athletic shoes

[DHonks]

Hey all, I recently went to the local Kohls and DSW to try to upgrade my old beat up New Balance sneakers. I was shocked that almost no styles have basic colors. Everything I saw from the major brands was orange, bright yellow, bright blue, neons, etc. Seriously, what happened to fairly basic, neutral toned shoes?

[TooLiveBrew]

Have you thought about ordering something online? Eastbay would be a decent place to check (though I don't have any experience with them myself, aside from browsing their catalogs endlessly as a kid). If they don't have it, I'm guessing it isn't made

[logan82]

Yeah that color shoe crap has been going on for a few years at least.

[DHonks]

I've been putting off this rather inexpensive purchase for at least a year. Just none of the styles strike me. What's weird is that I teach in a HS and I've never seen students wearing any of the colors I'm finding in the stores. Maybe I'll ask where they get simple tennis shoes. I like the neutral tones so I can wear with jeans, cargos, or whatever else is comfortable.

[logan82]

Shoebuy and Zappos are pretty good. I usually go to stores to try on shoes and can never find the ones I like so I go online and buy. Shoebuy usually ships overnight for free.

[Dragonbait]

I generally go to the Nike Factory Outlet and get a cheap pair of tennis/running/walking shoes (~$40 to $60).

[rwa12]

I just had this same discussion with my wife. I'm apparently too old to buy running shoes now. I prefer gray shoes, for the same reasons you outlined. My last pair were hideous, Under Armour (black/Gray/red/Neon Yellow), although I will admit they were hands down the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. The pair before were neon green K-Swiss tubes, I just ordered the blue pair from shoemall.com. They're not hideous at least!

[LouisEly]

I've been putting off this rather inexpensive purchase for at least a year. Just none of the styles strike me. What's weird is that I teach in a HS and I've never seen students wearing any of the colors I'm finding in the stores. Maybe I'll ask where they get simple tennis shoes. I like the neutral tones so I can wear with jeans, cargos, or whatever else is comfortable.

 

That's why they are at DSW - they are clearancing out the ones that aren't selling.

 

You're in Phoenix, right? Have you tried the outlet mall halfway between Phoenix and Tucson? Maybe an Adidas/Nike/New Balance outlet store has what you are looking for?

[hawing]

Yeah that color shoe crap has been going on for a few years at least.

I'm not a fan of this either. I saw a podiatrist for foot pain last fall and he suggested a category of athletic shoe that (when I started looking around for it) only came in garish color combinations. The least painful-looking combo I found was white with pink and purple. They are comfortable shoes, but they remind me of a girl's first bike.

[DHonks]

thanks for all the responses. Glad to see I'm not the only one with this frustration. LouisEly, I never make it that way as the Casa Grande Outlets are about 2 hours south of me. Although perhaps I could venture to the Anthem outlets that are 45 minutes from me. Or when in Vegas next month maybe I'll find a store.

 

I did ask my students, and even the 16-18 year olds said they were annoyed by the lack of decent options lately.

[Menotti80]

Check out joes new balance outlet online. (I think it's joes, could be Jose's) they have a huge inventory, with colorful shoes and "normal" ones as well. Really good prices too.

[DHonks]

sweet...thanks Menotti. I am currently a New Balance fan...best fit I've ever had, and they last so much longer than the more expensive Nike's. Plus, they used to be the only US made tennies, so I liked that.

[SenatorShriv]

I have a style of running shoe that I have been using for 6 years and now they only seem to be making them in aqua blue with bright yellow and orange streaks. I purchased them anyway but now I'm using them as an excuse not to go to the gym and run. Probably why I'm fat...