It’s not very often that I buy new shoes. In fact, I average only one or two pairs of new shoes per year, and even that is a generous estimate. That’s why I almost surprised myself this past weekend when I bought not one, but two pairs of new shoes!
I started wearing sandals (or “flip-flops”, if you will) my freshman year of college, and I remember thinking that they were a really stupid concept before I actually tried them for myself. I’ve gone through a few pairs of Anchor Blue sandals since then, mostly because they’re cheap and also because I had gift cards, but I somehow managed to trash every pair within the first year or so. The soles would separate or the straps would pull out, or something would happen, rendering my nicely-broken-in footwear completely useless. This was beginning to annoy me.
Fast forward to the present. Sandal gurus and people I respect have ranted and raved about how amazing Rainbow Sandals are, so I finally decided to give them a shot, despite the $45 price tag. Alix and I went over to a surfer shop in Malibu after breakfast on Sunday, and I picked out some XXL duds in “expresso” [sic] color. And, of course, you know what they say about guys who wear big sandals: they get really big blisters when wearing them for the first time.
Sure enough, my poor feet hurt like the dickens after wearing my new Rainbows for a couple days. I’m confident, though, that once I break them in, they’re probably going to be the most comfortable sandals I’ve ever owned. They feel really sturdy, like they’re not about to fall apart in 10-12 months. I’ll keep you posted on their ability to stay together, but at least they have an impressive warranty to back them up if needed.
To remedy my foot pain, I sure am glad I had the foresight to also buy a pair of Crocs at the same time I bought my Rainbows. Yes, they’re the ugliest shoes known to man. Ever. Period. But they’re also really comfortable, and they only cost $30. I’ll be wearing them regularly until I can muster up the strength to break in my sandals some more, and then I’ll mostly just wear them around the house. Mmm…non-slip rubber on my toes.
You’re right. Crocs are the ugliest shoes. Ever.
Nice new layout on the site. Your blog looks better than your shoes. I never got into that Croc hype because I’m a diehard sandal wearer (among other reasons previously stated), and if your rainbows turn out to be a bad investment, Reefs are the bomb! I probably won’t ever buy another brand again – ever.
And yes, you’re right. Crocs are the ugliest shoes. Ever.
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