How long since you bought shoes?

Glenn9643 · Feb 1, 2005

Monroe, LA has about 150K population, and a decent shopping mall. Before today I would have thought buying something as simple as a pair of shoes wouldn’t be a problem.
I retired in 2000 from wearing black boots every day and most of my footwear needs now is satisfied by shoes from LL Bean (Bean Boots). However, my "casual" shoes have seen their useful life go by and I've been shopping for replacements. Went to the mall today and shopped at McRae's, Sears, JC Penny, Dillards, Mervyn's, and about a dozen other "shoe stores".
None of these stores carried traditional shoe sizes that I was familiar with. I was looking for 8-1/2EEE. I found Euro sizes, and they were limited to "medium" width for the most part. Apparently all of the large retailers have converted to Euro sizes, and many of the manufacturers only offer “medium” widths.
I've located several web sources where traditional sizes could be ordered, but would really prefer to see and touch the shoes before purchase. I'm already familiar with the Bean boots, so that's a different story. Have we become so globalized that we can't even buy shoes anymore?

rdln · Feb 1, 2005

My feet were built to hold 6 toes each but thats another story....finding ski boots that fit now thats a real pain!

You can always send beans or masons back.

Bob_Skurka · Feb 1, 2005

Have we become so globalized that we can't even buy shoes anymore? 

Globilization is getting out of hand. I wouldn't be too surprised if we all had to buy metric wrenches to work on our tractors /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

ronjhall · Feb 1, 2005

Last September. It was a pain finding a pair that fit. All the ones in my size, 8 1/2 D were too narrow. Finally found a pair that fit at Kohl's.

LMTC · Feb 1, 2005

I need 11-1/2 EE or EEE depending on the cut, and sometimes 12. I buy chukka boots or 6" leather boots of some variety from Rocky. Sometimes at the factory outlet (they are 2+ hours from here), sometimes from Cabelas online. I wear them every day 6 days a week, probably 10-12 hours at least, and usually get 12-18 months out of a pair. I buy casual slip-ons for around the house and such at Cabelas...their "wide" is always wide enough.

OkeeDon · Feb 2, 2005

We live in an area with about the same population, but there are no old-fashioned shoe stores in the area. I grab cheap boat shoes anywhere I can find them, but for "real" shoes, I wait until we get to our cabin near West Jefferson, NC. There, in a town of about 5,000 in a county of about 22,000, is the Family Shoe Store, where I can still find most of the things I'm used to, and where the shoes still fit. My wife has very narrow feet, and also waits until our trips North.

Of course, now that a Wally World has finally made it to that tiny mountain town, I wonder how long the privately owned shoe store will survive...

fractal · Feb 2, 2005

Standard disclaimer. I don't work for them. I just buy their products..

Go to http://www.redwingshoes.com/ , type in monroe, la. There are 3 stores in west monroe and another half dozen within 30 miles. They used to be the only place in town I could buy 12 1/2 AA's. My feet have mellowed over the years and now wear normal sizes. Redwing has always had sizes from AA to EEE and H. Most of their shoes are steel toed as well. I haven't bought any in years but they used to make some of the most comfortable work shoes I ever wore.

goodoleboy · Feb 2, 2005

I keep tennis shoes for about 1-2 years. Actual work boots for about 6 moths.I get the magnum brand for $40 a pair made in china I walk about 2 miles a day at work so I dont to attached to a brand of boots they all wear out.
Home working boots about till i cant them clean. My wife like to throw away shoes just becuase they are caked with mud. I take and wash them and she wears them happily.

daedong · Feb 2, 2005

Globilization is getting out of hand. I wouldn't be too surprised if we all had to buy metric wrenches to work on our tractors 

Bob,

Heaven forbid /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Bob_Skurka · Feb 2, 2005

Vin, sorry but I couldn't help myself.

wroughtn_harv · Feb 2, 2005

I wear Hytest work boots. They have the steel toes and the metatarsal (sp) protection. Two or three pair a year is normal for me. Redwings didn't work for me. They wear out almost overnight.

They're not fashion statements. But I haven't lost a foot stomping contest since I started with them almost twenty years ago.

JDgreen227 · Feb 2, 2005

When I was working full time my footwear of choice was steel toed Wolverine boots, there are numerous stores in my area that sold them and they lasted for years when well cared for.

As I wear a standard 10D or E finding my size wasn't difficult.
Don't laugh, but now that I am retired I wear the tennies I buy at the local thrift store for a dollar a pair...but when I am cutting firewood or moving rocks the safety footwear is always used. I wore a pair of Red Wings for 6 months but they were not as comfortable as the Wolverine boot was.

Bird · Feb 2, 2005

( I wear the tennies I buy at the local thrift store for a dollar a pair )

Maybe I need to do more shopping. I usually pay around $10 for mine at Wal-Mart. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

texbaylea · Feb 2, 2005

I have the opposite problem. I measure as a 15AAA. RedWing comes the closest in a work boot but they are not the same quality as they used to be. In a casual shoe SAS shoes made here in Texas are the best for me. They make a slim that is about an AA that I can wear and they do last and are comfortable.

Vernon

dlabrie · Feb 2, 2005

I have had very good luck at Zappos.com

MMM · Feb 2, 2005

Redwings, Glenn. I'd wear the 11.5 EEEs to church if the CEO would let me.

Dargo · Feb 2, 2005

Take a look on eBay at "grapevinehill" auctions. They generally have over 4000 pairs of shoes up for auction at any given time. I also need extremely wide shoes. I've bought several pair of Wolverine, Rocky, and Timberland boots in 10 1/2 EEE that fit me just fine. Around my farm and in my barn I always wear steel toe boots, and I'm yet to be able to get a pair that are too narrow to "break in" for me! They have to fit right from the start or I can't use them. Besides having a huge selection, their prices are great and they ship fast for a reasonable price. Good luck!

Boondox · Feb 2, 2005

I buy disposable sneakers a couple times each year, but feel nothing for them. Just foot coverings so I can walk on the gravel or meadow brambles without cutting my feet. But my boots are a different story!

My first pair were combat boots issued by the Marine Corps. Broke them in like the old salts told me -- by wearing them in a swamp and not taking them off till they dried on my feet. After the blisters healed they were the most comfortable things I'd ever had up to that point. Then I started some serious backpacking. Up to three weeks and several hundred miles in the Sierras of California at altitudes up to 14k. Shopped for months until I found a pair of rugged Vasque boots that provided all the support I needed. And I buried my worn out combat boots at sea.

Those Vasques have been thru six resoles, covered probably close to 20k miles, and they finally wore out last year. I shopped for months until I found a pair of Asolo boots that fit like gloves. The most comfortable pair I've ever worn! And I buried my old Vasques in the meadow under an apple tree.

My wife thinks I've lost it, but experience tells me it's hard to feel good if your feet are in pain. Pete

reb · Feb 2, 2005

I have bought Redwings for the last 25 years or so and have very been happy until the last pair. My feet are narrow (11AA) and Redwing always had a comfortable, rugged pair that fit. The last pair were a new model. Apparently only that model was made in narrow widths. My feet bled for two weeks until I got used to the boots. Haven't figured out what to do at replacement time, which is coming fast.