Hmmm...time to replace my running shoes?

omma_to_3

They still look brand new...on the top. On the bottom, the tread is starting to wear. There are little pink bits and parts of those are completely worn off. I thought I had more time, but maybe not? They still feel OK, but not as good as when they were new.

When do you replace your running shoes? I've had these for 6 to 7 months. I've run about 230 miles in them and walked another 130ish miles. I bike in them too, but that shouldn't matter so much.

Thoughts?

These are my shoes (and I do have another pair waiting in my closet): http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/SCN997/

I may finish out the bad weather winter running in them before breaking out the new ones.

miracole

I replace my shoes every 500-600km (so every 300-400 miles approx) or whenever I feel that I'm not getting the traction or support that I need. Is a bit trickier now that I've moved to minimalist shoes but the rule of thumb still applies. If you're feeling your foot strike to the point that you're really noticing it when you run I'd say it's time to consider the switch out- though I do tend to hold on to my older pairs when it's snowy because I don't want to ruin new shoes too quickly!

Duck_Puddle

Every 300-400 miles or when things start aching more than usual.

Doodlewhopper

Having to replace your running shoes every 500 miles is a big myth that continues to be repeated as fact.

MbiggsHFD319

My Dr. Told me to replace my shoes every 250 miles and never wait more than 300. Not sure if that is the rule fore everyone or just his recommendation for me because of my issues with stress fractures, in all 3 leg bones, and swelling in the marrow.

drgndancer

Having to replace your running shoes every 500 miles is a big myth that continues to be repeated as fact.

And yet, after about 400 miles I start to get strange pains that go away after I replace my shoes. Also the tread is mostly gone on the high wear areas after about 500 miles.

jaxCarrie

I usually let my body tell me when it's time to replace (which is usually around 300-400 miles). Like you, I walk and run in mine... I look for the wear on the tread but usually my shins start 'insisting' it's time to get a new pair.

mnstrpc

I replace mine at about 400 miles but if the tread is starting to wear off, that seems like a sign to me.

scorpio516

Every 300-400 miles or when things start aching more than usual.

+1 but that happens between 250 and 300 miles for me

Then they get retired to everyday shoes.

LorinaLynn

I seem to get about 6 months out of a pair of shoes. My ankles get sore when it's time to replace them.

ejwme

It's not the mileage that makes a shoe need to be replaced, it's the breakdown of the shoe. Breakdown is caused by mileage, but is also dependent on the shoe's composition, a person's gait, the surfaces they run on, etc. The 300-500 is a rule of thumb - your thumb may be different, but that's where it comes from.

Cushier shoes will break down faster, firmer soles will break down slower (gotta love fatigue mechanics!). Pronators and people who twist their feet on the grown will break down shoes faster than people with a lighter, more even (less twisting) gait. I suspect roads vs. trails also break down shoes differently, but as I think through the scenarios and variables can't reach a conclusion personally (and haven't read anything convincing one way or the other).

I've had shoes break down at 300 miles and everything starts to hurt, and I've had shoes never cause pain but need to be replaced (upwards of 1200 miles) due to giant holes in the tops. It seriously varies, pay attention to your body (more than the shoe).

I have noticed that when shoes breakdown, it happens over the course of a few weeks - but it's fast, not slow (for me). First time it happened to me, I went to the doctor over weird knee pain, was told I injured it, and advised to wear a brace, nothing got better, had a follow up appointment but coincidentally got new shoes and a few runs later everything was fine. That's when I learned - nebulous pain with no obvious event causing it? Get new shoes. I have a special "new shoes" savings account that I keep topped up just in case, so I'm never stuck.

omma_to_3

Here's an interesting gallery of tread wear: http://walking.about.com/od/shoechoice/ig/Worn-Out-Walking-Shoes/

Scoochie1

I'm glad I read this, I thought I was 'going through' my shoes too quickly but I'd walk/run 4kms daily so 5-6 months really is all I should be getting out of them.
Phew! :happy:

dsjohndrow

It's hard to say exactly. Mine go 350-550 miles. What is more important than the tread wear is the cushion break down and stability. I pretty seriously hurt my Achilles and brought on a second bought of plantar fasciitis with worn out shoes that kept me out for a month. I know, it's a bummer you pay like $120 for them, but replacing them regularly is important. I have 3 pairs going so I don't get caught trying to break them in for a race. I use the new ones for my 3 miles runs for a few weeks, the middle-use ones for my 5 mile runs for a few weeks, and then finish them off with long runs. Then I use them for the gym.

FatUncleRob

+1 but that happens between 250 and 300 miles for me

Me too, I seem to be pretty hard on my shoes. I definitely notice a difference when I get the new pair.

omma_to_3

It seriously varies, pay attention to your body (more than the shoe).

Problem with that is, I've been increasing mileage over the last few months so hard to attribute aches and pains to any one thing. I suppose the answer is to get out my new pair and see if they feel better!

mnstrpc

It's not the mileage that makes a shoe need to be replaced, it's the breakdown of the shoe. Breakdown is caused by mileage, but is also dependent on the shoe's composition, a person's gait, the surfaces they run on, etc. The 300-500 is a rule of thumb - your thumb may be different, but that's where it comes from.

Cushier shoes will break down faster, firmer soles will break down slower (gotta love fatigue mechanics!). Pronators and people who twist their feet on the grown will break down shoes faster than people with a lighter, more even (less twisting) gait. I suspect roads vs. trails also break down shoes differently, but as I think through the scenarios and variables can't reach a conclusion personally (and haven't read anything convincing one way or the other).

I've had shoes break down at 300 miles and everything starts to hurt, and I've had shoes never cause pain but need to be replaced (upwards of 1200 miles) due to giant holes in the tops. It seriously varies, pay attention to your body (more than the shoe).

I have noticed that when shoes breakdown, it happens over the course of a few weeks - but it's fast, not slow (for me). First time it happened to me, I went to the doctor over weird knee pain, was told I injured it, and advised to wear a brace, nothing got better, had a follow up appointment but coincidentally got new shoes and a few runs later everything was fine. That's when I learned - nebulous pain with no obvious event causing it? Get new shoes. I have a special "new shoes" savings account that I keep topped up just in case, so I'm never stuck.

THAT is an excellent explanation.

I've actually never seen really bad tread wear on any of my shoes, and I think I probably am pretty "easy" on them e.g. I don't overpronate, for example.

BUT I tend to notice myself getting what I lovingly refer to as "gimpy knee" if I go much over 400 miles in a pair of shoes, so before I get to that point is when I try to replace.

djenah79

not sure how much help i'll be, but my daughter runs track/cross country, and her coaches require that they get new shoes every 3 months. she runs every day anywhere between 4-10 miles.

ejwme

If you can afford it, the worst thing that happens is you then have TWO pairs of shoes to run in. And a built in back up for when the oldest starts to go.

I'm in the first month of a marathon training program, and my current shoes are likely to wear out (based on my past history) about even with the race - I can't race in a brandy new pair of shoes, but I'm also worried that 26.2 miles of pushing myself in shoes that are pushing it will hurt WORSE than usual, so I'm likely going to pick up a second pair soon. I just hate keeping a log of mileage on more than one shoe, it's annoying.

It's not the worst dilemma to have

dsjohndrow

Every 300-400 miles or when things start aching more than usual.

^^ This!

dsjohndrow

If you can afford it, the worst thing that happens is you then have TWO pairs of shoes to run in. And a built in back up for when the oldest starts to go.

I'm in the first month of a marathon training program, and my current shoes are likely to wear out (based on my past history) about even with the race - I can't race in a brandy new pair of shoes, but I'm also worried that 26.2 miles of pushing myself in shoes that are pushing it will hurt WORSE than usual, so I'm likely going to pick up a second pair soon. I just hate keeping a log of mileage on more than one shoe, it's annoying.

It's not the worst dilemma to have

Write on the bottom with a Sharpee. If you are doing 25 mile a week, you get about 12 weeks. Then use your other ones for the long runs.