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viktor_haagAfter two and a half years, my venerable pair of Reebok basketball shoes was looking and feeling like I needed to replace them. I had been feeling that the cushioning in the sole was starting to break down too much, the tread was wearing right down to sole-plate, and when a lace broke right before a session at the gym, frustration led me to search for new shoes.
I cannibalized some laces from another pair to keep the Reebs going while I located another pair.
I tried all the standard outlets (Sportchek, Athlete's World, Footlocker, National Sports Centre, Sportmart) and was dismayed. My brand of choice (Reebok) had miserably ugly options available: either they were blocky and heavy, or they had branding so loud you could see it a mile away.
Also, the latest fad in kicks design seems to be (::shudder::) ankle straps. Jeez, didn't companies try this out (and abandon it) in the late eighties?
So, resigned to the fact that I'd either have to pay over-the-top money to import a pair from the States or move up to the "definitely pimpin'" tax bracket (i.e. Nike Shox money), I then took a flyer on a pair of Converse Icon Pro Leathers (130 bucks).
What a mistake. They fit well in the store, seemed stable side-to-side and tight front-to-back. However, they also seemed to be hard in the sole, and also a bit flat. I should have taken that as a loud warning sign; instead, I was lured in with the classic and understated styling. Sure it had a big star on the side, but at least it didn't look like I was walking around advertising "Pimp My Ride" like most of the other shoes I'd seen available. When I got them on the court, I was dismayed. After four sessions of two-to-three hours at a clip, I report that these shoes are horrible. The soles have absolutely no cushioning in them whatever, especially in the heel. A guy with a lighter frame might not have a problem with this, but middle-aged-220-big-frame-guy is not so happy with it, I can tell you.
Also, After only these four sessions, the upper has already started to peel away from the toe-kick at the front. I'm not a gym rat, and this peeling makes me seriously wonder about how long these shoes would last someone who was a four or five-day a week player.
Then, today, I went by our local Reebok factory outlet and found a rack of Reebok ATR Afronauts, with a "buy two, get one free" deal. After pestering the staff with questions I knew they weren't really going to be able to answer, and trying on pairs in three styles and sizes for 40 minutes in the store (and carefully inquiring about their return policy), I plunked down for three pairs.
Same understated styling as my venerable pair. Same feel in the arch and sole. Nice firm grip in the upper, and no slippiness front to back. Same light-weight, but still supportive cushioning in the sole. Colour me happy.
If things go well with these shoes, I should be set for kicks for the next eight to ten years. (I'm not going to make the same mistake I made with my last pair: I should have gotten more to put away in storage. Especially knowing that, being factory outlet shoes, these are already at least "last year's model".)
-- update: Fri Apr 21 --
So, I worked out the new kicks today for about three hours. Last night I wore them at home for about four or five hours to break them in. And then after driving them hard at the gym today for three solid hours, there's no discomfort in my feet at all. Yay Reebok; my faith in your shoes continues.
I cannibalized some laces from another pair to keep the Reebs going while I located another pair.
I tried all the standard outlets (Sportchek, Athlete's World, Footlocker, National Sports Centre, Sportmart) and was dismayed. My brand of choice (Reebok) had miserably ugly options available: either they were blocky and heavy, or they had branding so loud you could see it a mile away.
Also, the latest fad in kicks design seems to be (::shudder::) ankle straps. Jeez, didn't companies try this out (and abandon it) in the late eighties?
So, resigned to the fact that I'd either have to pay over-the-top money to import a pair from the States or move up to the "definitely pimpin'" tax bracket (i.e. Nike Shox money), I then took a flyer on a pair of Converse Icon Pro Leathers (130 bucks).
What a mistake. They fit well in the store, seemed stable side-to-side and tight front-to-back. However, they also seemed to be hard in the sole, and also a bit flat. I should have taken that as a loud warning sign; instead, I was lured in with the classic and understated styling. Sure it had a big star on the side, but at least it didn't look like I was walking around advertising "Pimp My Ride" like most of the other shoes I'd seen available. When I got them on the court, I was dismayed. After four sessions of two-to-three hours at a clip, I report that these shoes are horrible. The soles have absolutely no cushioning in them whatever, especially in the heel. A guy with a lighter frame might not have a problem with this, but middle-aged-220-big-frame-guy is not so happy with it, I can tell you.
Also, After only these four sessions, the upper has already started to peel away from the toe-kick at the front. I'm not a gym rat, and this peeling makes me seriously wonder about how long these shoes would last someone who was a four or five-day a week player.
Then, today, I went by our local Reebok factory outlet and found a rack of Reebok ATR Afronauts, with a "buy two, get one free" deal. After pestering the staff with questions I knew they weren't really going to be able to answer, and trying on pairs in three styles and sizes for 40 minutes in the store (and carefully inquiring about their return policy), I plunked down for three pairs.
Same understated styling as my venerable pair. Same feel in the arch and sole. Nice firm grip in the upper, and no slippiness front to back. Same light-weight, but still supportive cushioning in the sole. Colour me happy.
If things go well with these shoes, I should be set for kicks for the next eight to ten years. (I'm not going to make the same mistake I made with my last pair: I should have gotten more to put away in storage. Especially knowing that, being factory outlet shoes, these are already at least "last year's model".)
-- update: Fri Apr 21 --
So, I worked out the new kicks today for about three hours. Last night I wore them at home for about four or five hours to break them in. And then after driving them hard at the gym today for three solid hours, there's no discomfort in my feet at all. Yay Reebok; my faith in your shoes continues.
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no subject
Date: 2006-04-21 12:48 (UTC)If so, I'll have to check it out next time I'm up. Like you, I've been dismayed at the choices and prices available in the Mall stores.
::B::
P.S. And don't get me started by the fact that most shoes are manufactured outside of Canada.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-21 22:08 (UTC)Yeap. That's the one. Right next to the Rockport outlet, and the Levis outlet. Guys like me can get sucked in for hours about twice a year. (When I need a new pair of kicks, or a new pair of jeans, or a few new shirts. I am not fashionly adventurous.)
The choices in the Reebok outlet aren't great. But the prices are pretty decent. And if you go semi-regularly and are lucky, you can find clearance items at a great price (especially if you're oddly-sized in the foot). My Afronauts were about 40% off MSRP to start with, and then I got three for the price of two, so that was a pretty decent deal.