DWalt
Member
I don't know how it popped into my mind, but does anyone else remember Earth Shoes? I actually had a pair of them back in the 1970s. They were fairly comfortable, but I haven't heard anything about them since.
Does anyone else remember...
- Thread starter DWalt
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I had a pair in the late 70's. Platypus shoes. Comfy but ugly.
For the last 20 years I have been wearing the latest equivalent... Crocs.
Don't judge me.
For the last 20 years I have been wearing the latest equivalent... Crocs.
Don't judge me.
Blind Boy
Member
I worked on the line at Dodge Main in the early 70's installing the rear deck and interior side panels on Dusters. My back was failing badly until I got Earth Shoes for my off time. They really worked and I really needed the job. Dodge Main no longer exists and I finally quit before I ruined my body.
I had a pair in the early 70s,huge bell bottoms and an army surplus trench coat. Stylin! ;-)
Earth shoes, thin sole under the heel and thick sole under the toes, never tried them.
Steve W
Steve W
It seemed like almost everyone had a field jacket or a pea coat in the mid 70's.
digi-shots
Member
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One of the selling points of earth shoes was that the heel being lower than the toes was supposed to be more comfortable. I convinced my mom to let me buy a pair because all the cool kids were getting them. After three weeks of wearing them my back hurt so bad I was afraid I'd never walk again.
OP
DWalt
Member
Sort of like wearing shoes with soles and heels reversed.
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Everyone I worked with in the Seventies wore field jackets
Nice! where in Germany? Only saw mud like that at APG. Vietnam was reddish dust and mud, we only had 551's, 113's ECT but our M-88 always " won".
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With socks?
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I had a pair. I also wore SAS shoes for a while. They were not quite as ugly.
I found them to be absolutely magical!
I suffered debilitating foot pain from about age 11. Went to docs, got orthopaedic shoes, the whole works - no help.
When I was 15, and the Earth Shoes were 'cool', I talked my folks into buying me a pair. After a few days getting used to them, my foot pain was GONE. 100%. They were also the most durable shoes I've ever owned - wore the same pair daily for about 6 years. When they finally wore out, the company had gone out of business so I couldn't get another pair.
Flash forward about another 15 years - I ruptured a disc in my back, and suffered chronic back pain for about 8-10 years. Some time around 2001-2002, I read that the Earth Shoes were being re-introduced, and I bought a new pair. My back pain was 90% gone within a week or so.
A few years later, when I tried to buy another pair, I discovered that they had discontinued Men's styles, and were making the shoes for women only. My wife located two pair of Men's style in my size NOS at an online warehouse and bought them for me. I can't wear them at work, but wear them when I can.
I'm a believer!
I suffered debilitating foot pain from about age 11. Went to docs, got orthopaedic shoes, the whole works - no help.
When I was 15, and the Earth Shoes were 'cool', I talked my folks into buying me a pair. After a few days getting used to them, my foot pain was GONE. 100%. They were also the most durable shoes I've ever owned - wore the same pair daily for about 6 years. When they finally wore out, the company had gone out of business so I couldn't get another pair.
Flash forward about another 15 years - I ruptured a disc in my back, and suffered chronic back pain for about 8-10 years. Some time around 2001-2002, I read that the Earth Shoes were being re-introduced, and I bought a new pair. My back pain was 90% gone within a week or so.
A few years later, when I tried to buy another pair, I discovered that they had discontinued Men's styles, and were making the shoes for women only. My wife located two pair of Men's style in my size NOS at an online warehouse and bought them for me. I can't wear them at work, but wear them when I can.
I'm a believer!
Yep, those Earth Shoes with the negative heels.
I remember that the designer got the idea from footprints in the beach sand. The heel part of the print is deeper.
They had their own stores. I remember the store near the University of Florida (Gainesville). Hippies or wanna be hippies would drive from all over Florida, Georgia and Alabama to shop there.
My girlfriend at the time (1975) would only wear their shoe. All the "cool" girls just had to have them.
Gainesville trips became a pilgrimage of sorts.
Wondering if Tom Petty might have been in the crowded store while we shopped?
,
I remember that the designer got the idea from footprints in the beach sand. The heel part of the print is deeper.
They had their own stores. I remember the store near the University of Florida (Gainesville). Hippies or wanna be hippies would drive from all over Florida, Georgia and Alabama to shop there.
My girlfriend at the time (1975) would only wear their shoe. All the "cool" girls just had to have them.
Gainesville trips became a pilgrimage of sorts.
Wondering if Tom Petty might have been in the crowded store while we shopped?
,
OP
DWalt
Member
The pair I had was fairly sturdy, sort of like lace-up work boots. I wore them for several years. I was teaching at Ohio U at that time and I fit right in with the students. OU was sort of a hippie school back then and probably still is. I might even consider buying another pair as my feet don't feel so good.
