5 ms·

The shoes thing is so true. Especially runners, or any kind of athletic shoe really, where they feel the need to update not just the styling but the whole cons

The shoes thing is so true. Especially runners, or any kind of athletic shoe really, where they feel the need to update not just the styling but the whole construction of the shoes every year. So when you need a replacement you basically have to start from scratch every time, because there's no guarantee even buying the new shoe in the same line will be a remotely similar experience.

guywhocodes 4y ago
I have this issue, I doesn't help I live in a city state with basically one distributor so if they decide my shoe is not cool enough anymore I have to pay double for private import.
brtkdotse 4y ago
I have really finicky feet and cried tears of joy when I found ASICS GT-4000 only to cry tears of sorrow when I wanted to buy a new pair and found out they only made one run of them.
- dspillett 4y ago
  I used to run in Brooks Adrenaline, then they seemed to change and not work so well for me. So I tried Asics GT 2000 (also a short shoe) and found them better until they stiffened them up in one revision so I moved to GT 1000 though I'm thinking of trying other things as recent models seem to lose all cushioning sooner. When I first got into trail running I used ASICS models but they started either upsetting my heal or falling apart in the upper, so my main trail pairs are Hoka (along with a hybrid I'm experimenting with). The struggle is real. While part of it might be that my body and running style have changed slightly over time, most of it is that shoes change regularly. I experienced a first recently thought: my feet actually significantly prefer the newer SpeedGoat design to the previous revision (though I fear the heal design might encourage more little stones & bits into the shoe, it is more comfortable for me). Just watch them revert those changes, so in future when I need to replace this design will be hard or impossible to find at a good price...
- moffkalast 4y ago
  Oh wow never thought I'd see anyone else complain about this, I'm in the same boat but with the GT-1000. I bought a pair of the new Kayanos recently and they're so bad I had to stop wearing them because they're literally destroying my feet.
  - CobaltFire 4y ago
    They ditched the center reinforcement for a straight foam plate. The center reinforcement that was their entire reason for being popular for 25 years. I’m very unhappy.
- samuell 4y ago
  I've given up on Asics after I found Mizuno Wave Rider GTX (on a sale). Goodbye heel chafing, loosening sole, and many other problems. Haven't used a more comfortable shoe than this, and works great with excellent cushioning on both asphalt and trails. Can't believe this brand isn't more popular than it is.
bostik 4y ago
Clarks had an absolute killer product on their hands around 2007 or so. Full leather sports sandals, with strong but easy-to-operate magnetic clasp, and no seams on inner surfaces. Joy to wear. Practically immune to chafing and blisters. Exceptionally good for walking (or cycling!) for even long periods of time. Discontinued since ~2009 or so. While they've brought back some of their other pretty good sandals, the perfection reached more than 15 years ago is nowhere to be seen.
- ishjoh 4y ago
  Do you have a picture of them?
  - bostik 4y ago
    I found an image of what looks like a modern variant of the same old model: https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/262947020842_/Clarks-Mens-Active-Air-Sandals-ATL-Three-Ebony.jpg https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/262947020842_/Clarks... The difference between the old ones that those pictured above are that the old ones were (I think this is the right word) almost suede leather. Really easy on skin. And the sandals in the image show seams on the inside, whereas the ones I had two pairs of had their seams on the insides of the strap structure. But on the bright side, the magnetic clasp looks familiar; the new clasp is bulkier and can't be easily opened with a toe from your other foot. And no, it's not these either: https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/255580935375_/Clarks-Unstructured-Double-Hook-Loop-Green-Colour.jpg https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/255580935375_/Clarks... - but they do demonstrate how to construct sandals with the seams off of skin contact, so this might give you an idea what the things looked like. So no, sadly I can only provide reasonable excuses.
- NullPrefix 4y ago
  They just don't make them like they used to anymore
macrolime 4y ago
My running shoes are Nike Airs from 1999. I have a couple pairs and they've held up surprisingly well.
zelos 4y ago
I've just been through this with running shoes. I found some Asics that were light, comfortable and just firm enough. Now they're gone, split into multiple different variants, none of which is what I want.
- thematrixturtle 4y ago
  Try Hoka. They specialize in very light shoes outside the regular spectrum: extra padded, extra firm, etc. https://www.hoka.com/en/us/hoka-shoe-finder.html https://www.hoka.com/en/us/hoka-shoe-finder.html
iasay 4y ago
This pisses me off. Nike I am looking at you. The Downshifter 9's were perfect. Everything else since is garbage or looks like I've got a pumpkin on an acid trip stuck to my feet.
c0nsumer 4y ago
Came here to say this about cycling shoes. That is, the specific kinds with cleat mounting points at the bottom so you can clip in. These shoes are particularly durable and will last through absurd amounts of use and sweat and rain and mud with just some sink-washing, but eventually break down and need replacing. For me it's about every 4-5 years with them getting worn most days of spring/summer/fall. Shopping for these shoes is a huge hassle because, outside of large cities / cycling destinations, most shops only carry a single brand and model, making them pretty much mail order only. A shoe that fits fine can feel problematic after a couple hours, so it takes a bunch of trial and error (and often purchasing multiple pairs and selling the others off as barely-used) to find what works. Last time I had to replace my shoes I went and bought the same brand, same model, same size. But they didn't fit right. Turns out the new version was 5mm narrower at the ball of the foot, which was enough to make my left foot hurt after an hour of wearing them. So, I had to go shop around for something that fit better, try them, then be sure they worked right. I went through three pair before finding something that works, but I'm loathing when it comes time to replace them again. The coloring on them was recently changed and while I don't really like it (it's now a silver toe on black shoe, previous was all black), I guess it'll be fine so long as the fit matches? I'm wishing I'd bought a second pair, but that too bothers me knowing they'll sit on the shelf for years taking up space before getting used. And who knows, maybe some new buckle/latch/whatever will come out in the mean time that'll make switching brand worthwhile?
- epitrochoidal 4y ago
  Shopping for cycling shoes sucks. I've had the very same experiences, from the poor selection in stores to the differences between instances of the same shoe model from different years. Last time, I got a second pair and told myself it was ok because now I can rotate shoes and let them dry between daily rides like I do with helmets.
giantg2 4y ago
I share the same sentiment. With all the replies you're getting, it seems like there could be a market for a solution. Not sure what that would be. Maybe a shoe finder app similar to ammoseek? Maybe a crowdsourced database of which current shoe model is rhe closest replacement to an outgoing one (like a dependency tree but for next closest shoe)?
- 83 4y ago
  I always wanted to create a social app for shoes and call it Sole Mate. Put in your specs and rank your own shoes and then find other people who have a similar fit to you and see what they liked.
  - bombcar 4y ago
    Sounds like it could be an amazing feature for Zappos - "you picked this shoe at this size and didn't return it, here's what others who did that also bought".
  - interestica 4y ago
    Ive seen Dr scholls in-store kiosks that do a mapping of feet to (i think) create custom insoles. It would be cool to have a digital file of not just a 3D impression of your feet, but also some data related to pressure distribution related to gait that could (in theory) find an optimal shoe (not objectively optimal -- but aligned with others that have similar characteristics). And presumably as your weight changes you would need new models. Heck I'm surprised there aren't more "smart shoes" that track weight changes and mobility.
- fivefifty 4y ago
  Not exactly what you are describing but there are some sites like runrepeat.com that are basically a database of running shoes that let you compare stats and check aggregated reviews on whether they fit true to size etc along with reviews for some of them. Before I found that site it's was basically a crap shoot to figure out the subtle differences between seemingly 50 different models of slightly different shoe from each manufacturer but that site really helps me narrow it down and find similar shoes to stuff I already like.
CobaltFire 4y ago
ASICS Gel Kayano. They completely changed the shoe this last year. I’ve adjusted but… it’s not the same shoe anymore.
agentwiggles 4y ago
I had a glorious pair of Brooks running shoes in a really cool pattern that no longer exists. I would have bought those shoes every year or two for the rest of my life if I could.
dmd 4y ago
In my case the shoes I liked were completely redesigned - new materials, new style ... and not only marketed under the same name but THE SAME SKU NUMBER. Are those a scarce resource or something?
- jtbayly 4y ago
  The old ones were quality and have rave reviews. Of course they put the new ones that are just cheap crap on the same SKU.
  - dmd 4y ago
    The weird thing though is it wasn't even "cheap crap". They were fine, quality shoes -- just completely different.
tomc1985 4y ago
I feel like that's true for most of the consumer, but if you look around the shoe company might have some classics that are seemingly eternal. For example: Adidas Gazelles vs Adidas Sambas. Chuck Taylors might be another one.
rubyfan 4y ago
So true! New Balance Vibrims from ~2014 I think they were called minimus. They were super thin soles for running and were useful for lifting too (crossfit). They event came in double extra wide. Nothing like it exists on the market today. All the new models are nothing like it :-(

guywhocodes 4y ago

I have this issue, I doesn't help I live in a city state with basically one distributor so if they decide my shoe is not cool enough anymore I have to pay double for private import.

brtkdotse 4y ago

I have really finicky feet and cried tears of joy when I found ASICS GT-4000 only to cry tears of sorrow when I wanted to buy a new pair and found out they only made one run of them.

dspillett 4y ago
I used to run in Brooks Adrenaline, then they seemed to change and not work so well for me. So I tried Asics GT 2000 (also a short shoe) and found them better until they stiffened them up in one revision so I moved to GT 1000 though I'm thinking of trying other things as recent models seem to lose all cushioning sooner. When I first got into trail running I used ASICS models but they started either upsetting my heal or falling apart in the upper, so my main trail pairs are Hoka (along with a hybrid I'm experimenting with). The struggle is real. While part of it might be that my body and running style have changed slightly over time, most of it is that shoes change regularly. I experienced a first recently thought: my feet actually significantly prefer the newer SpeedGoat design to the previous revision (though I fear the heal design might encourage more little stones & bits into the shoe, it is more comfortable for me). Just watch them revert those changes, so in future when I need to replace this design will be hard or impossible to find at a good price...
moffkalast 4y ago
Oh wow never thought I'd see anyone else complain about this, I'm in the same boat but with the GT-1000. I bought a pair of the new Kayanos recently and they're so bad I had to stop wearing them because they're literally destroying my feet.
- CobaltFire 4y ago
  They ditched the center reinforcement for a straight foam plate. The center reinforcement that was their entire reason for being popular for 25 years. I’m very unhappy.
samuell 4y ago
I've given up on Asics after I found Mizuno Wave Rider GTX (on a sale). Goodbye heel chafing, loosening sole, and many other problems. Haven't used a more comfortable shoe than this, and works great with excellent cushioning on both asphalt and trails. Can't believe this brand isn't more popular than it is.

bostik 4y ago

Clarks had an absolute killer product on their hands around 2007 or so. Full leather sports sandals, with strong but easy-to-operate magnetic clasp, and no seams on inner surfaces. Joy to wear. Practically immune to chafing and blisters. Exceptionally good for walking (or cycling!) for even long periods of time. Discontinued since ~2009 or so. While they've brought back some of their other pretty good sandals, the perfection reached more than 15 years ago is nowhere to be seen.

ishjoh 4y ago
Do you have a picture of them?
- bostik 4y ago
  I found an image of what looks like a modern variant of the same old model: https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/262947020842_/Clarks-Mens-Active-Air-Sandals-ATL-Three-Ebony.jpg https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/262947020842_/Clarks... The difference between the old ones that those pictured above are that the old ones were (I think this is the right word) almost suede leather. Really easy on skin. And the sandals in the image show seams on the inside, whereas the ones I had two pairs of had their seams on the insides of the strap structure. But on the bright side, the magnetic clasp looks familiar; the new clasp is bulkier and can't be easily opened with a toe from your other foot. And no, it's not these either: https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/255580935375_/Clarks-Unstructured-Double-Hook-Loop-Green-Colour.jpg https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/255580935375_/Clarks... - but they do demonstrate how to construct sandals with the seams off of skin contact, so this might give you an idea what the things looked like. So no, sadly I can only provide reasonable excuses.
NullPrefix 4y ago
They just don't make them like they used to anymore

macrolime 4y ago

My running shoes are Nike Airs from 1999. I have a couple pairs and they've held up surprisingly well.

zelos 4y ago

I've just been through this with running shoes. I found some Asics that were light, comfortable and just firm enough. Now they're gone, split into multiple different variants, none of which is what I want.

thematrixturtle 4y ago
Try Hoka. They specialize in very light shoes outside the regular spectrum: extra padded, extra firm, etc. https://www.hoka.com/en/us/hoka-shoe-finder.html https://www.hoka.com/en/us/hoka-shoe-finder.html

iasay 4y ago

This pisses me off. Nike I am looking at you. The Downshifter 9's were perfect. Everything else since is garbage or looks like I've got a pumpkin on an acid trip stuck to my feet.

c0nsumer 4y ago

Came here to say this about cycling shoes. That is, the specific kinds with cleat mounting points at the bottom so you can clip in. These shoes are particularly durable and will last through absurd amounts of use and sweat and rain and mud with just some sink-washing, but eventually break down and need replacing. For me it's about every 4-5 years with them getting worn most days of spring/summer/fall. Shopping for these shoes is a huge hassle because, outside of large cities / cycling destinations, most shops only carry a single brand and model, making them pretty much mail order only. A shoe that fits fine can feel problematic after a couple hours, so it takes a bunch of trial and error (and often purchasing multiple pairs and selling the others off as barely-used) to find what works. Last time I had to replace my shoes I went and bought the same brand, same model, same size. But they didn't fit right. Turns out the new version was 5mm narrower at the ball of the foot, which was enough to make my left foot hurt after an hour of wearing them. So, I had to go shop around for something that fit better, try them, then be sure they worked right. I went through three pair before finding something that works, but I'm loathing when it comes time to replace them again. The coloring on them was recently changed and while I don't really like it (it's now a silver toe on black shoe, previous was all black), I guess it'll be fine so long as the fit matches? I'm wishing I'd bought a second pair, but that too bothers me knowing they'll sit on the shelf for years taking up space before getting used. And who knows, maybe some new buckle/latch/whatever will come out in the mean time that'll make switching brand worthwhile?

epitrochoidal 4y ago
Shopping for cycling shoes sucks. I've had the very same experiences, from the poor selection in stores to the differences between instances of the same shoe model from different years. Last time, I got a second pair and told myself it was ok because now I can rotate shoes and let them dry between daily rides like I do with helmets.

giantg2 4y ago

I share the same sentiment. With all the replies you're getting, it seems like there could be a market for a solution. Not sure what that would be. Maybe a shoe finder app similar to ammoseek? Maybe a crowdsourced database of which current shoe model is rhe closest replacement to an outgoing one (like a dependency tree but for next closest shoe)?

83 4y ago
I always wanted to create a social app for shoes and call it Sole Mate. Put in your specs and rank your own shoes and then find other people who have a similar fit to you and see what they liked.
- bombcar 4y ago
  Sounds like it could be an amazing feature for Zappos - "you picked this shoe at this size and didn't return it, here's what others who did that also bought".
- interestica 4y ago
  Ive seen Dr scholls in-store kiosks that do a mapping of feet to (i think) create custom insoles. It would be cool to have a digital file of not just a 3D impression of your feet, but also some data related to pressure distribution related to gait that could (in theory) find an optimal shoe (not objectively optimal -- but aligned with others that have similar characteristics). And presumably as your weight changes you would need new models. Heck I'm surprised there aren't more "smart shoes" that track weight changes and mobility.
fivefifty 4y ago
Not exactly what you are describing but there are some sites like runrepeat.com that are basically a database of running shoes that let you compare stats and check aggregated reviews on whether they fit true to size etc along with reviews for some of them. Before I found that site it's was basically a crap shoot to figure out the subtle differences between seemingly 50 different models of slightly different shoe from each manufacturer but that site really helps me narrow it down and find similar shoes to stuff I already like.

CobaltFire 4y ago

ASICS Gel Kayano. They completely changed the shoe this last year. I’ve adjusted but… it’s not the same shoe anymore.

agentwiggles 4y ago

I had a glorious pair of Brooks running shoes in a really cool pattern that no longer exists. I would have bought those shoes every year or two for the rest of my life if I could.

dmd 4y ago

In my case the shoes I liked were completely redesigned - new materials, new style ... and not only marketed under the same name but THE SAME SKU NUMBER. Are those a scarce resource or something?

jtbayly 4y ago
The old ones were quality and have rave reviews. Of course they put the new ones that are just cheap crap on the same SKU.
- dmd 4y ago
  The weird thing though is it wasn't even "cheap crap". They were fine, quality shoes -- just completely different.

tomc1985 4y ago

I feel like that's true for most of the consumer, but if you look around the shoe company might have some classics that are seemingly eternal. For example: Adidas Gazelles vs Adidas Sambas. Chuck Taylors might be another one.

rubyfan 4y ago

So true! New Balance Vibrims from ~2014 I think they were called minimus. They were super thin soles for running and were useful for lifting too (crossfit). They event came in double extra wide. Nothing like it exists on the market today. All the new models are nothing like it :-(