I used to purchase the cheapest summer shoes that I could find since in my mind sandals were expendable.
Every year: same cycle, cute couple, low cost, selling blisters in week two, funny sole curve in month two, sorry about it in August.
Last spring I at last listened to the reason why they kept dying. It was always the stiff fake material of straps that stretches and cuts into the body at the same time. I found myself doing a late-night comparison spiral. I was in between researching materials, how the stuff is made, where the brand sources from, and that’s when I found myself on the Alibaba site seeing as they have suppliers of leather materials, and also seeing the wholesale side of the business. It was a revelation to learn the extent to which various brands of sandals are the same base product but under a new brand name. That is when I made my mind up to start using real leather sandals. No designer, plain leather, plain construction. Break-in period? Yeah. Then no rubbing and no peeling and they did not begin to look tired after five wearings.
Strangely, purchasing a better pair turned out to be more economical as compared to the cheap ones that had to be changed every summer. My former motto was save now, when my legs were earning me interest.
Has any other person experienced a piece of clothing that they continued to cheap out on backfiring??
I thought sandals were sandals, turns out my feet disagreed.
byu/TokenGod1 inFrugal
Posted by TokenGod1
3 Comments
Never ever go frugal on anything between you and the ground or you and the elements. Beds, shoes, jackets and the like all should be the best you can afford or thrift. Oh and to break in leather sandals without a single blister, wear them inside with your thickest socks. Walk around like that a couple days. They will be perfect fit afterwards
>Â purchasing a better pair turned out to be more economical as compared to the cheap ones that had to be changed every summer
Who’d have guessed boots theory applied to sandals
My summer shoes are a $12 pair of water shoes that are basically just a floppy sole and stretchy fabric. I’ve had them for years because I only wear them maybe three days a week, and only in the summer. It’s important to understand, though, that going “no-sole” is only safe if you already have healthy arches. If not, use supportive shoes, and (just as a health thing) do arch training exercises