Sunday, March 11, 2012

Those Look Like Comfortable Shoes


I love camping. Always have. I had no idea though, that on this trip I'd accomplish a goal that's been elusive for three years. I WENT HIKING! Yup. Ms. “You need your arthritic hip replaced, probably twice before you die,” and who could also be called Ms. “You're really shouldn't try to do this much compensating for that hip, because you sprained your knee doing so” WENT HIKING.

It started with the shoes.

The Engineer and I are running errands before our “get out of Dodge and away from the kids” camping trip, and we stop at REI because YellowBoy has been wanting “finger toe shoes.” Aka Vibrum 5 Fingers. REI is the only retailer who will let you return them if they turn out to “not agree” with your feet. I'm amazed by that guarantee, by the way. So we're looking, and YellowBoy and I have, at this snapshot in time, the same size feet. We decided to buy a pair in our size, and then we realized that the shoe saleswoman (an extremely knowledgeable employee) had been showing us the women's styles. Perfectly understandable since I am a woman. But I'd thought though that they were unisex like Teva's (at least used to be). Not so. Amazingly though, The Engineer, frugal man that he is, buys his wife the lady shoes. This lady smiles and walks out of the store on cloud 9, wearing what feels like nothing, like I'm barefoot.




Barefoot is a big deal to me. I've had bone spur surgery and plantar facetious in both feet and have been wearing only “comfortable” shoes for years. Then I started yoga (in 2010), and it strengthened my feet so much that now I can go barefoot all day, just like I did in childhood. Hiking in these magic shoes felt heavenly. Yes, I got out of breath, yes, I got tired, but I hiked. Half a mile. But it's a start, and all journeys begin with one step. In great shoes.

14 comments:

Heather Murphy said...

I love hiking! I don't know about those shoes though :0 I'm glad they worked for you and you are strong enough to hike. Good for you!

Brian Miller said...

barefoot is the best way to be...

so these are really comfortable? i have been leary honestly...thinking of each toe wrapped is kinda freaky

Tracy Jo said...

That is awesome! Congratulations. It is the little things and each step is huge. Have a great week!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Those are some funky footwear! Glad you got to hike though.

Anonymous said...

I love the idea of each journey beginning with one step. As for shoes, I own nothing but comfortable ones. I threw out heels and such many, many years ago. By doing so I found I was always up to a little walk.

Christine said...

Hey! It looks like we have more in common. I love camping and I love REI. The guarantee is fabulous! My husband bought a pair of those shoes to run in. He likes them a lot, and plans to run a half-marathon in them in May. We love to hike also; hopefully you'll get to do more. An interesting book about hiking and bare feet is Barefoot Sisters Southbound. It's about two sisters who hike the entire Appalachian Trail, most of the way barefoot!

Your shoes are great- have a wonderful time hiking!

Jenny said...

I see these and I wonder about them. I'm going to try some on... I was never a fan of toe socks so I'm not sure how they'll feel.

Thanks for an interesting share!

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

They look kooky, but if you can hike comfortably in them, that's awesome. I bought some hiking boots ten years ago and wore them only twice because they were so pinchy.

Unknown said...

all journeys begin with one step. In great shoes.
What a great line!

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Whatever works! Maybe you better go back to that store and buy a second pair for your husband, because something tells me he's gonna have to bop you over the head to get that pair off your feet.

loverofwords said...

Anything is worth a try. I had a knee replacement but now my leg is achy from weak muscles or something. Love to walk here (at 6200 feet). Do Physical T. but these shoes might be worth a try and we have an REI in the area.

Shannon Lawrence said...

My mom has a pair and loves them. She uses them for working out in. I'm a little less sure, but then I haven't tried them. Lovely that you got to go camping to get away! It's been ages since we camped.

Shannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z

Cheryl said...

Symmetry on this here blog (go Jeremy) and good shoes! BOOYAH!

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