Do shoes degrade if you leave them in the closet? For a year or two? For the past few years, I've been buying one pair at a time of the previous year's model for $40 and I've always wondered about buying another pair and saving it for later. My guess is they wouldn't. Anybody buy a bunch of shoes on sale and save them?
well if they do, then those previous year models you are buying are degraded already before they ever go in your closet
The shoes that you are buying are being discontinued, which likely means that they have been sitting in a warehouse for many months. If they sit in your closet for a few more months, I don't see how that will make any difference. I'm no polymer scientist, but I don't think that a modern running shoe, sitting in a box for a few years, will "degrade."
I am aware of that. But do they? Is there a percentage they degrade per year?
Of course they will degrade somewhat. The key is to store them in a stable dark environment.
I bought a pair of Mizuno racing flats that had been sitting on the bargain shelf of a local running store for at least 4 years. They were probably made about 8 years ago. The shoes are fine and show no signs of degradation. Within reason I wouldn't worry about it.
It is heat and sunlight that will break down the polymers in a modern shoe.
Other factors come into play as soon as you start wearing them.
Thanks. This is more like the type of anecdotes I was looking for.
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