Wear & tear on shoes and replacement

SMKing75

Curious as to what others do.... I have read on several websites that you should replace your tennis shoes every 300-500 miles. Do most of you do that? I do replace my shoes about 3 times a year. I have recently started walking 6 miles 3 days a week and 3 miles on the other 4 days plus I go to the gym for elliptical and recumbent bike. Sometimes I also use the treadmill if I have no time to walk the dog later on or weather permitting. I am averaging about 98-100,000K steps a month. Thats an average of about 40 miles a week in the shoes.

My question is, should I be replacing them more often? I feel like the pads get worn down quickly even thought I am alternating between Brooks and New Balance right now. I have a hip issue so I just want to make sure I am doing the right thing. Is this just a personal preference thing, a manufacturer thing to get you to buy more shoes or?

I am 5'6, 175.

jjpptt2

I worry less about visible wear and tear and more about fit and support. I don't track mileage on my shoes, so I go by feel - usually I start getting minor knee pain when it's time for a new pair.

deputy_randolph

I used to replace my running shoes every 3 months when I was running nearly everyday. I've cut back significatly and replace 2-3 times a year.

My podiatrist did suggest alternating shoes each day. She said this seems to extend the life of shoes (probably due to less constant pressure).

tirowow12385

If you're only walking, the outsoles should last 10x longer.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

Wow. I've kept my current running shoes for two years. And I have a problem with my knee. Are you telling me that I can fix my knee problem by buying new sneakers? They look fine to me...

missysippy930

Walking is a lot easier on shoes than running.
I walk and use the elliptical mostly and replace mine about once per year. Routinely put 15-20K steps per day. My dd runs marathons a couple of times per year and a few 1/2 marathons and assorted 5 & 10K's. Her daily steps (barring race days and long runs) are usually less than mine, but definitely more wear and tear for her. She replaces hers about every 300 miles. You should be able to see the wear on your shoes and replace as needed.

__TMac__

Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »

Wow. I've kept my current running shoes for two years. And I have a problem with my knee. Are you telling me that I can fix my knee problem by buying new sneakers? They look fine to me...

That’s how I know my running shoes need to be replaced: hip and knee pain. New shoes, and the pain disappears right away.

GiddyupTim

In my experience, every 300 miles is a bit too soon for most shoes -- a shoe sales tactic.
That said, I do think shoes are designed to start feeling flat -- that is, breaking down and providing less support -- much sooner than they used to.
I don't think you can wait for signs of wear. The soles break down before that. But I do think I can feel when I lose the support and springiness that newer shoes have. Can you?
Unfortunately, that often means: If you think you have to ask, you have already worn them out and can benefit from new ones.

macgurlnet

Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »

Wow. I've kept my current running shoes for two years. And I have a problem with my knee. Are you telling me that I can fix my knee problem by buying new sneakers? They look fine to me...

Depending on how you run, the exterior could look great, but the interior structure may have broken down. I have 2 pairs of running shoes that have very minor wear on the heels but otherwise look great on the exterior. Both started causing ankle and knee pain when they wore out.

I track my running miles and start paying more attention to how I feel post-run once a pair of shoes hits 300 miles. I generally get 400-500 before I get new ones.

~Lyssa

mjbnj0001

very timely topic. my wife mentioned it's about time I got new shoes. She can always tell, says my gait gets a little "rolly" when they're due for replacement. I imagine if I persist with the old shoes, the "rolly" will translate into some sort of physical problem. I try and stick to Asics; they seem to fit me best and I like the stiffer feel.

funjen1972

I wear them until they are falling apart! I'm lucky that I don't have any aches or pains to manage. I'm sure it will catch up with me sometime, but for now I just can't justify the expense of more frequent replacements.

100_PROOF_

I work on my feet ( the most I've ever ran was to catch the ice cream truck) and my doctor said that I should rotate my shoes every day. Meaning don't wear the same pair 2 days in a row. I'm not sure why or if it helps but thought I'd share just in case it was helpful to anyone else here. It might be worth a try.

Westschmeis

Getting good quality shoes that have a design that matches your foot is the most important step, IMO. Once you have a shoe built on a last matching your foot, buy a good quality orthotic insole (I use super feet) and then wear them as long as they are solid and supportive.

I walk about 15K per day on average, and my shoes usually last 1 1/2 to 2 years. But, I also wear other shoes for Pickle Ball
and for gym workouts.

Never had a serious problem with my feet.

30kgin2017

Alternating shoes gives them a chance to dry out properly so less smelly and also allows the cushioning in the shoe to fully decompress. Also if you are heavier you will wear a shoe out faster as well as what type of surface you wear your shoes on.

I rotate my shoes through uses as well. Eg my running shoes will become my walking shoes and then my walking shoes will become my gym shoes. Most of the time my running shoes still look fairly new when they get delegated to walking shoes actually even when they go in the bin they still look good. I can usually tell they needed replacing because I will feel the ground more than normal (actually registering I have just put my foot on a small stone etc). The other indicator is pain in the knee or foot. I have also had the sales person note my foot/ankle was rolling in when standing still in my sneakers, I was already there to buy new shoes as I knew I was past due but it was just something they commented on.

I probably buy an average of 3 pairs a year. In an ideal world I'd buy them when on sale and keep for when I need them but most of the time I just buy a new pair as needed but if there's a sale on I'll buy 2 pairs at the same time.

MeanderingMammal

Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »

Wow. I've kept my current running shoes for two years. And I have a problem with my knee. Are you telling me that I can fix my knee problem by buying new sneakers? They look fine to me...

I generally get about 500-600 miles out of a pair, depending on terrain and weather.

I can certainly feel the difference between new shoes, 300mi shoes and 600mi shoes.

That said, I also circulate four regular pairs and two specialist pairs, so can run a single pair for a while.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

I’m still slightly dubious about this. I mean, shoe companies have every reason to talk us into getting shoes as frequently as possible. I’m certainly due, having put perhaps 1500mi on mine. They really look fine and feel OK when I run. But I am having knee trouble (which is only slowly improving as I take a couple of weeks off). I guess I’ll get a new pair— reluctantly. Then I’ll saw the old pair in half and see if there’s really any internal wear. Inquiring minds need to know!

jjpptt2

Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »

I’m still slightly dubious about this. I mean, shoe companies have every reason to talk us into getting shoes as frequently as possible. I’m certainly due, having put perhaps 1500mi on mine. They really look fine and feel OK when I run. But I am having knee trouble (which is only slowly improving as I take a couple of weeks off). I guess I’ll get a new pair— reluctantly. Then I’ll saw the old pair in half and see if there’s really any internal wear. Inquiring minds need to know!

Sorry, I didn't think your original question was serious.

There's no way to know if new shoes will help or hurt your knee issues. A sports injury doc or similar might be able to tell you, but internet strangers won't.

0ysterboy

It is true that a good quality pair of running shoes will last you 300-500 miles. If you are heavier perhaps a bit less, lighter a bit more. Some of this is also dependent on whether you are a forefoot or heel striker. I am a overpronator and this tends to wear my heels down faster. The issue really isn't the tread wear - it is the breakdown in the internal cushioning within the midsole. It is sometimes hard for me to know when to let go of a pair of shoes, but I can tell the difference when I start a run in a new pair - it is so much nicer.

Keeping two pair in rotation is key, it allows the shoes to recover in between runs. I run 3x week/ 10-15 miles/week and I will keep two pair of shoes in a rotation for approximately one year.

stanmann571

1. 300-600 miles of running on running shoes
2. Don't walk or gym in your running shoes(at least not while they're running shoes) Usually you can get 200-300 more miles of walking/gymming in your runners before they're really done.

CSARdiver

Walking is much lower impact than running. For running shoes I run on two dedicated pair and cycle them out after ~9-12 mo, but change them out on wear and tear more than mileage. Currently running ~30mi/week.

6'4" 216 lbs

mbaker566

no it's not just a manufacturer thing.
things break down and need replacement.

__TMac__

I definitely notice when mine break down, but I should say that I haven't tracked mileage in the past, and I'm a stop-and-start runner. I just replaced the shoes I bought 3 years ago, and the minimalist pair before that was 7 years old. But there was a distinct line between shoes that were OK and ones that needed to be replaced.

nikkit321

I haven't tracked mileage, but I know my feet get very achy when I need to replace my running shoes. A new pair is the first thing I do if my feet hurt.

scorpio516

I get between 200-300 miles out of any pair. At about 200 I start to feel it and by 300 they are dead.

I feel it the next morning. I'm much more sore in my calves and really feel it on stairs!