These are my daily walkers, BMX riders, rainy day shoes, and mechanic work shoes. Left shoe not pictured, but I’m sure you get the idea…
Yes I do have a few much nicer pairs of shoes for nice or important occasions, but I’d rather fully wear out one pair of shoes at a time.
So, what’s your worn out shoes looking like?
Till a toe pokes out.
Well that toe done sailed…
At least I’m prepped with more new shoes.
I just realized that nearly all of my daily shoes were replaced by my dad… who is a semi-professional marathon runner and would go through shoes in months… So probably every 1-3 years, depending on when my parents visit I guess; I think their definition of wearing out is when there are a good amount of rips/holes
My last pair was a pair of HOKA that lasted a year and a half; they are designed for long-distance running and have massive toe boxes (which I need) but are not known for their durability… Dad basically urged me to get a pair of Chinese HOKA knockoff to replace it, got it half a year ago. It’s showing signs of wear but I think it can still go for at least another year
Had five pairs of HOKA Clifton or Bondi (one of the few brands that have wide and quarter sizes) that usually lasts a year. My HOKA Kaha lasted two hand a half which is too short for that kind of shoe. Last pair of Clifton bought this summer lasted two months.
I suggest you look at Altra if you need wide toe box.
What’s the knockoff you got? Is it anywhere near as comfortable?
It’s a small brand started by a few Chinese marathon runners, modelled exactly after HOKA. So it’s equally as comfortable at like 1/2-1/3 the price. Only available in China unfortunately…
The main annoyance is that this pair doesn’t have much sideways support, so it’s easier to slip sideways. Probably not a worthwhile concern for most people of course
Also… Durability isn’t a strong suit for HOKA shoes, so I’m not sure if I can really recommend them for daily drive regardless
Too bad, I was hoping I could snag a pair. Probably not going to China any time soon though.
I wear them until I know when I’ve stepped in liquid.
I stopped wearing disposable shoes several years ago. So when they start to where out, I bring them to my cobbler to get repaired.
Cool cool 👍
Any particular advice on shoes you might have?
I’m a BMX flatland rider, but I’ve found that Van’s skateboard shoes are bullshit and I wear those out within like 3 days.
Advice welcome…?
That is because Vans are trash, they aren’t skateboard shoes they are fashion shoes that are marketed as skateboard shoes.
If you buy some proper shoes designed for skating they should last a bit better. I presume if you are riding brakeless then you mostly have issues with the soles, like I do braking when skating.
I have had good luck with Osiris, Es and Globe in the last few years but at the end of the day applying such aggressive friction you are always gonna burn through shoes fast than you would by just walking.
My average is around a year before I start braking with skin.
Vans? I dunno what brand these are, but they’re definitely not Vans.
The last pair of Vans I ever got was like 15 years ago, and I literally destroyed those in 3 days.
Never again, no more Vans for me. Whatever brand these are, they’ve lasted me more than a couple years, so I can’t complain much for only $17…
I start with a pair of good insoles, then as those wear down I buy another, and another, and so on until the shoe tread wears out or holes appear in them. If you buy some of those magic eraser pads, you can usually keep the outside of the shoes looking relatively new for a lot longer as well. I have some shoes right now that are going on ~1.5 years and I’ll probably get another 1.5 out of them.
Pro-tip: don’t buy the cheapest shoes you can if you can afford it. I used to buy $20 skate shoes and they would wear out in less than a year.
Meh, I prefer cheaper shoes to an extent, as I know I’ll eventually destroy them.
My main requirements are:
-
- Good comfortable fit
-
- Easy to put on and take off
-
- Well ventilated to evaporate sweat
-
- Bottom sole is preferably the yellow rubber anti-skid stuff good for potentially oil-slick surfaces
-
I wear them until they reach zero on the comfort scale:
- 10 - The most comfortable thing in the universe. You don’t even know you’re wearing them
- 0 - It actively hurts your feet
Is this scale measured in years, months, or hours?
Technically, if it’s measured in one, it’s also measured in the others.
Until they break, then they’re yard shoes
No shoe thrown away
Yard shoes?
I actually like that term, makes sense 👍
I call these my junker shoes, for general everyday use, as I hardly give a shit anymore, as I have other nicer shoes for more formal occasions.
Yeah my yard shoes are there to cut grass and turn green lol
Until my knee starts hurting after wearing or water gets in, whichever is first. My gait tends to result in uneven wear and my feet are near flat and a bit wide…I’ve been searching for a shoe that lasts and is comfy for a long time. Sneakers are comfy but last about a 1-2month before the wear is noticeable when walking and by 6mo water is getting in. Got some good leather shoes (and boots for winter) that are lasting now 1.5yish but aren’t as comfy as I would like.
Usually until I have a hole in the bottom or they start to stink that even washing them doesn’t help.
Wait, you wash your shoes?
I only do that when I stepped into a doggy landmine…
Edit: How do wash shoes without damaging them?
I guess I don’t have delicate shoes. I just throw them in the washing machine.
Not referring to the shoes I posted, but I’ve never found a pair of shoes that can be safely (or legally) thrown in a washing machine.
We don’t have our own washing or drying machines here at the apartment, we have to use laundromats elsewhere. You throw shoes or boots in there, you’ll get charged with sabotage… ☹️
Ahh damn that sucks. It makes it super easy for tennis shoes/sneakers.
Meh, nobody in their right mind would give me any sort of shoe warranty once they realize I ride brakeless BMX flatland…
This isn’t exactly the clip I was looking for, but what the fuck you expect a flatland rider to do with both wrists sprained?..
I’m pretty sure I would eat shit if I tried to learn any BMX stuff. Hope you enjoy it even though you mangled yourself lol.
Advice: Don’t try BMX stunts at home, unless you got balls of crazy.
For me, in a strange way, it helps me understand complex mathematics. The less I think of how I’m riding, the more I understand what I’m actually doing.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=DdHGMZe5nFo
As long as I stick to flatland, I’m good. If I fail, I just either walk or roll out of it. It’s like an 80% fail, 20% land the tricks for me.
The real trick is to practice without hurting yourself…
Yeah I do once a while which also gives them a week of rest before I go on with them. You just don’t dry them in the dryer, you air dry them.
Yeah ill do this only when I start noticing a smell that shouldn’t be there after only wearing them for a few hours. I know its time.
How do wash shoes without damaging them?
If I have a laundry of work clothes, I put the shoes in a pillowcase, then in the middle of the clothes. Alternatively, you can try freezing them. It works pretty well to get rid of smells.
Awesome advice 👍
No dice for me though, washers just destroy my shoes like 5x faster than my own footwear and BMX riding.
Foot/shoe smell means nothing to me, I don’t smell my feet or shoes.
Look at the wear on my right shoe. I’m definitely due for new shoes, but these are my ‘dirty job’ shoes…
Where it gets really crazy is where you have a few pairs that you rotate through for “daily wear”. A whole decade can slip by before you go “how long have I had these?”
I don’t care a whole lot about fashion so “until they stop working correctly” is about the best answer I can give.
Even crazier when you started working from home at least part time since pandemic, so the shoes you’d normally wear to work get little use.
I got divorced about five years ago and still have a closet full of shoes I apparently needed but they’re all unworn so I might have a lifetime supply
Upvote for extra shoes 👍
I buy Ecco brand, they last for eternity. These are 15 years old but I stopped wearing them every day 4 years ago and got new Ecco shoes with a modern styling…4 years ago so not anymore :) I keep the old ones around for painting the house or whatever.
I think the leather orthopedics have fused with the shoe and have shrunk drastically, so if I try to remove them it’ll kill the patient.
Cat for scale? Awesome! 👍
You have the warmest lights in the land cast upon your newer foot things, it looks like a photo from the long ago which is a compliment.
Wiat who was approaching overweight is ̶s̶t̶a̶r̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶d̶e̶a̶t̶h̶ not adjusting well to smaller portions and his food plate is hidden behind him. I guess it’s true what they say: Big shoes, big pussy.
My feet are definitely not starving to death, I feed them pussy every day!
If I can’t see the floor through them, I’ll keep wearing them.
Oh, so early?
Usually until they physically fall apart or there are holes in the soles
I got holes in the toes, does that count?
My winter boots is during its 7th winter now. The last one.
Leather is still good, but upper part has not decent look. But the worst part is it not warm enough anymore for russian winter.
Laces was changed, heel counter was patched, sole was glued.
Ooo ooo I love good work boots!
I bought these in 2015 for work. I left that job in 2020, and I wore these like three times since. Pulled them out this winter for my son to wear as the fit him right now, (he’s growing and blowing through shoes).
How bloody happy I am that after ten years, they are still holding up! You can see some of the leather is wearing, but they’re soaked on the outside in these photos, bone dry in the inside.
Fuck inflation though, I paid $120 for these back then, the same boots, I looked them up, today, are $230. Wild. No way I can buy these kind ever again, I’m so happy they have lived so long my son is now getting life out of them! Will definitely be getting these repaired when the time comes!
I walk a lot and I use them until they are no longer comfortable to walk
I have flat feet and I usually wear down the soles in an angle and I start walking “funny”, creating more issues.
