I'm sure this has been asked before, but how many KM do you get out of your shoes? I know everyone's different, but I'm curious... shoe manufacturers often say 300 - 600 miles (500 - 1,000 KM roughly)
I'm getting around 550 KM, so just about within the expected limit, but I'm normally really light on shoes, my normal shoes last me for years and years. I must be a really heavy plodder...
So, roughly how many miles/km do you get, or does it depend on brand? Does time have a part to play, my husband tells me wellington boots will deteriorate over time even if you don't wear them, the rubber breaks down or something, or does that sound like nonsense?
Do you have one pair and wear them till they're knackered, or do you have several pairs and rotate them?
Written by
Curlygurly2
Half Marathon
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It varies a lot between shoe brands I think, I generally run in Ons which are known for being less hard wearing but I'm quite light and do probably 60% road 40% softer surfaces so I personally don't find them too flimsy at all. I retired a pair of Brooks at around 500k because I started getting blisters, they were my first running shoes so I suspect I ran quite badly in them. I've not run through a pair of Ons yet so I guess they can go in excess of 500k. I pretend the ones I'm in today are close to retirement simply because I bought three more pairs in the sale 😂 Ultimately I think there are so many variables that it's just a case of keeping an eye on your shoes for uneven wear, unusual aches etc, and trust your instinct. Rubber and plastics do degrade over time, but it usually tastes a good while. I think you're more likely to wear a pair of running shoes out than have them degrade on you.
My first running shoes I picked up for £35 at Sports Direct 'He RunShe Runs section.
I did about 450 miles running in them. They're not worn through anywhere but the tread wear is very uneven so I could feel that I was unable to get a neutral stance. Pronation made my knees come together.
Before I retired that pair I got some (same brand) mixed surfaces 'trail' shoes. They're very red. I've now got 3x pairs of shoes on the go. The red ones have done over 500 miles with hardly any tread wear even though most of the time they experience pavement. I have them in semi retirement, using them as hiking shoes, everyday shoes, C25K shoes.
I guess you may find wear characteristics can change as your running develops.
Manufacturers change designs, change the factory, change their materials and materials suppliers.... it is difficult to say what you might and what you will get in terms of longevity in a pair of shoes.
If you find a comfy shoe, try to get more than one pair! 😃
My Supernovas are well over 600 miles and the outsoles look like they can do another 600. My NB 1080’s are wearing out after 120 miles which I’m a bit miffed about.
I retire my shoes when they start to show signs of noticeable wear, particularly uneven wear. Since I mainly run trails this can vary with the particularly type. The more robust usually do around 650k, the lighter weight around 450k.
I always retire them early if they show signs of internal wear on the heels. Blisters are not fun.
One pair of hybrid shoes are heading for early retirement because they’re not robust enough for trails or supportive enough for roads. Chalking that one up to lack of experience when I chose them.
Mine have varied from around 400/500 miles , cant say I’ve noticed a difference with brands but I’ve not been paying that much attention. Two pairs ago my Sauconys did over 800 miles and no niggles, whereas my last pair (same brand) did 600K and I had so many aches and pains I’m still recovering! Mind you I probably shouldn’t have run 17K in old shoes 🙄
I normally have one pair only that I wear until they’re done but for my last HM training I bought another pair but stupidly didn’t wear them. Lesson learned. From now on, I’m alternating with two pairs.
Your husband's right about wellies! The rubber dries out and perishes and cracks unless you treat them regularly (and who has time for that!). I retired my first pair of running shoes when I started going longer distances in order to go up a size, then my second pair when Garmin told me to (not sure if they were worn but, but coming back from a stress fracture I didn't want to risk compromised cushioning). Both old pairs are being used for cycling now (the bigger ones in the cold when two pairs of socks are needed and the others when it's warmer), so I don't feel I'm being wasteful just yet!
That’s a good question and I’m sure everyone will give you different answers. For me, I originally followed Garmin’s guidance of 650km on my first couple of pairs, but my last pair of Saucony Breakthrus got to 850k before I recently retired them. I suspect my new Hokas will be similar. They are both considered everyday run shoes. My other pair of Kinvaras are very light and like Squeak’s Clouds, they wear faster, being made of lighter materials which break down quicker. I just keep them for faster, short runs now. My TR11 old trail shoes went a bit past their prime before being replaced. I had to insert steel screws for traction in the winter and wrap the insole with Gorilla tape to manage the water leaks. Loving the new Peregrine replacement pair I got.
I'm on my first pair of running shoes, as I ran in a pair of hiking trainers until after I had run my first 10K in December. They are a pair of "Aldi Premium" which I picked up in a sale in 2014, thinking they were so cheap they might come in useful - which they did more than 5 years later. Currently at 406 km running (and probably another 30% walking). I assumed they would still be OK, but I've just had a look and they're quite worn. I'm right footed, and the rubber facing on the right outer heel is worn down, which is what usually wears first on my shoes. Unusually, for me, the left one is more worn - down to the mid layer on the front part of the sole. I'm currently running 35 km a week, so looks like I may have to order a replacement pair online, as these may not last until the end of lockdown, though I might have another pair of Aldi trainers somewhere around here!
Hi Curlygurly2 have 1400k on my new balance 1080’s and was fine with them. I followed advice that this was probably twice over recommended distance got some new ones and haven’t really noticed any difference.I guess my old ones were more like comfy slippers in the end. I think we are all different so go with how you feel😊
Hi SlowLoris They are the V8’s and have taken everything I’ve thrown at them and the uppers are still in pretty good nick. I have been so impressed then got some new 1080 V9’s which I’m using at the moment and have a pair of 1080 v10’s 40th London marathon ltd edition’s waiting in their box should the London marathon ever happen 🤞
To clarify, the treads on the soles of my shoes still look pretty good, but I feel they are "heavy" and I'm getting aches and pains, so I think then cushioning is going inside before the tread.
Thanks for your answers, I suppose my shoes are within "normal" brackets, I just don't want to keep coughing up for new ones!
My old Asics Gel Pulse 8 are 1250km and newer Asics Gel Nimbus 20 are 1100km. Both still feel good and springy. Hardly any wear at all (I have neutral gait though, and only 75kg). New pair will be bought soon to break-in for possible autumn events. Oldest pair to become summer walking shoes.
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