TSONGA SHOES REQUIRE RETHREADS REGULARLY

Have purchased over the years around 7 pairs of their shoes. Over this time after the first year of wearing them then leaving them in the cupboard for the next season this is when the problems occur. Each pair has rotted, fallen apart at the soles. The first few pairs I threw away but then I realised this is happening too often and wrote to Tsonga. Their response shocked me as I don't expect to wear their shoes only and especially if they are winter shoes cant wear them in Summer and viz versa. This is what they responded:

What is PU? PU stands for polyurethane, and it’s a lightweight durable plastic material from which the soles of shoes are often made. Not only is PU very lightweight, it’s also flexible which enhances comfort levels. PU is the only material that gives the shock absorbing and flexible characteristics that we require of our shoes, in order to keep your feet and joints comfortable. Although a highly durable material, if stored for prolonged periods of time without wear, it can be prone to a process known as hy****ysis which is the chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with moisture (humidity). Depending on the climate in which you live, humidity and extreme temperatures changes can exacerbate the chances of it happening. The best way to prevent it from happening is to wear your shoes as often as possible as the act of wearing them puts pressure on the soles and squeezes out any absorbed moisture, which would otherwise subtly break apart the foam-like structure. And, when they are not being worn, to store your shoes in a well-ventilated area. To give you an idea that although this is a 'side-effect', if you will, of polyurethane, it happens to a very small percentage of the shoes we manufacture. Cracked or disintegrating soles is not a problem faced only by Tsonga, but rather something that happens to shoes made by the world's top comfort footwear brands. Within the shoe sector, polyurethanes are found in a wide range of footwear types. At a cost of R500 a pair I am able to send to their factory and have them resoled. I don't think this is wise having to replace soles on an annual basis. At this rate these shoes become non viable cost wise. So my warning is - stay away from Tsonga shoes, as much as they are comfortable you will have to rethread every year or two at a hell of a cost.