Remember the shoes I posted about when I was too lazy to come up with something worthwhile to talk about? Well, I’ve already stained the toe of one of them beyond cleaning, and I just realized today that they are trying to kill me.
The night of the Potato Bake I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off and every so often I would slip a little and think, “Dang it, there’s something on the floor”.
Swipe, swipe, swipe – nothing. I figured they must have waxed the floors and I was just hitting the slippery spots.
I wore the shoes again today and several times came across a slippery spot on the floor. Finally I scuffed at the place to see if maybe sand had spilled there, when I looked at the bottom of my foot, I realized it was the sole of my shoe.
What the what?? There is a strip of rubber running around the outside of the shoe, and one strip of rubber under the balls of my feet, and the rest of the sole is some felt-like fabric?? I’ve already worn it down enough that I don’t know what it looked like originally, but this seems like a very strange design to me. I’ve googled ‘Keds slippery sole’ and nothing is coming up.
I’ll get you, Keds. *fist shake* With Nike as my witness, I will get you.
Brad says
That fabric looks super absorbent. Have you worn them on a rainy day?
They could be a good way to clean the floor. Soak them in cleaner, and slide, slide, slide…
Lauren's dad says
I avoid neoprene soles on shoes for the same reason—they are slick! But it’s so nice that Mom grabs my arm when she’s walking on ice with her dress shoes—they have neoprene soles!
Peggy says
I wonder if the maker of this shoe has multiple personalities. The dangerous side contributed the slick, fall & break your neck sole & the virtuous side added the life saving rubber border & piece thru the middle.
(Btw: I read that spraying hairspray on slippery soles & letting it dry helps with slipperyness)
Gretchen says
Maybe they’re actually bowling shoes.
Beth says
That’s what the bottom of a good number of girl’s shoes looks like. I’ve wondered about it, and always thought that they were constructed that way to make ballerina twirling easier.
Twirl away!
John Brady says
I bet some gum on the bottom of your shoes would make them less slippery. I stepped in some one day after church and it was very effective!
Curren says
My theory (as a swing dance fanatic) is that they think they’re putting the fuzzy stuff on the bottom for dancers. Keds are extremely popular in the swing dance scene (and maybe others?) and a slippery sole is good for spinning without twisting your knees and ankles to shreds. The irony: I found this post because it drives me nuts that they put the fuzzy bits everywhere EXCEPT the balls of your feet which would be what you’re usually spinning on. So I, too, have been wondering what on Earth they are seeking to accomplish with that design.
Lauren says
Interesting theory! I have a newer pair of Keds, and the sole has done the same thing. Weird shoes….
bekahcubed says
This recent comment just made me HAVE to read the whole post, which made me check all my Cheapo shoes (only to discover that almost all my shoes have felt on the bottom), which made me really curious… so I Googled it and came up with this article from Smithsonian Magazine. Turns out tariffs are to blame.
Lauren says
Hi again, Bekah! 🙂 Thank you figuring that out and for the link. (It quoted Radiolab! I love that program!) It makes a certain amount of crazy sense. 🙂
Lynn says
I have the exact same problem while traveling! I goggled and found your post. I almost fell a few times while wearing it at a restaurant, initially intended to get for my child but Im taking it off the list for now until the bottom have some anti slip on.
Kristi says
I wore mine to a restaurant and nearly fell just walking into the door! I tried to attempt to walk to the booth but failed. The poor hostess just told me to take my shoes off and wear my socks. She said it was t the first time that had happened there and she knew it was because of the darn keds. I’m scared to wear them now after that one time lol
Kristi says
I wore mine to a restaurant and nearly fell just walking into the door! I tried to attempt to walk to the booth but failed. The poor hostess just told me to take my shoes off and wear my socks. She said it was t the first time that had happened there and she knew it was because of the darn keds. I’m scared to wear them now after that one time lol
Lauren says
They are deadly, aren’t they? I’m glad that you are alright and that the hostess sounds like a smart lady. Crazy shoes.
I have a new pair that I bought in the fall, and they have an actual rubber sole across the entire surface. I feel so secure! 🙂