Yvsa said:
Moccasins make great driving shoes and are nice for dancing outside in the Circle but that's about all I can say for them. Still once in a while you will step down hard on a stone and get a nice stone bruise and that hurts like hell for a few days. Dancing inside you have absolutely no support and even with a couple of sets of really good insoles in them they kill your feet and legs.
ROTFLMAO.
Glad to see it told like it is, not that I think Yvsa would do otherwise.
Unless one has spent all their life walking barefoot or without any arch support, Moccasins and most shoes are not great for extended wear, especially outside or standing on hard floors. Many people's feet aren't acustomed or even genetically pre-determined to take it. I think that is why so many people have back problems nowdays, they are wearing inappropriate shoes.
Just like people with weak eyes aren't doomed because they can get eyeglasses, people with goofy feet aren't hosed becauase they can get supportive shoes. Both have been around for a long time.
But for many it is hard to find a pair of shoes/boots that fit right. And expensive. Wide, narrow, and extra wide doesn't cut it. For many both feet aren't the same size. Arches are different. There aren't many companies and stores willing to meet the needs of those who aren't in the center of the foot distribution. Or even make something that lasts. Lots of the crap out nowdays can't even be resoled, let alone rebuilt.
Here's two places that make boots/shoes the old-fashioned way, like they did when peoples lives or livelyhoods depended on them. Some people's still do.
White's
http://www.whitesboots.com/boots_sub.php?request=category&p_id=White's+Boots
Nick's
http://www.nicksboots.com/arch.htm
The above link has a picture of what a good boot looks like inside, from there one can find links to the rest of the site.
If I was going to spend big bux on boots/shoes, and it is one of the first things I'd do if I had the bux, I'd get a black pair of smooth-leather packers with leather sole for dress/office and a brown pair with shallow vibram for the rest of the time. Or maybe White's semi-dress in black for dress.
If I worked on the woods, I get one of those models.
That should cover everthing except court sports and some boating for many years as long as you're willing to take care of them and get them rebuilt when needed.
Maybe not real stylish, but what does that mean if they are going to last 10-15 years? A heel and a real arch isn't only for riding horses, other wise they wouldn't be found on things like logging boots. When I did that summers, finally finding a pair of logger's boots in a narrow size to purchase taught me that the arch and heel is very important. Though they weren't the best quality and I'd beaten the crap out of them, I'm often sorry I let them go instead of getting them repaired. A layer of squishy rubber or plastic is a poor substitute for properly construction of footwear.
Boots/shoes like this are hard to find, but Drew's Boots has a decent selection. You need to find somebody that understands how to fit people with boots and shoes and they are as almost as scarce as the people who know how the make them the old-fashioned way. Most places just know how to move something out of the store.
http://drewsboots.com/packers.htm
Getting some really properly fitted footwear is tops on my list for spending money I don't have.
I don't mind wearing cheap rags, as long as the pockets don't have holes, but if I'm on my feet a good pair of supportive shoes pretty important.
babble, babble....rant over.
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