Recommendations for a better sneaker?

[robin3mj]

I have a hard time with chuck taylors.. What are they saying? First, i owned a pair in high school, holy shit! If you step on a newspaper, you can feel the print. Wow, are they uncomfortable.

I ask myself this question every time i think about getting a pair of sneakers.. I wear pants and boots every day. I have a hard time finding a tennis shoe, sneaker, whatever that just says, "i am a guy, in tennessee, wearing sneakers, i have no agenda and may or may not be going to an athletic event." But, redwing boots look like shit with shorts..

drietz, although i am not a high schooler in norcal, this is an excellent question.

If you need your sneakers to speak on your behalf...

[brunop]

Thank
me
later.

Don't wear sneakers unless you're running.

unless you're playing tennis or basketball? "sneakers" are superfluous.
tongue firmly in cheek here. kinda.
but still.
sneakers?
for grown-ass men?
no.

[drietz]

I have a hard time with chuck taylors.. What are they saying? First, i owned a pair in high school, holy shit! If you step on a newspaper, you can feel the print. Wow, are they uncomfortable.

I ask myself this question every time i think about getting a pair of sneakers.. I wear pants and boots every day. I have a hard time finding a tennis shoe, sneaker, whatever that just says, "i am a guy, in tennessee, wearing sneakers, i have no agenda and may or may not be going to an athletic event." But, redwing boots look like shit with shorts..

drietz, although i am not a high schooler in norcal, this is an excellent question.

Isn't it? It seems like sneakers would be a simple item to just go and pick up, but no. It goes far beyond.

Seems like the general consensus here is to grab myself a pair of Chucks. Although I do Like the idea of Purcells...

In reply to a previous post suggesting Frye boots and the like. My mom has a pair of Frye boots. She's 51. I'm 17...and boots aren't my thing. ;)

Also...Topsiders? Soooooo hipster. Topsiders and desert boots dominate the feet at my school.

[chasea]

http://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum...ent-23715.html

[rowdyhillrambler]

I actually converse, with my Converse.

If you need your sneakers to speak on your behalf...

[Ben]

I actually converse, with my Converse.

You must be Kedding.

[geoffk]

You must be Kedding.

Talk to Chuck.

[alexstar]

Big Adidas fan here. Nobody has said Gazelle yet, so I will.

adidas-gazelle.jpg

[jitahs]

Topsiders and desert boots dominate the feet at my school.

Not quite the Cali duathlon...Tiburon High?

[drietz]

Not quite the Cali duathlon...Tiburon High?

O'Dowd in Oakland, actually.

[jitahs]

O'Dowd in Oakland, actually.

Ha! A friend went there, a friend's kid is probably in your class but I would not have thought that particular footwear popular.

Top Siders, Frye, desert boots. Sigh. Things never change. Vans!

[j44ke]

I wear these like sneakers.



I gave up on sneakers when I got tired of seeing my shoes on my nephews' feet.

[Eric Estlund]

What's with Frye pre-aging everything? Getting shoes to look worn has never been a problem- getting them to not fall apart has.

The last pair of 5.10's I had (that were not actual rock shoes) dropped their soles faster then your Vans. My second pair did the same.

Generally I do well with approach shoe/ light hiker type foot wear- low profile, lightish, but still supportive for a full day on my feet. When I do find myself tempted back to something that looks better, I usually end up drifting towards Adidas.

In my effort to get more then 3 months out of footwear I have made a nearly complete shift towards Redwing. I look like my grandfather then I wear my wedge sole oxfords with shorts, but whatever. My angsty prep school upbringing makes me grind my teeth and sweat when I see loafers, boat, saddle or round toe suede. Or white. Anything but white.

[omnigrid]

I wear New Balance 420

Maybe the high schoolers would dig that.

[false_aesthetic]

Onitsuka Tiger.

That would be ASICS and I whole heartedly concur.

[drietz]

Ha! A friend went there, a friend's kid is probably in your class but I would not have thought that particular footwear popular.

Top Siders, Frye, desert boots. Sigh. Things never change. Vans!

Yeah, good old black and gold!

What's with Frye pre-aging everything? Getting shoes to look worn has never been a problem- getting them to not fall apart has.

The last pair of 5.10's I had (that were not actual rock shoes) dropped their soles faster then your Vans. My second pair did the same.

Generally I do well with approach shoe/ light hiker type foot wear- low profile, lightish, but still supportive for a full day on my feet. When I do find myself tempted back to something that looks better, I usually end up drifting towards Adidas.

In my effort to get more then 3 months out of footwear I have made a nearly complete shift towards Redwing. I look like my grandfather then I wear my wedge sole oxfords with shorts, but whatever. My angsty prep school upbringing makes me grind my teeth and sweat when I see loafers, boat, saddle or round toe suede. Or white. Anything but white.

Eric, I like your point. I always kind of considered 5.10s besides their rock shoes (of which I own a few pairs...) as more of a chunkier DC variety. By the way, your stems rock.

I'll take a look at Adidas. I do really like the idea of Generic Surplus, though. Are they actually made in LA?

[doomridesout]

I'm 25 and possibly closer to your scene than the various well-heeled men with expensive tastes who post here- what are you into, besides cycling? I can definitely vouch for the Asics votes here, and the Adidas Rod Lavers. If you never wear shorts, I just copped a pair of Red Wing Chukka boots I don't think I'll ever need to replace but they're not going to be summer gear. Are you paranoid about looking like a hipster? All I can say for sure is, if you want to look like a dork and never get laid, try the Keens or any one of the fancy mountain town techy trail shoes.

[chasea]

I'm 25 and possibly closer to your scene than the various well-heeled men with expensive tastes who post here- what are you into, besides cycling? I can definitely vouch for the Asics votes here, and the Adidas Rod Lavers. If you never wear shorts, I just copped a pair of Red Wing Chukka boots I don't think I'll ever need to replace but they're not going to be summer gear. Are you paranoid about looking like a hipster? All I can say for sure is, if you want to look like a dork and never get laid, try the Keens or any one of the fancy mountain town techy trail shoes.

Everyone, he can stay.

[Ben]

Everyone, he can stay.

Are you saying that as a well-heeled man with expensive tastes?

[cody.wms]

As a well-heeled gentleman with expensive tastes, you could do worse than these:
Tretorn at Sierra Trading Post

My latest cadre of Vans have been absolute shit, but that's ok, cause I'm not wearing them much anymore.