I am done with FILA sneakers
My everyday footwear are sneakers; not too sporty and comfortable for everyday chores, affectionately known as “dad shoes”.
Dad shoes generally refer to practical, comfortable sneakers with oversized, chunky soles that provide maximum comfort for underfoot support and cushioning. — Men’s Health.
Two pairs of shoes that I have are from FILA:
- Recollector sneakers, made in China, imported by Mexico, sold in Costco, where I bought them for about $20–$25.
- A-Low, “versatile lifestyle shoes for every day” as FILA advertises them. List price $65, I bought them for about $40 at a discount store.
The Recollectors are low-quality sneakers from the upper to the liner to the sole. The only natural part is leather toe cap, everything else is man-made. I don’t care much for the upper as long as it holds my foot, but the sole is a different matter.
The midsole is made from soft, lightweight and spongy material called EVA — Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate. The outsole is rubber. If you look it up on the Internet, you may read that EVA has revolutionized the shoe industry. It sure did, reducing the longevity of shoes from years to months in the process.
Like may others, I do not have perfect gait; in fact I have supine feet. On all my shoes, heels wear out first on on the outside. Also, I hit hard on my toes on the left foot.
After the thin outsole wears out, the soft midsole disintegrates in days. Sadly, the right heel has been worn out beyond repair, and I will have to trash these shoes.
I did not expect them to last, and this is the only good thing that I can say about them — they did not lie to me at the store, they did not pretend to be long-lasting, they looked like cheap disposable garbage from the start.
The A-Low shoes look more upscale. They are quite heavy, adding to the impression of a durable quality product. Upper looks like leather. Midsole, made of TPR — thermoplastic rubber — feels dense and long-lasting. Outsole on the front gives an impression of a thick protective layer. In reality it has already abraded through all the way to the white midsole.
The heel does not try to impress with durability, here thin outsole has already rubbed off. But the midsole is dense and durable, so this should not be a big issue, should it?
Surprise! The midsole is not solid all the way through, instead it is made of cells with nothing but air inside. When this structure starts to break, the remaining partitions cannot withstand the increased load, and the whole thing rapidly disintegrates.
I tried repairing the shoes, although there was little to attach a patch to. I removed the remains of the outsole and filled cells in the heel with bits of soft plastic.
Without proper tools and with such a shoddy design it is almost impossible to repair this damage. I wonder whether the patch will hold at all.
I would not be surprised if this contraption falls apart in half a mile. I also patched the other shoe and the toes. This looks ugly, but I am invested too much into these shoes, monetarily and emotionally to simply throw them out.
