StarHalo
Flashaholic
You can always tell that it's a sports car if it looks fast when it's not moving..
your favorite walking shoes
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StarHalo
Flashaholic
Most comfortable 2019 - four of the ten are already pictured above..
StarHalo
Flashaholic
Some running shoes don't have much of a heel/are rather flat, which means you end up stepping from the back of your heel and then rolling forward, which may not be ideal if you have some sort of pain going on. A lot of the casual shoes I mentioned above are specifically meant to ease walking and so have quite a bit of heel, which shortens and simplifies your stride; these also have levels of shock absorption that no insole could provide as the entire sole of the shoe is the shock absorber. Adidas Ultraboost 19, Nike EXP-X14 and Presto React, all good choices. The EXP-X14 is currently $72 on the Nike site; if you're put off by the styling of some of these, they also have the traditional dad shoe-looking Vomero 5 for ~$100, the simple Epic React Flyknit 2 is the same price in some colors.
Salomon XA Pro 3D. Wear them every morning walking the dog. Got these in 2016. Don't ever use the speed laces, just set them up to slip on. I now have two pair as the first developed small holes on the top / side. They were still under warranty, so they sent me another pair.
Lately I've been wearing Vans to walk in. Not those rubber slabs from the 1970's, but updated versions of them with replaceable insoles. See, back in the 90's many skateboard shoes were actually pretty good walking shoes. Companies like Duffs, PureJuice and Reef were popping up everywhere and they were giving Vans and Airwalks stiff competition with durable, comfy shoes. One company called Simple was bringing back retro designs from very early sneaker years of the 1920's and 30's using recycled materials for the soles.
Vans and Airwalks began marketing geezers with suede uppers, good arch supports and comfy, durable soles. It was a great time to buy skateboard shoes for mall walking or morning aerobics. It worked until Nike entered the fray after a failed attempt by Reebok. Soon the little guys were either gone or cowering in a corner thanks to the mighty Nike.
Airwalks managed to remain under the radar by making a variety of shoes for a discount chain called Payless, which is now relegated to an Amazon store. Vans is still popular with the youth market whose knees and hips don't hurt yet. But recently they began marketing to geezers and geeks with a line of 'deluxe' versions of classics in fashion stores and 'Pro' versions of classics at skate and surf shops.
A friend of mine recently told me about them. He is an early CPF member he says but frankly I've never asked him his screen name since he hasn't logged in for some 10 years now. I mentioned I had scored some brand new Reef Slum Lord shoes from the 90's and he began telling me about the Vans upgrades. I found some classic slip on's in a limited edition version with upgraded insoles and footbed and man, I'm liking the change. Would I wear them to hike up a mountain? Use them for running? No, but then again I only hike up a mountain when being chased by a bear and only run when I encounter a nest of yellow jacket bees at work. So they are fine for strolling around a shopping mall or for casual uses.
They have a gimmick called "comfy cush" where updated versions cost about $5 more than the original. Same with Pro versions. Fashion stores like JC Penney and Kohls carry deluxe versions of the models meant for those outlets. So when I'm not wearing my Rockport mechanics style walkers or my Airwalk geezer mall walking shoes I now have a couple of pairs of classic skateboard shoes that don't cause my worn out knees and hips to make me think bionic body parts are in my near future.
Vans and Airwalks began marketing geezers with suede uppers, good arch supports and comfy, durable soles. It was a great time to buy skateboard shoes for mall walking or morning aerobics. It worked until Nike entered the fray after a failed attempt by Reebok. Soon the little guys were either gone or cowering in a corner thanks to the mighty Nike.
Airwalks managed to remain under the radar by making a variety of shoes for a discount chain called Payless, which is now relegated to an Amazon store. Vans is still popular with the youth market whose knees and hips don't hurt yet. But recently they began marketing to geezers and geeks with a line of 'deluxe' versions of classics in fashion stores and 'Pro' versions of classics at skate and surf shops.
A friend of mine recently told me about them. He is an early CPF member he says but frankly I've never asked him his screen name since he hasn't logged in for some 10 years now. I mentioned I had scored some brand new Reef Slum Lord shoes from the 90's and he began telling me about the Vans upgrades. I found some classic slip on's in a limited edition version with upgraded insoles and footbed and man, I'm liking the change. Would I wear them to hike up a mountain? Use them for running? No, but then again I only hike up a mountain when being chased by a bear and only run when I encounter a nest of yellow jacket bees at work. So they are fine for strolling around a shopping mall or for casual uses.
They have a gimmick called "comfy cush" where updated versions cost about $5 more than the original. Same with Pro versions. Fashion stores like JC Penney and Kohls carry deluxe versions of the models meant for those outlets. So when I'm not wearing my Rockport mechanics style walkers or my Airwalk geezer mall walking shoes I now have a couple of pairs of classic skateboard shoes that don't cause my worn out knees and hips to make me think bionic body parts are in my near future.
I volunteer at a pharmacy and sometimes wear crocs. Nice to drive in, great for standing, walking all shift (3 hours). Seen a pharmacist wearing them, so I decided to try them out. For me they work better with the strap forward and not behind the heel.
After my last post I discovered a company called Simple shoes had been revived in 2018. In 1993 a small outfit that began in '91 had been bought by a large outfit due to the Simple shoes eco-friendly idea from their inception. Soles were made of recycled tires and in time other recycled materials went into some of the models for the upper parts too. The small company also had a slew of pro skateboarders wearing them so Simple shoes were plastered in videos and skateboard magazines. So to the big company who was trying to capitalize on an up and coming "green" movement bought Simple shoes. Well later on that same big company bought another small company who had an even greener approach. They turned their attention to the new kid and let Simple wither on the vine until 2011 when the Simple shoe was stopped being produced.
In 2015 a fellow in New Jersey was fed up with the crap called casual shoes and all of the gimmickery designed to seduce young skulls full of mush into paying a lot of money for a marshmallow that disintigrates in 65 days. It took a while but one day Simple shoes was revived. I got word and scored a pair of a reissued model I had in the 1990's. I did a review on them and they thanked me with a complimentary t-shirt. I reviewed that, a pair of last call shoes I really like and a ball cap I bought from them. Black Friday sale prices rock.
The outgoing shoes reminded me of shoes from a time gone by while having modern day advantages like comfort. They had decided to improve that shoe with an upgraded model and named it after the town in California where Simple shoes was born. San Luis Obispo or in todays world of TLA's everywhere, the SLO. They sent me a pair as thanks for being a life long fan of the brand and stating kind words as reviews.
I'm not trying to shill for them, seriously but instead meant every word in my review. They used to build shoes unlike any others while styling them like those from times long gone by, like the roaring 20's. One model looked just like the shoes Spanky wore in the original Lil Rascals. And instead of being soles being glued on they were stitched. The re-issued models still are. But the new models are being assembled using modern methods. So my new "re-issue" shoes were just like I remembered while the new (discontinued one) are like a modernized version of shoes my great grandfather would wear to play tennis (if he had ever played tennis. He was a grouchy, hateful man who would probably never be caught dead in white shorts). The new SLO are even better.
Right out of the box it was like putting on my first ever pair of Chuck Taylors in about 1970. Looking down at them I thought "I've worn these shoes before, but when?" After a few steps I forgot I was wearing sneakers and thought I was wearing 2 year old bedroom slippers. Word up. These are my new favorites. Nothing fancy, no super-secret designs. Just a well made canvas sneaker with a linen covered memory foam over an orthodic foam footbed. I like the idea that the sole may have bits of some Michelin tires I turned in at a tire store a few years back.
The new model called SLO
Some from the 1990's I still wear at times.
These were 100% recycled tires, plastic bottles and clothes
In 2015 a fellow in New Jersey was fed up with the crap called casual shoes and all of the gimmickery designed to seduce young skulls full of mush into paying a lot of money for a marshmallow that disintigrates in 65 days. It took a while but one day Simple shoes was revived. I got word and scored a pair of a reissued model I had in the 1990's. I did a review on them and they thanked me with a complimentary t-shirt. I reviewed that, a pair of last call shoes I really like and a ball cap I bought from them. Black Friday sale prices rock.
The outgoing shoes reminded me of shoes from a time gone by while having modern day advantages like comfort. They had decided to improve that shoe with an upgraded model and named it after the town in California where Simple shoes was born. San Luis Obispo or in todays world of TLA's everywhere, the SLO. They sent me a pair as thanks for being a life long fan of the brand and stating kind words as reviews.
I'm not trying to shill for them, seriously but instead meant every word in my review. They used to build shoes unlike any others while styling them like those from times long gone by, like the roaring 20's. One model looked just like the shoes Spanky wore in the original Lil Rascals. And instead of being soles being glued on they were stitched. The re-issued models still are. But the new models are being assembled using modern methods. So my new "re-issue" shoes were just like I remembered while the new (discontinued one) are like a modernized version of shoes my great grandfather would wear to play tennis (if he had ever played tennis. He was a grouchy, hateful man who would probably never be caught dead in white shorts). The new SLO are even better.
Right out of the box it was like putting on my first ever pair of Chuck Taylors in about 1970. Looking down at them I thought "I've worn these shoes before, but when?" After a few steps I forgot I was wearing sneakers and thought I was wearing 2 year old bedroom slippers. Word up. These are my new favorites. Nothing fancy, no super-secret designs. Just a well made canvas sneaker with a linen covered memory foam over an orthodic foam footbed. I like the idea that the sole may have bits of some Michelin tires I turned in at a tire store a few years back.
The new model called SLO
Some from the 1990's I still wear at times.
These were 100% recycled tires, plastic bottles and clothes
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AdrianBryce
Newly Enlightened
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2019
- Messages
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INOV8 Rocklite 345 GTX with a graphene composite sole.
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After a PM from bykfixer, pulled the trigger on a pair of Simple brand shoes. I volunteer at a pharmacy and am on my feet for 3 hours plus, which I like as sitting around for too long isn't good for you at all. I have no problems with the two shoes I posted in this thread (Salomon and Crocs), but I'm always on the lookout for a good walking / working shoe.
Those Daddy-O's look mighty cool. Every cool kid at Arnolds Drive In would have been sporting a pair if they were made back then.
Instead they were probably wearing Keds or Randys. (btw there was no Randy, that company was named after the town Randolph Massechusetts where their first factory was.)
Hopefully they'll be good "standing" shoes too.
Instead they were probably wearing Keds or Randys. (btw there was no Randy, that company was named after the town Randolph Massechusetts where their first factory was.)
Hopefully they'll be good "standing" shoes too.
Thanks for the recommendation. I decided to check them out and found these on the 'bay - search New Mens SIMPLE BRAND 50's Daddy-O Black ECO Shoes US 9. About half the price of a new set on amazon, different model though. Through PM with bykfixer, these never made it into production. Bottom line: very comfortable. Glad I got them for sure. Though they look kind of like Chuck Taylors, they exceed them in comfort by a long shot.
I spoke with Simple who indicated the Daddy-O was an idea conceived, a few prototypes made and owner Decker shoes shelved the Simple line so it never went into production. Nine pairs in size 9 is all there were.
Good score!!
Not long before Christmas I decided to try a shoe from the Vans MTE lineup. Black suede skateboard shoes with a skotch guard coating, a protruding lugs sole and inside lined with a layer of velvety warm cloth.
The MTE idea is a cross between their snowboarding and skateboard line up. The Sk8-Hi MTE is a cool weather shoe, but not a snow shoe per sae. Yet they are a skateboard shoe that works well in cold weather when things get muddy.
The protruding outsole also makes a nice walking shoe when the mercury drops. Extra shock absorption without feeling mushy and without looking like a cross between hiking boots and ballet slippers.
Good score!!
Not long before Christmas I decided to try a shoe from the Vans MTE lineup. Black suede skateboard shoes with a skotch guard coating, a protruding lugs sole and inside lined with a layer of velvety warm cloth.
The MTE idea is a cross between their snowboarding and skateboard line up. The Sk8-Hi MTE is a cool weather shoe, but not a snow shoe per sae. Yet they are a skateboard shoe that works well in cold weather when things get muddy.
The protruding outsole also makes a nice walking shoe when the mercury drops. Extra shock absorption without feeling mushy and without looking like a cross between hiking boots and ballet slippers.
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StarHalo
Flashaholic
If you want to walk in Vans, search "ComfyCush", but be aware it's still not on the materials-tech/comfort level of Nike's React/Zoom/ZoomX or Adidas' Boost.
Addidas insoles can be found in some Rockport walking shoes and Nike insoles in some Converse skateboard shoes.
Me personally, I don't care if Nike shoes can stop hair from growing in my nose or make me 24 years old again I'll never spend another penny on anything made by that guy.
But I don't mind these sidewalk surfer shoes one bit.
Minimalist linen canvas outside with the UltraCush inside.
Me personally, I don't care if Nike shoes can stop hair from growing in my nose or make me 24 years old again I'll never spend another penny on anything made by that guy.
But I don't mind these sidewalk surfer shoes one bit.
Minimalist linen canvas outside with the UltraCush inside.
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RedLED
Flashlight Enthusiast
Fixer,
Maybe you you know about this... on our drive to our place in Beverly Hills, we pass what seems to be a mile long Van's factory just before Riverside, CA. No matter the time we never see any trucks, there are dozens of loding bays, yet never any trucks?
Anyway, Van's still look cool, I may get a pair just for fun!
Best,
RL
Maybe you you know about this... on our drive to our place in Beverly Hills, we pass what seems to be a mile long Van's factory just before Riverside, CA. No matter the time we never see any trucks, there are dozens of loding bays, yet never any trucks?
Anyway, Van's still look cool, I may get a pair just for fun!
Best,
RL
Far as I know red the factory is closed now. I suppose that's why no trucks?
They are owned by the folks who own Columbia and other out door related apparel companies. Fake Vans coming in from Mexico in the 80's nearly put them out of business, so they put the company up for sale and were bought by a conglomorate who thought making funky shoes could compete. Nope.
VF Corparation bought them in the early 2000's and focused on making tons of versions of the originals and it worked. They'll never compete with Nike or Addidas but are definitely doing ok in 2020.
If you opt for a pair definitely go with ones with ultracush insoles.
My favorite Vans are a line called SF (for surf friendly). Old style shoes, all with really nice insoles.
These 1950's era shoes are called "destruct SF"
They are owned by the folks who own Columbia and other out door related apparel companies. Fake Vans coming in from Mexico in the 80's nearly put them out of business, so they put the company up for sale and were bought by a conglomorate who thought making funky shoes could compete. Nope.
VF Corparation bought them in the early 2000's and focused on making tons of versions of the originals and it worked. They'll never compete with Nike or Addidas but are definitely doing ok in 2020.
If you opt for a pair definitely go with ones with ultracush insoles.
My favorite Vans are a line called SF (for surf friendly). Old style shoes, all with really nice insoles.
These 1950's era shoes are called "destruct SF"
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ven
Flashaholic
I have been following with interest mr fixer on FB:twothumbs, although not commented. Very cool and i have come to the assumption........you must nearly have enough shoes to match your flashlight count. I want to know what you do with all those boxes
Well, the ones that come from outlet stores have what they call cut boxes where the lid is removed. Those boxes are used to keep my DVD's and Blu Ray discs in. We unplugged about 15 years ago and watch dvd's and blu rays. So we explore the $3 bin a lot and over time probably have had a few thousand. But we donate every so often to thin out the collection.
Some shoes are limited edition, like 25th anniverssary surf shop etc specialty types and they stay in the original box when not worn.
With some, at Christmas everybody thought they had gotten skate shoes for Christmas as items we gave away all went into them.
Some stay in the box for use later down the road. Take checkered slip on Vans for example. Those will probably be made for the next 50 years since those are popular. But ones like the orange flowered ones above were a novelty. Nothing special about them except that they won't be around next year. So some were purchased thinking they'll be worn in a couple of years, like ones I stashed at my dads 20 years ago and are now my favorite(s).
Nowhere near the number as flashlights, but if the government ever bans skateboard shoes I'll be ok for a decade or so.
Some shoes are limited edition, like 25th anniverssary surf shop etc specialty types and they stay in the original box when not worn.
With some, at Christmas everybody thought they had gotten skate shoes for Christmas as items we gave away all went into them.
Some stay in the box for use later down the road. Take checkered slip on Vans for example. Those will probably be made for the next 50 years since those are popular. But ones like the orange flowered ones above were a novelty. Nothing special about them except that they won't be around next year. So some were purchased thinking they'll be worn in a couple of years, like ones I stashed at my dads 20 years ago and are now my favorite(s).
Nowhere near the number as flashlights, but if the government ever bans skateboard shoes I'll be ok for a decade or so.
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