I hate to admit it, but I spend a ridonkulous amount of money on shoes
It's nothing to drop $300+ on a pair of shoes. Not like I have the money for it, just a weak spot for them. Have 3 closets full of shoes, would make Imelda Marcos embarrassed.
However, both men and women do notice them very frequently. Multiple times a day. So it is true that people notice shoes. Just wish I had a bit more self control when it comes to buying them...
The more expensive brands tend to be the only ones who actually pay attention to physics though.
A general cheap shoe is not a good fit for every single person. For some people, if you have a truly "average" foot, you'll be fine with the initial fit. And for the people who have both an average foot and an average stride/gait/stance, they'll feel comfortable for the long-haul (until they fall apart).
How much faster a cheap brand falls apart compared to Nike or some other mass-market higher-priced brand? Can't say for sure.
But to get shoes that won't cause problems during running or can handle nearly any task you need them to (run for a little bit, need to walk a lot or be on feet for a long time)... well, I stand by the higher-priced shoes.
Brooks were my standby running shoe, until recently...for some reason, a newer-version of the same exact "model" I've been using since a running shoe expert suggested them, began giving me problems every single time I ran. All in my shins and ankles.
Fairly certain my stride never changed, because when I went to a different store (multiple running shoe stores had people recommend me the exact same model of Brooks, or a few other brands and specific models), I had them re-check my stride just to make sure. Yet again, the Brooks Adrenaline model was recommended. I told them that model used to be great for me, but has been giving me hell lately. Recommended me the Nike LunarGlide+, and well... I'm not turning back now. Pain-free running again.
This was the first pair of shoes I had bought from Nike in a very long time. Typical walking athletic-style shoe was New Balance or similar, and I do have a pair of low-top K-Swiss (got them at The Buckle) that I really like... they have like zero support/cushion though, and are beat up. Still holding up, and I like wearing them with jeans... I hate the look of low-tops and shorts though, and thus time for a new pair of everyday shoes since it's getting into shorts season here. Might have to find something similar to wear when I go out and it's a cooler night or something, and to have around when the season changes.
Back to Nike again, mainly because I really wanted to give the Nike Free model-line a try. I now have a pair of Nike Free Trainers, so they aren't as "free" as the most minimal of the Nike Free line, and they also have a little bit more lateral-movement support. So far I really like them, but the long-haul will be a little more necessary.
I really don't entirely like or hate the look of wearing athletic-style shoes all the time, and is generally why I have the K-Swiss shoes I have. I need to look again into some "dressier" everyday shoes, because I'd rather have some nicer shoes when going out in jeans, as "sneakers" are kind of boring wardrobe-wise.
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