Buying shoes

It seems that its getting to be time again to replace my footwear, so I figured that I would ask around and see what kind of footwear you're all wearing. Probably the last 3 or 4 pairs of shoes that I've bought have been made by Saucony, but, although I still like the shoes that this company puts out they're roughly $70 - $80 a pair (on sale) and I'm currently trying to conserve money.

While I definitely don't think that $70 - $80 is an outrageous price for a pair of shoes (as you can easily spend more), I'm currently wondering if I should switch over to some footwear by another manufacturer that might be a little cheaper. Hence the question: what's on your feet, and would you reccomend the manufacturer?

Comments

It has been my observation with shoes that you get what you pay for. If you spend $30, you'll get $30 worth of shoes. If you spend more, your chances of getting better shoes that last longer and are more comfortable increase greatly. Looking back, I spent an insane amount on the last pair of shoes I bought (and am still wearing). That was 6 months ago, and the only way you can tell they are old is that they are no longer white.

For the record, my shoes are New Balance.

In the 50 buck range Brooks are a good bet. They're what I normally go for, and last me a year anyway. At the very least look for shoes made of real leather, not all man made.

I'm not crazy...oh, wait, nevermind.

I agree with Ryan: you get what you pay for. The less I spend on shoes, the sooner they have worn out. My favorite pair of shoes I got from my cousin who outgrew them; unfortunately the manufacturer has disappeared.

What shoes you should buy depends on two things: what sort of activities you engage in, and the shape of your feet. If you are athletic, you want a running shoe. The downside is that they are quite obviously a running shoe and may not be suitable for the workplace. For the workplace, it's better to have a walking shoe. The shape of your feet is the big factor. American feet have a different shape than European feet (strange, because many Americans are of European descent, but I'm just relating to you what I was told by someone more knowledgable in this area). If your feet are more European shape, you might want to look into European-made shoes (eg. Ecco).

If you want something simple to go by, just try stuff on and if it's comfortable, buy it. I hesitate to recommend the brand I'm wearing because a) I can't remember what the brand is, and b) I haven't had them that long. My Dad has a pair from Redwing Shoes that have lasted a very long time, though I think they are a little more expensive than most.

One last thing of importance: don't buy Birkenstocks unless a chiropractor or somebody actually measures your feet and tells you that you need them. They are orthopaedic shoes and will do more harm than good if you don't need them.

Well, actually, running shoes are meant for exactly that: RUNNING. You really shouldn't be using them for anything else. They are designed for high-impact activities, and you'd be wasting them if you just wore them doing whatever. Cross trainers are the better type of "running shoe" to be wearing for general activities and also for the occasional sporting thing.