And as if the UK wasn't bad enough..

[bakubo]

Confession time. I occasionally get Gear Acquisition Syndrome too even though I know the gear is usually the least important factor. Several months ago I bought some $9.99 flip-flops. They are still fine and have plenty of wear left in them, but then about 2 months ago in Las Vegas I saw some flip-flops for $14.95 and I liked them and on impulse, without even doing any research, I bought them. I now have two pairs of flip-flops and some days I wear one pair and some days I wear the other -- just because I can. However, I will admit that my walking has not improved in any detectable way. That is just as I expected though so I have not been disappointed.

[Greg Beetham]

Yep, I know zackery where you're coming from, I did archery for quite a few years (IFAA mainly), started off with 'a bow' and some arrows, but eventually got sortof involved with having too have that 'latest' bow, consequently I've got quite a few really expensive carbon layered limbed bows sitting in a wardrobe that I pretty much never use anymore. Thing is, I already knew by that time that as long as you have a dependable bow, what you should really be spending money on is quality arrows, (I did that as well actually), not more 'irresistible' bows that you see in the shiny new Hoyt catalog. but once you catch that, 'oo I gotta have that one'.....
Greg

[Birma]

Confession time. I occasionally get Gear Acquisition Syndrome too even though I know the gear is usually the least important factor. Several months ago I bought some $9.99 flip-flops. They are still fine and have plenty of wear left in them, but then about 2 months ago in Las Vegas I saw some flip-flops for $14.95 and I liked them and on impulse, without even doing any research, I bought them. I now have two pairs of flip-flops and some days I wear one pair and some days I wear the other -- just because I can. However, I will admit that my walking has not improved in any detectable way. That is just as I expected though so I have not been disappointed.

Rampant consumerism Henry!

[KevinBarrett]

Confession time. I occasionally get Gear Acquisition Syndrome too even though I know the gear is usually the least important factor. Several months ago I bought some $9.99 flip-flops. They are still fine and have plenty of wear left in them, but then about 2 months ago in Las Vegas I saw some flip-flops for $14.95 and I liked them and on impulse, without even doing any research, I bought them. I now have two pairs of flip-flops and some days I wear one pair and some days I wear the other -- just because I can. However, I will admit that my walking has not improved in any detectable way. That is just as I expected though so I have not been disappointed.

A podiatrist might beg to differ, though he'd arrange to bill your insurance for some $85 orthopedic flip-flops. That gives me an idea! Need to go make friends with an optometrist...

[Dusty]

Confession time. I occasionally get Gear Acquisition Syndrome too even though I know the gear is usually the least important factor. Several months ago I bought some $9.99 flip-flops. They are still fine and have plenty of wear left in them, but then about 2 months ago in Las Vegas I saw some flip-flops for $14.95 and I liked them and on impulse, without even doing any research, I bought them. I now have two pairs of flip-flops and some days I wear one pair and some days I wear the other -- just because I can. However, I will admit that my walking has not improved in any detectable way. That is just as I expected though so I have not been disappointed.

A podiatrist might beg to differ, though he'd arrange to bill your insurance for some $85 orthopedic flip-flops. That gives me an idea! Need to go make friends with an optometrist...

A couple of years ago, when the Govt was sending me around to check it's computer systems, my team landed in a a medium sized university town (NW Arkansas, IIRC). Going downtown at night, we ran into an old hippie who claimed to be the only guy in the US that will still make you a custom pair of leather sandals.

He went on and on about how the human foot isn't designed for the shoes we wear today, and only his sandals would make you walk like nature intended. At $245 a pair, I guess he had to be a good salesman to stay in business. It was actually kind of funny, as he was a true Hippie that never grew up/sold out/ whatever, but had a shop full of animal skins he had tanned himself - very UN PC today!

Dusty

[bakubo]

A podiatrist might beg to differ, though he'd arrange to bill your insurance for some $85 orthopedic flip-flops. That gives me an idea! Need to go make friends with an optometrist...

Clever. I see what you did there. You are trying to induce a G.A.S. attack in me. I did countless PT runs in the Marine Corps wearing leather combat boots, often on concrete or asphalt. I survived that, although often had shin splints in those days.

[bakubo]

He went on and on about how the human foot isn't designed for the shoes we wear today, and only his sandals would make you walk like nature intended.

Actually, I suppose if you really want to "walk like nature intended" you would be barefoot.

[Javelin]

I see now a lot of runners or rather track atheletes are training without shoes nowadays. I think it (this trend) had something to do with a distance runner or a villiage full of them discovered in some backwater that never ever wore shoes. Something about the geometry of the way they run (kinetics?) never having been influenced by shoes ect ... I can't find the article now but this was causing a lot of discussion a short while ago

[KevinBarrett]

I see now a lot of runners or rather track atheletes are training without shoes nowadays. I think it (this trend) had something to do with a distance runner or a villiage full of them discovered in some backwater that never ever wore shoes. Something about the geometry of the way they run (kinetics?) never having been influenced by shoes ect ... I can't find the article now but this was causing a lot of discussion a short while ago

I think the runners you're thinking of came from a high elevation mountainous region. Their major advantage isn't in their bare feet, but their highly efficient respiration due to being born and bread in a low-oxygen setting. Boy, we are quite off topic now, aren't we?

[Dusty]

............... Boy, we are quite off topic now, aren't we?

It IS the Off Topic Forum!

Dusty

[Greg Beetham]

Zackery so, it's even an off topic off topic.
Greg