Sneaker pimp

I realized something important as I walked 5 kilometers earlier this month. My footwear, a casual pair of uncushioned blue Hobie slip-on water shoes, are not for serious walking. So I bought these instead. (Regular price: $50. Paid $28 here.)

Okay, you say, so the guy bought sneakers. Well, I haven't worn sneakers since high school. Remember when sneaker brands mattered? When there was a superior brand depending on what you wanted your shoe to do? When you either were a trendy Nike person, or hardcore into Reebok, or old-school Converse? That's the last time I wore sneakers.

College was all about those plain canvas boating shoes and Teva sandals. The former (first blue, then beige, then black) were appropriate for a whole spectrum of casual purposes, and were readily replaceable at about $8-10. (Once I bought 3 pairs of Hanes black canvas shoes at Wal-Mart, thinking ahead for the inevitable wear and tear.) Teva sandals were more expensive, but I managed to get a pair at Sam's Club and made them last for 5 years with reinforcements (super glue) and smell prevention (socks). Yes, I was the guy with the socks and sandals. I'm not ashamed.

I didn't abandon them when I went to law school, but I had to add to the repertoire. So in came the Bass beige suede oxfords and the bi-colored leather loafers to accompany the polos and slacks. I did not know it at the time, but I was such the preppie.

During my three-year limbo, working and cleaning a convenience store and pizzeria, bleach water did a number on my canvas shoes, so I stopped buying new pairs of anything for a long time. It wasn't until 2002 that I bought some: the aforementioned Hobie pair.

And now I've come back to sneakers. They'll come in handy for vacationing and working out, maybe shopping. But it's not like I can step into a law office with my Asics. Suits and athletic shoes? That hasn't worked since this guy did it, and you could argue that it didn't even work then.