When to buy new shoes?

If you are paying $100.00 for an Air Pegasus you are getting hosed. The midsole of the shoe is what wears out. Depending on how and where you run determines when to buy new shoes. I personally get only 250-300 miles before my legs begin to scream. I know some runners who put a 1000 miles on a shoe; funny they are the ones whom always are injured and spending mucho bucks on rehab. But they saved $80.00 on shoes. My advice is to talk to your local running specialty store about running for the store team or see what club that store gives discounts to and join that club. Don't sacrifice the quality of your running by not having proper shoes.

I usually average about 500 miles on a pair of shoes before the sole wears through at the heel. I've had crappy luck with Nikes that died after 250 miles (made my feet hurt during a long run, and the midsoles looked crushed), and better luck with a pair of ASICS 2060's (still looked and felt OK after nearly 800 miles - I stopped wearing them because I worried they MIGHT cause an injury). Most of my shoes have been NB, and they've generally worn well for me.

I find it hard to tell from the ride of the shoe whether their time has passed, because they tend to get more comfortable with age, even though they're losing all of their support features. Once I wear the heel through, they're toast.

Look for bargains on shoes you've found to work for you in the past (internet, bargain bin sales etc)

There is NO mileage limit on shoes. When you start to get random aches its usually time to replace shoes. Two pairs of the same model in the same model year from DIFFERENT manufacturing lots may get different mileage. In all cases it depends on a number of factors including biomechanics, weight, surface and weather.

You can save money by using sale shoes of previous years models. They are often the same shoe with mostly cosmetic changes. This site is a very good place to get them and save another 15% or more from Road Runner.

I generally get 600 miles before my legs start to ache

noticeably more on 15-20 mile runs. Usually I then use them for 5-7 mile runs for another 200 miles and ditch them at 800. I can't afford it either but the only time I topped 800 on a pair I got injured.

Every 3 weeks for me....that would be at 300 miles. Better safe than sorry.

I generally try to change shoes every 400 miles, although sometimes I may go up to about 450. I decided a long time ago that I am willing to perhaps retire shoes before their time to reduce the chance of having "old" shoes cause injury. Keeping track and never pushing it too far has worked for me over the years.

I get between 300-400 miles on a pair. I'm not exactly "svelte" so that's part of the reason for the lower mileage. I rotate through 4 pairs of shoes that I've bought at different times. My newest shoes get a few short jaunts then I use them for my long runs, my oldest shoes for my a.m. runs on the 'mill. When I add a new pair my oldest goes off to goodwill. When I run every day I have to rotate because they stay wet otherwise and break down VERY quickly.

I've been paying about $50 a pair for shoes and I get a new pair every 5-6 weeks. If you're light on your feet and have a fairly neutral stride I wouldn't see why 800-1000 miles would be unreasonable if you rotated a few pair to give them a change to recover.

I run in the same pair every workout, every day.

the mileage life of effective cushioning varies from the type of midsold. those with compression molded EVA, have about a third of the life of those with injected molded EVA. But of course the best way is to really listen to your body around the 300+ mileage life of a pair of shoes. if the aches adn pains are not from changes in training or terrain, its a good bet that the shoes are not doing there job anymore.

When you feel the sharper rocks underfoot while you run on a trail = time for new shoes.

First of all if you run ina shoe every day you are reducing its lifespan, the midsole doesn't have a chance to rebound properly so you just destroy it, the best course of action is to have a couple of pairs of shoes at least, and maybe keep a thick cushioned pair for long runs, that way you ahve a workhorse shoe that you wear out frequently and maybe don't spend too much cash on, a lighter shoe for quicker training runs and a nice expensive thick protective pair for when you need it on your long runs. Another way to extend your shoes life of course is to stay off the tarmac, trails and grass extend your shoes lives and also don't wash em, as son as you wash em they have had it, the midsole and glue breaks down, the support goes and the fit gets worse.

Gees greg, stop posting stuff just to post on letsrun. everyone knows when to get a new pair of shoes. If you cant afford a new pair, then just wait until you can.

Just be a kenyan and run without them. Mind you thats kinda hard in all the snow up there.

Just deal with it i guess.

Hope your running is going well.

Megg

http://www.mstateathletics.com

"First of all if you run ina shoe every day you are reducing its lifespan, the midsole doesn't have a chance to rebound properly so you just destroy it."

I read that this was tested in the lab and found to be untrue, that it only takes like 4 hours for a shoe to return to its normal fullness. I am curious to see documentation either way.

Also, do shoes have a shelf life? That is, do shoes deteriorate just from sitting on a shelf for a year (hence implying that perhaps there is a difference between old and new model shoes)?