can switch them out.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 9:14 PM on October 23, 2011
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 9:14 PM on October 23, 2011
Response by poster: This past year I got a cheap pair of Cons and my pair of Simple at the same time and just alternated. Of course they both went at about the same time (now) leaving me with... well.. my work boots until I get a chance to go to the shoe store.
I think I wouldn't notice this so much if I didn't have my workboots, which have seen more mileage than any sneakers (being worn all day at work). So clearly it is possible to affix soles to shoes in a way that can stand the test of time, sneakers manufacturers just don't.
posted by selenized at 9:32 PM on October 23, 2011
I think I wouldn't notice this so much if I didn't have my workboots, which have seen more mileage than any sneakers (being worn all day at work). So clearly it is possible to affix soles to shoes in a way that can stand the test of time, sneakers manufacturers just don't.
posted by selenized at 9:32 PM on October 23, 2011
I just have multiple pair of Converse, and rotate between them daily.
And one thing I'm going to do this week is to wear my heavier suede Converse to work, and then use a pair of canvas slip ons for wearing around the office. Then switch back into the suede for the trip home.
posted by spinifex23 at 9:50 PM on October 23, 2011
And one thing I'm going to do this week is to wear my heavier suede Converse to work, and then use a pair of canvas slip ons for wearing around the office. Then switch back into the suede for the trip home.
posted by spinifex23 at 9:50 PM on October 23, 2011
Sneakers aren't meant to last as long as, say, work boots or dress shoes, because they're meant to cushion your feet from stress (like, say, the stress of walking long distances) better than those sorts of shoes. That means that the cushioning wears out faster, so they're made to be replaced as often as need be to keep your feet cushioned. You can probably find a sneaker that will stay aesthetically pleasing for longer, but you risk injury to your feet if you walk long distances wearing shoes with damaged shock absorption, which you're likely to find in any sneaker that old.
posted by decathecting at 9:56 PM on October 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by decathecting at 9:56 PM on October 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
Is there a cheap place to buy Converse online?
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 9:59 PM on October 23, 2011
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 9:59 PM on October 23, 2011
Response by poster: decathecting That might hold water for dress shoes but arguing that work boots are not intended to cushion your feet from stress, or to be worn while walking around and standing for prolonged periods is, well, contrary to my defninition of work.
Also: Insoles.
posted by selenized at 10:23 PM on October 23, 2011
Also: Insoles.
posted by selenized at 10:23 PM on October 23, 2011
I've found that boots in general are built to be much longer lasting than sneakers or athletic shoes. I suspect this is related to the desire or sneakers to be lighter weight and more athletic performance oriented.
Since wear is related to total usage, the question I would consider is how many miles do you put on a pair of sneakers? It may just be that 1 year is the maximum.
I wish I could give some suggestions, but the longest lasting sneaker/athletic shoes I have found have been from Nike, specifically the Air Max running shoe.
Generally, I have grown tired of wearing them long before they wear out.
Unfortunately they're not cheap, but sometimes you can find them on sale.
posted by nickthetourist at 10:44 PM on October 23, 2011
Since wear is related to total usage, the question I would consider is how many miles do you put on a pair of sneakers? It may just be that 1 year is the maximum.
I wish I could give some suggestions, but the longest lasting sneaker/athletic shoes I have found have been from Nike, specifically the Air Max running shoe.
Generally, I have grown tired of wearing them long before they wear out.
Unfortunately they're not cheap, but sometimes you can find them on sale.
posted by nickthetourist at 10:44 PM on October 23, 2011
A few suggestions:
Note that all of these recommendations are based on my experience as an outdoor guy (climb/hike/camp/etc.) and climbing specialty store retailer. You're not going to find anything cheap here, but fit, comfort, and durability are superior.
Scarpa low tops. I own a pair of the Zens, and they've held up awesome and have an amazing fit.
Five Ten makes some good stuff also, and have a bit more to choose from if you want something that's a little less "outdoorsy"-looking.
Good luck!
posted by EKStickland at 11:05 PM on October 23, 2011
Note that all of these recommendations are based on my experience as an outdoor guy (climb/hike/camp/etc.) and climbing specialty store retailer. You're not going to find anything cheap here, but fit, comfort, and durability are superior.
Scarpa low tops. I own a pair of the Zens, and they've held up awesome and have an amazing fit.
Five Ten makes some good stuff also, and have a bit more to choose from if you want something that's a little less "outdoorsy"-looking.
Good luck!
posted by EKStickland at 11:05 PM on October 23, 2011
No particular recommendations, but I've heard (okay, my mother said it) that if you have two pairs of shoes that you alternate between every day, they each last more than twice as long.
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 11:05 PM on October 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 11:05 PM on October 23, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've got a pair of Air Max which i have worn very regularly for nearly 4 years. They're beaten up but still going strong structurally. Also, more of a hiking shoe but I have a pair of Salomon which saw heavy daily use for over a year backpacking and they too show no signs of cracking.
posted by jontyjago at 5:41 AM on October 24, 2011
posted by jontyjago at 5:41 AM on October 24, 2011
Merrells. I'm hard on my shoes but I have still had a pair roughly like this last for four years before they finally fell to bits.
posted by emilyw at 7:02 AM on October 24, 2011
posted by emilyw at 7:02 AM on October 24, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by astapasta24 at 8:29 PM on October 23, 2011 [1 favorite]