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Question:

I am having problems with excessive wear on NB runners. They wear on the outer heel edge just behind the mid- sole. I have tried 2 different models and the rubber gets worn down to the sole with about 80kms of running. Just the one little area. The last pair were 805 ATs. NB in Australia have been very good and replaced 3 pairs so far. After the 805s wore out they have just sent me a pair of 764s. I will try these and see what happens. I alternate with a pair of Saucony 3D grids and although they wear slightly in this area it isn’t anything like the NBs. The Sauconys have done about 300kms and look like they are only half worn out in this section. Anyone give me an idea why the NBs are doing this to me. I love the feel of them but can’t keep buying a pair every month especially when it is only this one tiny area affected. I have spoken to a shoe repair guy and he says he can replace the worn piece of rubber as required by cutting a piece to fit. Does this work effectively? As far as I know I have no pronation problems and have worn tons of different brands in the past without this problem. Seems like I am ‘allergic’ to NBs. <g Thanks, Vic

Response:

I have the same problem with a new pair of Sacony grid stabils. I think that it is the way I run because it is only the left shoe. However, none of my other running shoes have worn that fast in that area. It makes it look like I am dragging my heel. Chris

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am having problems with excessive wear on NB runners. They wear on the outer heel edge just behind the mid- sole. I have tried 2 different models and the rubber gets worn down to the sole with about 80kms of running. Just the one little area. The last pair were 805 ATs. NB in Australia have been very good and replaced 3 pairs so far. After the 805s wore out they have just sent me a pair of 764s. I will try these and see what happens. I alternate with a pair of Saucony 3D grids and although they wear slightly in this area it isn’t anything like the NBs. The Sauconys have done about 300kms and look like they are only half worn out in this section. Anyone give me an idea why the NBs are doing this to me. I love the feel of them but can’t keep buying a pair every month especially when it is only this one tiny area affected. I have spoken to a shoe repair guy and he says he can replace the worn piece of rubber as required by cutting a piece to fit. Does this work effectively? As far as I know I have no pronation problems and have worn tons of different brands in the past without this problem. Seems like I am ‘allergic’ to NBs. <g Thanks, Vic

Response:

: I am having problems with excessive wear on NB runners. : They wear on the outer heel edge just behind the mid- : sole. I have tried 2 different models and the rubber : gets worn down to the sole with about 80kms of running. : Just the one little area. The last pair were 805 ATs. NB : in Australia have been very good and replaced 3 pairs so : far. After the 805s wore out they have just sent me a : pair of 764s. I will try these and see what happens. I : alternate with a pair of Saucony 3D grids and although : they wear slightly in this area it isn’t anything like : the NBs. The Sauconys have done about 300kms and look : like they are only half worn out in this section. : Anyone give me an idea why the NBs are doing this to me. : I love the feel of them but can’t keep buying a pair : every month especially when it is only this one tiny : area affected. : I have spoken to a shoe repair guy and he says he can : replace the worn piece of rubber as required by cutting : a piece to fit. Does this work effectively? : As far as I know I have no pronation problems and have : worn tons of different brands in the past without this : problem. Seems like I am ‘allergic’ to NBs. <g : Thanks, : Vic I don’t wear those models of NB but I have had a big problem with the 829/830 models wearing out at the leading edge of the heel.  Right behind the heel flex groove.  The oly solution I’ve found if I want to keep weaing that model is to completely fill that groove with shoe goo or something similar.  The last new pair I started wearing are holding up quite well after filling that flex groove to the point where the goo was level with the tread.  Do you just run rails or do you also run roads.  It has been my experience taht trail soles will wear out very fast if worn on paved roads.  I believe the 804 is a trail shoe so I wouldn’t expect it to hold up very well on paved roads. Tom

Response:

Hi, Vic,

[snip] Anyone give me an idea why the NBs are doing this to me. I love the feel of them but can’t keep buying a pair every month especially when it is only this one tiny area affected.

I’ve run into the same problem. I tend to concentrate (overly?) on midfoot landing so I feel sure that I’m not heel striking but also find the wear you’ve described. At first, I though I was ’skiing’ – sliding the foot when I landed but the forefoot of the shoe doesn’t show this wear. Weird. I have spoken to a shoe repair guy and he says he can replace the worn piece of rubber as required by cutting a piece to fit. Does this work effectively?

Can’t help there. As far as I know I have no pronation problems and have worn tons of different brands in the past without this problem. Seems like I am ‘allergic’ to NBs. <g

My Asics don’t show this wear pattern but I get the impression it would take a blowtorch to wear out the Asics soles. I like the NBs, too. Layne The rec.running report archives may be found at http://kinder.cis.unf.edu/rec.running

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : I am having problems with excessive wear on NB runners. : They wear on the outer heel edge just behind the mid- : sole. I have tried 2 different models and the rubber : gets worn down to the sole with about 80kms of running. : Just the one little area. The last pair were 805 ATs. NB : in Australia have been very good and replaced 3 pairs so : far. After the 805s wore out they have just sent me a : pair of 764s. I will try these and see what happens. I : alternate with a pair of Saucony 3D grids and although : they wear slightly in this area it isn’t anything like : the NBs. The Sauconys have done about 300kms and look : like they are only half worn out in this section. : Anyone give me an idea why the NBs are doing this to me. : I love the feel of them but can’t keep buying a pair : every month especially when it is only this one tiny : area affected. : I have spoken to a shoe repair guy and he says he can : replace the worn piece of rubber as required by cutting : a piece to fit. Does this work effectively? : As far as I know I have no pronation problems and have : worn tons of different brands in the past without this : problem. Seems like I am ‘allergic’ to NBs. <g : Thanks, : Vic I don’t wear those models of NB but I have had a big problem with the 829/830 models wearing out at the leading edge of the heel.  Right behind the heel flex groove.  The oly solution I’ve found if I want to keep weaing that model is to completely fill that groove with shoe goo or something similar.  The last new pair I started wearing are holding up quite well after filling that flex groove to the point where the goo was level with the tread.  Do you just run rails or do you also run roads.  It has been my experience taht trail soles will wear out very fast if worn on paved roads.  I believe the 804 is a trail shoe so I wouldn’t expect it to hold up very well on paved roads. Tom

Actually I would run approximately one third on roads and the rest off-road. The 805s are trail shoes but given the fact that I ran very little percentage wise on paved roads with these it still has be baffled why they wore so quickly on just one spot. These weren’t the only model that wore out in less than a month either. The first NBs I tried were 650s, (or some number like that). Like I said NB Australia have been very helpful with replacing the shoes. No complaints with them at all. I used the 764 replacements that NB gave me over the weekend. I ran about ten miles and the little fine grid patterns on the bottom of the rubber heel lugs are still there so this is a good sign. Before, I would go for a run and come back and the wear from one eight mile run would be visually obvious.   Thanks, Vic

Response:

–If you have a trail shoe, they will wear faster than a road shoe regardless of the running surface.  THey’re made of softer rubber, sacrificing shoe lifetime for traction.  This is especially true if you have a problem with your form, which from what you say sounds to be exactly what is happening. It could be that it is aggravated in the NB because of the way the shoe fits you.         I love the 763, ran in three pairs in a row.  But I noticed that on each pair I wore more and more on the left outside edge of the heel; by the third pair, I was through to the white EVA in only 450-500 miles.  For this reason I switched to Brooks Hyperion, and my feet hurt like hell for a few days as the new shoes forced me back into a better running form like I used to have.  These shoes hardly worn at all after 400+ miles.  I’ll probably switch back to NB again in a couple hundred miles, and I’d bet money I don’t wear them out very much again.           Very little flaws in form can pile up the wear on a shoe over time more than you would expect.  You might not even be able to see the flaw, I’m normally told I’m a very smooth, efficient strider, but I still chewed up a pair of shoes.  I’d suggest switching out of the NB for a pair or two, then go back.  If that doesn’t work you might want to find someone knowledgable to help you with your form.  It’s hard on you as well as your shoes. Andy Hass

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – –If you have a trail shoe, they will wear faster than a road shoe regardless of the running surface.  THey’re made of softer rubber, sacrificing shoe lifetime for traction.  This is especially true if you have a problem with your form, which from what you say sounds to be exactly what is happening. It could be that it is aggravated in the NB because of the way the shoe fits you.    I love the 763, ran in three pairs in a row.  But I noticed that on each pair I wore more and more on the left outside edge of the heel; by the third pair, I was through to the white EVA in only 450-500 miles.  For this reason I switched to Brooks Hyperion, and my feet hurt like hell for a few days as the new shoes forced me back into a better running form like I used to have.  These shoes hardly worn at all after 400+ miles.  I’ll probably switch back to NB again in a couple hundred miles, and I’d bet money I don’t wear them out very much again.      Very little flaws in form can pile up the wear on a shoe over time more than you would expect.  You might not even be able to see the flaw, I’m normally told I’m a very smooth, efficient strider, but I still chewed up a pair of shoes.  I’d suggest switching out of the NB for a pair or two, then go back.  If that doesn’t work you might want to find someone knowledgable to help you with your form.  It’s hard on you as well as your shoes. Andy Hass

Hi Andy, What you say makes sense and thanks for the input & suggestions. Vic

Response:

Anyone give me an idea why the NBs are doing this to me. I love the feel of them but can’t keep buying a pair every month especially when it is only this one tiny area affected. Vic

Vic, this heavy wear in one area could be either the shoe, you, or a combination. The critical factor is how the shoe feels and runs, not how it wears in one tiny area. I resole running shoes in total and partially. Fast wear in a tiny area as you describe should not be repaired. If you have run for any length of time then the common wear areas for your shoes should be known to you. These are the areas to consider for repair. Shoes with a medium amount of wear are most comfortable and least injury prone. Over repairing or wearing new shoes all the time tends to cause injury. I have a severe orthopedic problem where my right foot edge drops early and wears the edge off right away. The athletic doc told me to forget about the wear and do nothing about it. The advice has proved helpful.

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