The Planet always wins, but these Tevas put up a good fight. Never have I had a pair get so worked by daily usage, running, climbing, swimming, painting, shlepping children and spreading dung in the garden. The tread is faded, the cushion is shot, the velcro won’t hold, sand and my grime have sealed up the airflow, and the soles are coming apart at the toes. You know something has given up all it has when the shitty old pair you leave in your beach house turns out to be better than the shitty old pair you are wearing. What this says about the quality of construction of these shoes, my lifestyle, or my cheapness in wearing an old shitty pair of shoes til they rot off my feet is an open question. They only cost about $75 retail, and I got em for $26 closeout.

I could wax philosophical about the intimate relationship between a person and an excellent piece of gear, the miles and experiences and daily grind and adventures we’ve been through, deliver a eulogy for an excellent (set of) friends.

I shall give in to no such inflated oratory. They’re not dead til they shuffle off the mortal coil attaching themselves to my feet.