One of the things I was most looking forward to during this year of travel to mostly warm places was the ability to wear my super comfortable Rainbow Sandals nearly everyday. I bought them at a surf shop in California in 2002 and they are by far the most comfortable sandals I have ever owned. In fact when I finally wore through the rubber soles in 2007 Amy had them resoled for me. Every year I regret when these finally go into the closet for the winter.
These sandals are so well made and last so long that Rainbow markets them as sustainable. Proving, as Tide Cold Water does in a new TV spot, that value and sustainability can often be found in the use and longevity of a product. As a note I feel that the $10 savings per bottle for Tide Cold Water is a pretty compelling claim.
As you can see my sandals were very well used but unfortunately the leather had finally started to fall apart. 
However any shoes you can get 7+ years of use out of I consider a success. So with my original sandals retired, what was I going to do for sandals on the trip?
Never fear, after a quick stop into the local City Sports and $26 later (thanks to a 40% end of summer discount) I walked out with a new pair of Rainbows to break in before we leave. This time I went with the black leather, since Amy has a brown pair I felt the need to be at least a little different. No one likes matchy-matchy traveling couples.
So now that you know my story what are your favorite shoes? Have you had shoes or another piece of clothing that was super comfortable and seemed to last forever? Lets hear about it in the comments below. At the risk of getting some odd pictures, send me a picture of your favorite long lasting clothing to me at keith-at-greenaroundtheglobe.com. If I get some good submissions I will post them here in a follow-up post.
*As a note I did not receive any compensation or free goods from Rainbow for the above endorsement. I hope in the future to have enough readers to receive free gear to review. If that does happen I will be sure to disclose it fully.
[Oct 14th Addendum]
Casey Miller, per his comment to this post sent in two pictures of his favorite t-shirt. The second shot is a close up of the collar to highlight the multiple holes in it. Good work in getting your money’s worth from that one Case.
Casey's T-shirt
Close-up of the Collar
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Sweatshirts are definitely my most “sustainable” clothing item. I have a grey hoodie that’s at least 8 years old and a blue zip-up hoodie that I bought from Wal-Mart (I know, forgive me) 5 years ago. I wear the blue one almost every day in the spring and fall because the train to work is so cold.
The blue hoodie only cost about $12, so if you figure an average of 150 wears per year, we’re down to about 1.6 cents per wear. It’s a bit frayed and has a hole in the sleeve where a chain-link fence attacked me, but still functional. I’m going to hang onto it until it falls apart or I get below the $0.01 per wear mark – which is three years from now.
Andy don’t feel to bad about buying from Wal-Mart, with their new Sustainable Product Index (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/14/walmarts-sustainability-i_n_231393.html) Wal-Mart is an amazing change agent helping to increase sustainability in consumer goods. There is a still a long road to go on this, but I can tell you major package goods companies are more than a little concerned on how their products will stack up to the competition at shelf.
I come down firmly in the camp of Teva flip flops–especially their new Mush brand. I wear mine every day to walk Milo and have never owned a pair of flip-flops that didn’t make my gymnastics-worn knees ache after a long walk, let alone two long walks a day.
My two-year-old first pair is still in great shape, but I bought a second pair just recently because they make my feet and legs so happy (and I need brown and black to justify wearing them every day).
P.S. Don’t talk about hoping to solicit free gear. It turns readers off.
Kristin, thanks for sharing your Teva flip flops story. Teva were definitely forerunners at introducing premium sandals years ago, all stemming from their whitewater rafting heritage.
Thanks for letting me know that the footnote turned you off. In other travel blogs I read, all with many more subscribers than we have here, it is standard practice to disclose if you did receive the gear for free to test. Apparently this happens once you get decent rankings on Technorati. The footnote was an attempt to poke fun at myself as we are getting started, but I can see how it could be taken the wrong way. I hope it did not turn others off.
Kristin and I have similar feet apparently because I love my Teva Mush flip flops as well. I currently have three pair and I wear them exclusively during summer. In fact, my feet are currently going through withdrawl since I’ve had to wear “work” shoes for the past week, instead of my oh-so-comfy Teva flip flops:(
Favorite shoes?
Definitely the Birks.
Definitely the Birks I left in a crappy motel room in Abilene TX.
Man I miss those sandals.
I am going to have to compete with the favorite flip flops — I stand by my Reef Flops through thick and thin
I have 2 pairs (black canvas and brown leather) and both have lasted for about 3 years and are still going strong. My favorite part is that after about the first year the soles start forming to the bottom of your feet making it feel like you are walking around on clouds! Oh how I wish i could wear then to work everyday!
I have heard good things about Teva’s and Rainbow, but I can’t break away from what my feet love
On a side note — I was not turned off by the footnote
If you start getting free things, you better share 
hehe.
Wow….lots of smiley faces — didn’t realized that until I published — looks like I took a happy pill when I woke up today. ha.
In younger years when I fished while the lake water froze in the guides, I found an insulated jacket in the local Army Surplus store that was marked U.S.Air Force Arctic Wear. It was so lightweight and soft and comfortable you never needed more than a windbreaker over it. Over the years, I used it for all number of outside tasks. I tried to replace it when it was getting worn but could never find another. The knit collar came off. The zipper ripped out. It had paint splatter all over and many holes from fish hooks. I loved it..I still miss it. My solution is to go to Florida when it gets cold. However, it is still in the closet. That folks is not sustainability, it’s hoarding!
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Didn’t know we were limited to space.
Jacket: cont’d
Eventually the knit collar came off. The zipper ripped out. It had paint splatter all over and many holes from misplaced fish hooks. I loved it. My solution is to go to Florida when it gets cold. However, it is still in the closet. That folks is not sustainability, it hoarding!
Hands down, the oldest piece of clothing I currently own is the beloved Township Tavern t-shirt. The problem is that I can’t wear it outside of my apartment because everyone in the general public would think I was homeless. Maybe it’s worth a shot–I might get some free food.
Keith, post the picture.