text: I'm so sad! Over the years I've loved Keds. First I loved them from afar and would buy the wannabe off-brands from Payless and Target when the real thing was too expensive. When I finally brought myself to pay up for a pair of true lime green Keds a decade or so ago, I wore them for years until no wash could resurrect them from their new grayish-pistachio color, and even then, holes in the canvas were the first decay—a tolerable decay. I love the style with everything, they come in my hard-to-find wide size, and, most importantly, they lasted.<br /><br />But this time, like others have reported, the rubber outer around the sole started pulling away within a month tops. I probably do more walking than most people, but when I got my previous pair of Champions a couple years ago, this wasn't a problem, and I was walking and wearing them more than I am now. Back then, the sole wore down smooth and just thinned out over time. This pair, though, the sides are pulling away from the insole, the whole bottom sole is popping out from the bottom, and I could flip the rubber outer up and put my finger between the two. They're actually falling apart. They're exploding unwearably. There's no point to spending this much money on the real thing anymore when the off-brands last at least as long.<br /><br />I'm pretty bummed out. I've really tried to make this last an excusable lifespan with some shoe glue, but I shouldn't have to do that after just a couple months.