I found my beloved running shoe model online. It's unworn, in a box from a legitimate seller but the shoe is literally 5 years old. Will this shoe preform just like it did 5 years ago? Will I get the same 400 miles of it like I did before? Should I buy it?
What shoe? If its a fairly cushioned daily trainer then probably not. The foam degrades over time.
What show is it?
If you don't mind losing the money then buy it.
The major issue you'll have is with glue hydrolysis. Moisture in the air attacks the adhesives and the shoe could fall apart after a bit of running.
If you have Shoe Goo or similar you should be able to patch it together if this happens.
I would say buy it but also have some Shoe Goo handy.
I have some shoes that old. They seem fine.
You'll be fine. Not too long ago I found a pair of 9 year old, never worn, running shoes in my closet. They work fine. A bit heavy, but no issues at about 100 miles in.
I've had mixed results buying old shoes. If the glue thing doesn't happen, causing the shoe to fall apart within a couple weeks, it will probably last the expected result of the shoe. A major factor in this may be how the shoe was stored.
Kvothe wrote:
A major factor in this may be how the shoe was stored.
Totally. 1 year in an environment that regularly gets hot and/or humid is worth probably 5 in a cooler drier place and 20 if it's airtight.
I bought two pairs of five year old Nike Vomero 9's super cheap last year, bought from reputable dealer, boxed, etc and they've been fine.
Yea you’re fine. Now a 20 year old pair of shoes, that might give you some trouble
5 years is no problem unless they’ve been outside the whole time. I have ten year old track spikes and they’re fine
If they are Sauconys go for it. The shoes they were making five years ago will forever be better than the ones they make now. I had old Sauconys that I literally ran more than 1,000 miles in. They were truly great shoes. I bought some within the last two years and they are good for nothing but the trash can. I don't even use them for walking, they are that bad.
I decided not to buy them. Not really because of the age but because I think it's time for change . The problem now for me is what you have experienced - the shoes today seem so inferior to those made years ago.