Favorite pair of shoes

[wanderingeek]

Hey there,

I'm in the market for a new pair of shoes, and I was wondering: what's your favorite pair? I'm looking for something that's sturdy enough to hike with, comfortable enough to walk long distances, and still look decent enough to be worn out to the bars or whatever.

Thanks fellas,

Nick

[DC_Jessica]

I have Puma trail racers - I can't remember if they're Alpine or Sierra. Word of warning: they are a bi*ch to break in, but once you do, they are my most comfortable shoes. And they look nicer to go out in (depending on what color you choose), especially in Europe where it seems everybody wears trendy sneakers out. They're not girly either - unisex.

But, I climbed to the top of Masada in them, went canoeing in them, walked around Petra (hiked as well), etc. etc. They are good grippers, and comfortable (again, once broken in).

[BigE]

I never wear sneakers unless I am at the gym or hiking or whatever. I have several pairs of shoes: Doc Martens (not as good as they used to be, Bostonians rubber soles for work, Johnston-Murphys leather soles for wearing a suit, and a pair of black Ecco sneaker things that I hate. I also have a couple pairs of boots, TEVA sandals, and flip-flops with a bottle opener. It all depends on what you are doing. I travel a lot in the summer when things are slow so I usually wear sandals or flip flops.

[Rozza]

i really like the psyche made by a climbing company called Evolv. technically there a walk in shoe, so kinda like a trail walker, but with much better traction, also they just look like a pair of kicks, there pretty sturdy, and great for dancing in

i've had a couple of pairs now, and i would recomend them as a good all round shoe

[BigE]

Originally Posted by Rozza

i really like the psyche made by a climbing company called Evolv. technically there a walk in shoe, so kinda like a trail walker, but with much better traction, also they just look like a pair of kicks, there pretty sturdy, and great for dancing in

i've had a couple of pairs now, and i would recomend them as a good all round shoe

The Evolv Psyche are on sale for $19 now:

http://www.evolvesports.com/PSYCHE.htm

[pinknic38]

the north face has these great looking trail walkers for guys. the same version for girls is really fug (they look like high tops) but anyway I personally don't know how they are comfort wise but one of my friends has a pair and he says they rule, so take that for what it's worth.

http://www.thenorthface.com/opencms/...5A&language=en

kind of expensive though, but it's north face, what do you expect?

[mbo108]

Originally Posted by DC_Jessica

in Europe where it seems everybody wears trendy sneakers out.

This is so true. And they are all so low-profile! i always try shoes on like this and hate how they look on my particular feet although i feel like so many others can pull it off. i feel like that is the most telling sign that I'm an American when i go abroad.

[BigE]

Originally Posted by mbo108

This is so true. And they are all so low-profile! i always try shoes on like this and hate how they look on my particular feet although i feel like so many others can pull it off. i feel like that is the most telling sign that I'm an American when i go abroad.

I feel the same way. I can never go for the European look and European shoes never seem to fit my feet right or look weird on my size 13 feet.

[c0urt]

my favorite pair ever was a pair of nike air kukini's but they havent made them in a few years and when they do turn up they are never in my size



after that a good pair of airwalks

and i can sympathize on wearing a 13, i wear a 13 narrow and they can be tricky to find

[mbo108]

I'm also a lucky size 13. Sometimes a 12.5 which sucks because most places stop making half sizes after 12. and i really liked a pair of those Evolvs...and they stop at 12. awesome. on the other hand, i can pick up a quarter with my incredibly dexterous toes

[lost in texas]

My opinion is that if you find something that fits decent, it really doesn't matter. I actually hiked/climbed around Petra all day in leather Kenneth Coles, and I was fine (other than needing a good shoe-shine). It's whatever, some people enjoy special shoes for their different activities.

[DC_Jessica]

Originally Posted by mbo108

on the other hand, i can pick up a quarter with my incredibly dexterous toes

Always looking at the positive! lol!

[joe7f]

I got a pair of "Footprints" from Birkenstock that were great until I wore them out on my first backpacking trip. They are no longer made but are available on Ebay.

--Joey

[aliz]

I never wear sensible shoes but when my feet are really killing me and I still need to walk somewhere or I know I'm in for a long day, I swear by my Vans, they're like slippers. I have the checkered ones but they're getting a bit grotty. you can get plain all black ones which would be ok for going out

[polarbear]

speaking of shoes for traveling, what shoes do you bring? only one pair of tennis shoes type? or sandals? or both? i mean really, how often do people look at your footwear? :D

[freespiritz]

I normally pack a pair of hiking shoes, right now I have a nice pair of Vasques and my Chaco sandals - which I can both do stuff like mountain climbing and white water rafting in but are also nice enough to wear out to the bars. And if I feel like it I throw in a pair of flip flops but the sandals work for showering in too. I heart my Chacos!

[c0urt]

I take one pair of shoes, if they die, they get tossed

[d_fresh]

I like anything made by Keen.

[polarbear]

thanks for the reply, im probably going to go with my pair of golites!

[wanderingeek]

Wow! Didn't expect this thread to lift off like it did..

Anyway, if anybody's interested, I decided on a nice pair of Pumas-- I don't know exactly what they're called, but they're black leather with one white stripe across the side and have a gum sole. They're really comfortable!