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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
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Stay tuned folks...
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.
There's this service provided by airlines called "baggage handling". What you do is, you put your comfy show-room-floor shoes (that may or may not contain metal) in your baggage, and... check them in!
You can then safely wear your shoes that don't set things off to the airport. Then (*gasp*) take them out of your baggage when you get to wherever you're going.
WWJD? JWRTFM!!!
Food industry and I take my shoes seriously. A post said Rockports and they are good, abit expensive. I buy at a discount shoe store and the namebrands vary. I am now wearing SAFETRAX,($40) "slip resistance" and they are great. Find a restaurant supply websight and check them out.
I eat my grapes at room temperature, cuz the cold ones hurt my teeth
If you can't handle 10 hours at a trade show in any old pair of shoes, I suspect your proplem is in your mouth, not on your feet. Step away from the twinkies.
Hiking boots? Hiking boots are made to be warm, waterproof, rock proof, grippy, and prevent ankle sprains. 'Comfortable' is way down on the list of features.
God, I can just see you, this big fat guy wearing hiking boots at a trade show. Now I know why this is news for nerds.
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...
Other than this being the least interesting news for nerds story I've EVER seen, here are some serious suggestions (in my personal order of preference).
1) Tatami * (all the anatomically correct goodness of a Birkenstock in a dressy shoe).
2) Birkenstock (they do make shoes too you know).
3) Rockports.
Numbers (1) and (2) have basically been the only things on my feet other than specialty sportswear for the last 15 year. They are awesome. The Tatami's don't even raise suspicion. There are variants that look just like a fine dress shoe. (Because they are -- leather soles and all).
Your feet with thank you, over and over and over. Your wallet? It might not talk to you for a week.
* Tatami is made by Birkenstock.
They sell these shoes at Wal-Mart under the brand Earth Shoe. There is a style of shoe called earth shoes, and these aren't they. These are laceless black shoes with no frills or anything. They're incredibly simple and comfortable, throw some gel insoles in there and you're set. They contain no metal because they're essentially tennis slippers. They also last damn near forever. I'm on my third pair, which I just got a few weeks ago. The pair before it lasted five years before falling apart, and the first pair lasted six (this is while working retail and restaurant jobs where I was on my feet a lot, also a two-story high school). They also only cost twenty bucks... and they sell them at Wal-Mart.
/. all the time. There are Ask Slashdot questions that get posted because it's a question with a broad answer. A great many of those geeks, and maybe even some of those goobers, might have something interesting to add to the discussion, and the question gets answered thoroughly.
...a right triangle with legs 300 and 400 megalightyears long! wait... that's a long hypotenuse, my bad...
Let me sincerely apologize for the long tangent that follows.
Now that I got my response out of the way, lemme say... fuck this guy
What? (Score:0, Flamebait)
by ditto999999999999999 (546129) on 06:25 PM -- Sunday January 11 2004 (#7947563)
This is the stupid ask slashdot I've ever seen. Have you tried shoe stores? Do you want me to try shoes on for you? Come on Cliff... this is useless.
I know it's a fake name and this whole flame is pointless, but you gotta understand that there are three points to Ask Slashdot (as far as I can ascertain).
We all know there's a zillion geeks and goobers that read
The second kind of Ask Slashdot questions are ones which are obscure and abstruse which are thrown into the masses, blindly hoping someone knows the perfect answer.
The last and most confused kind of questions are those that seem completely fucking pointless. A case in point is today's Shoe Issue. Consider those zillions of geeks out there who don't have the time, free brain cycles, or social confidence to figure out many of life's little dillemas that plague us all, such as Is There A Perfect Shoe? This shoe would be comfortable, durable, easily accessible away from home "in case shit", and preferably cheap. Yea, such a shoe doth exist, and it is good. Rejoice smart masses, for the system works.
i'm really sorry about the flames, guys
.cig - what you do after winning a good flame war
I got a pair of Timberland / Mountain Athletics hiking sandals at REI about a year and a half ago. I've never had them set off the metal detector in an airport (although the fascists at SFO made me take them off once). They've held up very well and this past semester I've walked at least 7 miles a week in them. I can't find them on the REI site and I haven't been to one of the stores in quite a while. If you want more info or a pic just post a reply.
Everytime you look at porn a devil gets their horns.
Wear Birkenstocks. I've worn nothing but for about 10 years, and my feet are very happy. You can trivially remove them at airports, but they're great for long periods of standing and walking.
I have 13B feet: very long and very thin. Consequently, finding shoes that fit well is a nightmare. Before I started wearing Birks my little toes were turning under my other ones; they were both nearly sideways. Since wearing Birks all the time (seriously: over 350 days/year here in Portland) my little toes have straightened out. Weird, but true.
I can't recommend them enough. They're not the prettiest shoes ever made, but I'll take comfort over vanity anyday, especially for something as important as my feet.
This isn't as much "normalization" as it is "don't take so many drugs when you're designing tables."
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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Seriously, if I wanted to cause a disturbance on a plane using a sharp object, i'd take in a nice glass or plastic sharp object.
If I wanted to cause a disturbance otherwise, I'd learn to be a pilot, and get hired, and then knock out the copilot, and laugh at people trying to get through the locked from the inside cockpit door.
Wearing metal shoes makes a statement: 'wow, these metal detectors sure are making a lot of people take their shoes off, and maybe confiscating some peoples scissors and swiss army knives, but they can take their lighters through, and we'll even give them some flamible materials on the plane for $3'
I'm waiting for the CDC to recommend against taking your shoes off in the airport because of [communicable disease here].
Need a Catering Connection
I put absolutely everything I have with me except for one credit card, $50.00 in cash, and my drivers license, and my ticket home in my carry on bag. My keys, my wallet, my change. My leatherman tool (yes, they have let me get that on a plane, if it's in my bag when they do the scan).
I took my shoes off, and put them on the belt too after my first experience with being wanded down. I just asked in the Atlanta airport, and they said that was a great idea to avoid the slow down.
Then, I watch for everything that happens to my bag to ensure nobody takes off with it (common thief trick is to have you put your bag on while someone else is making the scanner go off, so your bag can be walked off with while they take five minutes at the security check point). I think that has stopped now that making the security check point go off gets you wanded down, rather then trying to re-check everyone.
I've only done it a handful of times, but it always worked for me. I'm not thrilled about being barefoot, but it worked for my trip to pickup my bag, and saved me about 10-15 minutes even with untying and re-tying my boots.
Kirby
I second the Ecco recomendation. They're a little pricey, but quite comfortable (much more so than the lesser shoes that I replaced) and they don't set of metal detectors. In fact the last time I went through the security check, I took them off, and the guy said "ah, Ecco. These don't set off the detector, don't bother to take them off in the future".
OK, I know this is something of a departure from everyone else's running/skate shoe answers, but buy a big heavy pair of Dr Martens 8-hole boots.
Amazingly comfortable, great support, and the air-filled soles make it feel like you're walking around on cushions all day.
I wear my boots to work, casually, I've even flown 20-hr flights in them. And when the soles wear out, but the leather is all softened and molded to your feet, you can send them back to the factory to get re-soled. Dr Martens, I never wear anything else.
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!)
Try Conker Boots, or your nearest local equivalent.
:-)
http://www.conkershoes.com/
These feel like you're wearing only socks, and walking everywhere on a thick carpet.
My favourite are the Ankle Boots with crepe soles. The soles wear out after about a year. After that, you can get them resoled for less than the price of a new pair. There's no other way to make comfortable shoes except having a soft sole that therefore wears out.
Plus, they go through metal detectors with no problems.
Environmentalism is the new Victorianism. Everyone ties on a green corset and pretends we're virtuous.
I used to dress like a schlub all the time (shorts & t-shirts at work, etc.) I had to wear suits occasionally, though, and found that, if you have to wear a monkey suit all day, you might as well make it comfortable. When you see people in Brioni suits, there's a reason for it--they are comfortable. Rule of thumb for a good suit is that you should be able to wear it all day, and not feel confined.
The same goes for shoes--I can't recommend any particular brands, since every foot is different (ask Dr. Shoe! 555-SHOE) but spending some dough for a really high-end pair of suit shoes makes a world of difference. They're lighter than combat or hiking boots, they look good (even with jeans) and your feet won't smell nearly as much after 10-15 hours in them (because you'll also wear some light socks, and because your feet can breathe.)
Look around some high-end shoe stores. Remember, trying shoes on is free and will give you an idea what you're looking for. Also don't hesitate to look around some conservative mens' fashion rags (GQ, Esquire and the likes) to get ideas for what makes good shoes. They have most of their features archived on their websites, and were of unbelievable use to me when I was buying my first suits (knowing what to look for in materials and make, and what questions to ask the sales guys.)
Lastly and please please please trust me on this, a good pair of shoes makes a huge difference in the impression you make. If you're hanging out with the type of insecure idiot geek (a geek is someone who bites the heads off chickens at a carnival, I fail to understand how it's used in a positive sense here) who won't give you the time of day because you're wearing a tie (hence, salesman), you're probably not around someone whom you should consider good enough in his(technical) field to be really competent.
The really good people won't give a shit what you're wearing, but will listen to you instead--in fact, very few of the really awesome engineers, with some notable exceptions, have fit the steretype of unshaven, unwashed, t-shirt-clade slob--most look and dress like your average joe.
As for the other 99% of the population, a good suit/good shoes automagically puts them more at ease with you (not to mention speeding you through airport security.) Try it sometime, you'll understand immediately what I mean.
Looks may not matter, but like it or not, it does make a difference if you're dressed well. What precious few people in the technical community realize is that suits and business shoes can be more comfortable than a track suit and a pair of Nikes too.
Cole's Law: Thinly sliced cabbage
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
Black (Cowboy) Boots made of Ostrich Skin. The most comfortable shoes I have ever worn, from the minute I put them on. The ostrich skin is one of the strongest that boots can be made of (second only to elephant, and sharkskin, IIRC) and at the same time softest of all boot materials (envision the softness and flexibility that goes into a good pair of car-racing gloves) making an unbeatable combination for long term footwear. Black goes with just about anything, and they are fairly attractive. Well lets just say that they are at least as attractive as anything the average geek wears.
They all come with 1" to 1.5" heels, and everybody welcomes an extra inch to inch and a half.
Very very comfy, about like moccasins with more support and pretty much socially accepted everywhere off the reservation (unlike moccasins.) Hold up for years with little maintenance. Look fairly respectable - and the inch and a half height boost is nice.
Get a good pair (Dan Post or Lucchese) for between $250 and $500, will last you for years.
As for the airport, take em off, walk through, put em on - but in the airport and the entire flight they are going to be comfortable as you can possibly imagine. Given that most airports have people taking off sneakers, at least you don't have to jack with shoelaces to get them on and off.
Glonoinha the MebiByte Slayer
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.