To me BIFL is not really buy one then never replace it for 100 years , its more buy something then 30 years later you would finally have to replace it because a part of it has rusted away or has worn away from friction or from the elements, or something like this. . (This is my personal definition for BIFL when it comes to EVERYTHING that is certifiably BIFL. Something lasting 30 years or more had might as well be called BIFL cause thats crazy durability , right?) I feel it should work similarly for all footwear. I am guessing in the past as long as the cobbler that made a person's footwear wasnt a scammer like ea-nasr then their footwear would also last around a dozen or two dozen years before any type of hole appear im the footwear, maybe longer . I feel that footwear should have similar durability today
All the shoes Ive bought my whole life only lasted a few months to just over a year before the soles made a hole in them except for my pajar boots . (Only problem with pajar boots is that they arent made for a wide footed person like I)