Wifey and I were just planning to drive a few cities away to buy some delicious cake in Laguna. We didn't have any plans to go anywhere else. But by some stroke of spontaneity, we chanced upon a gas station stopover that happened to have some factory outlets. There were Adidas and Crocs.

As we checked the outlets out, I remember that I was never keen on having branded or multiple shoes even when I was a kid. The only brand I remember I liked was Reebok, because it was cool at the time I was a teen and my parents gave me a pair then.  For me, I prioritize comfort and looks, regardless of the brand or label. 

I've had friends and relatives who I knew were serious shoe collectors. They knew the ins and outs of shoes, knew the history of each pair, and some were even lining up to get a pair as soon as it was launched.  

The two current pairs of shoes I rotate are actually over 6 years old; one is from Taiwan, and the other was bought in Singapore but probably made in Indonesia. So I was more interested in looking at non-shoe products when we visited these shoe outlets. After visiting Crocs and Adidas, we were ready to leave when we noticed there was one more small shoe store a bit farther down the strip. And so while we were there, we decided to take a look.

Went around the aisles of shoes and I suddenly gained interest in a black and hot pink shoe I saw. It reminded me of WWE wrestler Bret "The Hitman" Hart, with his signature wrestling gear being black and pink.  It looked cool, and I never had this color combination for a shoe. When I picked it up, it was light and looked sturdy.  I decided to try it out, but it was a bit small for my feet. So I asked for the next bigger size.  Luckily, they had it in stock. Tried it out and walked a bit. It felt soft and comfy. So comfy that since I've been wearing the same shoes for 6 years, I forgot how a comfortable shoe could feel.  

Looked good, felt good. Now for the brand. The name Puma as a brand never appealed to me. I really don't have any reason why. It just never sparked any joy, I guess.  And I never had a Puma pair of shoes. If I would rank shoe brands, Puma would probably be at the bottom of my list.  

So I did the illogical. I bought the pair of shoes.

Why?

For me, it's comfort over style. Design over brand.  And affordability over luxury.  I may not have any personal connection with the brand, but I am happy with the new pair of shoes I have.  I hope this will last as long as or even longer than my old pair of shoes. Please keep my feet safe and comfortable, Puma. I placed my bet on you; don't let me down.

Now we walk.