Shoes...

[fajrdrako]

Does anyone here know if Converse shoes are good for walking? I found a website that said they were good for 'casual walking', but how casual is 'casual'?

Fangirl here to the nth degree. I could feel some enthusiasm for buying Converse. Hmm: black, like the Doctor's? Or red like Gwen's?

Comments

[cupati.livejournal.com]

Converse shoes seem to be a different shape to any other shoes I've tried - they don't fit me at all. There's no point bying any until you've tried some.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh, I wouldn't buy any shoe untried! I have strangely-shaped feet myself, tiny heels and long toes, and I only know what will fit on a case-by-case basis. I asked because if Converse is designed in such a way that it's somehow a bad idea to walk a lot in them, then there's be no point hunting them down and trying them.

But on the face of it, they fit the criteria that usually works well with my feet - lots of ties, soft soles, high around the ankle.

[vervassal.livejournal.com]

I ♥ Converses, but they have no arch support, so when I wear them my arches ocassionally collapse, which is really f****** painful, which means that I don't wear them. If I really wanted to wear them I could get inserts, but...

So. Caveat emptor: if you have high arches, they're not worth it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Right. I really should have the arch support. Well, I do own inserts, and could buy more inserts.... if they otherwise fit well.

[kikibug13.livejournal.com]

Black? I thought the Doctor had one dark blue and one off-white pair that were most often visible (keeping too much company with fanpeople, especially a particular fanboy, recently; I hadn't seen an actual Converse store till a couple of weeks ago...)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Black? I thought the Doctor had one dark blue and one off-white pair that were most often visible

He certainly wore the off-white pair in "Doomsday", but I was thinking of "The Rise of the Cybermen" when he wore black to match his spiffy black suit.

Converse has stores? If so, I still haven't seen one. I saw online that they sell them in some chain stores that have outlets in Ottawa and I was hoping I'd get lucky.

[latxcvi.livejournal.com]

Um ... I have nine pairs of them, that's how comfortable I find them for kicking around on the weekends (I can only wear them to work on Casual Fridays).

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'll take that as encouragement!

Not that I seem to need much.

Are there nine different colours?

[majkia.livejournal.com]

they even have pin-striped. a friend in Texas just bought a pair. I hate her ;-)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Pin-striped?

Pin-striped?

Oh my goodness.

I want them. Now.

[katesutton.livejournal.com]

I have a pair-and yes, this dates after Ten appeared-but I put inserts in. They're far too flat to walk around a lot in, otherwise. There are a LOT (http://www.zappos.com/n/es/d/722001171/page/1.html) of colors.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness. I love that site! And I'm not usually interested in shoes. But... wow. I like the pirate ones, both styles. I love the bright turquoise. And the pin-stripe.

The question is, how do I choose?

I can buy inserts.

[msp-hacker.livejournal.com]

While my converse isn't as comfortable as the pair of running shoes that is my normal shoe, they're fine for walking in for jaunts less than twenty mintutes for sure, and sometimes longer like walking around all day.

If you put in inserts, they should be fine. Which is actually a good idea for my own shoes, thinking about it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Inserts are such wonderful things. I'd stopped wearing them because my foot troubles cleared up so entirely when I was wearing them. Obviously it's time to put them in again!

[katesutton.livejournal.com]

Zappos is made of win. Free returns if they don't fit! I wrestled with the color for...several days. There is such a thing as TOO many choices.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

So what colour did you end up buying?

I saw to my delight that they have a Canadian outlet, but sadly, the Canadian website doesn't sell the high-tops. Why not? I wonder if the US site will ship to Canada. Probably not, but I guess I won't know till I ask.

[(Anonymous)]

I have three pairs of things that are made to look like Cons but aren't and are probably made in a Chinese sweatshop. They are my trainers now. Assuming mostly similarities... not good for wet weather so much, or for the cold. There's something about that shape of shoe that means slightly not fitting causes more discomfort than it otherwise might.

But I look like some sort of cheapskate punk, so they work for me.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'll have to be careful about the fit. But they sound great. And I usually look like a cheapskate punk anyway.

[medelle.livejournal.com]

I recommend getting a pair of the leather ones.

I have loved Cons since I was a teenager, but couldn't wear the regular ones anymore due to lack of support. I recently broke down and tried a pair of the leather ones and they actually have decent support.

Still not great for y'know a several mile nature hike or anything like that, but for bumming around here and there - they're great.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, I was thinking in terms of walking to work, 45 minutes on pavement. I do go through shoes at a rather fast rate.

If the leather ones have better support, that's worth it.

[teenygozer.livejournal.com]

Converse isn't for nature hikes or long shopping-treks through the city, because as others have noted, they don't have a lot of support for the arches. I have arch supports made for me by a podiatrist that I slip into all my shoes except for Birkenstocks, which come with their own very strong arch support already, and Earth Shoes, which have an odd negative-heel design that actually does keep your weight off your arches.

I see from a comment, above, that you do have arch supports, so you can put them in and bump up the suppport in a pair of Converse shoes/sneakers and look trendy with added good support. BTW, even if your foot problems clear up, you should still try to wear the supports at least every other day, because you don't want your problems to return!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Converse isn't for nature hikes

Well, I keep wanting to go on nature hikes, but I never seem to find the time.

or long shopping-treks through the city

Definitely not my style!

Earth Shoes, which have an odd negative-heel design that actually does keep your weight off your arches.

I used to have those! As you say, they were great on the arches, but they did strange things to my heels and I never did find a pair that was really comfortable for walking.

so you can put them in and bump up the suppport in a pair of Converse shoes/sneakers and look trendy with added good support

Yes. I like this idea.

even if your foot problems clear up, you should still try to wear the supports at least every other day, because you don't want your problems to return!

That's for sure. When the plantar fasciitis first hit, I was out of commission for months if not years. Then for the last few years my feet have been pretty much pain-free despite all the walking I do. Yes, arch supports are the key.

I'm going to browse some local stores at lunchtime, just to see what they have, and what the prices are.

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

Tennant referred to the color of the ones he wears with the blue suit as "burgundy."
If you want something that looks like Chucks but is guaranteed sweat-shop free, try
http://www.nosweatapparel.com/miva/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=NSS

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Burgundy! Cool.

I love that nosweat site, and those shoes look perfect. I don't like ordering online across the border, though, and the only outlets in Ontario are in Toronto and Owen Sound - hardly convenient. Still... very tempting! Thanks for the link. I'll think about those. They have the red high tops that I like, too.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I would say no. Converse shoes do not have the sole you'll need for the serious walking you do. Your arches will suffer, and your soles will ache, in no time. I would go with New Balance, or go to a site catering to nurses and see what they have there. But New Balance cross-trainers are highly good and stable for one's poor feet, take it from me.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

What I need first is new shoe inserts. Then I'll take a leisurely browse of what's available... I've had New Balance shoes before, and I agree they're good, but I don't like their styles aesthetically so much.

[sparkly-oats.livejournal.com]

aw look at your lovely flist, with their great advice. Totally agree with those who spoke of lack of support. Once your foot has kinda grown into the shoe, and your converse are a perfect shape for your feet only (takes about a week and half) you will not want to be without them. I wore my last pair (had pretty pink flowery design on them) on this excursion in Dublin and man did I walk on that trip. Those didn't last long, especially if you plan on wearing them a lot and for longer treks.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

aw look at your lovely flist, with their great advice.

Yes, isn't it great?

Once your foot has kinda grown into the shoe, and your converse are a perfect shape for your feet only (takes about a week and half) you will not want to be without them.

Great!

I wore my last pair (had pretty pink flowery design on them) on this excursion in Dublin and man did I walk on that trip.

Isn't Dublin a great walking city? I loved walking there.

Those didn't last long, especially if you plan on wearing them a lot and for longer treks.

My shoes never last long, anyway. And Converse is cheaper than most of the brands I've been buying.

I already took the first step, and bought new arch-support orthotic insoles today. The store where I got them has Converse, including the high top red ones I covet.

I may have to wait for my next payday, so I have more time to make up my mind.

[wijsgeer.livejournal.com]

converse eh..... I thought he was wearing all stars.
I used to wear them when in highschool, had a black and a burgundy pair and used one of each (yes, the whole school though I was loopy and treated me as such, but I am very very stubborn sometimes).
I recentely bought fake shoes in the supermarket (yes they are shoes but not of a brand) fot 3 euros. Bright red and bright light green. They are less comfy then real all stars but fun.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I thought Converse was the same thing as All Stars. Not sure. I'm so untrendy. Like to think I set my own fashions.

Anyway, I now know where I can get them, and how much they are ($59.99, which is a pretty good price) and I'm thinking it over till I get my next paycheque.