Awesome! I'll have to wait until my wife is out of the house before I can take a photo of all my shoes. I don't want to have to explain the reason for having so many to her.

@_nikkiwolf_ nice descriptions of all your shoes! Several of those models I've never heard of. Sorry the On shoes didn't work out for you. I only have 5 miles in mine but I absolutely love them. Can't wait to wear them again Saturday.

LOL! I just saw this thread and I wondered if @7lenny7 would be here! And here is!
I have 3 pair but I could definitely buy more. They are so fun!

My wife leaves Thursday night to pick up my son from college. That will be my chance to break out all my shoes and take some pictures if I can remember to bring home the three pair I have stashed under my desk at work. With the shoes I bought Sunday I'm now up to 6 pair in rotation (2 road/4 trail), 8 pair in reserve (5 road/3 trail) and 5 retired (5 road).

Shoe question - do you guys find the heel drop makes a difference for your long runs? Helps with fatigue and pain?

When I first got into running I went with the most comfortable and lightest running shoes not knowing anything about heel drop until I started running longer than 5 miles. Anyway, I went back and checked the heel drop on my previous shoes and found the ones that have worked for me without injuries (aside from trails, because well, trails... and worn out shoes) were heel drops 6 mm and less. I've read research on the impact of going from 12 mm and switching to minimalist shoes, but haven't found any research that says anything about going from minimalist to 10 mm+.

MobyCarp wrote: »

@AnnyisOK - Can't address going to a greater heel drop. I went from 13 mm heel drop to 4 mm, phasing it in as suggested. Then I got hurt, and when I came back I just came back in 4 mm. Now, even 8 mm feels odd; but I wasn't running enough in the high drop shoes to have a fair comparison for injury.

The reason I went low wasn't truly for the heel drop, but for the light weight. The idea was that with a lighter shoe, I'd feel the effects of poor form sooner and naturally clean up my form to avoid the hurt instead of running with poor form masked by greater cushion. It seems to have worked, as I also went from pronation support to a neutral shoe after I went light weight.

That's what I'm worried about. I like that the lower drop allows me to feel the ground as I run, for the same reason - form. But upping my mileage and searching for something new, all the shoe places kept suggested very cushioned shoes and that's really when all of my injuries started. I just figured it may just be me needing to adjust to the feel. I still hope that's it because running shoes are not cheap.

I'm finally getting back to post my shoe collection. Prices posted are what I paid.

First, the entire collection:


Here's my current rotation, with a description below:

On the left, top to bottom:
Brooks Glycerin 12 with 200 miles on them. 10.9oz, 10mm drop. $70. The yellow is duct tape, which I use in the winter from time to time to keep out snow and wind. This is my third pair of this model. Very cushiony, which is what I wanted when I started since I was 50 pounds overweight at the time. I'll likely not buy any more because I'd like to transition to lower drop shoes.
Salomon Speed Cross 4 - 40 miles, 10.9 oz, 10mm drop, FREE. I won these as a door prize at a trail race last summer. They have an awesome tread which grips well in snow, sand and mud, but I find them too narrow. I got a blister on my first run with them. I've since switched to a thinner sock when I wear them, and I liberally apply Trail Toes and no longer have that problem, but they still get too tight after a long run. I'll limit these to 8 miles runs or shorter, unless I need the tread. These have a unique lacing system using a quick-adjust sliding clampy thing which then tucks up into a pock on the outside of the tongue. I haven't decided if I like this or not.
Altra Lone Peak 2.5 - 2.5 miles, 9.7 oz, Zero drop, Free - My first pair of zero drop shoes. This was a free pair in a Buy 2 pair, Get 1pair Free deal on black friday. Normally $120. These have a HUGE toe box and I look forward to getting some more miles in them. Because of the zero drop, I'm limiting them to shorter runs until I know I won't get any calf or achilles pain running in them. I have high hope for these shoes.

On the right, top to bottom:
ASICS Gel Nimbus 17 - 90 miles, 10.8 oz, 10mm drop, $70. My second pair of this model, they are very similar to the Glycerin 12's, but I think these fit me just a bit better. If I do decide to keep a high crop, cushiony shoe in rotation, it will be this one, but I'll probably use up the ones I have and move on.
Merrell All Out Charge - 190 miles, 10oz, 6mm drop, $50. My first trail shoe. These were found online, on clearance, so I took a chance on them. I loved them initially but after trying the pair below, I'll never buy another pair of these again. These have a "burrito tongue", which is attached on one side to help keep out debris. Some love it, some hate it, I like it.
On Running Cloudventure - 30 miles, 10.1oz, 6mm drop, $150. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, they fit like a glove! I discovered these when a local running store had a demo at the trails I run on. They didn't have my size so I ran in a size too small and I still found them to be awesome. They truly feel like running in snug comfortable slippers. The upper has enough stretch so they don't feel tight, but enough support that you're not sliding all over. The laces are a bit thin and I may swap those out. The unique thing about these are the pads at the bottom. I thought they would make the shoe feel mushy but that wasn't the case at all. It gives me good cushion, but let's me really feel the trail. These are what I'll be wearing when I run my 50K in April

My shoes in reserve:

Left side, top to bottom:
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 31 - 10.1 oz, 10mm drop, $50 - I have one retired pair which I bought on whim since they were so damn cheap. They have more responsiveness than my Gel-Nimbus or Glycerins, but still provide adequate cushioning. This was my model of choice for my marathon last May. Some say the shoe is too narrow but I didn't think so, obviously. My son really likes these so I may not get to wear them.
ASICS Gel Nimbus 17 - Free. These were a free replacement for my original pair which started getting excessive wear around the achilles notch. ASICS replaced them even though they had 250 miles on them, which I told them about.
Brooks Glycerin 12 - $100. My 4th and final pair
Merrell All Out Charge - $60 My 2nd and final pair

Right side, top to bottom:
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 31 - $50 - Again, my son really likes these so I may not get to wear them. I may try to get a 100 miles on them or so before he takes them.
ASICS Gel Nimbus 17 - $70
Saucony Kinvara TR 2 - 7.8 oz, 4mm drop, $45. I went to the running store to get something for my daughter, and came home with these for me. They were on the clearance shelf and they feel awesome! Because of their lightness, I'm saving these for my shorter summer races.
On Running Cloudventure - $150

And my retired shoes:

Left side, top to bottom
Brooks Glycerin 12 - $75. Second pair
Adidas, Costco version, $35 or so - I bought these as part of a failed attempt to start running several years ago. I actually ran my first 5K in these. I need to donate them soon.

Right side, top to bottom:
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 31 $50 - These are my marathon shoes. I only got 170 miles out of them before my son decided he like them and started wearing them. Since they were so cheap, and I had so many other shoes, I let him have them.
ASICS Gel Cumulus 16 - 10.6oz, 10mm drop, $52. Billed as similar to the Nimbus but not as much cushion, I tried them out when I found them so cheap. While they worked ok, I was never a fan of them. The outsole at the heal wore through at 250 miles so I used that as an excuse to retire them.

Retired shoes not shown:
ASICS Gel Nimbus 17 - $100 - Returned to ASICS due to wear around the Achilles notch. They sent me a free replacement.
Brooks Glycerin 12 - $150 - My very first *real* running shoe. I now keep these on our sailboat in case I forget to bring mine. We spend the night on the boat and I'll often run in the morning before my wife gets up.

I just saw this! I need to post a pic. I shoes!

Thank you all for making me feel better about myself! It's not just me!!! That being said there's a new pair of brooks Ravenna I've had my eye on!

Lol, what the heck is a drop, I had to go look that up. I still have no idea what it does I have one pair of running shoes. My last pair the shoe literally broke between the treads (Brooks trail). I liked the Brooks. ZombiesRun! sent me my 1000k e-mail. Those miles probably killed shoes ;D
I rarely run on roads, mostly dirt, and steep granite rock hopping trails. Currently I'm sporting the 4mm drop (had to look that up) Saucony Runanywhere Xodus 3.0. They were on SALE for $60, and they are very purple. with shocking electric green, and Vibram soles. Very light weight and the bottoms are sort of stiff. When I break the bottoms of the shoe, I'll go see what else is on sale I could use something with a thicker sole. Any suggestions?

MNLittleFinn wrote: »

So, since I just retired a pair of shoes, that's an excuse top get a new pair, right? I only have 8 pairs in rotation, with 1 pair retired and 1 new pair in stand by to replace a pair that's the same make/model.

Pfft! That's the excuse to go on a shopping spree! Usually a first-time-shoe-retirer has a little trouble letting go of that first pair. Unbeknownst to them, part of the problem was that they didn't have enough other shoes to rotate through to allow them to properly see the diminished relative value of the older pair. Luckily, once that first pair is officially retired many runners buy two or three new pair as part of the grieving process to fill the void on their feet. Once a sufficiently sized collection is built up it becomes very obvious which shoes are no longer up to the task and it is easy to dispose of the bad shoes due to possessing a healthy quantity of backups to last until your next splurge, probably a few days later.

You're not even in double-digit territory yet on shoes in rotation. But you are well on your way!

@MNLittleFinn - I have been eyeing a similar pair in a woman's model. I hate to admit this, but I really like the look of the new Adidas shoe lines. I am in search of a new distance go-to shoe because I believe that the changes made to the 22 version of my old tried and true Kayanos are at the root of my hamstring problems. Switching to a new shoe after years and years of running in the same one is harder than you would think. I am hesitant to let go of the 3 pairs of 21s that I am still holding onto even though they have run their course, so to speak (see what I did there ).

I think when I return to running (hopefully soon), I am going to try and work my Kinvarnas into my rotation. I want to love these shoes, I just find running on such a light, flat shoe to be so awkward. I am thinking that since I will be working in a new shoe as well as returning from an injury, this will be a good time to try and work them in. My plan is for one short run per week, when I get there.

On a side note, am I the only one that has noticed that being injured makes you want to buy all the shoes?? It's like I have nothing better to do, so I might as well shop!

@7lenny7 - That is one serious addiction! Don't worry, we won't tell you wife. What I want to know is, how can you have all those brand spanking new shoes just waiting there. I get so anxious the minute I get a new pair. I just can't wait to try them out!

@MobyCarp- I am an over-pronator as well. For years, I relied on the Kayanos to help with my pronation problem and they did a really good job. So good, in fact, that I became lazy about making a conscious effort to correct my form. When the 22s were released, there was an obvious different feel to the shoe. Not long after I started wearing them, I developed calluses on the outside of my big toe, likely from over-pronating. The calluses were very uncomfortable. There were a couple of times that I actually stopped during my run to remove a pebble from my shoe, only to realize that it was the callus I was landing on. As a result, I believe I started underpronating to avoid rubbing on the callus. That is when all of my troubles started (too bad I only realized this in hindsight).

Going forward, I would like to try a more neutral shoe. I think it will force me to focus on my form a little more. I had an MRI on my foot several years back to diagnose a stress fracture in my metatarsal and it showed severe edema of all of my metatarsal bones, so I tend to favor a well cushioned shoe. I hope that the Kinvarnas can help me work on my form a bit, but I don't see them being a long distance option for me. Another thing I have working against me is that I have been running for about 20 years. And you know the saying about teaching an old dog new tricks...

I have a similar situation as @7lenny7. Lots of miles of shoes left and a desire to switch to low/zero drop minimalist/barefoot shoes. First, I have to burn through these, all of which are officially in rotation, though some used more than others:

Brooks Glycerin 13 - 167 miles
Brooks Glycerin 13 - 95 miles
Brooks Glycerin 13 - 90 miles
Brooks Glycerin 14 - 35 miles
Brooks Glycerin 14 - 15 miles
Brooks Ghost 8 - 137 miles
Brooks Ghost 8 - 112 miles
Brooks Ghost 8 - 42 miles
Brooks Dyad 8 - 36 miles
Mizuno Waverider 19 - 52 miles
Hoka One One Challenger - 32 miles
Hoka One One Stinson - These shoes will die a horrible fate for injuring me on their first mile.

All told, somewhere between 2500-3500 miles worth of shoes left.

@MNLittleFinn - I am seeing a problem in the Brooks Glycerin/Ghost and Nike Pegasus department as you do not have reserve pairs of these shoes which could theoretically drop dead at any moment. There is also a lack of Adidas Boost. It is also my opinion that it takes three pair to make a proper minimum rotation, and you only have TWO trail shoes. You essentially have a shopping list of 5 pair, right there.

@MNLittleFinn - You'll sound like such a badass if you end up telling people you gave up the ghost.