Geox Shoes Review: Hot and Steamy Breathing! ("Respira!")
Written: Apr 11 '08 (Updated Apr 13 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Comfort, fit and finish, style, ventilation system
Cons: This model not appropriate for heavy duty tasks or athletics, easily stained or damaged, expensive
The Bottom Line: Excellent for keeping your feet dry and comfortable for those working taxing and long hours indoors.
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| bettega's Full Review: Geox U Walker 4 for Men |
Are your feet tired, soggy and broken after working many long hours? Do you build up hours of stinky moisture only to form painful, fissured callouses in your poor tootsies? Do you think you are one shower away from a terminal case of trench foot even though you try to incessantly scrub your calloused, cracking feet with all kinds of foot care products? If this sounds like you, then Geox shoes were made for you, so sit down and read my review of Geox shoes and learn what a wonderful product they are.
Introduction and Design
Regular shoes provide very good to excellent insulation from the outside elements. In more ways than one, this can be useful but at the end of the day amounts to suffocating your sweaty feet in a plastic bag.
The Geox shoes were designed by Italian billionaire extraordinaire Mario Moretti Polegato in response to the effects of heat on his own poor feet.
The story of the Geox shoes that breathe dates back to 1992. On a trip to Reno in Nevada, Mr. Polegato was promoting the family wineries and went for a run in the scorching desert. His poor feet quickly developed blisters in the searing heat and faced with the prospect of having to limp back home, he slashed holes in the soles of his shoes to let air in and help his feet breathe. It helped his feet feel so much better that he decided to build a special shoe around this principle.
His mother was always worried that he was too much of a dreamer, and dabbling with trying to sell his idea to various shoe manufacturers met with limited success. Eventually, he crafted his own company that used a special material used in NASA spacesuits to assist in the shoe's function. The rest is history and proof that one can do by dreaming and dream of doing your way to becoming successful by doing what you love.
Thesis: A Review of What the Design of Geox Shoes Does
By incorporating an ingenious selectively porous membrane with venting ducts, Geox has created a shoe that "breathes" out the moisture and lets in dry air with every step you take("Respira!" says the Italian Geox ad). While the technology is beyond the scope of this humble review, "selectively porous membrane" is a term that defines a layer between two bodies of matter that allows some, but not all of the constituents of those bodies to pass through. Through a system of ventilation ports on the bottom of the sole, this membrane allows water vapour to seep out and fresh air to rush in with every step, essentially evacuating the stinkiness while bringing in drying clean air with every step you take. However, it will not let liquid water through the membrane. Depending on your model, it will allow you to keep your feet dry even when traversing a small puddle though some designs are made of material on the side that will let water through, so don't consider this shoe waterproof unless so stated by Geox.
Style, Fit and Finish
The fit and finish of these shoes are excellent. They fit well, the laces tie extremely well and are easy to manipulate. The shoes slip on and off very easily and it is a snatch to adjust the laces once in a great while. The design is somewhat durable to mundane work. If all you do is sit at a desk or move around indoors they keep their luster and style extremely well and do not tatter or fade under moderate use. After a few years, they fit just as well as they did when new and have not appreciably stretched, deformed, lost their shape or worn down their tread. However, the nylon and cotton material stains easily and so this very stylish shoe will be ruined within minutes if working outdoors or in the dirt.
How the Geox Worked For Me
From the first time I used my Geox, I had outstanding results. After a year of working over 80 hours a week, often in stretches of 30 hours at a time during my internship, my feet were a mess. Bleeding and covered in rashes, I had to put all kinds of powders and moisturizers to soften the callouses that were forming deep and painful fissures. Every day they would get worse and not better; it was getting so bad I thought I had a circulation problem. One day, I heard about these shoes and decided to invest a hundred dollars each in two pairs of them to try and save myself from what I thought would be certain amputation. Well, it turns out I didn't have a circulation problem.
Despite the fact that I started using the Geox shoes during my most intense rotation of all, my feet rapidly improved while wearing the shoes. Even wearing them for dozens of consecutive hours, I would get home with my feet not only dry, but not even smelling bad at all. Only a few weeks of using the Geox shoe that breathes, my feet completely healed and went back to their rashless baseline, free of cracking callouses. I was ecstatic.
My Thoughts and Review of How Geox Worked for Me
This particular pair of shoes I am reviewing was my favorite model. They worked amazing. Comfort is stellar, as despite my size 13 feet the fit was just right. I had to really finagle this one because in Italy where I bought them, my real foot size is about half a size larger than their largest size. Of course, given the same shoe size the actual dimensions may vary somewhat from model to model, so making sure that they fit properly was of paramount importance. Once that small but important detail was ironed out, I never looked back.
From the first time I wore them, I could feel a certain refreshing draftiness with every step I take and no matter how long I wore them, my feet never once itched, felt soggy or were uncomfortable. Using them to walk around quickly was also a pleasure, as they are well weighted to absorbing the impact of your steps, but I should warn any potential user that they are not particularly supportive for heavier duty tasks or running. This particular pair is best suited to office or clerical work. If one is going to be working on unsteady ground, performing heavy physical labor, or involved in athletics there are more hardy models of Geox shoes that would be more appropriate. Lastly, this type is also easily soaked in puddles or snow, so they should be avoided if bad weather is anticipated which will defeat the purpose of this shoe.
When to Wear and Who Should Consider This Shoe
This type of Geox shoe is most useful when you want a stylish, comfortable, everyday shoe for the following applications:
-indoors
-clerical or office work such as in accounting, secretarial, legal or administrative jobs
-healthcare fields such as medicine, nursing, hospital work, physical therapy or other indoors based activities
-jobs requiring one to stand or move around a fixed area for hours on end such as a labrarian or a housekeeper provided there is no mopping to be done
When This Geox Shoe is not for You
This model of Geox shoes is not appropriate and should be avoided if:
-you work outdoors
-you anticipate working wet environments both in and outdoors or snow
-you might have to work on wet surfaces or with a lot of water that can spill, such as a janitorial role
-you are going to be doing heavy physical labor such as moving or construction, particularly the latter
-you anticipate working with materials that stain such as dyes, dirt or other spillage/stain risks
-you will need a pair of shoes for dedicated athletics or running
Conclusions
I love my Geox shoes. They weren't kidding when they say "Geox Respira" or "Geox Breathes". They provide outstandingly comfortable footwear that is stylish for low to moderate impact indoors and clerical type work which can be worn for dozens of hours on end (literally) while still keeping your feet dry. I think they're the best thing to come out since apple pie and would easily rank them as one of the best shoes I have ever worn. This particular model is particularly stylish and will invite many compliments, but they are not without their drawbacks, particularly for heavier labor. Even then Geox has an answer in the form of ventilated boots or sneakers for the appropriate application. I heartily recommend any model from the Geox shoes line with the only caveat being that you should select a style that is appropriate to how you will use it. It won't be long before you will own four, five or six pairs and be writing a glowing review of Geox shoes.
Geox shoes are highly recommended. We have a winner!
There are Geox stores cropping up all around. I highly suggest at least a visit; they're that good. If you'd like to learn more about the location of the store where I first bought this wonderful shoe, see my essay on Bologna,
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
bettega
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 in Cars & Motorsports |
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Reviews written: 89
Trusted by: 144 members
About Me:
On prolonged, possibly permanent hiatus. Ciao to all my Eps friends!
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