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Post by elysion on Apr 15, 2021 3:53:04 GMT
Maybe it's a little strange that I'm taking up such a topic.... However, it is something that has preoccupied me in recent months. Here in Switzerland, we have always been allowed to go outside during the pandemic without any real restrictions, for example to go for walks or hikes. That's exactly what I've been doing, so that I get enough exercise, which is very good for me. It also gets me out in the fresh air and prevents the ceiling from falling on my head at home. So it's not only good for my body, but also for my mind. The latter is almost more important during the pandemic I think. At the beginning I had the problem that I didn't really have any good boots anymore. In the past I always had some kind of boots, for example combat boots, jump boots or mountain boots. Those boots that I used to prefer in the military I could no longer get. Somehow I lost sight of it and at some point I was left without good boots... Bummer... When I got it into my head that I wanted to walk outside regularly over long distances during the pandemic, I had to fix this problem somehow. I also had to keep an eye on the budget. On the one hand, I found some very good and relatively inexpensive offers, but then I also had to try out these shoes. Not all of them were really good, but I also learned a thing or two about how you can turn a not-so-good, mediocre shoe into something that is much better than if it came straight out of the shoe box. Sometimes a small modification leads to a big improvement in wearing comfort or brings other advantages. In the end, I think this is little different than modifying headphones or headphone amplifiers, for example. Additionally, one can assume that other people may also have a need to walk+ in the outdoors during the pandemic and may also have to watch their budget. I'll try to list in this thread a few things I've used to improve my shoes, if at all necessary. I don't want to limit it to boots either. It would be nice if one or the other also writes something on this topic and perhaps also shows examples. As you may have noticed from the text above, I spent a bit more than I had originally intended. However, I see it as a longer-term investment and I consider myself lucky that I can put (almost) everything I bought to good use.
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Post by elysion on Apr 15, 2021 4:26:57 GMT
First lession: Good insoles are your friends!en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe_insertThere are so many insoles. In the end, it's simply trial and error. You have to start somewhere. Most schoes have removable insoles. Sometimes the insoles that came with your shoes aren't bad at all. You don't have to replace them, if they are already good for you. Nevertheless, I'd suggest that you give insoles a try. There are very interesting replacement insoles on the market. Some of them use for example memory foam. Some insulate very well. Some are breathable. There are almost countless features. I myself have bought the following models and have had quite good experiences with them: grangers.co.uk/products/g10grangers.co.uk/products/g20grangers.co.uk/products/g30It has to be said, however, that the Grangers insoles are quite expensive. There are shoes that cost less than these insoles. So it depends on what you want to do with them and whether the price is justified for the application. The good news: You'll find also much cheaper insoles. Remember that the sizes of shoes and insoles can always vary slightly. It doesn't really matter which size system is used (UK, US, EU). Some insoles can be cut to size quite easily. But not all of them. It would be rather stupid to do this with Grangers insoles, as they are constructed differently depending on the area of the foot. Ideally, you should take out the insole of your shoe and compare the measurements in a shoe shop with the insoles available there. Of course, since people often shop online nowadays, it gets a bit more complicated. But I have found that over time you get a kind of feeling for the sizing of different manufacturers. What I find terrible are the many size charts that you can find on the internet. The bottom line is that practically every size chart says something different. Funnily enough, there seem to be certain standards that really work. But not for all manufacturers or models.
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Post by elysion on Apr 15, 2021 4:40:25 GMT
Second lession: Need replacement shoelaces? Have a look at paracord!en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoelacesen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachute_cordParacord is not that expensive and you can cut it easily to the desired length. You'll need a torch lighter or something comparable to scorch the ends. I prefer U.S. made paracord. There are a lot of Chinese paracord offerings floating around. Quality isn't always good. Good paracord is very strong. Today you can get almost any colour, but the original paracord was only in "olive drab" colour.
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Post by elysion on Apr 15, 2021 22:18:30 GMT
Third lesson: Do you tie your shoelaces correctly?About half of the people tie their shoes wrong. The shoelace knot is based on the reef knot. If the second half knot has the same orientation as the first, instead of a reef knot, the result is a granny knot, which does not hold permanently but comes loose quickly. In the reef knot, the incoming and outgoing ends are parallel, while in the granny knot, which is to be avoided, the loose ends are at an angle of about 45° to the incoming ends, which, in addition to the lack of strength, ensures that the loop is slanted. It is a small mistake that has unpleasant consequences. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoelace_knoten.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reef_knoten.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granny_knot
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Post by elysion on Apr 15, 2021 22:37:59 GMT
Fourth lesson: Choose a shoe with a good (out-)sole!Today's shoes are usually no longer resoleable. The traditional, handcrafted shoe is a discontinued model. Today, it should be as cheap as possible and shoes are disposable items. Exceptions confirm the rule. Especially if you spend a little more on a shoe, it is worth choosing a shoe with a Vibram sole, for example. Vibram soles are supposed to be abrasion-resistant. In my experience, they are much more resistant to abrasion than normal soles, but Vibram soles don't last forever (just longer). But that doesn't mean that all other soles are bad. If in doubt, you just have to gain experience by trying something out. It also depends on the type of ground you primarily walk on. Not every sole is equally good for a hike on natural trails or for use on asphalt. The profile of the sole can make a very significant difference. Certain manufacturers specify exactly what the sole of a particular shoe model is optimised for. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibramde.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuhsohle (there's no English variant of this Wikipedia article)
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Post by elysion on Apr 15, 2021 22:55:03 GMT
Fifth lesson: Shoe trees make (leather) bargains a hit!In the sneaker age, shoe trees have fallen into oblivion a little. But every now and then they can be very useful. Especially when it comes to boots. Leather boots in particular shrink a little when stored for a long time. Shoe trees counteract this. Bargain can often also be described as a synonym for remaining stock. If the leather remnant in your normal size is only just too small after 10 years in storage, then the shoe tree could help. You can also speed things up a bit by walking through wet grass with the shoes for a while, then drying them with a cloth and inserting the shoe trees. Attention: Sometimes it makes sense to leave the shoe trees in place for more than a few days. But at the latest when the desired result is achieved, it is enough. Depending on the shoe, it is also recommended to use shoe trees for longer storage periods. In my experience, shoe trees are especially useful for leather shoes of any kind. For sneakers made of textiles and plastic, however, I hardly see any use. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe_tree_(device)
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solderdude
Administrator
measureutternutter
Posts: 4,881
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Post by solderdude on Apr 16, 2021 14:57:29 GMT
There is a whole aspect of shoes I wasn't aware off.
The inlays I discovered years ago and can increase comfort (and or smell) a lot.
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Post by elysion on Apr 16, 2021 18:55:32 GMT
Interesting... I have a few more chapters in mind. One will be about socks, another about waterproof, breathable fabric membranes (such as Gore-Tex). The smell thing would have been at least in the margins somewhere. Maybe there will be an extra chapter on bad odours and how to prevent or at least reduce them. But I already have a few thoughts on this in advance: The material used for shoes or insoles is sometimes not breathable or the material itself forms a good breeding ground for microorganisms, which then intensify foot odours. The best breathable insole is of little use if the shoe itself is not breathable. Of course, you can take the insole out after use so that it can dry and ventilate well. That certainly helps a little. I have another funny example: In Switzerland, bamboo socks have become quite popular in recent years. On the one hand, they are very thin, comfortable to wear and the material acts similar to a wick. They don't last very long, but they are also very cheap. Sweat, moisture and odours are wicked away from the foot. Guess where the stench goes then. Instead of your feet or socks stinking, your sneakers will stink. If you have a breathable membrane shoe, then the problem is smaller or even non-existent, because the stench then goes completely outside. Bamboo socks, by the way, are hardly ever worn in heavy footwear. But you can of course wear them as a second sock under a thicker sock to reduce friction on the skin (a few people in the Swiss army swear by the two-sock method, which you can also do with other socks). Bamboo Socks (example)
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Post by elysion on Apr 16, 2021 19:04:35 GMT
This shoe is my favourite of the bargains I found. After I had a very good experience with the first pair, I added some more. It is a discontinued model from a renowned Italian shoe manufacturer. (BTW: IMVHO, the Italians make the best shoes. They have a very long shoemaking tradition and it is therefore hardly surprising that they invented the Vibram soles). Cosmas Artemis GTX Combat BootThe price is hard to beat for such a combat boot with Gore-Tex membrane and Vibram sole. Normally, such boots cost at least twice or even three times as much in Switzerland. Actually, there's hardly anything to modify about this boot. The insole is not bad either. But I replaced it with a Grangers G30 insole because the comfort was a bit better.
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Post by elysion on Apr 16, 2021 19:19:50 GMT
Lidl now also has its own ultra-cheap sneakers on offer, or rather they ran such a campaign in Switzerland for the second time about two and a half weeks ago. Of course, they were sold out in no time. (That's why I went to the shop early in the morning on the first day of the promotion and bought some...). Lidl Sneakers Video Promotion (from Lidl Switzerland)I thought that maybe I could use some cheap sneakers to wear out in the next few months, so that I can spare my (too) expensive Asics running shoes. And I also think this could be an interesting modding project. They only cost 14.99 CHF (less than most Grangers insoles cost). I also found some other Lidl shoes in my size that weren't advertised at all. It was probably a one-off from a previous promotion. These shoes cost a little more (19.99 CHF), but they already have a better outsole and look a bit better quality. I'm afraid that both are made of an upper material that has little or no breathability. But at this price, you can hardly complain.
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Post by elysion on Apr 16, 2021 21:24:34 GMT
Lidl sneakers have their own story. At first it was a joke by the German Lidl marketing department, which brought a Lidl sneaker to life on the Lidl website for advertising purposes. The sneaker was not real, but only virtual. There were then numerous enquiries from customers who liked the idea. They then had a very small and numbered series of 400 made for the German market in 2019. One of the videos below shows one of these 400 pieces. LIMITIERTE SNEAKER UNBOXING LIDL 400 STÜCKDie Lidl Sneaker | Discounter Sneaker mit Resellwert | Unboxing & Review | DeutschLidl Sneaker Unboxing Review Juli 2020Then, in 2020, there was a first, but still limited, larger series in certain countries. First in Germany and later also in Switzerland. I have no information about the other countries. About two and a half weeks ago, the second larger (and again limited) series was launched on the Swiss market, among others. This time there were also so-called Lidlletten (a clone of the Adidas Adiletten, see video below). I noticed in the older videos that there was either a box (in the original 400 series) or at least a plastic bag around the Lidl sneakers and the Lidlletten. Lidl Badelatschen Lidlletten Badeschlappen Unboxing Review Juli 2020The ones I found in Lidl were only connected with a nylon cord, like the ones used to attach labels to products. Apart from that, the shoes seem to be practically unchanged (apart from the numbering on the first series). However, it is possible that Lidl bought the shoes from different OEM manufacturers. Typical for Lidl is not only the limited supply (it is also called shortage), but also that it is quite random which branch receives how many copies of which size. A few clever people have put such sneakers on Ebay or other auction platforms for up to 1000 euros. Whether anyone was stupid enough to buy these cheap sneakers for so much money is beyond me.
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Post by mullemeckmaster on Jul 10, 2021 15:58:23 GMT
Interesting topic, I have always wanted to get more involved with my shoes than I am. Hiking would be fun too, but as a swede I don't have the same availability of mountains as you swiss do. Neat idea about the shoe tree, I have large feet (46.5 EU shoe size) and I often buy used leather shoes that end up a little too small, might be able to pry up some 45s. I am not certain about the use of parachute cords though, shure they'll last forever but aren't they by design somewhat tangle free. Which for a shoelace, not really what you want...
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Post by elysion on Jul 19, 2021 23:09:03 GMT
Regarding shoe laces made of paracord: I agree that paracord is not tangle-free. This is especially a problem if you have a longer piece of paracord and want to roll it up again, for example. With shoe laces, however, we are talking about a maximum of about 2 metres per shoe lace (depending on the size and type of shoe). As soon as the shoe laces are threaded, it is hardly a problem in my experience. At least not with the widely used 550 paracord. In a few places on the internet I have heard that shoelace knots are more likely to come loose if you use paracord for them. Supposedly because the surface is smoother than with classic shoe laces. That is possible. It depends on the specific application whether paracord is a good solution. Sometimes you can't get the right laces for a particular shoe and then paracord or another alternative can be quite useful.
Whether it works with the shoe trees to widen shoes in size 45 to 46.5 is something you just have to try out. If it works, it is certainly at the upper limit of what is possible.
A friend of mine who often accompanies me on hikes is 1.98 metres tall and has a size 48 shoe. It's always very difficult for him to find shoes that fit at all. Sometimes he even has to take a size 49. Unfortunately, he has been having more back pain lately, which makes walking more difficult for him.
Of course, we already have mountains in Switzerland. Unfortunately, there are no mountains where I live, but you don't have to go too far until there are at least low mountains and hills. In the last few months, we often just went running in the forest or looked for paths that were on natural roads if possible. We were mainly interested in the exercise, the fresh air and also in being as alone as possible for ourselves and not coming into contact with large crowds of people. The better-known routes and places were often quite crowded.
Last Saturday we went hiking between Bubendorf and Reigoldswil in the canton of Basel-Landschaft. The mountains there are also rather low, our route was roughly between 500 and 1000 metres in altitude. However, it does go up and down quite steeply there from time to time. We noticed that a bit in our legs and feet. We think the distance was about 25-30 kilometres. The feeling afterwards is great. You feel a bit tired, but it was definitely good.
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Post by lobalwarming on Aug 12, 2021 23:09:35 GMT
Great stuff, elysion! You didn't just dip a toe in, but put your full sole feet-first into this thread.
Your 3rd lesson had me in knots. And looking for velcro options. ;-)
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Post by Mr Trev on Sept 10, 2021 15:23:39 GMT
Just recently had a blowout on one of my shoes. When I was getting new laces, I found some "no tie" ones on the shelf? These any good - for casual strolling around town?
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