Three Months On: Walking the City with Valsole Footwear
Back in May, I shared my first impressions of three pairs of recovery footwear that was sent to me by Valsole. As I said at the time, as someone who averages between eight and twelve kilometres a day walking around Victoria, I spend a lot of time on my feet and I really pay attention to how a shoe performs. For the most part I need to wear business shoes during the week and usually sneakers on the weekend. That said, there are other moments for other footwear, and that is where the three pairs I have been trying out from Valsole have come in. Valsole sent me a pair of slides; a pair of flip flops; and a pair of clogs. If you want to go back and read my first article where I introduce the shoes more in-depth, you can read that whole piece here.
It has been just about three months since that first article and I though I would share how the Valsoles have been holding up and how I have been using them since then. I will say overall, that I have been using all three to varying degrees, and one pair has been on my feet way more than I expected. Keep reading to find out which ones.
The Recovery Slide: The Back-Door Go-To
The Recovery Slides quickly became my default choice for stepping out the back door. After two months of constant slipping on and off for quick garden tasks, brief neighborhood walks and even a camping trip, the supportive cushioning has held up very well. When I had them camping, they were perfect to have just outside my camper so that I was not tracking dirt inside but also not walking around outside without shoes on my feet. I wear these slides far more than I would have expected. I really like the way the sole cushioning feels and the Velcro is showing no signs of wearing despite quite a bit of adjusting the straps over the days.
I would definitely get these slides again and I would say that by having these at the back door, I have probably also extended the life of my other shoes as I am not half sliding on a pair of sneakers and crushing the heel collar. If you want to check out the pair I tried, check out the link below:
Valsole Recovery Slide - Olive
The Propel Flip: Stepping Up the Summer Beach Walks
Of the three pairs of Valsoles that I tried out, the Propel Flips were by far my favourite from a looks perspective. They still are. In some ways they seem almost too nice. I usually have my Havianas on when I go to the beach and don’t mind trashing them while I am there, including running into the ocean with them on. With my Valsole Propel Flips, and their leather uppers, I have been hesitant to run into the water wearing them and risk making them look less than great. On the ‘flip’ side though, they look really good because of their design and the fact that I don’t want to take them into the water speaks to their elevated appearance. While you can’t where these into a fine dining restaurant or to work, there is an elevated appearance to them that makes you feel like your dressed up while you walk along the causeway by the water. They also look good both in shorts and with light casual pants. I will say that the toe post is quite big and it did take my feet a little of that early summer stretching to get used to them, but they are fine for me now. If you are looking for a great looking, almost dressed up flip-flop, the Valsole Propel Flip should be on your list.
The Hearth Clog: Evening Coziness and Post-Activity Relief
When I first unboxed the Hearth Clogs in May, I half-wished it was still December because of that beautifully plush wool lining and thick cozy feeling. I am really looking forward to having them next winter. Still, this is Victoria so on a few of those June-uary nights I have worn them all over the house. I personally think they look great. The little light blue accent at the back is maybe my favourite part. They feel even better than they look though. You really get the idea behind a recovery show when you are wearing them as they are light, structured and so comfortable. I have also noticed that even though I am wearing them in the summer, they don’t feel too warm. In the colder months, they are going to feel amazing. If you are looking for an around the house recovery clog, these are definitely a great option.
Valsole Hearth Clog - Classic Tan
Durability and Wear: How Have They Held Up?
When you spend as much time on your feet as I do, shoes can degrade fast. After three months, the thick soles of the slides and flips show very little signs of collapsing and are maintaining that signature 'squish' very well. As far as I can tell, they have all done very well. All the photos in this article are taken in the last couple of days I think show that despite a lot of wear, at least on the flips and slides, they look great. They definitely look like they have been worn now, but I think that is good. As for the clogs, they are comfortable and look absolutely brand new, but as I have been wearing them inside and only occasionally, I am not as certain about how they will look after a lot of wear. Still overall, it would seem that Valsole is making a quality product.
Final Verdict?
If you are looking for some comfy recovery footwear, from the three pairs that I have tried, Valsole makes a quality product that looks good too. I know I am going to keep wearing the ones I have. In going back to the website as I worked on this article, I was surprised to see that they also have some great discounts on right now as well. Also, even though I said it in the first article, I should reiterate it here, I have not been paid for writing this article and I don’t get any money if you buy anything from Valsole either. I did get the three pairs of shoes to try out, and I have definitely enjoyed them, but this is my honest perspective on the shoes. Thanks for reading, if you have any questions about the three pairs that I have mentioned here, please leave a comment and I will answer them.