{{ Stuff that just works }}

[Monocrom]

Cushioned insoles. In my experience, there hasn't been a single pair of shoes that hurt my feet that haven't been fixed by switching their stock insoles to these. Especially boots.

I have a new pair of work boots that used to cause me pain if I walked on them for more than a kilometer, but were otherwise good; after I added a pair of silicone insoles to them, they rival sneakers in sheer comfort, even in days when I stand around for hours upon hours or walk considerable distances. The one caveat was that I had to break them in further, as I added the silicone ones under the stock pair, but that wasn't horrible or anything.

Mind, they won't rescue a bad shoe, they'll only make a decent but unfitting shoe better.

Sadly, I've personally found that some cushioned insoles make the situation worse, while others are a big help. Unfortunately I never know which it'll be until after I buy the insoles and wear them for about 2 weeks. And with some insoles costing nearly $30 for the pair, that can be an expensive lesson in Trial & Error.

 

[Jean-Luc Descarte]

Sadly, I've personally found that some cushioned insoles make the situation worse, while others are a big help. Unfortunately I never know which it'll be until after I buy the insoles and wear them for about 2 weeks. And with some insoles costing nearly $30 for the pair, that can be an expensive lesson in Trial & Error.

In my experience, the relatively thin silicone insoles work best, or at least better than foam ones. They're far from the "walking on clouds" feeling of foam ones, but they're solid material, so they don't flatten over time under my weight until they're useless.

 

[Hooked on Fenix]

Something is WAY the Hell wrong!
Let me explain. For decades, D2 was a premium Tool Steel.
Very few production knives used it. Same for Custom Knife-makers.
You wanted D2 up until fairly recently, you bought a Bob Dozier knife.
Worked extensively and exclusively with D2.
Short hunting knife, right around $160.... back in 1993!!!
So, I know the price has gone up on one of his customs.

Fast forward to about 3 years ago? Maybe less?
NOW, it's common as dirt! D2 magically became a budget steel.
HUH?!?! How?! How is that remotely possible? Practically overnight.
One shill on YouTube answered me by saying, "Advances in metallurgy techniques."

Yeah, that's BS! Did we have the equivalent of a 2nd industrial revolution where creating expensive steel became cheaper than dirt? Hell no. What we have is reject D2 that some factory in China was able to somehow make into barely serviceable knives. I have a couple of Bob Dozier's D2 customs from back in the day. Comparing the real thing to the modern budget thing, not even close. The modern stuff has a tendency to snap like glass. Too brittle. That doesn't happen with older, premium D2. But nowadays, there's no distinction. Just as hard to resharpen as older D2, but a lot more brittle. Heck, YouTube currently buzzing over the $10 Wal-Mart knife made out of D2. Yeah, $10, and folks genuinely believe they're getting real D2.

I mean, imagine if GM released a brand new Corvette model. MSRP $5,000. They claimed it was just as good as the previous year's model. Nothing missing. Fully complete Corvette. Brand new, only $5K. Just as fast 0-60mph. as the previous model was. Come get you one! Meanwhile, every knowledgeable car guy would say "Something is WAY the Hell wrong!"

I think I'd trust the KA-BAR Dosier and maybe the Kershaw if it was available and not out of stock (it's from 2012, not new crappy steel). The rest, I wouldn't chance.

 

[Monocrom]

Definitely agree with you there.

 

[Chauncey Gardener]