November 06th, 2019

These are my sneakers.  Or tennis shoes. Or athletic shoes. Or tennies. Or cross-trainers. Or whatever other synonym you like.  It's a shoe and it's mine.  They look pretty good don't they?  I especially dig those hot pink laces.  I didn't do that by the way.  That is the way they came when I bought them.  It may have been one of the reasons I bought them come to think of it.

They were a very sweet deal at the outlet store (of course).  $19.99.  Not too bad.  They are pretty darned comfortable and machine washable. Sweet!  They aren't  bulky or heavy either. I like 'em just fine.  They have endured through about two years of abuse.

But here's the thing.  I walk. A lot.  Rarely does a day go by when I'm not walking somewhere.  And I don't mean just out to the mailbox and back. I mean walking all over town, to the beach, to the post office, to the dentist, to the library, museum or Audiology Office.  I walk to Pilates class twice a week and when Joy and I do our weekly photo safari, we walk for hours.

You wouldn't know it by looking at the tops of my shoes.  The tops look absolutely pristine. Nope you would have to turn them over and look at the bottoms.

I have literally walked the tread off my shoes!  That is hilarious! 

However, it's not very comfortable.  I was beginning to notice that after I did a long walk, the bottoms of my feet were sore. Which is why I checked my shoes. Aha!  Don't have to be Columbo or Sherlock to figure this one out.

So no big deal right?  Back I went to the outlet to store to snag another pair of those awesome $19.99 sneaks. Only, there must be some sort of sneaker shortage going on somewhere in the world because they had only two pair in my size.  The first one  was hideously uncomfortable so that one was an obvious "No" and the second one was even worse. Another no.  I tried a  pair one size smaller and one size larger but, ultimately, also no.  The too small ones pinch awfully and the too big ones flap around like clown shoes.  Ratz.

I decided to just wait it out.  Eventually another pair of shoes in my size that are more comfortable were bound to come along.

But I think Tim delights in this sort of circumstance.  It drives him crazy that I buy cheap shoes. So now he can prove that (once again) he is right.  And he usually is.  This is how Tim sees the situation:  1) better shoes last longer 2) better shoes are healthier for your feet 3) you only have one pair of feet, you should treat them well.  All valid points.  But this is how I see it:  1) I can buy one pair of good shoes for the same price as 3 pair of cheap shoes.  2) I like variety and options 3) there is no 3.  Really it's just all about the first two points for me.

But I agreed to go look at "real" sneakers in a "real" store.   I refused to even try on the expensive ones.  I'm just too hard on shoes to pay those kinds or prices.   But I did try some more moderately priced ones.

I selected one $30 dollar pair to try and Tim offered to bring me a few more.  "What sort of shoe should I be looking for?" he foolishly asked.  "Cute ones", I answered.  With much shaking of his head he walked away to seek the nebulous "cute" shoe while I tried on the one at hand. 

It was by Fila.  I am unfamiliar with the brand but it was nice looking, a little fun.  And when I put it on, it was perfectly fine.  The heel didn't slip, there was enough room in the toe (but not too much) and I was able to tie it tightly enough to feel secure. I thought, "Hey this was easy.  Done!"  It was black and grey with pink and white trim.  

Then Tim came back with three boxes.  The first shoe was lavender with dark purple laces. An adorable shoe by the nice people at Asics. How could I not love a lavender sneaker!  I was smart enough to not just be beguiled by the cuteness of the shoe, however.  After all, the most important part is how they feel.  

Ahhhhh, they felt just fine. They felt wonderful in fact.   Compared to the first shoe, this was like walking in clouds. The gel sole is a genius idea.  Once again the heel didn't slip, the toe had just enough room and the laces tighten up just right. And with the addition of the gel sole,  I was almost sold, but there were two other boxes of shoes to check out.

The next one was by New Balance.  While it was a nice looking shoe, it was very uncomfortable for me.  I have Very low arches, almost nonexistent arches and any shoe that has a built up arch is uncomfortable for me to walk in.  Within blocks I go from comfortably striding to painfully hobbling.  No to built up arches.  

Slight disgression.  Years ago, when there were actual "professionals" who would fit you at a shoe store instead of the self-serve shoe warehouses of today, I was repeatedly told that because of my very  poor arches I needed to make it a point to buy shoes with built up arches to compensate.  When I pointed out how miserably uncomfortable they are to walk in, I was assured that I would "get used to it".  I was warned of all sorts of dire things happening if I did not do as recommended.  I opted out, and therefore didn't get used to it and the world continued to turn.   Back to the original story.

So I revisited the Asics brand.  After the Lavender shoe was a blue one.  Kind of a pretty blue/grey colour, with bright magenta laces.  Ooooooo.  Yes I can be swayed by snazzy laces.  It was equally as comfortable as the first Asics shoe.  Which one do I choose?  Decisions, decisions.

I was having such a hard time deciding between them.  At some point I realized that one pair was $10 bucks cheaper than the other one.  Ok then.  The blue-grey shoe it is!  Certainly helps my decisions making process :)

So here we are. My beautiful new sneakers.

Please note the deep tread on these shoes.  It may be the last time you ever see it.

I've already taken them out on their maiden voyage.  Monday afternoon Tim and I did the noonwalk and they were amazingly perfectly wonderfully up to the task.  I wore them all day with nary a problem.  Yay!

But I will absolutely NOT be wearing them out hiking.  The old ones will officially be the hiking shoes.  These are my "good' sneakers.  At least until I have worn them out.  That's how it works in this house, promotions and demotions of inanimate objects.

Once again just for the contrast, old treadless shoes on the left, new shoes WITH tread on the right.

A pair of new sneakers and my life is good :)