Hmm... <counts> One pair of dress (business causual) shoes, one pair of sneakers, one pair of slippers. A pair of hiking boots I haven't worn for five years. Even at the extremes I'm getting by with fewer than five pairs.
No you don't. I went years wearing a single pair of shoes just fine. Including hiking, hot summers, and snowy winters.
Over the course of the year, perhaps. Stylish running shoes can get you just about anywhere. Flipflops if you're going through hostels or beaches. Ankle-high boots can be stylish and functional for short hikes.
You'd be surprised how far white sneakers and some $5 flip flops can take you. Unless you're in a situation where you need a suit, but then you aren't one bagging it anyways...
I wear flip flops every single day, and only switch to hiking boots for better arch support when I go on long hikes that matters. Sometimes I forget to bring my boots and end up climbing a mountain or wading a muddy stream with flip flops. The boots are marginally better, but not enough for me to notice; I only started them on hikes after my aunt pointed out that I didn't have great walking posture.
Sounds like no true Scotsman
I own exactly one pair of shoes at the moment. Occasionally I also have slippers.
Exactly.
This is not living.
The last time I needed dress shoes was my own wedding.
Guess I've not had a "real life" for my entire life then.