Foo - Why Are Athletic Shoes So Ugly?

This (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=269775) link in the Road Cycling forum got me wondering about athletic shoes. I have a hard time finding a decent athletic shoe that isn't as ugly as sin. I'm not a runner, basketball player, or tennis player and I have a hard time finding a comfortable athletic shoe that has a nice, low-key appearance that I can wear to work.

Why are athletic shoes so goofy looking?

I think they might be a reflection on the very athletically untalented people who think that wearing $200 ugly-ass athletic shoes makes them real athletes!

Mmm. Wait. That makes non-cyclists sound almost OCP. <pensive Vega look>

Look at cross trainer shoes, they tend to be less ugly

I wear Reeboks with a toe bumper for tennis. I usually wear Decker shoes elsewhere, though I'll wear the Reeboks out occasionally. And my Reeboks are about as plain Jane as I can get them. Just plain white with minimal color on the label on the tongue.

I have to bring the throw up bag when I go shoe shopping. :lol: I wear Adidas Sambas right now, and they blend with pretty much anything I wear.

what size do you wear vega....I might be able to get you a deal

I love athletic shoes. Here's the Saucony's I'm wearing right now, very comfy:

http://www.saucony.com/product_detail_large.aspx?style=2875&color=2&name=Grid+Trigon+4+Guide

I wear Adidas Sambas right now, and they blend with pretty much anything I wear.
I like Sambas. Been regularly wearing them for 8 or so years. Comfortable, inexpensive, and they last a long time.

Pretty much any indoor soccer shoe will fit the bill.

You gotta buy cool ones, that's why.

http://www.ipath.com/1CEN40-RAST.jpg

http://sidiusa.com/large/Ergo2Carb_Black_Black.jpg
What the noob is that

what size do you wear vega....I might be able to get you a deal
You mean regarding the Reeboks? Size 8. The model I have is RB 206 TYI 6-59727.

<curious Vega look>

EJ123, these women's roadcycling shoes are da bomb. Stiff as can be. But. they have a stupid ratchet-type tightening device on them which I hate. It's always something, ya know? :rolleyes:

I love athletic shoes. Here's the Saucony's I'm wearing right now, very comfy:

http://www.saucony.com/product_detail_large.aspx?style=2875&color=2&name=Grid+Trigon+4+Guide
Yep, those are the type shoes I won't wear. :)

You could get the shoes that basketball (or other sports) referees wear. Usually all black and look really nice...

http://www.shoes.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=web&product%5Fid=5022338&partnerId=CJ&PartnerId=CJ

http://www.shoes.com/productimages/shoes_iaec1002269.jpg

I always refer to these horrible shoes as "space ships"!

Tennis shoes tend to look more low key, so that could be an option.

I like Sambas. Been regularly wearing them for 8 or so years. Comfortable, inexpensive, and they last a long time.

I love my sambas.

I use Nike Air Pegasus :), use it for everything except for walking off road and cycling. Im using the ClimaFit version (less ventilated holes) looks cool, just it might get a bit hot on your toes, which is sort off a good thing because If im not mistaken it prevents toe cramped rite?

I loved these shoes, but I just killed them way to fast:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/wethepeople101/Freezerstall.jpg

So I picked up some Lotek Delta's, we'll see how they last:
http://www.dirtreunion.com/images/LOTEK/lotek_delta_blk.jpg

I use BATA black shoes if my pedal have studs. Like my cuz say "BATA, you Buy And Throw Away". It has no more grips, so If I walk on a watery surface, I will fell

Ten bucks at K Mart! :D They last about five months. This pair is over due for replacement. Note heel flapper & toe crack :o

Thanks for all the ideas folks. I think I might take a look at a local skate shop.

One other problem I have is, even if there's a pair at the store that look nice, that they invariably don't have my size or they don't fit comfortably. I wear size 11.5. One foot is larger than the other so 11 is too small for one foot and 12 is too large for the other. I also refuse to buy shoes that I can't try on. Nothing worse than shoes that don't fit right.

:)
http://mi.oakley.com/site/media/cache/44d0dc36c7e58.png_0_0_0.jpg

You gotta buy cool ones, that's why.

http://www.ipath.com/1CEN40-RAST.jpg

You have to be the oddest person I know for colours. I think everything you point out as "nice" or "cool" I think is just about the ugliest ****ing thing I have ever seen. And I know my taste isn't generational as I live in a town of teens and 20 somethings who would agree with me.

Now Ej...those are on par with something I would buy. But if I were a betting man (and I am) and I would be willing to put money down that they don't come anywhere near my size. I tend to get stuck by nike or generics to get the size I need.

I would love to buy for style, but at my size, you buy whats available. Especially since I like skate shoes and they are made for the midgets who need them. They rarely go above size 12.

You have to be the oddest person I know for colours. I think everything you point out as "nice" or "cool" I think is just about the ugliest ****ing thing I have ever seen. And I know my taste isn't generational as I live in a town of teens and 20 somethings who would agree with me.

Now Ej...those are on par with something I would buy. But if I were a betting man (and I am) and I would be willing to put money down that they don't come anywhere near my size. I tend to get stuck by nike or generics to get the size I need.

I would love to buy for style, but at my size, you buy whats available. Especially since I like skate shoes and they are made for the midgets who need them. They rarely go above size 12.
what size are you?

15 or 16 depending on the brand

I like my Saucony's. Only problem is my pair of race Saucony's. It hurts to run in them.

You have to be the oddest person I know for colours. I think everything you point out as "nice" or "cool" I think is just about the ugliest ****ing thing I have ever seen. And I know my taste isn't generational as I live in a town of teens and 20 somethings who would agree with me.


Not my fault you have bad taste. I like colorful things. That's how I am. The rasta pattern on black suede shoes are pimp. Right now I have black/grey/yellow shoes on. So... :D

I'm a huge fan of rasta color scheme.

what about some plain colored suede?

http://www.ipath.com/3CKN10-BGE.jpg

These are all skate shoes btw, I've been wearing skate shoes since I was 12.

Maybe I am colour blind

http://www.thegully.com/essays/gay_mundo2/wilke/img_closet/gay_flag.jpg

Haha, wish I still had those slip on nike running shoes. They were bright orange. :D

37219

37220

37221

I'm thinking about the brown one, thats whats in a local shop anyway. Not too ugly don't know if can be used to run in or anything though.

I like my Saucony's. Only problem is my pair of race Saucony's. It hurts to run in them.

Why do they hurt your feet? I've noticed that mine are a little narrow across the toe box.

Nike Air Pegasus Clima Fit, rocks!! Its comfortable enough to be as a walking shoes and it just looks plain cool. Black with red stripes

This (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=269775) link in the Road Cycling forum got me wondering about athletic shoes. I have a hard time finding a decent athletic shoe that isn't as ugly as sin. I'm not a runner, basketball player, or tennis player and I have a hard time finding a comfortable athletic shoe that has a nice, low-key appearance that I can wear to work.

Why are athletic shoes so goofy looking?


You don't want "athletic" shoes (by which I think you mean 'running' shoes or the like). You want to check out "casual shoes" -- a quick google pulls up http://www.zappos.com/n/es/d/39062/page/1.html

where these are found --not dorky at all
http://www.zappos.com/images/720/7208759/4998-385824-p.jpg