Tell us: Are your shoes falling apart?

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

A sailor was wearing his brown leather shoes to a chief's pinning ceremony in September, only to have the soles separate from the leather right before the ceremony.

"Unacceptable and cheap", the wearer posted on a review of his shoes, made by Bates Footwear. "I wish the Navy would field an alternative shoe!"

Bates Footwear has made the dress shoes sold in Navy uniform stores since the 1960s. Their Oxford-style shoes come in brown, black and white to accommodate the Navy's different uniforms and are available in leather and Corofram.

However, some readers tell Navy Times that these shoes have durability problems. The most frequent is that the sole tears off after very little usage.

Have you experienced this or other durability problems with your shoes? Do you feel like you should have other options than Bates when purchasing shoes for your uniform? Or do you feel like you've gotten good use from your Bates shoes?

Navy Times wants to know what you think. Please email staff writer Sam Fellman about your experiences with Bates shoes. And be specific. Your comments could be used in an upcoming article.

Article (http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/10/navy-tell-us-are-your-shoes-falling-apart-100411w/)

Tuesday Oct 4, 2011 14:08:54 EDT

What kind of experiences Subsim's former and current USN personel have?

[Sailor Steve]

I don't know why the website does those crazy number things, but any time I get them I go back and fix them. Makes it much easier to read.

[Jimbuna]

I believe it has something to do with the cyrillics used by foreign language (or non English) keyboards.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

:damn: Why in heck those numbers are there again? I already fixed it twice and even copy-pasted it via notepad! :wah:

[Dowly]

:damn: Why in heck those numbers are there again? I already fixed it twice and even copy-pasted it via notepad! :wah:

From what I've noticed, if you edit your post, especially one like yours that contain
copy & pasted stuff it gets messed up.

No idea what causes it, tho. But it's irritating as heck.

[Sailor Steve]

Sometimes when I quote something and then edit it, it shows up as separate quotes. This happened to me yesterday when it separated out the words and the smiley, so it looked like this:

So that's what happened.
:sunny:
Every time I edited and saved it it looked just the same. It took me three tries to make it work. I finally had to erase all the [quotes] and rewrite them myself.
:damn:

[JU_88]

Converse All stars, I dont know what im doing wrong but they last me 2-3 months before they start tearing above the sole right where my toes bend.
Usless bloody shoes, time to stop buying them, im getting a tad old for them anyway.

[Task Force]

Think ive had the same pair of cheap shoes for over a year. still doing fine, oddly.

[Jimbuna]

I have a rendancy to wear desert boots...a pair for work and a pair for leisure.

Comfort is the determining factor.

[Rockstar]

If they want something to really complain about maybe they should reintroduce the old Navy Boondockers. :arrgh!:

[Garion]

I wear sandals, colloquially known as a 'Jesus boots' :D

Cheers

Garion

[JU_88]

Best footware I ever owned? German Para boots, almost indestructable :)

[Sailor Steve]

Every year I buy a pair of shoes at WalMart. They are running shoes, but they are black and can also double as almost-dress shoes. They wear out, but I've never had a pair fall apart. Oh, they cost $20. In the winter I have some snow boots, but my diabetic feet don't take too well to boots these days.

[Jimbuna]

Every year I buy a pair of shoes at WalMart. They are running shoes, but they are black and can also double as almost-dress shoes. They wear out, but I've never had a pair fall apart. Oh, they cost $20. In the winter I have some snow boots, but my diabetic feet don't take too well to boots these days.

It's kinda funny you should make reference to snow boots because in 1990 whilst residing in Holland I purchased a pair of 'snow boots' that were probably modelled on flying boots for about 25Guilders/£9 and whilst I don't wear them that often, I have them to this day.

[Kongo Otto]

Best footware I ever owned? German Para boots, almost indestructable :)

You should give Doc Martens a try, i have a pair since 1990 and they look like new. Also good Boots are from Boots & Braces if you want good quality for a good price.

[Osmium Steele]

If they want something to really complain about maybe they should reintroduce the old Navy Boondockers. :arrgh!:

What?!? No boondockers anymore?

Good Lord, I wore mine out. Loved those ugly-arsed things. Once broken in, they are nigh indestrucible. I wore mine hiking and rock climbing.

I dropped an HY-80 steel access plate from the sail directly on the toe. Dented the steel cap and had to throw them out.

Still have all my little piggies, though.

[Egan]

Converse All stars, I dont know what im doing wrong but they last me 2-3 months before they start tearing above the sole right where my toes bend.
Usless bloody shoes, time to stop buying them, im getting a tad old for them anyway.

That's a shame: Design classic and all that. My current pair have lasted me about three years already but I don't wear them that often and never in Winter. My previous pair lasted about the same amount of time before they fell apart and they got a lot of use.

I love Docs. The pair I wear for work currently are worn nearly every day, and have been for about two years. Even though I'm on my feet almost constantly they are still rock solid. Damn things could shrug of a direct hit from a nuke.

Worst I ever had were a pair of trainers by DC Shoes. started to fall apart a month after I got them. Expensive too.

[Jimbuna]

Always wore Martins during my career (shoes in summer and boots in winter).

Almost exclusively desert boots and trainers on the odd occasion these days.

[Garion]

Yup, Doc Martins for me too, during my time in the Police Force....

Pusser Steaming Boots were the foot attire of choice when at sea in't Royal Navy.

Cheers

Garion