Shoes...

My friends, colleagues and subordinates have always admired my shoes... no, not for my sense in style but because my shoes always lasts me for years. My first pair of Timberland boat shoes that I bought with my first management bonus back in 1995, is still sitting at the back of my car as my spare driving shoes. I had its sole changed once. My second pair of of the same shoe which I bought in 2003, I still wear occasionally... pictured below.

I also bought a pair of Florsheim dress shoes together with the Timberlands back in 2003. Both shoes cost me approximately RM700 each then. I alternated the Florsheims with another pair of dress shoes I had then as my daily footwear at work until 2005. Mind you, back then I worked at least 12 hours a day and walked a lot. I still wear the Florsheims every now and then now, as pictured below.

Then sometime in July 2005, I finally succumbed to peer pressure and also my back aches and bought a pair of MBTs. The MBTs were the most expensive pair of shoes I ever bought at RM888 and were the most comfortable too. I wore the MBTs for work EVERYDAY then right through till April 2010. That's a LONG time. I then stored them away for awhile as I was moving to Langkawi and did not need to wear them yet. When I finally wanted to wear them again in October 2010, the soles had deteriorated.

When I got here in February, I wore my Timberland boat shoes for work but they were killing my feet with all the walking that I was doing so I bought another pair of MBTs online. They arrived in March and was I glad, as it really made a BIG difference. No more back aches and aching feet. However, in end September, one side of the soles gave way. It must be due to the weather... rain, sea sand, sea air, occasional sea water and what not. So that pair had the shortest life span of all my shoes. See the damaged sole below...

So, I needed a new pair of shoes. I still want a pair of MBTs but at USD249 excluding shipping, I am hesitant as I am worried it will only last 6 months again with the outdoor conditions that I am subjected to now. I'm very likely to get another pair but not for everyday wear here... and not yet.

I wore the busted MBTs till last week when I finally got REPLACEMENTS while I was in Ipoh.  Note that it is plural and not singular. These are the replacements that I got pictured below.

I was at Jusco in Ipoh with my wife and they happened to have this crazy SALE. These were going at 50% off and they were at RM199 a pair... now let's see how far this RM199 investment will take me... they're pretty comfortable and light but they have plastic soles so that's not too good for me.

How many of you have and still wear shoes that are more than 5 years old? My record is 17 years (Timberland boat shoes) and still counting...