Many times I hear or see the question about what are the best shoes to buy for hiking. For me this is a question incorrectly asked, because many people think buying the "right" shoes will solve their foot discomforts. In reality the answer lies in a bigger ecosystem which includes:
- Good socks.
- Custom insoles.
- The technology in the sole of the shoot.
- The amount of ankle support required.
- The amount of breathability/waterproofing required.
- The shape of the feet of the person asking.
- The amount of hiking a person will do.
I cannot stress the positive impact of custom insoles. It reduces rolling of the feet and inappropriate angles in legs. Overall that also reduces fatigue.
Good socks are important. A good mix of merino and some silver threads are some of the best features. Silverlight and Darn Tough are the top brands in this space.
Then it comes to the shoes themselves. Personally, I only look for shoes nowadays that have some Vibram sole on them. I have found most other soles not to be durable enough. Therefore I eliminate any models from my search that doesn't fit criteria. Then only do I actually look for fit.
What does your criteria look like, or how would answer the question when someone asks you?
Sole attachment method determines sneaker lifespan. Glued soles fail via delamination (adhesive breakdown); vulcanized soles create molecular bonds that last decades. Ka-ryu vulcanization—a Japanese technique from the 1800s—bakes rubber and canvas together at high temperature, making the sole part of the upper.
Shoes Like Pottery and Moonstar Gym Classic both use this process from Kurume factories....
https://bifl.top/footwear/best-shoes/#canvas-sneaker
Sandal durability splits into two camps: molded-fit (Birkenstock Arizona, cork-latex contours to individual foot shape) vs. active-support (Chaco Z/1, rigid Z-strap and PU footbed built for hiking). Neither is objectively superior—choice depends on use case, terrain, and tolerance for break-in. Chaco's resoleable construction extends life; Birkenstock's mold-to-foot design provides irreplaceable customiza...
https://bifl.top/footwear/best-sandals/#sandals
🧵 1/4
Feeling quite energized at the moment, as a consequence of that strange amalgam of a poor night's sleep being followed by a successful day in the classroom.
So I feel oddly buzzed and will therefore create a thread about a stage from one of my favourite groups, RESCENE.
RESCENE -- RUNAWAY -- M Countdown 260416
https://youtu.be/VB_vtps_wus?si=NJovf6bOHnacAAq3
Since I keep a playlist of my favourite groups performing in all black outfits, this stage was an immediate save for me. There is a lot to like here both to hear and to see, but I'm afraid I have to draw attention to a styling horror -- the footwear.
Yesterday I noted the delicately understated white shoes that the girls wore for their 260415 Show Champion
No such luck today. The boots they wear resemble some orthopedic footwear, or perhaps, just as bad if not worse, what visitors to Disneyland see on ...
