The New York Times The Times of the Seventies by Clyde Haberman

Author:Clyde Haberman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
Published: 2013-07-10T16:00:00+00:00

ALL ABOUT:

Sneakers

Sneaker selection a few years ago rarely troubled anyone. Girls got white sneakers, boys got black, and both usually bought the cheapest in the store. These days, the sneaker seeker is confronted with nearly 40 styles in many stores and you can spend up to $40 on one pair. It’s enough to make you want to cancel your tennis lessons.

But while the range of styles may be a little overwhelming, it is beneficial because today sneakers are being designed for specific uses.

“We even have sneakers for parachute jumping,” said Matt Zale of The Athlete’s Foot, a store in Greenwich Village that recently opened just to sell sneakers. Mr. Zale also displayed sneakers designed for discus throwers, javelin tossers, fencers and bicyclists.

“Consider the sport you will be playing,” counsels John Weiss, owner of Runner’s World, a Manhattan sporting goods store. “And then get the best shoe available.”

Good sneakers will cost a minimum of $20, according Weiss. He advises beginners to get the more expensive sneakers, because their superior construction provides better support.

Leather or suede provide the most support because they conform to the foot, while canvas and nylon stubbornly retain their original shapes. Nylon is not without its advantages, though. It is said to “breathe” better, dry faster and resist the decaying effects of perspiration longer.

But whether it’s leather or canvas, the primary factor to consider is what you will be doing when you wear the sneakers.

And if you find that your sneakers are wearing down but you’re too attached to them to throw them out, a number of shoe stores will resole them for you. Some sneaker buffs recommend the sole restorations at Harvey’s Sporting Goods Store in Sheepshead Bay for $10 to $12. A partial replacement of toes and heels costs about $4. The replacement takes about three days and is supposed to last as long as the original parts.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.