I run about 70-80 miles per week, am a bigger runner at 180 lbs and have been quite injury prone in the past, so I do get new shoes more often than not, often on discount. I know it's not the most cost effective thing in the world, but if it keeps me healthy I'm not going to argue.
I usually cycle through three pairs of trainers and replace them every six months. I live in Houston and after a long summer of sweating through my trainers every day, they're quite disgusting. Like a lot of the posters, I try to pick up models of shoes I like when I see them on clearance and save them for the next season. I don't find a huge correlation between what I paid for a shoe and how good it is.
I rotate my shoes. I usually buy 1-2 new pairs a year, max.
I have ~7 pairs in my rotation, so none of them get too worn out. I also run quite a bit on trails, which saves a lot of wear and tear on my body and my shoes (have had the same pair of trail shoes for 2 years and they are still in great shape!).
ledi wrote:
I replace mine when they need to be replaced. It ain't that hard, just look at the sole and treads. .
The bottoms of my shoes never show wear except for shoes I’ve kept for many years as walking shoes etc. For me it’s the midsole that eventually packs it in, specifically the forefoot. They just start to feel more and more like crap. I rotate a number of different shoes and don’t keep track of mileage or age, when they start to hurt they are done. But, it’s usually at least 6 months and other than the uppers being dirty the soles themselves look brand new.
they only get dirty wrote:
ledi wrote:
I replace mine when they need to be replaced. It ain't that hard, just look at the sole and treads. .
The bottoms of my shoes never show wear except for shoes I’ve kept for many years as walking shoes etc. For me it’s the midsole that eventually packs it in, specifically the forefoot. They just start to feel more and more like crap. I rotate a number of different shoes and don’t keep track of mileage or age, when they start to hurt they are done. But, it’s usually at least 6 months and other than the uppers being dirty the soles themselves look brand new.
Funny, the soles of my shoes wear down under the big toe and under the ball of the foot long before the uppers show any wear or anything else feels bad. I'm a big-time forefoot striker, even when running very slowly.
Usually every 8 to 9 months, but I am only a 20 mile per week runner (age 60 soon). After I retire a pair from running, the shoes can be worn around the house for chores and projects. For my next purchase, I am considering 2 pairs. Average Asics that I have been buying for years and the latest version of the Nike CrazyFlys or whatever the state of the art shoe is called. Those will last for a mere 200 miles. Running in those 3 or 4 times leading up to a race and for the race itself is an MO I may try.
Baltsu wrote:
a name wrote:
Guessing LRCers average mileage is 50mpw and replacing shoes after 500 miles, that 's a new pair every 10 weeks. Guessing $100 per pair that's $520/year. Is that about what people are doing? What on earth do you do with all your "old" (10-week old) shoes?
The most comfortable after long run walking shoe that I wear when I walk to supermarket or sauna or to have BBQ at beach, is a Lunarglide 3+ pair. I ran more than 1000K in it and after that have been wearing it casually when I have walked or ridden bike near my house for maybe 5 or 6 years. I would like to throw it away but haven't found any other shoe that is really comfortable to be worn with all kind of socks after a long run when both cushioning and room in toe box is needed.
I wore Lunareclipse and later moved to Lunarglide. Once I got between 300 to 350 miles on them the midsole (EVA I assume) foam was shot. The shoes would cause either leg pain or foot pain during runs. Switching to a new pair would eliminate the pain. I agree the Lunarglide were very comfortable for casual wear and with any socks due to roomy toe box. The prior Lunareclipse were not as roomy. I still wear an old pair of older Lunareclipse for casual wear and still have an unworn pair or two in boxes I have yet to rotate into my running shoes. I never bought that more recent Lunarglides as I did not like that changes Nike made to them. I switched to Adidas Supernova which I got 1000, and 915 miles out of until the outer sole wore through. I now wear Adidas Boston (600 mile thus far) and Adidas Solar Glides. The Supernova and Solar Glide are just as comfortable as the Lunarglides were for casual wear with various socks.
I run 30 to 50-some miles every week. I weigh 165 to 170 lbs.
zzzz wrote:
I've been averaging 80+ mpw. I use shoes as long as possible until they fall apart, are mended if that's easy and reasonable with needle and thread, and fall apart again. I try to get at least 1,000 miles. In addition to newer shoes, I also currently have four pairs in rotation that are over 1,000 miles (highest still in use 1679 miles). My most recently retired shoes had 941 miles, 1214 miles, 1507 miles, and 950 miles. They go straight to the trash when retired because they are literally used up. Spent about $95 total on two pairs of new shoes last year (adidas Terrex Agravic Flow $63, adidas Boston 7 $32, both good shoes and the Flow actually a new model). Spent about $110 the year before, also on two decent pairs.
I too bought Boston 8 for $32 from Adidas eBay store last fall. My wife and daughter do not like the color as it looks pink in the right lighting. I have actually gotten some compliments from others which I have not received for other shoes that look more normal. I bought 6 pairs. I could not pass up the price. I have a pair of Boston 6 with nearly 600 miles. I think I can get 700 to 800 miles out of them before the Continental outer sole will wear through to the midsole
The Adios 4 also went for about $45. I bought one pair to try. Solar Glides were as cheap as about $45 from the Adidas eBay store late last year. I love the low prices we can buy these Adidas shoes for and stock up on several pairs when they go low. The Adidas eBay store has had some of the lowest prices. I have gotten some good prices from a local Adidas Outlet store. I probably have gotten some good deals from their website but not recently.
they only get dirty wrote:
The bottoms of my shoes never show wear except for shoes I’ve kept for many years as walking shoes etc. For me it’s the midsole that eventually packs it in, specifically the forefoot. They just start to feel more and more like crap. I rotate a number of different shoes and don’t keep track of mileage or age, when they start to hurt they are done. But, it’s usually at least 6 months and other than the uppers being dirty the soles themselves look brand new.
The midsoles of the Nike I wore for years wore out before the outer soles. This occurred around 300 to 350 miles. My Adidas shoes with Boost midsole have worn out in the outer sole at 915 to 1000 miles while the midsole, while a little firmer than new, still had good cushion.
amkelley wrote:
Funny, the soles of my shoes wear down under the big toe and under the ball of the foot long before the uppers show any wear or anything else feels bad. I'm a big-time forefoot striker, even when running very slowly.
My Adidas shoes wear out in the same locations in the outer sole.
Damn, i must be living the high life. I get about 300 miles per pair living in a hilly area. That means a new pair each month to stave off achilles problems. I run 10 miles a day and weigh 150lbs at 5'11. Most miles are run at 6:45 pace other than fartlek and tempo days.
I donate the old ones since they are still plenty good for walking around. At 120 a pair, that means 1440 a year.
No, I don’t.
Ive put about 700 miles on my zoom fly's. They go for ever. Starting to get hole's on the big toe area, if i sow it up they will still be fine.
Just to add the ASICS gel Noosa was a great long use trainer. Put 100's on those in all sorts of terrain.
I'm a heel striker with some issues. One leg is shorter than the other from the knee to the ground because of getting hit by a car while running that was going 60 mph. I replace shoes as soon as I wear through the harder rubber outer layer at the heel which is probably about 250 miles on average and I'm a 50 mpw guy. As a heel striker some shoe brands and models hold up much better than others but I never wear a shoe long enough for the EVA compression to be a problem. I should donate my shoes to charity but typically don't. They are good for yard-work but since I go through at least 10 pair/year they'd pile up if I didn't trash or donate them
I don't know if my logic is sound but I am worried that even slight heel wear will lead to host of issues at knee and hips and lower back given that one leg is about 1.5 cm shorter and I have 50,000 lifetime miles already
I run about 50mi/wk and replace my shoes at around 400 miles . I'm 6'7" and 190 lbs so I'm pretty hard on my shoes. I could probably get a little more out of my shoes but getting new shoes is part of the fun. I buy shoes when I find them on sale so I usually have 3+ trainers in my regular rotation. Currently I have 5.
I don't spend much on other hobbies so I feel okay buying new running gear every once in a while. I think the most I paid for trainers in the last year was $90 for a pair of ultraboosts. I often get shoes for like $60 on sale. Probably works out to around $500 a year for trainers. I did by a pair of VF's for $200 this year but that wasn't a typical purchase.
3,052 miles on my Bondi
Normally just under 1,000 on the Clifton
Retired shoes become walk around shoes. Eventually they become work shoes. Hokas are GREAT for construction/roofing as you can run a pretty long nail through them without hitting skin!
I buy 7 or 8 pairs a year. As soon as I switch shoes, I go online and look for my next pair. Typically I can get them close to half off ($80-$90). So I'm spending about $700 a year on shoes.
10 years ago I would get close to 500 miles, but now I replace after 300.
Spending money on shoes is cheaper than doctor and physical therapy costs while injured.
masacote wrote:
No, I don’t.
Really!? So, even more often? Every month or month and 1/2?
THOUGHTSLEADER wrote:
I rotate two trainers, two faster shoes for workouts/long runs. Bought old models so say all of it cost under 280 total. Should last me about 8-9 months
This is what I do with a pair of Nike Reacts and Pegasus Turbos (both got at outlets so they were about half retail) and it's not only helped the shoes last longer but also makes runs in the different shoes feel better. I've had them both for about 6 months now and don't foresee changing them soon. Used to get 6 months out a shoe and then my feet/legs were begging for new ones but this rotation seems to work great!
Recycle them.
Donate them to Salvation Army.
Hand them out to homeless people.
Cut them up and turn them into shandles!
J2k wrote:
Ive put about 700 miles on my zoom fly's. They go for ever. Starting to get hole's on the big toe area, if i sow it up they will still be fine.
I've gone through about 8 pairs of the zoom fly. I wear them until I can see the carbon plate...700 sounds high, but you could be right.
a name wrote:
Guessing LRCers average mileage is 50mpw and replacing shoes after 500 miles, that 's a new pair every 10 weeks. Guessing $100 per pair that's $520/year. Is that about what people are doing? What on earth do you do with all your "old" (10-week old) shoes?
Back in the day when I was serious about my running and putting in a lot of miles, I would rotate my shoes every few months and donate the rest to a running store.
RIP: D3 All-American Frank Csorba - who ran 13:56 in March - dead
RENATO can you talk about the preparation of Emile Cairess 2:06
Running for Bowerman Track Club used to be cool now its embarrassing
Great interview with Steve Cram - says Jakob has no chance of WRs this year
Hats off to my dad. He just ran a 1:42 Half Marathon and turns 75 in 2 months!