How do you know when your shoes are worn out?

[Sweatyfaced]

This is probably a stupid question but other than grubbiness, the soles of my running shoes still look new. How can you tell if they're still supporting you correctly and so forth? I've had them for about ten months and run just over 800km in them (i think? About 20km a week anyway) which is waaaay more than the recommended 3 - 500km. Or is that recommendation just designed to get you to buy new shoes...?

[mrrun Graduate10]

It’s a very good question! Mine were ‘given’ approx 1200km and l did around 1600km and felt they were a bit ‘flat’, less bouncy and supportive. The initial info came from gait analysis guys who had no way of knowing where I would go next. I got back to them though, and they again picked a pair that worked great for me. The prices were below the top range, it was about what could fit size 11 with wide top. They literary helped me get the right gear.

[Sweatyfaced Graduate10 in reply to mrrun]

If they are supposed to do 1200km then I'm still a way off - maybe I've mixed up miles and kilometres?

[mrrun Graduate10 in reply to Sweatyfaced]

My particular ASICS were meant to go that distance. I suspected l wore them out when my big toe made a hole on top!

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to mrrun]

All my shoes have holes in the toes, where my toes peep through. MY toes usually break through very quickly. Dorsiflexion or summink

You generally know when your shoe is done. They lose their Ooomph, their bounce and feel flat and unresponsive Some signs are obviously like excessive wear on the soles.

You can keep wearing them afterwards though, just not for running, - if they’re not too bad that is I just washed two pairs, having retired them. They’re ok for knocking about in

I log the miles on my shoes! every time i download a run, the distance on the particular shoes gets logged.

[mrrun Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Yes, although I’ve retired them they do more than comfortable business when driving a car or walking to wherever. Those guys are stil top shoes, albeit not for runnin’ no more.

[Sweatyfaced Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Also a very good idea but would require me to keep a spreadsheet or some such... sorry, cannot be a****d to do that...

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Sweatyfaced]

If you use a running watch or app that takes care of it

[Sweatyfaced Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Ahh, I use a fitbit - something to investigate then if it is that simple! Thanks for the heads up!

[Sweatyfaced Graduate10 in reply to mrrun]

And yes, I will definitely go back to the same shop - they were fab!

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Sweatyfaced]

The shop I got mine from told me to go back there and get them checked. They assured me if they were still fine, they wouldn’t sell me more 🤔😂

[Realfoodieclub Graduate10]

Turn your shoes upside down. Running shoes are made with treads in just like tyres. You will be able to tell if any of the tread is worn down just by looking. With mine the inside back goes first and I start to get a little knee niggle when they need replacing. When you get near the time it is a good idea just to check the treads every couple of weeks.

[Sweatyfaced Graduate10 in reply to Realfoodieclub]

Well yeah, that was what I was hoping to see but other than grubbiness and the shoes being a bit smelly (!), the soles look new with no excess wear spots anywhere. I had put this down to the GA guys giving me the right shoe. But I have a tiny knee niggle so maybe that's my sign?

[Jay66UK Graduate10]

I read somewhere someone who buys their “next shoes” soon after buying their current ones. Every month they do one run in the next shoes and this helps them spot when the old ones have lost their support.

Expensive at the start but once you’ve got going on that process you spread out the purchases just about the same gaps as if you only bought the new ones when you need them - you just have a spare pair of shoes.

[Sweatyfaced Graduate10 in reply to Jay66UK]

Wow, I would never have thought of that, very clever! Think I will do that then - just buy two new pairs and "save" one.

[Millsie-J]

Take your old shoes in with you when you buy new......get them before you REALLY need them......and ask the shop to show you how to check. I always have a couple of pairs on the go at any one time.

[Sweatyfaced Graduate10 in reply to Millsie-J]

Another great suggestion, thank you!

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to Millsie-J]

Yes I take mine to a running shop and ask them. They always do the twist test after looking at the tread.

atune.com.au/how-to-test-if...

[pollyp1 Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Useful! I suspect I need new shoes. And capris. And

[Sweatyfaced Graduate10 in reply to pollyp1]

I always need new something; I just didn't know if it was shoes... I bought two news pairs of capris and a running vest last week but I have been resisting the pull slightly, not least cos the hubby said he owed me a treat...and I was wondering whether it was shoes... And now I know it was two pairs!!!

[pollyp1 Graduate10 in reply to Sweatyfaced]

lol.

[pinkaardvark Graduate10]

Shoes are worn out when the pull of new shoes becomes stronger than the ability to resist buying them Alternatively find more and more niche reasons for buying them, ie "well these are special trainers for running down scree" or "trainers for days with a y in them" etc. Then you can justify multiple contiguous pairs

[Hidden]

Oh, bloody hell, mine are all worn out now in that case!!! 😳