They Were My Favorite Shoes: Adidas Originals APS

They were my favorite sneakers, but I had to give them up. The Adidas Originals APS: the finest running shoes with the sickest colorway, ever.

It's a funny story how I came into them, actually. A year after they were originally released, I stumbled across a picture of the pair on a now-defunct fashion blog. The blog featured a myriad of shoe profiles and, as I was in the market for a new pair of running shoes, I was doing my research.

I wasn't exactly looking for something too athletic, as I'm not really all too athletic, but I do run. My main concern was the colorway-fresh colors that I'd never seen before, and could compliment any outfit.

When I came across the picture of the Adidas Originals APS, I immediately knew I would have to get my hands on a pair. A cool tan base with brown and orange accents comprised the sneaker.

Unfortunately, the shoes were impossible to find in stock. I searched and searched and searched. I lost track of time. Then, at 4 a.m., I stumbled across a little site called sneakersnstuff.com, which operates out of Europe.

Amid an assortment of other discontinued rarities from Adidas Originals, there they were: the APS. And the only size remaining just happened to be mine!

I had to have them, regardless of the price-a whopping $175.

I reasoned with myself; every pair of shoes I'd bought up to this point cost me less than $50. Why not indulge? I've got a credit card, too!

When the shoes came, I couldn't believe how good they looked in real life. I tried them on... a perfect fit! Looking inside the box, there was something I did not expect: a small yellow piece of plastic with an instruction manual attached.

Evidently, the Adidas APS has a unique internal spring that, when cranked with the key, allows the owner to adjust the sole tension to his/her own preference. This operates on a number system, which is embedded in the transparent sole piece below the internal spring.

After a number of satisfying jogs (the Adidas Originals APS have excellent arch support), I found my number to be 8.

After a few more satisfying jogs I did, however, notice one thing: a squeak. No matter what I did, I couldn't get the squeak to go away. What had happened, apparently, was I'd stepped in a puddle while running, thus saturating the foam-based internal spring.
In the end, I returned the shoes to Adidas Originals and, because of their liberal return policy, was refunded my entire amount in Adidas Originals credit. If I could've replaced the APS I'd bought, I would have, despite their mechanical shortcoming.