Help: Really stupid question about shoes!

Subject: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 May 01 - 04:30 AM

OK, I know - it's a music discussion group but with some of the things we talk about I thouht I would give this a whirl. One of you educated people is bound to know the answer anyway...

I bought some shoes a couple of weeks ago. Slip on. Almost like a backless 'slipper' but with a very low back instead. Really comfortable and I suspect they will be worn until they fall to bits. Uppers are a suede type material. Elastic inserts at the sides. Soles are like a training shoe and come quite high up the arches.

I was in an outdoor clothing shop in Whitby last weekend and amongst the hiking boots they have shoes almost identical but with the generic name of 'slopes'. Twice as expensive as mine.

Question is this. Why are they called 'slopes' and why would the be sold alongside hiking gear???

Beats me up to now.

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 May 01 - 04:35 AM

PS -just checked in Black's online store and they have them but called 'slides' - which makes a bit more sense as you slide your feet into them. Still dunno why they are with the hiking gear though.

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Deni
Date: 04 May 01 - 05:44 AM

do you slope (or slide) out of them when you walk uphill? Serious question. I am a bit curious about how a shoe like a backless slipper can have a low back, but no matter.

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 May 01 - 06:15 AM

Mmmmm - maybe but I think the low back is supposed to pervent that! As to the exact style it is a bit difficult to describe. Perhaps halfway between a slipper and a shoe would have been better. Not quite backless is nearer the mark. In profile if a shoe was I_DDD and a slipper was __DDD then these would be i_DDD. Make more sense?

DtG

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 May 01 - 06:17 AM

BTW pervent is a cross between prevent and pervert:-)

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 04 May 01 - 06:33 AM

... and a mistress is something between a mister and a mattress ... non-pc -- sorry girls! Back to the shoes.

Steve

Or no back..?

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Troll
Date: 04 May 01 - 08:08 AM

These sound like the "negative heel" shoe that was in vogue in the late '60's and early'70's. I can't think of any reason why they would be in the hiking section unless it's beacuse the shoe store staff couldn't think of any place else to put them.

troll

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 May 01 - 08:27 AM

No - it was not a shoe store, Troll, it was a hiking gear shop! There is a picture of something very similar Here (If I've got my clicky right) But mine were 12.95 not 40 quid!

I've started some weird conversations in my day.....

And I'm not even drunk!

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: LR Mole
Date: 04 May 01 - 08:37 AM

Well, rumor has it that "Earth shoes" are coming back: that's the aforementioned "negative heel" thing so it always feels like one is walking uphill. Toes as wide as a garden spade. Well, it's one for the money...

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Gary T
Date: 04 May 01 - 09:03 AM

The intended use might be as a camp utility shoe, something to putter around the campsite in when the actual hiking is over. They would be next to the hiking boots not because folks would hike in them but because some hikers would want them along with their hiking boots. That's a guess, anyway.

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 04 May 01 - 09:08 AM

Dave, ever thought of changing your name to Imelda?
RtS (who has to be dragged screaming into shoe-shops by Herself who can't pass one by - "I'll wait for you in the book/record shop, dear" "Oh no, you won't!")

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Les from Hull
Date: 04 May 01 - 09:11 AM

I think that's a good guess, Gary. You could slip them on and off easily to enter and leave the tent (no outdoor shoes on the groundsheet). And they're sold by a tent firm.

Les

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Kim C
Date: 04 May 01 - 10:08 AM

It's an evil marketing ploy.

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Bert
Date: 04 May 01 - 12:00 PM

Dave, perhaps you are a pervert if you are getting SOOOO concerned about shoes. *TEE HEE*

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 04 May 01 - 02:55 PM

I survived hours and hours in the hospital as a medical student with Earth Shoes on my tired but pain-free feet. Wish I could find a pair now! Sadly, it seems that Earth Shoes is now a Wal-Mart brand for mostly plastic shoes from China.

To make this a musical thread, I offer this song, The Wonderful Shoes. I was in a songwriting class in Seattle with Geoff Morgan, and he said, "Take the next ten minutes and write a song about your shoes." So I did.

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 04 May 01 - 03:01 PM

I love Netscape! It's the one for me!

Mark

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Jeri
Date: 04 May 01 - 05:03 PM

"Slopes" could be because of the angle from the top front to the back. It just sort of slopes down instead of having an abrupt hole where your leg sticks out the top. My guess is they're like outdoor slippers - sort of what Gary T. said. You've back in the campsite after a hard day of hiking, your feet are tired and sweaty, and you just easy them into these shoes. Your feet say "Ah - sweet relief," you tell them to shut up and then go collect firewood. They look quite comfy.

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 May 01 - 05:40 PM

I LOVE the idea of being Imelda.

Gives me chance to wear make up again...

Oh-ho. Wheres them pills got too....

hehehehehehehehehe

DtG

Subject: RE: Help: Really stupid question about shoes!
From: Ruthie A
Date: 05 May 01 - 10:35 AM

I was on a mission for walking boots for my Duke of Edinburgh this morning (aargh, suicide, death by large muddy field, etc) and the shoes you are describing were sold in every shop I went in. Hmmmm. Maybe they're trying to take over the world by slowly infiltrating through walking shops.

Ruthie