Monthly Picks That Walk the Walk

Okay, here’s how this started.

I love shoes. But working in events—producing them, attending them, facilitating workshops where I’m on my feet all day—I wear through shoes constantly.

So I did what any reasonable person would do: I asked the internet what shoes they wear for travel-heavy, event-heavy, “I’ve been standing for 12+ hours and my back hurts” work.

The post went viral. Hundreds of comments. People sharing their ride-or-dies, their biggest regrets, their “never again” stories.

The internet lost it.

People wanted the scorecard. The honest takes. The “will this destroy my feet at a trade show” intel that no one else is giving.

So now we’re here. Welcome to Step & Repeat, the monthly newsletter where I test products in the field—real events, real travel, real chaos—and tell you what actually holds up.

No sponsored fluff. No “I wore these to brunch once” reviews. Just honest, tested, “I’ve been there and here’s what happened” recommendations.

Let’s go. 👟

Screenshot of LinkedIn post asking "What shoes do you wear for events?" with hundreds of comments and reactions

What Is Step & Repeat?

Step & Repeat is a monthly newsletter for people who are on their feet a lot and travel for work.

Every month, I test one product in real work conditions—conferences, trade show floors, airports, cities I’m visiting for 36 hours—and break it down with:

✅ The Step & Repeat Scorecard — 10 categories, scored out of 100
✅ Field Notes — the real tea on what worked, what failed, & who it’s for
✅ The Verdict — BUY / SKIP / DEPENDS, plus a brutally honest one-liner
✅ Memes — because if we can’t laugh about our poor life choices, what’s the point?

Michael Scott asking "Why are you the way that you are?" — me to every product that looks cute but ruins my life by hour 3

What You’ll Get Every Month

📦 One product, fully tested — with receipts

📊 The Scorecard — If it fails the 8-Hour Test, it cannot be a Top Pick

☕ Field Notes — Does it squeak? Did you want to burn it by day 2? Who is this actually for?

🎯 The Verdict — Best for, avoid if, would I rebuy, one-line summary

🎙️ On Deck — Where I’m headed next, what I’m testing next, what I’m reading/watching, and a question I’m wrestling with. Plus reply prompts because this is a conversation not a monologue.

💬 Community Corner — Your travel hacks, worst fails, the stuff that annoys you, “this product saved my life” recs, and unhinged field stories. Reply anytime to submit yours.

The Scorecard

(What We’re Measuring)

Every product gets rated 1–10 in these categories:

1️⃣ The “8-Hour” Test — Can you wear/use this for a full work day?
2️⃣ Support — Does it actually support your body, or is it vibes only?
3️⃣ The Aesthetic Lift — Does it make you look/feel more put-together?
4️⃣ Boardroom-to-Bar — Can it go from professional to casual seamlessly?
5️⃣ The Friction Factor — How much does this slow you down or create problems?
6️⃣ Durability — Will this survive your actual life?
7️⃣ Sustainability / ROI — Is this worth the money + will it last?

8️⃣ Conference Floor Survival — Can it handle 8+ hours on concrete, carpet, or whatever fresh hell the venue has?
9️⃣ Blister Factor — Does this destroy your feet, or can you actually walk like a human?
🔟 Packability — How easily does it fit in your bag without taking over your entire life?

​Final Step Score: /100

Field Metrics: Wide Foot Friendly (Y/N), Compliment Rate (Low/Med/High 😌)

Hard Rules

🚫 If it fails the 8-Hour Test, it’s not a Top Pick. I don’t care how cute it is.

🚫 No sponsored fluff. Sponsorship does not guarantee a good score.

✅ Affiliate links are possible. I’ll always disclose. It helps keep this newsletter running.

✅ I test in real conditions. Real events. Real cities. Real “I’ve been standing for 9 hours” conditions.

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Cartoon dog sitting in a room on fire saying "this is fine" — me testing products that are clearly not going to work but committing to the bit anyway
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Follow Along for Real-Time Updates

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See the Full Testing Lab 🔬
​Reviewed and Upcoming

Want behind-the-scenes content, real-time testing updates, and more chaos between newsletter issues?

I share live updates from events, quick product takes, polls on what to test next, and the kind of content that doesn’t always make it into the monthly newsletter. Come hang out. 👟

JUST FOR FUN

what i’m watching: The Traitors​

what i’m reading: Flourish by Daniel Coyle​

where i’m headed next: SITE Global in Abu Dhabi​

what i’m wresting with: Is it even worth submitting a session through a CFP anymore?

catch up with Event About It podcast: Overwhelmed by Event Trends?​

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