Muzman on 23/7/2010 at 05:04
It's been while since we had a 'getting to know you via consumerism' thread that wasn't about phones. So here's one.
I bought some recently, ya see. Now, it is true that I probably played far too much Mirror's Edge before I started shopping around. But it was needed. It was starting to be rather gauche wearing steel capped Blundstones absolutely everywhere (the soles on my other, shiny Blundies fell apart. Something they do after a certain age these days, apparently).
Some sneaker type things were in order. I can't stand over complicated runners, of which there is a slew. Stiff all over, super thick soles with small water tanks for your sea monkeys or whatever, gaudy colours, over complicated design with lots of joins to break. But I wouldn't mind something reasonably hard wearing, sort of all purpose, light, not too expensive (that's the hard part), some toe protection so I don't have to worry about that bit too much. Something you could climb walls with if you really wanted to. Not that I will, but hey... The shoes parkour/traceur types get tend to tick most of these boxes. (and yes there are threads all over the place starting with "Where can I get Faith's shoes?". Too bright for my taste, but in any case they don't exist).
Long story short; after some hunting around I got these
Inline Image:
http://www.rockclimbing.com/images/gear/products/8/3328-large_Five_Ten_Guide_Tennie_Shoes_-_Mens_780853_5.jpgHybrid things made by rock climbing people. Couldn't get them here for less than about $180 and only from over east. Haha, no. So I took a chance and ordered them from the States without ever trying them on.
Honestly, watching stuff get delivered is half the fun in online shopping. In order to fulfill the 4 day delivery promise on Amazon these things had to avoid the rest of the country entirely, which was hilarious (From memory: Cincinatti->Little Rock->Anchorage(!)->Hawaii->Tai Pei->Singapore->Perth).
In the end they fit great (I have annoyingly broad feet, so that was lucky). Nice flexible uppers. It helps that they have these extra long lacing ..er grooves for adjustment. Despite having a tread only a couple of milimeters thick they are crazilly grippy on any stone or natural surface (i suppose you want that from climbing shoe people). So much so that they pick up more sand, grass and gravel than anything I've seen. Even compared to the big ol' boots. This doesn't seem to hurt traction however.
Anyway, after doing the diligence on these things for a while, being somewhat out of touch, I got a sense that it would be very easy to seriously geek out on sneakers, walkers, hikers and whatever else. The sheer array of these things: all the designs ((
http://www.skechers.com/) Platform ink blotters? Sure why not, (
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/) Um what? ), materials and technologies ((
http://www.tonyhardman.com/Puma_Parkour_Concept.php) to be made from Unobtanium apparently).
Even in practical manly ways, not at all like silly shoe obsessed girls I've known nonoofcoursenot.
Anyway, wot you wearin' ?
Kolya on 23/7/2010 at 11:56
Inline Image:
http://imgur.com/ws5en.jpgI'm wearing these black commie Converse (~40€) in the second generation now. I bought the first pair in a brick shop and the second pair online, since I knew they'd fit then. I wear them summer and winter, for skating, walking, indoors and outdoors - they're very comfortable everyday shoes. And I like the style.
Kolya on 23/7/2010 at 12:20
Swanky. Walking in with these the hoes will know who's the boss. :cool:
fett on 23/7/2010 at 19:03
Converse. Purple. No picture needed.
