Cushioned insoles with good arch support were the order of the day and function over form seemed to be the rule. But, you could still find everything from athletic shoes to wingtips.

I chose the best of both worlds; a great fitting all-leather boot with ample support and more than enough style to pass as a working media professional. The classic engineer boot in tan bomber jacket leather was perfect with jeans and a button-down shirt. And the distinct Chippewa brass buckle set me apart from the rest.

The idea that you need loose, steep, or even rugged terrain to properly scrutinize your footgear is fairly inaccurate. The simple fact that Mother Earth is comprised of shock-absorbing soil and vegetation is often overlooked.

The shock of concrete floors is transferred from the foot, to knees, to hips, and lower back. And it’s that prolonged exposure that creates the discomfort and fatigue often associated with long hours on convention floors or chasing billy goats up and down rocky peaks.

Nevertheless, in four days on the SHOT Show floor I averaged almost 7,000 steps per day or about 3.5 miles. That’s according to my trusty Walking Shop step counter, (kind of dorky but effective.) In the end it was the feet that told the story. Great fit. Successful show. Not a bad test.

So, I beg the question. How do you put your outdoor footwear to the test?