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New pair of kicks.
August 29, 2007Ever since I was worked at a huge shoe store when I was just out of high school, I've always been a bit OCD about shoes.
Especially when it's time for me to purchase new ones and wade through the crap that the major shoe companies throws out there and tries to pass off as anything other than "cool."
All that non-withstanding, I bought a new pair of shoes the other day....
Really, it is kind of a big ordeal for me to find exactly what I am looking for in a pair of shoes. My needs are simple, but fairly specific.
- Good pronation control (I have the bad tendancy of rolling my feet inwards when I walk, causing all kinds of knee problems)
- Good cushioning system (I am on my feet almost all day shooting things and running around)
- Colors that aren't rediculously bright....and not white (because my shoes get fairly dirty pretty quickly).
It doesn't really sound all that hard if you only take into account two out of the three....but all three is what I want.
After high school, I got a job at the "big box concept" shoe store Just for Feet. We stocked some 10,000 pairs of shoes in our warehouse and easily had the biggest selection in Fort Worth/Dallas. I worked my way up to being one of the assistant managers and earned all kinds of shoe company certifications (meaning I knew everything there was to know about Nike, New Balance, Adidas, etc.)
Believe it or not...there are a few shoe companies out there that are still relatively unknown to the masses. Companies that cater to the needs of the very specific and have pretty much cut out a niche from the Nike/Reebok/Adidas crowd.
Take my new company of choice....Brooks. Now, I've known about Brooks for a long time, but haven't been really impressed with their product line for a few years. Until now that is. I had several pairs of Brooks shoes back 7-9 years ago...and I loved them.
Well, back before the summer started, I was having more than normal trouble with my knees, and something somebody said to me made me realize that I really needed to seek out a shoe that would help me stop rolling my feet in.
There are several shoes out there designed with that specific purpose....even Nike has a few technical shoes like this. But the majority were from Brooks or Asics (a longtime runner's fave.) I gave the Brooks Trance 6 a shot (at $120) and never looked back. I learned a long time ago also that shoe companies put a lot more technology in their more expensive shoe.....and nothing is more important than being comfortable on your feet.
Well, with football season fast approaching, I decided it was time for a footwear upgrade. I immeadiately looked to the Brooks line for what I wanted.
I was hoping for a trail runner (something with better off-road grip and water resistance if not total water proof). Brooks had one. The Adrenaline ASR 4.
I didn't pull the trigger right away, but it was always the front-runner. I didn't even have to try it on (good thing too, because nobody in town carried it).
Now, my mom has never liked the dark colored shoes that I have always tried to wear....but I know she'd be proud of me trying hard to take care of my feet.
After all....they'll carry you the rest of your life, you just have to treat them right.
The only thing I don't like about them.....the burnt orange. I am a Boomer Sooner fan....and that awful color was nearly enough to prevent me from getting them.
Posted by Jason Palmer at 08:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Comments
They look nice minus the burnt orange trim on the shoe.
hot. :)
hot.
