The Vans are out

Don’t do this: you’re not making yourself stronger when you do this. Change your shoes whenever they feel “flat” with either new shoes or insoles.

Trust me, check some other shoes as well. Your knees deserve all the support. And you deserve some pampering, just try one a few pairs. Depending on your region, i'd recommend something like Salomon, Hooka, Brooks, On or Dynafit, all of them gave more casual stuff next to the super sporty things. And then get a pair of Vans as well!

We shall see. I want to hit the store early in the morning and get whatever works for me.

You lost me. The shoes are toast. I have written them off.

This makes me soooooo mad. These shoes used to be be at Zellers and last for fucking ever. I can wear a set of these down in a couple months just like you have. Used to have two colour choices too, red or blue.

I've been trying to walk a lot more too, as I've found it's better for my mental as well as physical health.

Have gravitated toward "trail" shoes, for a nice mix of padding and being able to feel the ground.

Current pair are these: https://www.newbalance.com/pd/dynasoft-nitrel-v6-gore-tex-/MTNTRGV6-47467.html

I also _hate_ buying shoes (which is its own whole thing), but have found the people in the sports stores also seem to be monumentally less interested in bugging you compared to a shoe store, so can be left in peace to try some things.

Best of luck on the hunt!

(also if I did my maths right, 5 days * 4.5 miles between Jan 2 and today is damn near 1000km / 600mi, so congrats on that!)

Yeah, quality build wise was also wanting. I noticed the seams between the fabric and the rubber start peeling.

I hadn't done the math like that, but dang, that is a lot. Its the best thing to do. I walk, clear my mind, solve problems, talk to myself, be one with my maker, and just have me time. If I don't go, I feel weird. Walking is the best. I highly recommend. My best was to try keep a solid 4 miles in an hour, but that is no longer feasible. I do maybe an hour ten minutes so the whole walk is around one hour twenty minutes if I am struggling.

Nice work! Keep it up, hope the heat well vans serve you just as well o7

They gave their life for you. Don't let them down!

RIP Vans!

No, Vans off

Once you find a brand and make of shoe that suits your feet, check online for stores that hold previous models. In the UK there's sportsshoes and startfitness. Previous models will be as good (unless you're a competitive athlete), and can be half the price.

FYI Goretex is an awful chemical that is probably best avoided for future shoes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gore-Tex#Environmental_and_health_concerns

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytetrafluoroethylene

Or if videos are more your thing: https://youtu.be/-ht7nOaIkpI

They mean you should change them earlier, do not wait for the sole to completely wear off.

Everyone here trying to tell you to get more padded shoes. I'm going to suggest another route.

Vans are relatively flat "skater" shoes. It tells me you're already used to walking without an additional heel.

I recommend looking into low drop or "zero drop" shoes... Aka "barefoot" style shoes.

I personally wear various Lems models when I need a covered shoe. But 99% of the time I wear my Tevas sandles. People go hiking for days and miles in these. I've traveled all around the world walking many miles in them. And my feet and joints have never felt better.

We've evolved for millions of years to walk upright on our feet as they are. Not to walk in padded heels. Our heels are already padded.

Set your feet free and enjoy the breeze in summer time.

Maybe it's not for you, but I think it's worth a try. As I think these types of shoes are closer to Vans than buying hiking boots.

But do some reading.. if you actually are more used to a heel on a shoe you can't just switch cold turkey.

Regardless .. congrats on your progress and well done!