Used shoes?

[Baronage-Phase]

I've bought a couple of pairs of mint Docs on ebay....with tags still on them. Owners bought and tried them and couldnt deal with the breaking in period.
As spanglechick says, there are some fantastic bargains. Sometimes people buy a really gorgeous pair of shoes and keep them in a box and never wear them because they're so good.
Same with certain types of clothing. Then they decide to sell them online or send them to a charity shop. I have no problem buying something that is really good quality and in as new condition.

Besides....when you buy shoes in a shop there's a distinct probability that numbers of people will have tried them on...

 

[weltweit]

These are mine:

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Besides....when you buy shoes in a shop there's a distinct probability that numbers of people will have tried them on...

Of course that's true - and unavoidable. If I could, I'd only buy shoes made entirely by robots that never had human hands touch them until they were delivered to me. Much more hygeinic.

 

[RubyToogood]

These are mine:
View attachment 194459

Yeah I wouldn't personally regard those as having enough ankle protection. Mine are this type:

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Don't they get a bit hot RubyToogood? I've got some amazingly comfy leather walking boots around a similar ankle height to weltweit's, but they make my feet melt.

 

[Baronage-Phase]

Of course that's true - and unavoidable. If I could, I'd only buy shoes made entirely by robots that never had human hands touch them until they were delivered to me. Much more hygeinic.

I'm sure at some stage each home will have a 3d printer and you'll be able to print your own immaculate shoes.

 

[RubyToogood]

Don't they get a bit hot RubyToogood? I've got some amazingly comfy leather walking boots around a similar ankle height to weltweit's, but they make my feet melt.

Nope. And they're leather lined so don't get sweaty anyway. I've just bought a similar pair new with an internal membrane so maybe those will be different.

 

[weltweit]

Yeah I wouldn't personally regard those as having enough ankle protection. Mine are this type:

Well not enough for biking boots I agree, but they are very comfortable to walk in.

 

[kebabking]

These are mine:
View attachment 194459

if they were a car, you'd no longer pay road tax. last issued in about 1983...

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Nope. And they're leather lined so don't get sweaty anyway. I've just bought a similar pair new with an internal membrane so maybe those will be different.

I guess hiking boots naturally will be warmer, given they're layered to keep water out. The ones I'm talking about are about a kilo each, so pretty heavy boots. Haven't worn them for years now though.

 

[weltweit]

if they were a car, you'd no longer pay road tax. last issued in about 1983...

It was probably in the 80s that I long term borrowed them from their previous owner

 

[kebabking]

if you're looking for walking boots, the current crop of MOD issue on fleabay/wherever are worth looking at - not only are they now of an equal quality to something you'd by Cotswold Outdoors for £180, but boots are now classed as underwear (don't ask..), so they are sold off as soon as someone puts their feet in them.

so you could walk into the QM's, try them on, decide they fit and sign for them, walk 20 yards and decide they no longer fit, take them back and the QM would put them in the disposal chain - boots have gone from being £180 boots to being £70 boots on fleabay. happens a huge amount....

names to look for are Alt-berg, Haix, Aku, Lowa, Meindl, Iturri.

 

[existentialist]

I bought a pair of Alt-bergs on eBay for £5, as they had a split at the welt (black, not weit). I only got them to see whether I'd like one day to get a new pair, and they were the most comfortable boots I have ever worn. Then I found someone who was able to repair them (by sewing a patch on), which cost me £16. So, for £21, I ended up with a pair of the loveliest walking boots I've ever owned. And the repair is waterproof, so they're as good as new.

 

[TopCat]

I want a decent pair of smart English shoes in a 12 extra wide and will have 200 quid. I cant bring myself to buy used. I can understand why people do, if I could cope with pre worn I could get a lot more shoe for my money.

 

[Plumdaff]

I've bought second hand shoes on ebay, but invariably I've bought almost brand new shoes that the first owner wore once or twice and didn't get on with. I've bought some complete bargains.

 

[TopCat]

Worn once or twice might work, maybe.

 

[Fedayn]

No problem with 2nd hand shoes. Really find it difficult to understand why people do tbh.

This. Especially when people seem happy to give clothes shoes away to charity shops and are happy that people have their 2nd hand shoes. 1 of the best pair of shoes I ever owned were a pair of brown Nottingham brogues I got on Ebay, fitted like a glove and lasted years.

If you are that worried buy some hand sanitiser and use it on the inside of the shoes.

 

[WouldBe]

Why how do they get donated in good condition , by the time I am done with mine they are pretty worn out. I suppose if someone passed away that might explain it..

I've seen plenty of trainers on ebay that are worn once or twice at knockdown prices. Unwanted gifts?

 

[seeformiles]

An awful idea apart from second hand German Para Boots - no footwear from Army surplus ever smells of cheese.

just puts me in mind of the verucca farms that are Bowling Shoes - smell aside, I wonder if they are deliberately designed to be so hideous so no-one will nick them?

 

[WouldBe]

I've bought a couple of pairs of mint Docs on ebay....with tags still on them. Owners bought and tried them and couldnt deal with the breaking in period.
As spanglechick says, there are some fantastic bargains. Sometimes people buy a really gorgeous pair of shoes and keep them in a box and never wear them because they're so good.
Same with certain types of clothing. Then they decide to sell them online or send them to a charity shop. I have no problem buying something that is really good quality and in as new condition.

Besides....when you buy shoes in a shop there's a distinct probability that numbers of people will have tried them on...

I saw a pair of docs on ebay the other day that claimed to have been worn twice. They had very defined creases around the ankles and the soles were bald.

 

[Ms Ordinary]

As spanglechick says, there are some fantastic bargains. Sometimes people buy a really gorgeous pair of shoes and keep them in a box and never wear them because they're so good.
Same with certain types of clothing. Then they decide to sell them online or send them to a charity shop. I have no problem buying something that is really good quality and in as new condition.

I’ve bought what were probably someone’s “too-special-to-wear” shoes on ebay... and then worn them to death because they were relatively affordable to me.

But then have my own “much-too-special-to-spoil” shoes in boxes in the wardrobe which will probably end up on eBay or in a charity shop one day
(Until that day comes, I do get genuine pleasure from occasionally discovering & dressing up in them so not ready to let them go yet)

Also walk a lot (not hiking just enjoy roaming) so wear shoes & boots down quickly. So always seems better value to buy a couple of good quality lightly worn boots than a single pair in my price range. (I always check the soles for wear)

New shoes always look worn & scruffy on me within a couple of wears so no loss there... actually I feel a bit weird & uncomfortable in shiny new shoes, whether cheap or expensive it still feels odd.

 

[Ms Ordinary]

I also wear secondhand gloves which perhaps is worse

 

[mx wcfc]

A quick count reveals that I have seven pairs of second hand shoes, including trainers. All Docs. They do a lot of special editions, which are too expensive new but can be picked up on ebay a few years later for half the price or less.

(on ebay, I think a lot of the "nearly new" stuff is a fiddle by staff. Docs shop workers get a 70% staff discount. Buy a pair of £100 boots for £30 quid, then flog them on ebay for £60)