After killing my feet, and with another five days of potential feet death ahead of me, I bit the bullet and went shopping for new shoes. Which might not seem like a big deal to most of you but this was the first time, I think, that I’d gone to buy shoes from somewhere not an Army Surplus store or similar big-chunky-boot emporium for about fifteen years (excepting a brief dalliance with a pair of Converse trainers that we shall not speak of). The Army Surplus store exists for two reasons – firstly to serve those who genuinely want equipment that the Army has declared surplus to requirements, and secondly to serve those sort of people who really don’t want to be dealing with the high street for their trouser, t-shirt and shoe needs. And they’re usually way cheaper too. I come into the latter demographic. The prospect of buying clothes from a mainstream, high-street based retailer fills me with a horror like no other.
So I’m sitting on the 33 bus, completely unprepared for this adventure ahead of me which I’d been putting off so much that I only had an hour to complete it before the shops shut. I figure I’m looking for the sort of shop that sells shoes for walkers, ramblers and the like, but that isn’t stupidly expensive. The name Millets rings a bell as somewhere sensible that men with beards go to for their bottle-green fleeces and I’m sure I’d seen one in Birmingham a few years ago but God only knows where. Probably in a shopping centre, since that’s where shops tend to hang out these days. The main shopping streets seem to be dominated by employment agencies, eateries, banks and branches of JJB Sports, and no-one wants to go into a branch of JJB Sports if they can help it.
For the first time ever I find myself looking at the directory at the Bull Ring, searching for a name that might possibly be related to hardy outdoors type apparel but nothing is forthcoming. The same applies at the Pavilions and I’m starting to think I’m looking a little high-end, so I head to the low-rent Pallasades with a similar lack of joy. And so I do what any self-respecting person who’s lost at sea in high street hell. I go to Waterstone’s to look at the books.
While there I chat to Andy and mention my plight. Is there a Millets anywhere in town? Yes, there is, next to Smiths, along from the Tax Office. Another bookseller confirms this. It would appear the non-Army Surplus bookseller buys a fair bit of kit there, which makes sense. And so off I go, the assistant is nice and helpful and I emerge with a £30 pair of solid soled yet comfy trainers.
Go me!
Cool! The design looks good (I speak from experience, having bought really good and really bad sneakers/trainers in the past). The key is in the toe area where the stitching on poorly designed shoes tends to unravel. Yours appear to be well made in this respect. Also no swooshes and other logos augers well – no one will mug you for them!
FWIW I just bought a pair of very comfortable Wrangler black trainer/shoes for £22.50 (half price) and can recommend them even at full price. Also, if you want to spend more, Montrail brand is the best I’ve come across.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/QUARTERMASTERS-STORES_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZkm
Army patrol boots that are a clone of the Magnum Hi-tec for a third of the price. Bargain :)
A fine pair of shoes, Pete.
A lifetime as a Sales Monkey has taught me that DM’s are the only shoe that suits my fashion sensibilities (which pretty much tells you how old I am), can look smart enough when required and lasts through long months pavement pounding. And they are not shockingly priced for the length of time they are put to use. The two pairs I have (one black, one cherry red) have been in my possession (and have been worn almost exclusively) since summer 2003, and they are still going strong. They were £49.99 for each pair, and I noticed yesterday that the price hasn’t gone up since I bought them.
Very nice shoes. I hope they are Satisfactory.