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How Do Tell When You Need New Shoes?
Question:
I am interested in criteria for determining when shoes should be replaced. Other than the obvious signs of outer sole wear how do you determine if the midsole is worn.
We discussed this tonight in a graduate level athletic training class I am taking. You can test the shoe by placing it on a flat surface, and pressing straight down with your index finger in the center of the heel box of the shoe. If the toe of the shoe rises straight up, the midsole is still OK. If it tilts off to the side, or goes diagonally, the midsole is worn, and you should replace the shoe. HTH Julie — |
Response:
What if you have no idea how many miles you’ve run on them? My shoes are about 7 months old and today for the first time the bottom of my foot started hurting during an easy run. That’s when I started wondering if I need new shoes.
First estimate your weekly mileage and multiply that times 30. Some people have change shoes in as little as 300 miles while others can last a 1000. After several shoe cycles, you start start recognizing your personal signs of shoe deterioration. Perhaps a part of the shoe completely wears away. Other people start developing pains and injuries. My legs start tiring quicker in old shoes- a feeling of overtraining, but when I haven’t been. Differences in shoe mileage are caused by shoe quality, runner’s wear pattern, runner’s weight, running surface, weather, etc. At about 10 cents a mile for shoes, it is cheaper to buy a new pair at first sign of trouble than to pay a doctor to fix injuries.
Response:
Well, my Nike Triaxes told me their number was up yesterday. I started hearing a loud PSSST every time my left foot hit the ground. You guessed it – flat tire. A real bummer, because without air, there is a VERY noticeable difference in cushioning. Oh, well. Larry
Response:
Well, my Nike Triaxes told me their number was up yesterday. I started hearing a loud PSSST every time my left foot hit the ground. You guessed it – flat tire. A real bummer, because without air, there is a VERY noticeable difference in cushioning. Oh, well. Larry
You’re scaring me. I just bought my Nike Air Max Triaxs. I’m pretty heavy, 190 lbs, but don’t expect my triaxs to go flat just yet. When did you buy these shoes? How many miles do you have on them? Robert Lendvai | "My favorite, I might say, the "Fool on the hill" | my only study, is man."
Response:
Ya, well, I’m pretty disappointed at how little time it took me to wear these boys out. Let’s see – I bought them to use for my long runs + the Marine Corps Marathon. So, I probably got no more than 150 miles out of them. Looking at the shoe, though, it looks like I must have hit a rock or something on the trail I run, because it looks like something sliced into the air sac from the side. I don’t suppose I can blame Nike for that. Larry – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well, my Nike Triaxes told me their number was up yesterday. I started hearing a loud PSSST every time my left foot hit the ground. You guessed it – flat tire. A real bummer, because without air, there is a VERY noticeable difference in cushioning. Oh, well. Larry You’re scaring me. I just bought my Nike Air Max Triaxs. I’m pretty heavy, 190 lbs, but don’t expect my triaxs to go flat just yet. When did you buy these shoes? How many miles do you have on them? Robert Lendvai | "My favorite, I might say, the "Fool on the hill" | my only study, is man."
Response:
I’ve been reading stories about people having their Nike Air sacs puncture/go flat. I had the same thing happen to a pair of Air Analogs. I took them back to the store and got a free replacement pair, no questions asked. Moral of the story: if they go flat, take them back. It’s worth a try. They’re not *supposed* to go flat.
Response:
Can anyone tell me when shoes usually start showing wear. I’ve hear a lot of good things about the analysis of your running that they do based on your shoes. Problem is due to injury/illness I have not been running regularly and have no idea how many miles I’ve put in. I’ve owned the shoes for about 6 months and the tread looks practically brand new. I will probably err on the safe side and trade this in for new earlier than I think I need to. Will the analysis still work. Or should I go ahead and get a second pair to alternate and send the old ones in once they’re starting to look fairly worn? -Jennifer ( )_( ) Jennifer L. Holcom * Lots of people talk to (o o) Baylor College of Medicine * animals. -Winnie the Pooh / Dept. of Cell Biology *
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One thing I should probably add is that my running is probably about 75% dirt/gravel running trails with the remainder being on the road. -Jennifer
Response:
I am interested in criteria for determining when shoes should be replaced. Other than the obvious signs of outer sole wear how do you determine if the midsole is worn. I tend to like the feel of well broken in shoe, however, I am concerned that I may be going past the point of excess wear. If it helps I am wearing Saucony Grid shadows and I tend to not like a shoe with excessive cushioning. In addition I am only running about 20 miles/week.
If you wear two different pairs, I found that the when something hurts after running in one pair, but not the other, it’s time for a new pair of shoes. If you wear only one pair, it’s a little trickier, but I still go with the theory of replacing a pair when something hurts that didn’t used to hurt. Mileage is not a very accurate way to determine when to replace them. I know people who replace their shoes every 400 miles. I got 1000 miles out of my last pair. — Bob Sarocka Lombard, IL
Response:
I am interested in criteria for determining when shoes should be replaced. Other than the obvious signs of outer sole wear how do you determine if the midsole is worn. I tend to like the feel of well broken in shoe, however, I am concerned that I may be going past the point of excess wear. If it helps I am wearing Saucony Grid shadows and I tend to not like a shoe with excessive cushioning. In addition I am only running about 20 miles/week. Paul
Response:
I usuually follow a simple rule -No more than 500-600 miles per pair. If you wait too long, you’ll find out the hard way (injury). Good Luck
Response:
I usuually follow a simple rule -No more than 500-600 miles per pair. If you wait too long, you’ll find out the hard way (injury). Good Luck
What if you have no idea how many miles you’ve run on them? My shoes are about 7 months old and today for the first time the bottom of my foot started hurting during an easy run. That’s when I started wondering if I need new shoes. ivy
Response:
I usuually follow a simple rule -No more than 500-600 miles per pair. If you wait too long, you’ll find out the hard way (injury). Good Luck
Would this rule apply to shoes that don’t see much pavement? I run primarily on grass and it’s much easier on my legs and feet. Perhaps it’s easier on shoes, also?
Response:
Yea, that is something I want to know about too… I talked to the guys at a local running store, but they are, well, shoe salesmen. So, I don’t know who I can talk to that will tell me straight up… the shoes I bought when I started running around the last week of August are Asics, and I got them on sale (they were discontinued in Feb ‘93) with gel in the soles… but, during the past week I’ve been having pain in my hips after doing only about 5 miles. I ran about 3-4 miles a day from the last week of August through the first week of October, and since then I’ve been running about 5-6.3 miles per day (I do about 8 minute mile). I do run on the dirt trail (but that’s only 2.1 miles of my run) and I run on the grass and the side streets are busted asphalt in many areas… I don’t know if it is because of my shoes that I am having hip pain or what. Normally I do beat the shit out of shoes– regular hiking shoes (what I wear on a daily basis) only last me about 4 or 5 months. Btw, the guys at the shoe store told me that a woman who worked for them (Pam something she’s now a Masters runner), while she only weighed 115 pounds, could never get more than 150 miles out of a pair of shoes…. is that a story or is there that much difference between shoe usage per individual? Ciao, Jenn "I’ve got a good mind to "They say it’s a man’s world baby, give up living, and go but you can’t prove that by me. As shopping instead." long as we’re together, show some –B.B. King respect for me." –Aretha Franklin
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I usuually follow a simple rule -No more than 500-600 miles per pair. If you wait too long, you’ll find out the hard way (injury). Good Luck What if you have no idea how many miles you’ve run on them? My shoes are about 7 months old and today for the first time the bottom of my foot started hurting during an easy run. That’s when I started wondering if I need new shoes. ivy
I always replace my shoes at the first sign of lower extremity pain. It’s worked for me so far. :) Julie — |
Response:
Ivy Blumberg < writes: What if you have no idea how many miles you’ve run on them? My shoes are about 7 months old and today for the first time the bottom of my foot started hurting during an easy run. That’s when I started wondering if I need new shoes.
DUMP THEM!!! I don’t track miles, but figure I run 40-50 miles per week. I also alternate between 2 pairs of shoes. which helps a lot LEECHERNEY