Shoes Of The Day

I like what Forrest had to say about shoes:

“Momma always says there’s an awful lot you could tell about a person by their shoes. Where they’re going. Where they’ve been. I’ve worn lots of shoes. I bet if I think about it real hard I could remember my first pair of shoes. Momma said they’d take me anywhere. She said they was my magic shoes.” - Forrest Gump.

Here is a picture of the magic shoes of the day: Nike “Air Forrest.”

They can be found on pier39 in San Francisco.

Watch Forrest Run here.

Check this guy trying to out do Forrest: 50 States, 50 days, 50 Marathons?!. Come run with Dean, if you can.

How often should you change your shoes? Micchi and EconJon, listen up, this shoe review is for you.
The auto experts tell us that we should change the oil in our car every 3,000 miles.

What about your shoes? How often should you change ‘em?

Shoe experts recommend if you are a runner to change your shoes every 400-600 miles, which equates to new running shoes every 4-5 months. New walking shoes are recommended every 7-8 months. Unless you are a speed walker, you will need extra shoe lubrication for the viscosity break-down and heat that is produced with your rapid strides. For your speed walkers, we recommend your next pair of shoes have flames instead of your car. And come on, if your feet stink before the above mileage shoe exchange recommendation, just get some new ones - your friends will thank you!

But where can I go to get a full-service shoe “change” and get advice about what shoes are right for you? We recommend that you go to one of your trusted local shoe store. Here are five things to know when you are about to make your next running or walking shoe purchase.

1. When is the last time you told your feet how much you appreciate them? Get to know your feet a little bit better. What is your foot type? Do you have a high arch, low arch or average arch?
2. Measure it! Have your foot measured. The optimal time to have your foot measured is in the late afternoon when you foot has had a chance to swell a little bit — similar to how your feet will feel during a work out.
3. Size matters. Add a 1/2 size for optimal running shoe comfort. I typically wear a size 10.5 — however whenever I purchase a running shoe, I will always buy an 11.
4. Bring your old shoes. Show the ped-expert how you wear your shoes. They may provide helpful information regarding what brand and shoe type is best for your next pair of shoes.
5. Run up and down the isle. Come on, you did it as a kid, right? Why stop? Did you ever remember having uncomfortable shoes as a kid? Oh, right only when the feet where not right.

Other questions to ask your local retail sales on-staff pedorthist might include: “I have a high arch, which shoe would you recommend for a high arch that will offer more cushioning for a more comfortable walk or run.” Or “I have a medium arch, which shoe will provide optimal stability for my foot to work naturally?” Finally “I have a low arch, which shoe offers the best motion control, enabling my foot to guide every stride?”

Purchasing shoes is fun, but finding the right ones is the name of the game. Here are some excellent online retailers we recommend who provided excellent, detailed shoe information to help you make your next shoe purchase. If you want the best deals go right to the clearance section of the site.

Piperlime.com Piperlime has great women (Betty) and men shoe offerings. They also offer a wide selection of styles and sizes and let you return shoes at no charge! Lisa Freeman from Consumer Reports says “Piperlime in particular had really good prices overall. But no one site always has the best deals, so you really should shop around” That is why I have included three other options.

Shoes.com offers free shipping, free return shipping and guarantee the lowest price on Women’s shoes, men’s shoes and Childrens Shoes. In fact they offer a 115% price guarantee.

Endless.com Get your shoes tomorrow without leaving your house! Right now at endless.com over night shipping is NEGATIVE $5. That is right, they will pay you for overnight shipping. Great selection on Women’s, Men’s and Kid’s shoes. And if you like handbags, they have those too.

Happy Feet Plus! Happy Feet Plus has been a proud retailer of health and comfort footwear since 1985. Some of their featured brands include - Birkenstock, Finn Comfort, Mephisto, Dansko and Think! They have been carefully selected to provide their valued customers with top-quality, orthopedic footwear.

And finally Shoesoftheday.com — Find all things shoe related by beginning your shoe search here!

As for lubing your shoes — well, you can do that whenever you would like. 10w-30 works best for a long-lasting supple shine for both your car engine and your shoes.*

*Applying motor oil to your shoes may have adverse affects and may void the manufactures warranty. Apply at your own risk, we do not assume any loss, damages or anything related to your own choice to liberally apply motor oil to your shoes.

Mr. Info, Matthew Lesko claims that he “has helped More Ordinary Folks Make Their Dreams Come True with Free Government Money, Grants and Loans . And Matthew Lesko will Prove It!” Is it the shoes? Yes, it has to be! The shoes of the day: The Question Mark Man, Matthew Lesko’s custom blue and yellow shoes!

Yes, these are actually his shoes. I met him today and snapped this pic.

Enjoy.

This footwear classic originated in 1965 when Lance Clark sketched out a moccasin to create the world’s first comfort shoe.

Special thanks to Sandy for submitting these shoes of the day: Clarks England - Men’s Wallabee

Sandy says, “These are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned. Babe Magnets.”

Sandy also said, “If you want a shoe that screams ‘I am the coolest human being alive’, it’s the Clarks Wallaby.”

Lastly, Sandy said, “They saved my life once, made breakfast, and still picked up the kids from soccer practice.”

Hop around all day or on the weekends in these comfortable Clarks England Wallabee mid boots. These boots are smooth like butter with a leather lined insole and textured rubber gum sole. This will be the only time when you’ll be thankful you had gum on your soles!

For most people, shoes are most appreciated at the end of a long day when they are “kicked-off” your feet. For most men, one pair of shoes is sufficient. On the contrary, most Bettys have shoes for every outing, occasion and outfit. Let’s be honest, most men don’t spend a lot of time thinking about shoes, “Just give me all-purpose, made-for-the-gym, running-at-the-park, working-in-the-yard, boot-runner-worker-man-made-to-last-forever shoes.” Guys, you need more than one pair and you need comfort. I am here to tell you, there is a direct correlation with the amount of money you spend on a pair of shoes and how truly comfortable they are. More expensive shoes are made with careful craftsmanship and quality materials allowing them to perfectly age and mold to your feet. You don’t need to get all dressed up in shoes made from exotic skins such as alligator, python, ostrich or squirrel to have such comfort. But we have found some links-a-plenty with some custom made beauties when you are ready to slip some on. We have scoured the web to find the finest, high-end shoe makers. Enjoy these sites, window shopping from the comfort of your own home. Price tags range from $500 - $3,000.

So, kick your current shoes off with this list of the FINEST shoes of the day:

Testoni.com Family-owned since 1929, Headquartered in Bologna, Italy.
Berluti.com Founded 1895, be noticed from the ground up.
Crockettandjones.co.uk Since 1879, 200 step shoe-making process.
Edwardgreen.com Founded in Northampton, England, in 1890, the company makes only around 60 pairs per day.
Gjcleverley.co.uk Winston Churchill, Edward G. Robinson and Jackie Stewart are among those who’ve cherished the distinctive chiseled toe-look of a Cleverley.
Johnlobb.com The finest–and most distinctive–handmade shoes around. Each St. Crispin’s Day (Oct. 25) for the past decade, the company has released an exclusive, limited-edition model that can only be ordered for one year. I bet you can guess what the shoes of the day will be on the 25th?
Martindingman.com Shoes from the fashion capitol of World: Diamond City, Arkansas. Get some ‘gator on yo’ feet!
Newandlingwood.com Founded in 1865 to create footwear for the scholars. Made from Russian reindeer leather. Sorry kids, Santa may not make it this year.
Prada.com You know ‘em when you see ‘em, right? I think the devil wears this kind.
Ferragamo.com Come on, try some “luscious python” loafers.
Taninocrisci.com Lombardia-based Tanino Crisci turns out just 25,000 pairs of shoes per year.

When you are looking for your next pair of shoes, think handmade and custom-fit for ultimate feet comfort. Who knows, you may even find a guy who will fly in and get your measurements. Nate, you were there.

Before we go any further we need to review shoe anatomy.

Toebox: You guessed it; this would be the roofed area in the front of the shoe, where your toes reside. Most will remember this part of the shoe where a sometimes forgetful salesperson leaves the tissue paper. Remember: blissful toe cohabitation is most likely achieved when the toes are individually insulated.

(**If you are wearing velcro, loafers or sans-laceing shoes skip this and continue reading at “sole”)

Vamp: This is the area of the shoe where the laces are located. Remember, lacing pattern can affect the shoe’s fit. But, if you pull too tight, you are likely to upset your extensor digitorum longus tendons. Yes, the underlying tongue is also part of the vamp.

Eyelets: This is the only place on the shoe where holes are not only appreciated and desired, they are warmly welcomed  for simple shoelace threading.

Sole: The term sole derives from ’solea’ a Latin word meaning “soil” or “ground”

Insole: (Inner Sole) The bottom inside of the shoe that is in direct contact with the foot.

Outsole: (Outer Sole) This is the part of the shoe which makes contact with the Earth.  Right again, this is where the shoe’s traction is located.

Midsole: The midsole is between insole and outsole. This is the most important part of a shoe, because it is where the shoe’s mystery-mix of cushioning and stability are located. Similar to a tube in a tire, when this runs flat, it’s time for a change.

Heel Counter: This part of the shoe stabilizes the heel.  The heel counter is happiest and at its best when you use a shoe horn.

Topline: The part of the shoe that is closest to and touches your ankle.  In athletic shoes, the topline is often padded and referred to as a collar — make sure you check for any rings.

Quarter: This has nothing to do with the US treasury.  This is the complete upper part of the shoe behind the vamp line covering the sides and back part of the shoe.

Upper: This is the top of the shoe and prominently displays the shoe’s colors and the company’s brand for all to see. According to a recent survey, 85% said that the upper aesthetic is the sole reason (pun intended) influencing their shoe purchase. Our survey confirmed that 43.6 percent of statistics are made up on the spot.

The shoes of the day: Adidas Men’s Cup 68 LD for the artful display of color highlighting the anatomy of the shoe.

More than anything, I appreciate the aggressive forward outsole display of consummate v’s! Ahem…yes, these Adidas cups are better suited for your feet.

August 24th, 2007. I was wearing my Nike Air Max 360’s and noticed something unusual with my shoes (a feeling similar to getting a flat tire in your car) the midsole had detached from the upper.

I immediately went online to Nike.com. Here is my journey through the return of the Nike. I hope this is helpful if you ever have to return a pair of Nike shoes. I obtained the original email that I sent and what I received from Nike and have included it below.

My email dated: 8/25/2007 04:59 PM “I received this pair of silver/green Nike 2006 air max 360’s under a year ago as a gift. I liked them so much that I purchased another pair, this time red and dark gray. I just noticed (yesterday) that the midsole is detaching from the shoe upper! I thought I was seeing things as they cost $160.00 and as they still have plenty of wear and are in great condition. I would be happy to submit a picture of the detaching sole at your request. As they were given to me, I don’t know where to return them. What would you recommend?
Thanks in advance.”

I received a response from Nike the following day and have included the response dated 08/26/2007 06:45 PM. “Thank you for contacting Nike regarding your Air Max 360’s.

I am very sorry to hear about the problem you have experienced with your shoes, the soles detaching from the shoe. I would like you to know that Nike stands behind its products for material or manufacturing flaws.

I recommend that you first try to return or exchange your product at the place of purchase. If you have already tried this, or it is not an option for you, please review our return guidelines at http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jhtml?page=40.

Then, to receive specific return instructions and a claim number, please contact our automated system at 1-800-344-6453, and choose option 3 for returns.

We appreciate your business. Thank you for using Nike products and services. Should you have additional questions or concerns, please reply to this e-mail.

Sincerely,

Sabrina
Nike”

In the phone message, Nike mentions that they will either send you a replacement of equal value, or send you a gift certificate to be used at the Nike.com store — that is if the package arrives in satisfactory condition meeting all of their stringent return requirements.

Below are the Steps for returning shoes to Nike :

1. You can only return shoes that are under 1 year old.
2. Contact Nike.com customer support. The link is at the bottom of the page.
3. Call the 800 number they provide via email.
4. Obtain a “claim number”
5. Pack-up your shoes (I used a shoe box from USPS)
6. Label the box. MAKE SURE to include your return address and the claim number on the outside of the shoe box on the c/o line.
7. Ship the package. Don’t forget to insure it and get delivery confirmation.
8. Wait for a response. Hope for a replacement or gift certificate. Worst case scenario, you could get your old shoes back.

I was pleasantly surprised to find in the mail box today a letter from Nike - with a nice little gift certificate to be used only at Nike.com. Are these incredibly comfortable shoes? Yes. Will I buy these shoes again? Maybe. Was I pleased with the outcome and how Nike handled this case? Yes.

Oh, right…the shoes of the day: my former Nike Air Max 360’s

I am going shopping, thanks Sabrina! Oh, and Happy B-day pappa “O”

Super Fun. Super Funk. Super-funk-tional. That is what you will read when you go to the Sanuk main website - that’s clever folks! One of our readers recommended and requested that I include another winter flip-flop for your consideration and viewing play-sure!

Our shoes of the day reader had this to say about his Sanuks:

Pros: Easy on easy off. They stay on when you need them on, and they stay off when you need them…off….wait a second. Toss them in the washer when they need some cleaning. Then trow them in the dryer. However, we don’t recommend a warm iron, the wrinkles are cool. They are comfortable. You can get away wearing them in formal settings — yeah, that’s right they look good with slacks too.

Cons: Your feet get sweaty the first week of wear, and your shoes start to stink. That’s about it. No worries, wash them and they are okay.

Our reader reports, “there are no real Cons, they are stinking amazing.” I must also write that this particular reader purchased four pairs of them.

If they start to grow hair, contact animal control immediately. Thanks c-the-man for submitting the Sanuk, Men’s Vagabond, the shoes of the day.

Don’t worry Bettys, they have some for you too!

Sanuk - Women’s Donna

Happy walking, wearing, wading, washing and wahrunning.

The Chuck Taylor All-Stars were first produced by Converse in 1917, that is 5 years after the sinking of the Titanic for all you DiCaprio lovers. “I’m the King of the World!” Chuck thought the same thing, when he made the canvas and rubber-soled shoes his preferred shoe of choice by putting his stamp of approval on its ankle patch and in the history books as the most successful shoe of all time.

Think of the demographic that has enjoyed these shoes through the years: The basketball players, the skaters, the punk-rockers, sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, waistoids, dweebies - they all adore them. They think these are righteous shoes.

The perfect shoe for all…no, for fall! They even come in “Harvest Pumpkin.” Go ahead Bettys, I’ll say it with you; “Oh, cute.”

Enjoy the shoes of the day: Converse Men’s, Betty’s and Chillin’s All-Star Ox, I mean Oxen. These Converse are Oxen!

Can you name a pair of shoes that is over 90 years old, that you can still buy new?

How many pairs have you had? Me? Thanks for asking, I have personally owned 5 pairs, including Pink.

I’m not taking the day off today! I laboriously climbed a massive mountain on my pedal bike, cooled off while wake boarding at the local the lake, and then feed my face at the highly controversial burger joint. (Yeah, I felt okay about it - after all, I exercised!) No, I didnt wear any white shoes today. Really, who made up the rule that you can only wear white shoes between Memorial Day and Labor Daybor — I read something about a Canadian delivering…. a….budget, or something…speaking of Canadians, if you want to find some classic, classy Canadian shoes - I know one Canadian who wears these ReeBoks. Yes, I really do. Reebok, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, right? I think thats the reason why this shoe has been in circulation for 35 years - or on the shelves for that long.

The shoes of the day, especially for you Foozitao.

By the way — this rule is only for the Betty’s – “White tennis shoes and off-white boots seem exempt”

What do you think? No white shoes until May, could you do it?