Anyone into trainers/sneakers? (Vol. 3)
Discussion
First foray onto here, my new girlfriend is quite the trainer fan (previously, a bit of a collector!) and has encouraged me to wear boots less and trainers more in the summer.
She's just bought a pair of these rhinestone-studded Kurt Geiger trainers which I can imagine may be a bit marmite, but definitely suited her
As for me, I've dug out these Converse that I've had for years but don't wear very often (they can rub slightly if worn all day). Never seen another pair over here, they came from the now-closed "premium outlet" in San Francisco where you could choose any combo of style, colour, design and eyelets/laces. I call them the "Fortunate Son" edition
Something very different here though - whilst browsing an outlet mall at the weekend, we spotted that Converse now appear to be a properly lined/padded "trainer" style shoe - eliminating my big comfort-related beef with them. Tried them on and bought them, not had a chance to properly wear them yet though
She's just bought a pair of these rhinestone-studded Kurt Geiger trainers which I can imagine may be a bit marmite, but definitely suited her
As for me, I've dug out these Converse that I've had for years but don't wear very often (they can rub slightly if worn all day). Never seen another pair over here, they came from the now-closed "premium outlet" in San Francisco where you could choose any combo of style, colour, design and eyelets/laces. I call them the "Fortunate Son" edition
Something very different here though - whilst browsing an outlet mall at the weekend, we spotted that Converse now appear to be a properly lined/padded "trainer" style shoe - eliminating my big comfort-related beef with them. Tried them on and bought them, not had a chance to properly wear them yet though
ChemicalChaos said:
First foray onto here, my new girlfriend is quite the trainer fan (previously, a bit of a collector!) and has encouraged me to wear boots less and trainers more in the summer.
She's just bought a pair of these rhinestone-studded Kurt Geiger trainers which I can imagine may be a bit marmite, but definitely suited her
As for me, I've dug out these Converse that I've had for years but don't wear very often (they can rub slightly if worn all day). Never seen another pair over here, they came from the now-closed "premium outlet" in San Francisco where you could choose any combo of style, colour, design and eyelets/laces. I call them the "Fortunate Son" edition
Something very different here though - whilst browsing an outlet mall at the weekend, we spotted that Converse now appear to be a properly lined/padded "trainer" style shoe - eliminating my big comfort-related beef with them. Tried them on and bought them, not had a chance to properly wear them yet though
I can't wear Converse, they destroy my little toes. Good to know they might be doing a pair that is wearable for me. She's just bought a pair of these rhinestone-studded Kurt Geiger trainers which I can imagine may be a bit marmite, but definitely suited her
As for me, I've dug out these Converse that I've had for years but don't wear very often (they can rub slightly if worn all day). Never seen another pair over here, they came from the now-closed "premium outlet" in San Francisco where you could choose any combo of style, colour, design and eyelets/laces. I call them the "Fortunate Son" edition
Something very different here though - whilst browsing an outlet mall at the weekend, we spotted that Converse now appear to be a properly lined/padded "trainer" style shoe - eliminating my big comfort-related beef with them. Tried them on and bought them, not had a chance to properly wear them yet though
phil_cardiff said:
I can't wear Converse, they destroy my little toes. Good to know they might be doing a pair that is wearable for me.
That was the problem for me - the little toe rubs against the inside of the shoe (as my feet are quite wide and converse are quite narrow).I'll report back on how these trainer-ised ones feel!
shirt said:
Samoa is a suede Guam, which itself seems to be a Milano with a foam midsole. The Milano is a decent shoe
Samoa is a different design of upper compared to Guam and Milano isn't it? The suede toe-cap protection is different - it extends further around the toe-box and back to the lace eyelets on the latter two.Guam has been available with both suede and leather uppers too and as well as Milano, it is similar to All Team (formerly a leather football trainer known as All Black until, I guess, some Kiwis objected - now available in both leather and suede in various colours). As you say Milano also seems to be the same upper but with a cheaper sole unit.
To further complicate things, I think the AS520 model also has a similar design of upper to Guam/Milano/All Team, but uses a sole unit like that of Guam!
Edited by 5pen on Thursday 25th April 16:27
CountyAFC said:
g4ry13 said:
CountyAFC said:
I'm debating getting the Jordan 4 Sulfur.
I'm usually very decisive but can't make my mind up on them.
They're in women's sizing, not sure what size your foot is? I'm usually very decisive but can't make my mind up on them.
We also have the Industrial / military blue coming out soon if you're after a 4 and it's more appealing to you.
It takes the price down to a 'bargain' £171.
5pen said:
shirt said:
Samoa is a suede Guam, which itself seems to be a Milano with a foam midsole. The Milano is a decent shoe
Samoa is a different design of upper compared to Guam and Milano isn't it? The suede toe-cap protection is different - it extends further around the toe-box and back to the lace eyelets on the latter two.Guam has been available with both suede and leather uppers too and as well as Milano, it is similar to All Team (formerly a leather football trainer known as All Black until, I guess, some Kiwis objected - now available in both leather and suede in various colours). As you say Milano also seems to be the same upper but with a cheaper sole unit.
To further complicate things, I think the AS520 model also has a similar design of upper to Guam/Milano/All Team, but uses a sole unit like that of Guam!
Edited by 5pen on Thursday 25th April 16:27
Guam is interesting because it was originally a Japanese exclusive release. It shares the same sole unit as the Milano, and I can find no definite release date other than '1980s'. The size? blog about the AS 240 indicates that the AS 500 was a nod to the Milano, but looking closely there's additional stitching around the collar of the shoe which might point to it being a slightly different upper.
The AS 520, as a SPZL homage to the AS 500, might be slightly different again. I actually dug back through Gary Aspden's Instagram posts and found discussion about the toe guard. According to his Instagram, the toe guard isn't as tall as on the Samoa. However, the AS 520 does have the same outsole as the Samoa.
I've never held a Guam to be certain, but I assumed (perhaps wrongly) that it had the Milano sole unit. If the blue midsole is foam and not solid rubber, it all sounds like another advancement applied to an upper which had been in use for a few years by the time of Guam's release. All of this has made me want to know more about the Samoa, because it absolutely does look to have an EVA foam midsole but I know very little about its history. I've never owned a pair. Meanwhile, the AS 520 SPZL uses the same sole as the Samoa, but has a channel cut out of the midsole that the Samoa doesn't, leaving me wondering if that's an AS 500 era touch connecting the design back to the same channel on the Milano's solid feeling rubber.
All of this is complicated by the fact that the hardcore collectors who have catalogue collections don't really digitise them or make them an open source. I can see why from a value standpoint, but it makes trying to pin down details on 40-50 year old trainers only slightly harder.
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