What do you usually call your athletic shoes?

Trainers.

Sneakers;
One omission from the list: trainers

I don't have athletic shoes, maybe I'd can them fred & wilma if I did have some.

Other. I wouldn't have any other hiking boots but Z-Coils now. They're especially made for people with foot problems, cost plenty, and have to be fit on one in person.

Steve.
But, sneakers.

Running shoes.

Sometimes I call them by brand, eg. my Pumas.

runners

Trainers

sneakers. i've never heard of plimsolls before!

i've never heard of plimsolls before!
Plimsolls is the name for sneakers in the United Kingdom.

Others, I call them runners.

Other - trainers.

sneakers I think

Running shoes.
What the hell are plimsolls?

Plimsolls!?!?
who are you!??!

I call them gym shoes. Tennies, just 'shoes' sometimes, occasionally sneakers.

Am I the only gym shoes person here?

I call them trainers

Running shoes - seriously!

> Running shoes.
>
> Sometimes I call them by brand, eg. my Pumas.

I guess it's a Canadian thing!

> Running shoes.
> What the hell are plimsolls?

You live close to the Canadian border don't you?

Well, currently I guess I'm not that far, since I'm in New York. I'm usually in San Francisco, though, so not really all that close. Maybe I picked it up in Boston.

Oh i wear canvas shoes

Hmmm... Strange that you should call them that.

I think that's what people called them where I grew up. They were also called tennis shoes, tennies, or sneakers. I just don't like how those ones sound as much, and I don't wear the kind for playing tennis--I wear the kind for running. Maybe I just bought into the manufacturing/advertising propaganda that differentiates between the different kinds of athletic shoes.

Then they're all sneakers to me as well - they sure is quiet when you come home late and ya don't wanna Maw and Paw hearin' ya comin' in!

But sometimes they squeak! They should be called squeakers.

Them's the cheap ones!

Shoes: running shoes, tennis shoes, besketball shoes, etc.

You forgot "Gym shoes". That's what a lot of kids call them in these parts.

I call your athletic shoes "sneakers".
I call mine "combat boots".

> You forgot "Gym shoes". That's what a lot of kids call them in these
> parts.
>
> I call your athletic shoes "sneakers".
> I call mine "combat boots".

I've owned a lot of boots when I was in the Army, and different boots were named for their function: jungle boots, jump boots, tanker boots, desert boots, etc. So, I have always been curious as to what people consider to be "combat boots" Is it any Army-issue boot? Or are there specific boots in mind?

I like them all but I have a preference. I just bought a new pair on Ebay that I'm pretty excited about. Here's the sale:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Army-Combat-BOOTS-Size-7W_...

Okay, I see. These are the first boots you would get in basic training. They are called basic combat boots (by soldiers anyway). Many soldiers call them "basic training boots," too. Ironically, you are most excited about the boots most soldiers despise. I wore the black jungle boots (even though the picture is green) http://www.galaxyarmynavy.com/item-wellco-ghwctv.a... - or - jump boots http://www.mooremilitaria.com/Corcoran%20Boot%20La...

You can't really see in the picture, but on these boots the heel and toe are the only parts that you "spit shine." And on jungle boots only the heel and toe are leather...again the only part to shine.

I like Jungle boots and I've always wondered if they are cooler.. as in, not as hot - because of the non-leather sections. Those jump boots are sexy. I have a thing for combat boots. Whether it's me wearing them, or someone else... Apparently, I'm not the only one - as I've found myself in intimate situations with nothing left on except the boots.

Soldiers despising my boots is not so different from the real world. People question my boots all the time. One day, a man wearing cowboy boots with jeans tucked into them had the nerve to ask me with disdain, "Why do you wear combat boots?"....

It really was high time for a new pair. The old ones were shot. I'm going to bury them in the backyard:
[full]
10 years old and showing it. I bought the last pair for about $15-20 on ebay, brand-new, with shipping. This pair is $35.99 with shipping. I think I got a great deal. He overcharged me for shipping, but I would have paid what I did from the guy at the flea market if he ever had my size... so I took the deal.

It sounds like that cowboy was a dick. I would have assumed you wear combat boots because...you like them. But that's just me.

Ummm, one does not bury combat boots. The traditional soldier thing to do is to "hang them up." This usually entails finding something high off the ground, or otherwise really difficult to get to, and hanging them there. This lets the world know that another soldier has ended his military career with honor. When I rotated back from Iraq, I hung mine at the top (actually, only as high as I was willing to go) of a telephone pole; they are still there.

BTW: jungle boots are indeed cooler, but more importantly, just plain more comfortable all around.

Jump boots are the crap; once they are broken in, they are just as comfortable as athletic shoes.

I think that's a really cool idea too... but I am not a soldier. . . .

Maybe I'll just use them for planters on my porch for a while first.... but ultimately, I'll give them back to the earth.

Yeah, that's how I've always felt about any type of boot I've had. More comfortable than anything... and they have the ankle support I need after years of always being supported.

I might have to look at jump boots. They are more formal... I could get some to wear when I wear dresses instead of my regular old ones

as you like...it was just an idea I wanted to share with you

Well, they look more formal when you shine them; keep that in mind.

Yeah, no offense. As I said, your idea is really neat. I've always liked the idea of honoring objects like that.

> Well, they look more formal
> when you shine them; keep
> that in mind.

I have my own shine kit I just stopped shining these last ones after they got to a certain point of no return.

me, too, sometimes. but especially when I have attached some symbolism to that object

the best way to shine boots is with a lighter, a cloth baby diaper, plain black Kiwi polish, and a little bit of water. I could explain some time if you're interested.

A lighter? Please do.

I have a soft cloth and the plain polish. I also have an old brush of my dad's. I really should get a new brush though.

Actually I used cloth diapers with my daughter and I still have every one of them boxed up. I couldn't bear to turn them into dust rags like my mom did with ours.

brushes = bad; don't ever use a brush

Put a lot of polish on the part of the boot you want shined. Light the polish for a few seconds. (exactly how much comes with experience) Put a drop (yes, I really mean a drop) of water on the boot, then lightly buff out with the diaper. Repeat as necessary.

If it takes more than a minute to get a brilliant shine in one area and it seems like the polish isn't fully dissolved by the leather, burn it again for a couple of seconds and repeat the drop/buff process. Sometimes an even lighter once-over with old panty hose can make it even brighter.

If, however, you get a brilliant shine, but it just seems to take forever, that's because it's the first coat. Once you have shined your boots this way about 20 times, strip them down with alcohol and start over. Just be sure to die them after you strip them. Any pure black boot die is fine.

Do this and your boots will look as brilliant as pleather...without looking fake. Trust me, this will make your boots impressive.

brand name then sneakers- sometimes by color to

Tennis shoes, even they are nothing like real tennis shoes.

Trainers.