How often do you need to buy new running shoes?

mammakisses

I think mine lasted 3 months. Bought them for 100$ Nike. How much do you pay for your shoes and how long do they last?

Dgold13

Average cost for me is about $120 I try and get between 500 and 700 miles per pair. 3 months is not very long unless you are putting alot of miles on them. do you wear them all the time or just for running. You might try rotating a few pairs to help make them last longer.

LoraF83

It's typically recommended that you replace them every 300-500 miles (and yes, you should track your miles on your shoes). I'm hard on shoes, so I usually get about 250 miles before they start to break down and become uncomfortable. The more weight I lose, the more mileage I'm getting out of them though.

Get fitted at a running specialty store. Find the right shoe for you. Most running stores don't carry Nike, so you'll probably be looking at Brooks, Mizuno, Sauchony, etc. They will probably hold up longer than Nike shoes will.

Edit to add that I usually spend $100-$120 on shoes. But, once you've been fitted and know what shoes work for you, you can always shop online for a better deal the next time.

jsidel126

I typically get multiple years on pairs of shoes. Last year I bought a pair of Asics specifically for running. Have about 3 months on them (170 miles). The sole around the outside on both shoes is breaking down. Cannot use them for running any longer and they are uncomfortable for walking also. They were ~ $50.

majope

Varies depending on shoe. I've gotten only 200 out of some shoes, and 500 from others. My running log at RunningAhead tracks shoe mileage--I start paying attention around 200 miles, and get new shoes as soon as I notice any new aches and pains that indicate my current pair is breaking down.

I've picked up shoes on sale for as little as $50, and paid full price over $100. I usually go through 3 or 4 pair a year. And yes, do get fitted at a specialty running store.

stephaniemejia1671

Ooops. I'm glad I found this forum. How would you track miles you walk/run?

LoraF83

Ooops. I'm glad I found this forum. How would you track miles you walk/run?

You either need to do it manually (keep a notepad or a list, or some people keep the shoes in the box and track the miles on the box) or use an app like Nike+ that tracks it for you.

walkdmc

I only run in them, don't wear them otherwise. I run about 10-15 miles/week and am about 50 pounds overweight. I replace mine every 3 months. If I were a normal weight, I'd replace them less often.

I buy Mizuno Wave Inspires and spend about $115.

mammakisses

I only wear them when I workout, but I definitely went over 200 miles with them. Need to go shopping!

scottb81

My last pair I got 2800 miles running out of them. This pair I got at the beginning of March has a little over 500 miles on them. They are too expensive to replace every 5 to 6 weeks so I run until they are dead.

RunnerElizabeth

I have 2 pairs, one is my long run pair and the other is my mon-fri pair. Well, I have a 3rd pair that is for walking around. They are all the same brand and model. I pay around a hundred for the initial pair, and then at the end of the year when the next version is going to be coming out I search online and buy as many pairs as I can at half price so I have them waiting in my closet when its time to cycle in a new pair. Basically I get about 6 months per pair.

Madmadz77

Excellent question!

Cooriander

It probably depends on what you are accustomed to, e.g., if you need a supportive shoe, the support will wear down - and you need to replace more frequently, while if you were a 'minimalist' shoe (and do not depend on the shoe that much) - you will need to replace less frequently.

Sheila_Ann

great post! how do you know when to replace them?

majope

great post! how do you know when to replace them?

I get unusual aches and pains when my shoes get old--for me, one common place is right behind my toes in the middle of my foot. But since our feet and running styles are different, your shoes will probably wear down differently. If nothing else in your routine is changing and you start feeling discomfort in your feet, knees, or hips, it could well be the shoes.

LoraF83

great post! how do you know when to replace them?

Typically, you know they need to be replaced when they start to hurt your feet.

My last pair started getting uncomfortable in the midfoot area. I did a relay run and got a blister on the ball of my foot. I only ran 4.4 miles that day - so it shouldn't have bothered my feet. But since my shoes were breaking down, it was changing the way my foot was striking. I got new shoes later that day and no more problems! I knew they were getting close to needing to be replaced since I knew how many miles I had on them.

atsteele

Average cost for me is about $120 I try and get between 500 and 700 miles per pair. 3 months is not very long unless you are putting alot of miles on them. do you wear them all the time or just for running. You might try rotating a few pairs to help make them last longer.

I am soooo jealous. I get around 250 miles on a pair of shoes, maximum... even though I rotate my running shoes. Around 250 miles, my knees and/or ankles start hurting. Then I know that its time to get new shoes. I currently spend ~ $110 per pair of shoes and buy 3 at a time. On this rotation, I am wearing: Mizuno Wave Rider 16, Asics Gel Cumulus 14 and Brooks Ghost 5. I liked Brooks Launch but I think that they may be discontinuing it. And I also liked Saucony Ride.

LoraF83

Average cost for me is about $120 I try and get between 500 and 700 miles per pair. 3 months is not very long unless you are putting alot of miles on them. do you wear them all the time or just for running. You might try rotating a few pairs to help make them last longer.

I am soooo jealous. I get around 250 miles on a pair of shoes, maximum... even though I rotate my running shoes. Around 250 miles, my knees and/or ankles start hurting. Then I know that its time to get new shoes. I currently spend ~ $110 per pair of shoes and buy 3 at a time. On this rotation, I am wearing: Mizuno Wave Rider 16, Asics Gel Cumulus 14 and Brooks Ghost 5. I liked Brooks Launch but I think that they may be discontinuing it. And I also liked Saucony Ride.

We wear the same shoes! I just got done with a pair of Brooks Ghost 5. I'm rotating between the Wave Rider 16 and a pair of Newton Gravitys.
I tried the Saucony, but didn't love it. I've not tried the Asics though. I might slip a pair of those on at my next fitting just to see.

MelisRunning

I have two pair and I rotate them. On the average, because I rotate them, I get six months from each pair.

I spend $120.00 on a pair of shoes.

meredith1123

I have been using Asics Landreth 7's now for awhile... on my second pair in fact - for running. They cost around $115 and i can most of the time get 500-700 miles out of them, depending. I recommend any Asics though, that fit your foot accordingly.

$100 fo ra pair of shoes that only last you 3 months doesnt sound good at all.
Find a better shoe.
are you using them for running?

if you have running shoes for running then only use them for running. do not use them for anything else.

floppybackend

Well according to the recent study that was shown on BBC about exercise myths - if anyone remembers it involved the HIT training and was excellent. Whether you spend £10 or £100 doesnt make an once of difference as running onto the heels not on the balls is bad no matter what you buy. The study proved that all the hype by Nike etc isnt medially proven - its all jargon.

As for the gait - apparently gait is normal and no shoe can put that right.

I think you are better buying a sensibly priced trainer and replacing more frequently.

atsteele

Ooops. I'm glad I found this forum. How would you track miles you walk/run?

Since I rotate shoes and have a pretty much fixed schedule of types of runs, I simply use pair A on Mon and Thurs (9 - 10 miles per week), Pair B on Sun and Wed (10 miles per week) and pair C on long runs (Sat)(12 - 20 miles per week). I right my mileage on the calendar and it's easy to add up the miles and see how much mileage is on each shoe.

With my last bunch of shoes, I was noticing that my knees were bothering me almost all the time, even when I wasn't running. So I added up the totals but only one pair was past 250 miles. So I continued to wear the other two pairs. But my knees were still bothering me so I pitched all of the shoes and bought three new pair. I wish that I could get more mileage on my shoes (It certainly would be cheaper!) but I'd rather spend more on running shoes than not run at all because I didn't listen to my body and ended up injured.

Im_NotPerfect

Get fitted at a running specialty store. Find the right shoe for you. Most running stores don't carry Nike, so you'll probably be looking at Brooks, Mizuno, Sauchony, etc. They will probably hold up longer than Nike shoes will.

Actually the 2 running stores in my area (Fleet Feet and Run Away) both had Nikes. Fleet Feet even recommended Nikes for my gait! I hated them though and returned them. I'm a Saucony girl. I usually pay around $110 and I'm not a long distance runner so I replace them once per year.

I've also heard that Nikes do tend to break down very easily. I work in an office FULL of runners and none of them or anyone they know wears Nikes to run.

PomegranatePriestess

I am not a runner, and therefore don't put as much mileage on mine. That said, I just got my first pair of Asics Gels at my local running store; I tried on the Brooks but liked the cushier feel of the Asics (I have heel spurs). They were about $109, but I got a discount by mentioning my trainer. Now that I know what I like, I'll probably check out Zappos for a back-up pair.

I plan to replace them in 6 months, unless they start hurting me before then. I wear them to work out 3/4 days a week, and don't wear them otherwise.

I'm also going to recycle my old ones; they are still great looking and have life left in them but don't suit me now that I have been diagnosed with the heel spurs. There is a company that refurbishes/recycles them through the running store. I believe they donate them to needy people in Africa.

LoraF83

Well according to the recent study that was shown on BBC about exercise myths - if anyone remembers it involved the HIT training and was excellent. Whether you spend £10 or £100 doesnt make an once of difference as running onto the heels not on the balls is bad no matter what you buy. The study proved that all the hype by Nike etc isnt medially proven - its all jargon.

As for the gait - apparently gait is normal and no shoe can put that right.

I think you are better buying a sensibly priced trainer and replacing more frequently.

I disagree with this. I have changed my stride. I used to heel strike, and now I have a midfoot strike. My shoes also correct my tendency to roll to the outside of my foot. Normally, I wear out the tread on the outside of a pair of shoes first. On my last pair (that I just replaced), the tread was only worn off on the midfoot. You could draw a cross hair on it.

So, the right shoes do make a difference.

ImtheOnethatsCool

I just retired my first pair with 600km on them. I knew it was time for a change when I started feeling new aches and pains in my hips and calves.

mortyfit

I have three different pairs, depending on what type of run I am planning. My minimalist shoes for 5k and treadmill running (Saucony Kinvara) will probably only last about 250 miles total; my other Sauconys (Cortana) are my regular training run shoes and marathon shoes, and I expect them to give me between 350-400 (about 4 months). I have some Asics Gel Noosa (Tri 7) for 10k-15k races, so I don't use them very often......will probably have them for quite a long time.

I buy all my shoes for 50% off or less by watching the sales on www.nationalrunningcenter.com, and by shopping at runners' expo events prior to big races. So I've never paid more than $75 for a pair of running shoes, and as little as $45.

BhanGoes

I think mine lasted 3 months. Bought them for 100$ Nike. How much do you pay for your shoes and how long do they last?

As others have stated, the duration of a shoe totally depends on how you wear them. Still, 3 months doesn't seem like a long time.

Depending on where you live, seek out a running store. Take in your worn shoes and get fitted for a proper pair (which isn't to say the ones you have weren't perfect for you...). A good running-shoe salesperson will be able to analyze the wear and tear on your shoes and listen to your experiences with how the shoe feels when you run. With this information, he or she may be able to recommend a specific brand/model that will work best for you.

With the prevalence of online shopping, you might be able to get the exact pair you want at a discounted price. I buy multiple pairs of the same model from a nearby Adidas outlet. Last Sunday I stole some for $90 for two pair.

meredith1123

Well according to the recent study that was shown on BBC about exercise myths - if anyone remembers it involved the HIT training and was excellent. Whether you spend £10 or £100 doesnt make an once of difference as running onto the heels not on the balls is bad no matter what you buy. The study proved that all the hype by Nike etc isnt medially proven - its all jargon.

As for the gait - apparently gait is normal and no shoe can put that right.

I think you are better buying a sensibly priced trainer and replacing more frequently.

I disagree with this. I have changed my stride. I used to heel strike, and now I have a midfoot strike. My shoes also correct my tendency to roll to the outside of my foot. Normally, I wear out the tread on the outside of a pair of shoes first. On my last pair (that I just replaced), the tread was only worn off on the midfoot. You could draw a cross hair on it.

So, the right shoes do make a difference.

I disagree as well. Ive been running for years and once I found GOOD QUALITY running shoes, i never had injuries ever again and i've always ran with great form. a good shoe is a definite must!

fjrandol

I'm currently in a pair of Newton Gravity with 112 miles on them, and the soles hardly look like they've been touched. My last pair of shoes were New Balance minimus road zeros, and I needed to replace them at just under 350 miles. Considering that they're barefoot shoes I'm pretty happy with that.

If you want to track your mileage and shoe wear & tear, I definitely recommend using http://www.runningahead.com/. It's great for laying out your training plan and keeping tabs on your workouts. You can include your shoes under the "equipment" tab, and track exactly how much mileage you're getting from each pair. It even factors your $/mile. Awesome stuff!

atsteele

I have three different pairs, depending on what type of run I am planning. My minimalist shoes for 5k and treadmill running (Saucony Kinvara) will probably only last about 250 miles total; my other Sauconys (Cortana) are my regular training run shoes and marathon shoes, and I expect them to give me between 350-400 (about 4 months). I have some Asics Gel Noosa (Tri 7) for 10k-15k races, so I don't use them very often......will probably have them for quite a long time.

I buy all my shoes for 50% off or less by watching the sales on www.nationalrunningcenter.com, and by shopping at runners' expo events prior to big races. So I've never paid more than $75 for a pair of running shoes, and as little as $45.

Great ideas re discounted running shoes!! Thanks!!