CAT Wear

There has to be a first to everything. We’ve been writing for this spot of virtual space for 17 years now, and this would be the first time something about shoes is posted, and not for women either too! I reckon most men don’t think too hard – compared to women perhaps – about what footwear they’re wearing. Typically we’re more concerned about functionality over form.

My work place is somewhat flexible in dress-code expectations. So, unless I’m having meetings, I routinely wear either collared polo-or short-sleeve shirts with casual slacks – and dark brown walking shoes to match. For several years I wore Weinbrenner shoes for work. These are widely available at the ubiquitous Bata footwear shops everywhere on the island. However, the Weinbrenner shoes never lasted long in my use – and with the outsoles giving way every single time. Of the probably eight pairs of Weinbrenners’ I’ve had, all their outsoles wore out after 6 months. In some cases, the outsole layer simply tore or split , while for others, holes grew and penetrated the insole layer. All this is odd, since I walk on mostly smooth or carpeted surfaces at work. I’ve wondered if it has to do with the specific range of Weinbrenner shoes that are carried at Bata stores – they tend to be the fairly low-priced ones at $49.90 to $79.90.

In any case, footwear from CAT is carried at selected stores here. They’re typically priced quite a bit higher – usually about $120 to $180 a pair for their casual walking shoes range,. The range brought here for sale tends to be somewhat limited, compared to the obviously much larger range in their international web sites. My first pair that cost $150 was bought 15 months ago, and while the shoe’s leather uppers show visible wear from daily use, the outsoles have borne well with no tears, splits etc. even though the pattern of use is identical to the Weinbrenner shoes I’ve owned. Encouraged with that experience, I’ve just picked up a second pair from the same store – the Royal Sporting House outlet @ Bedok Mall. The normal price of this pair is $169, but the store was offering a 20% discount, and another 10% off that again for OCBC VISA card holders.

And what I really like about these two pairs: thick laces that do not fray easily, cushioned insole, fairly light (especially this new pair), and most importantly – very tough non-skid outsoles.