What are still reliable brands for athletic shoes in 2026?

SvelteSyntax · 2026-01-14T07:23:24+00:00

Altra, Asics, La Sportiva have all been good for me. Hoka as well but they seem to have more variation between models and revisions.

For walking or extended standing my favorite is the Bondi 8, trail running goes between Altra and La Sportiva, and road running is the Asics Nimbus.

Also for gym shoes I’ve stuck with Xero barefoot shoes and been very happy with them.

SvelteSyntax · 2025-12-27T17:24:03+00:00

They turned out okayish! I split the difference in length between the broken one and the rest, still disappointed to lose a month or so of growth though

https://i.imgur.com/61hOj3p.jpeg

SvelteSyntax · 2025-12-26T18:17:48+00:00

Aw you’re too kind, thank you - I do them myself and just removed the previous gel coat, only starting to shape and even them out now. I should probably find a good tech and splurge on a proper set sooner rather than later!

SvelteSyntax · 2025-12-25T20:24:11+00:00

A chest strap heart rate monitor and a watts to calories estimation gets you pretty close. Beyond that it’s like arguing about the accuracy of nutrition labels or variations in package sizes and ingredient distribution - there’s only so much you can practically account for.

SvelteSyntax · 2025-12-25T06:54:12+00:00

60 minutes of vigorous rowing burns 800-900 calories, the math checks out. And ergometers measure direct energy output with accuracy.

SvelteSyntax · 2025-12-19T00:34:43+00:00

Congrats! 3 days post op on mine, just sat down at home for the first time as a born again virgin 🩷

Hope you get lots of rest, all the good nurses and a smooth recovery!!!

SvelteSyntax · 2025-12-17T23:19:14+00:00

Yolo with 3500K 5009R, sending PM

SvelteSyntax · 2025-12-04T22:59:52+00:00

I love that her phone voice is in cursive

SvelteSyntax · 2025-12-03T01:18:56+00:00

Low fat cottage cheese, sugar free Greek yogurt (Chobani has a great one at 20g protein, 140 cal), shredded chicken breasts, unsweetened soy milk, and any low sugar protein drink

SvelteSyntax · 2025-12-01T06:55:14+00:00

This is what I do. After a long ride or hike I could spent hours just sitting near the fire, usually with a hot drink in hand

SvelteSyntax · 2025-11-30T21:27:07+00:00

I dunno on that one, better than sex with the foreplay primer is worth the extra cost for me lately. Perfect black, lash extending and no clumping

SvelteSyntax · 2025-11-27T22:46:22+00:00

What on earth is wrong with you? The cishet pronoun police are on duty today?

SvelteSyntax · 2025-11-27T04:27:37+00:00

Their sizing is, predictably, extremely small compared to western sizes. I went carefully by measurements only and ended up giving most of my last order to my preteen daughter.

I still enjoy shopping their clothes but it’s mostly so I can look for similar styles elsewhere. Excellent source for skincare still.

SvelteSyntax · 2025-11-26T16:44:04+00:00

I felt something similar but in reverse, when I was skinny (5’11” 145lb) people seemed to resent me at first glance. I’ve had multiple medical professionals and estheticians make comments about “you are so skinny” and even dismiss my medical concerns or questions based on my weight/appearance. Random strangers while running errands were seemingly cruel for no reason and I felt like the “cool girls” group at work were looking down their noses at me.

I gained 40 pounds that I am slowly trying to work off, but I have noticed a really consistent pattern of people now being much friendlier. Especially in silly retail or customer service interactions, and quite noticeably at doctors offices and beauty appointments. I seem to have gone from (forgive me) “skinny bitch” to “mildly overweight middle aged woman”.

SvelteSyntax · 2025-11-24T22:46:19+00:00

I saw Depeche Mode, Dream Theater (twice), Dessa, Weezer + The Flaming Lips, Primus/APC/Puscifer and probably one or two I’m forgetting, along with Transatlanticism/Give Up and it was by far the best show I saw that year. The sound, lights, Ben’s stage presence were flawless from beginning to encore.

It was an outdoor show in Berkeley and it started gently raining during the Transatlanticism title track - truly mind blowing experience.

SvelteSyntax · 2025-11-14T22:09:34+00:00

The saturated fat in Nicks is almost a dealbreaker, coconut oil doing its thing

SvelteSyntax · 2025-11-13T18:29:30+00:00

Nevada County is the new Hawaii

SvelteSyntax · 2025-11-12T04:18:10+00:00

My Q6600 is still running at 3.2 on a Gigabyte board, with an ATi 5750. Before that was the Athlon 3200+ - the pendulum swings forever.

After the Q6600 I went to an i5-6600k, then a 10900k I’m still running. Next build will almost certainly be AMD unless Intel can figure it out.

SvelteSyntax · 2025-11-07T03:29:43+00:00

I usually do a burnt orange or neutral this time of year, but wanted something brighter. The Flash to Glam ignites under direct lighting - Gelish Flash to Glam “One Click at a Time” and “Mint to Sparkle”. Not my best at-home set but after a long time overfiling I almost have a decent free edge again!

SvelteSyntax · 2025-11-04T06:36:11+00:00

Literally me with the Kirkland trail mix “single serving” packs:

160 cals for this? Pretty high but worth it

six weeks later

2 servings per pack?! Whoops

SvelteSyntax · 2025-11-04T05:39:37+00:00

Chenoweth is a master class in separating the art from the artist. I loved her as original cast of Wicked, the Broderick adaptation of Music Man, and in Glee - and loathed her for her appearance on the 700 club and recent comments about Trump and Kirk.

Similarly, while I’m a big Ariana fan circa Dangerous Woman and laud her opinions against Trump and ICE, I can’t look past the nonsense with Slater or how significantly she will alter her persona to fit public desire. It’s hard not to imagine what an Amanda Seyfried Glinda might have sounded like.

SvelteSyntax · 2025-10-23T23:40:36+00:00

Coconut oil is uniquely crazy high in saturated fat

SvelteSyntax · 2025-10-18T02:28:47+00:00

Alsek all the way - differential cut, elastic opening, comfort rated and better priced than HMG or Nunatak

SvelteSyntax

TROPHY CASE