I got these shoes for nothing
And they have lasted me forever
Searching up and down the lost highway
-Acathisia by Tilt
In 2011 Austin City Limits was coming up and I needed new shoes and wanted to try something different. Austin City Limits is a 3 day music festival that is outdoors. There is a lot of walking around in grass and dirt and you need a comfortable shoe that can handle outdoor terrain. I went with a pair of Converse All Star because DC Comics happened to have just teamed up with Converse and they seemed like they could handle rough terrain. I got these bad boys in a size 11.
What They Looked Like New
It’s been a match made in heaven ever since. These were my first pair of Converse All Star’s and there is a good reason that this iconic shoe has lasted as long as it has. While its simple it is also incredibly comfortable. You can walk long distances on uneven outdoor terrain or on flat hard concrete and still feel good. The sole is thick enough to cushion while the canvas is thin enough to breath and prevent your socks from getting sweaty.
Based on my FitBit steps from when I got these shoes until now I would guess I’ve walk about 500 miles in these shoes. They have treaded literally on the other side of the planet throughout the streets of Singapore. Through the ice and snow (which, while I love these shoes offer zero protection against the cold) in the far north of Canada. Hiking through the Catskill mountains of upstate New York. Across miles of hard concrete flooring at George R. Brown Convention Center for Comicpalooza. Through dirt, dust, and mud while I saw some of my favorite bands for 4 consecutive Austin City Limits. On the same paved streets as royalty in the streets of London. Filling with sand on the beaches of the Pacific Ocean in California.
Cat Not Included
I don’t generally get attached to shoes, but I happened to get these shoes the same time I got into comic books so there has been a real connection between the two. Over the last four years comic books have become an important part of my life, something which I don’t imagine changing anytime soon. Because I travel a lot for work I wind up going to comic book shops in lots of different cities throughout the country and internationally. At this point its been probably close to 50 shops across the US, Canada, England and Singapore and the vast majority of these shops I’ve walked through the doors wearing these shoes.
I’ve since bought three other pairs of DC Comics Converses. Two Wonder Woman Hi Tops and one pair of Harley Quinn High Tops. I even bought a pair of Black Canvas All Stars for my self and all my Groomsmen for my wedding (which I wore during the ceremony and reception). While I’m slowly building a closet full of All Stars my Batman Converse’s still remain my work horses. I’ve had to replace the shoelaces once and the tread is becoming smooth across the bottom. I can’t imagine they will survive much more than another year but I will wear them until they fall apart, and when they do I will give them a Viking funeral.
But until they give out completely I’ll be happily wearing them every Wednesday to pick up my pull list.
Comic Books and Cats 