With another school year upon us, children are about to make one of the most important decisions they will have made up to this point in their lives. This decision was always a big one for me. Every year I spent countless hours deciding on the right shoe to make me run faster, jump higher and look cooler. Oh, of course, with a non-marking outsole – let’s keep that gym floor clean!
I see these lonely sneaks and think that some kid was pretty disappointed with his new sneaks. So disappointed, in fact, that he felt he could run faster, jump higher and look cooler in socks and left these behind. Money well spent Mom!
A fantastic pic as well! Adam, next time let us know where you found ’em 🙂
Ok, just to make sure we’re all on the same page, these are Air Jordans.
When I was a kid, I would have murdered a man for a pair of these (thankfully my parents were kind enough to save a life). Now, people are just abandoning them. Does this make any sense? You mean, I could get these…. for free? That would have melted the mind of eight year old me. And, I probably would have worn them regardless of where they came from.
Maybe some talented homeless gent will find them and start a new career… “At guard, from no fixed address, for your Toronto Raptors….!!!”
Found near Church/Adelaide.
So, the one-legged man showed up for work with inappropriate footwear? This abandoned gem does not have a steel toe, that’s all that we know. Incapable of protecting five toes, not only did this shoe become useless, it actually wasn’t even allowed on the job site. This might be our first involuntary abandonment.
This find comes from Toby – Long time follower, first time submitter.
Discovered somewhere in Waterloo, ON.
It’s hard to believe these shoes were just left on the ground. No, not because they’re in good shape but because of the exact opposite.
There are abandoned shoes and there’s litter. These are the latter. The latter are litter (I had to do that).
Ken, these are a heck of a find and you’re a star contributor, but these might be better suited for ifindlitter.com. I hope someone got fined for throwing these on the street.
Found at Granby St, Toronto City, Ontario.
We’ve had some heated debates here at ifindshoes whether a few submissions classified as ‘abandoned shoes’. Exhibit 1, 2, 3.
This find joins the group of debated finds. Brian found this pair of ski boots on Lawrence Ave W. & Allen Road in Toronto. Abandoned? Clearly. But, shoes?
They aren’t technically shoes, per se, but they are definitely footwear. I say yes!
A big thank you to Brian for this find and for keeping the debate going. He basically submitted it a month ago, but we’re behind on postings. I guess I need to add-on to the ifindshoes family. Ahem.
Before I can delve into this post, I need to provide you with a little background. For a while now, there has been a little rival brewin’ at ifindshoes between submitters, Gavin and Becky. Both have been seeking top submitter status, but to make matters a little more saucy, they also both vowed to find the holy grail – the elusive baby shoe. Many have tried and failed…but both were determined to find it.
Then it happened.
I received an email from Becky with this photo attached. To say I was completely delighted would be a grave understatement. Could it really be? How did this happen? How did she do it? Would Gavin self-destruct while listening to Van Halen’s Little Dreamer?
There are a few theories floating around concerning the legitimacy of this find. Did Becky borrow it? Did she steal it out of a diaper bag? Did she rip it off a small child’s foot? Much to Gavin’s dismay, this find is as legit as they come. While strolling down King St. W., in front of George Brown College in Toronto, Canada, Becky came upon this tiny, perfect, blue, bowed sandal. Adorable, yet tragic.
The best part of this submission was the first line that accompanied the photo: So eat my dust Gavin!!
So sad, isn’t Gavin? Tissue?
The popularity of ifindshoes has definitely increased from when I created it back in May 2010. The times where I was scrambling to find abandoned shoes and/or coaxing those who knew me to look for them as well, are long gone. This year, I came to a point where I had ask for help in order to keep up. I always have a queue full of submissions…and I couldn’t be happier! The only downside is that we sometimes fall short in the frequency of our postings, which means those submitting ‘abandoneds’ must wait a little longer to see the glory of their finds.
Friday night I was out with friends – one of them being Vikas, a long time ifindshoes supporter. You may remember some of his finds: Déjà vu; It’s official – we’re coast-to-coast; Superstar to orphaned shoes everywhere; A runner’s delight; It was on it’s way home when…; Same parking lot, different flip; Braces yourselves; People abandon shoes, even during TIFF; Brings new meaning to abandoned…A fantastic list of great abandoned shoes throughout Canada.
After a few drinks, I was gently informed that I had completely forgotten about a submission Vikas sent me. At first, I didn’t believe him. I’m pretty careful at making sure every submission (that’s appropriate) gets it’s limelight…and in the order they are received. So, I did some searching and he was right. T.h.e h.o.r.r.or.
As you can see from the picture, they were submitted at the beginning of April. A disgrace. Thanks for being so patient, Vikas. Mucho amor from ifindshoes!
Found near Queen’s Quay near Sugar Beach, Toronto, Canada.
Update: He’s already submitted again, so not to worry everyone!
I have no doubt that these were purposely abandoned – they just seem too organized. I do, however, have doubt about why they were left behind. Not my style or anything, but they look like a perfectly serviceable shoe, so why abandoned? We aren’t given a whole lot to go on other than 1. a tree, and 2. a bike post.
So, did someone abandon these to climb that tree or to ride a bike? Something else? My sleuth skills aren’t weak today. Nancy Drew, are you reading this? If so, I’d like to hear from you.
This is the first submission by Sarah. Sarah, you’re a rookie, an NLer, a friend and you made me dinner once, so I’ll let it slide, but next time, you have to let us know where you made the find!
Found here.
I don’t normally do this. I’m usually always fair, but I just couldn’t help myself. Here at ifindshoes, we receive submissions all the time. We always post submissions in the order that we receive them in an effort to be fair. I received these shoes from Gavin on Friday and they’re up today. You will see why…
“These shoes were discovered on June 4 in Dundonald Park, near Yonge and Wellesley in downtown Toronto. Robbie (boyfriend) and I had just enjoyed an evening of yummy eats and gin rummy at a nearby pizzeria, and were taking a shortcut to a local haunt that we frequent when we stumbled across this apparent crime scene: two abandoned sneakers, each stuffed with socks and trussed with their own laces like little Thanksgiving turkeys, sitting in a puddle of fresh blood. We went to great lengths to get photographic evidence before the blood dried up (Robbie took these pics with an iPhone that we eventually borrowed from the aforementioned haunt), which I fully expect to one day be treated with Nine Inch Nailsy scratches and fonts and used on a future episode of Cold Case. One can only imagine what kind of carnage took place here only moments before we arrived…a drug deal gone wrong, a freak jogging accident, a ritual tooth extraction/pedicure?”
Here’s a close up:
For some reason, I automatically thought tooth extraction when I saw this.
Another first for ifindshoes. Well done, Gavee. Not only have you now made top submitter so far (don’t worry Becky…there’s still time!), but you also have captured vital info for the authorities.
When I was a kid, it seemed like there was an obsession about finding an answer to the question, “Who is taller?”. It also seemed like the only way to scientifically prove this is to stand back-to-back with your opponent. Is that what is going on here?
I also immediately thought of John Wayne and an old Western stand-off. You know, the slinging of guns? However, I know that’s not what’s going on here because the time is clearly not high-noon…the only time for a proper stand-off.
These runners were found by the ifindshoes CEO at Wellington/Blue Jays Way. They’re now running in that marathon in the dumpster.
i find shoes 