I have experimented with the “one shoe” principle — trying to live with only one pair of shoes for all seasons and occasions. Before I left on my trip, I spent a few months scouring the web and shoe stores for a perfect multi-sport sandal. I finally settled on a Keen. I hiked in it, walked in it, got in the water with it. And the last couple of months of work I even wore it everyday to see how many people would take notice of me wearing a sandal. I knew it, they knew. It was very cold that November and December and even with wool socks, my feet were freezing.
The concept hasn’t entirely worked here in the tropics. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get away with using flops or sandals for our wedding. I had to buy a pair of dress shoes. I now have a few pair of things that go on my feet, mostly flops and sandals. After all, I’m living in “flipflopdom,” where you can have a flop for all occasions. So I have a pair of flops for the CR (comfort room/bathroom), and a pair for walking on the beach, and a pair of sandals for longer distance walking. And the Keens for all around.
I still like the idea of a minimalist approach to footwear as that means shoes take up less space in the apartment and when traveling, the shoe goes on your foot, not in the pack. It’s less weight on the back and the soul.