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Airport and Foot Friendly Trade Show Shoes?
Milo_Mindbender asks: "Where the heck can you find shoes that let you handle the ten or more hours a day of continuous walking computer trade shows require and won't set off the airport metal detectors? I used to go for hiking boots, but can't find a pair that don't buzz, even after I've stripped off every other particle of metal. I'm getting tired of trial and error (and blisters/sore feet when I go to CES, SIGGRAPH...etc). Does anyone have any suggestions?"
Also, if you're on your feet so much, you might want to look into an expensive pair of specialty shoes from a shoe cobbler (yep, they still exist!) This way, if you take the rubber off of a shoe but the shoe's still good, they can re-sole the shoe for much cheaper than a new pair. Good luck!
Condemnant quod non intellegunt.
http://www.wildlifeonline.com/cgi-bin/ss000002.pl? SN=2&PAGE=SEARCH&S_Brand1_0=Merrell&S_Category1_1= Mens+Footwear&GB=A&ACTION=search
Like walking shoes - only light - very comfortable, I'm on about my fifth pair in as many years.
(of wearing every day)
Alex
These are the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned. With all the previous shoes I've owned (Reebok, Nike, Avia, New Balance, Sketcher, Eco) my forefoot would always get sore after 3 or 4 miles. With these, I walked 11 miles today and my feet feel fine. I use the lace-up ones but I doubt they'd set off any metal detectors.
Skateboarding for 22 years and two knee replacements later, I agree with czion3. Very comfortable, durrable and mostly made out of synthetics so no beep beep beeping Ellen Fliess style. But which brand of skate shoes?
Vans are known to be a bit narrower than other brands, they also have sizes and half sizes all the way up to 18 1/2. Far as their classic shoes, like the 86 lo-cuts, you can have them taylored of any color, pattern and material that you like (for an additional cost)
Emerica/Etnies are a bit more customizable for the foot, you can pull out the insole and remove a blue foam wedge to deduct the ammount of arch support if you have fallen arches. Their solid sole shoes are the most durable, but their foam soled ones are the most shock absorbing.
DC shoes are the british knights of footwear, not very business attire friendly. But you can jump off the roof of your home onto concrete all day.
DuFFs are a good all around performer.
Nike's new skate shoes are a contender as well...
By far this is one very dull post, go barefoot. Those cross country runners that go barefoot seem to be more comfortable than I do running 100 feet in my shoes.
Spelling never got anyone laid...
If you want an excellent shoe that is incredibly comfortable, check out Catskill Mountain Moccasins. My girlfriend and I both ahve a pair and they are incredibly nice. They take a cast of your feet and build moccasins specific to your needs. (Naturally, they're not the only shops that do this.) They are lined with sheepskin and are suple yet supportive enough that your ankles don't get tired. Plus they last forever. An average pair of shoes can run from $350-$400, but once you wear them, you'll realize they're worth every penny. The only downside is they have a lot of orders and they are a bit back-logged, so it'll take you a few months to get your new footwear.
(No, I don't work for them. :)
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I am a prosthetist/orthotist. (I'm now studying EE to get my Masters in Biomed, but thats beside the point)
:)
When I am looking for a good shoe there a few things to test.
I look for a reasonable sized toe box. This is the part where your toes are and is the front part of the shoe. This gives my toes plenty of space and does not constrict or deform the toes.
I also then check that the upper actually grips on to my foot when done up. A lot of problems can actually occur because this is not done up correctly and the foot slips forward to allow the toes to slam into the end of the shoe.
I then make sure that there is reasonable heel control in the heel cup. This will help the shoe grip around you foot and assist with stability.
And probably the other main checkpoint is that the toe break is in the right spot. This can be hard to pick if you don't have any training, but some sales assistant may be able to help you if they have been trained. Lucky I know how after spending time at uni
There are a few other things to look for when buying shoes, but these are the main ones that I tell patients.
Personally I also check the sole, and the heel composition to make sure that they will blend into my personal biomechanical requirements, but this is another thing that is hard to explain in a few short lines of text.
I also like to wear insoles that are adapted to my feet and help smooth out the foot/shoe interface. Though there is nothing wrong with my feet, a good insole is very very comfortable.
And to help you get the right assistance, see a prosthetist/orthotist for further information.
(There, I supplied a plug for my colleagues, yay!)
That nothing beats a nice pair of Dr. Martins!
The only problem is that the first pair may be a little painful to ware in however once you have done that they are all good, no probs with metal detectors.
Hope this helps, take care - RL
My sister is an archaeologist, and when performing feats of geophysics she uses machines far more sensitive to the presence of metallic objects than airport metal detectors. The kinds of places these feats take place require fairly rugged footwear, too. Saloman manufacture a range of hiking boots/cross shoes and a few of the styles have no metal in them whatsoever.
Games Workshop Petition
Better known as SAS. Popular with medical personnel and other folks who stay on their feet for hours and hours. I've worn them for years.
A bit difficult to find, but worth it.
Generic advice: Regardless of brand, if your feet hurt you've got the wrong shoes. Don't buy cheaps shoes in a big-box store. Go to a real shoe store with staff that know how to fit shoes. Expect to pay two or three times what you'd pay at the cheap joint. If the shoes aren't comfortable in the shop, don't buy them thinking you can break them in.
-- Slashdot: When Public Access TV Says "No"
Interesting that a common occurence in people who grow up walkin on sand have there entire foot flatten out. Thats fine when you walk on sand all the time, ie a beach in the pacific islands, but when it comes time to walk on hard surfaces, thats where you get some real problems occuring.
Lets also take into account that there are also other medical conditions that are becoming more prevalent that actually require a lot more attention given to protecting the foot. An example of this is diabetes. When the microangiopathy begins to occur and the perrson loses sensation to due to breakdown of the nerves, they can't feel their feet, and the reduced blood flow can't repair small damage like it used to, then real problems start to occur, like amputation.
I've worked with patients that come from rural areas and they refuse to wear shoes, and while they can accept the progressive amputation, I feel somewhat regret at their ignorance for not wearing shoes when told to...
But if you think thats me just trying to sell stuff, then I can accept that. I know that I will accept the medical evidence that shows that wearing shoes is beneficial, and others can do or believe what they want.