20d ago
I purchased the Fort Worth Sabahs about a month before we had our Italian vacation scheduled. For that first month, I wore them maybe 5 times to help break them in. Mostly around the house and neighborhood. Took the dog for a walk a few times; also wore them to work once or twice. The work days being the longest I had worn them. It took this amount of time to really break the shoes in. And I am extremely happy I wore them like this prior to our trip. Over the course of our 14 days in Italy I put these Sabahs though the test. Multiple days of only wearing these shoes, average of 11k steps a day, over cobblestone streets and steps, multiple tours and miles. Through a 12 hour Tuscany tour of Siena, San Gimignano, and Pusa (Pisa being the flatest walk of the tour, but I did walk to the top of the tower), walking the streets of Rome, Vatican City, Venice and Naples, these shoes did not disappoint. The Sabahs maintained a softness I didnt realize possible. My feet felt cool and thus my body temperature didnt feel hot despite the 75 to 80+ degree days in Italy during the end of May and early June. Zero pain in my heals or arches, zero pain in my legs and no soreness in my body the next day. Was I pain free? No. Walking all day, my body would naturally swell my feet, and I experienced pain on the top of my foot as a tightness. However, I realized early on to take my time, sit to allow my body some recovery moments, enjoy a good meal with a good glass of wine. This shoe is going to take time to break in. It will take a little effort on your part to have a similar experience. The above seems extreme, even to me, and I have never had a better experience with a shoe. Do not size up!! Pick the size for yiur feet and break the shoes in. The build quality is excellent. I haven't experienced the sole coming apart yet, but I know it will happen, and have already looked up a good cobbler to fix it when it does. This is because I love these shoes and will enjoy them for years to come.
