Footwear

 

Footwear has always been a primary concern of mine.  “Life is a Boot Camp” – that’s a personal motto.  I am a lifelong walker, hiker, rambler, marcher and climber.  If my footwear lets me down, I can’t go much of anywhere.  And if I can’t ramble on, there’s not much adventure to life. 

For over the last couple of years, I’ve been desperately trying to find decent Sport Sandals here in Thailand.  Sport sandals are, first of all, cool in this hellish heat, but they also give me excellent foot support and traction, allowing me to step out and move. 

I have usually bought at least one pair of good sandals every year to replace the ones I wear out.  I wear them out fast due to both wet flooded sidewalks during the rainy monsoons and then lots of time in sunlight.  For many, many recent years, I’ve bought the same fine North Face sandal model that was available in my size 11-wide.  But NF has discontinued this model, and the size 11 models they have now are too damn narrow and tight, and they blister my feet.  Their new NF size 12 are still too narrow and tight.  (I have, in the last couple of years, accumulated a lot of sandals from various companies that turn out to be too painful to wear.) 

But I have finally found one great sport sandal:  the Fat Tire model, size 12, from Under Armour, a company specializing in gear for military and police.  (I just bought a second pair in size 12, to make sure I have a spare.)  They are cushy, supportive and grippy – what a ride! 

I can now stride forth again, briskly and comfortably. 

-Zenwind. 

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