If you have ever experienced the hardship that is a “floppy sneaker sole” then you might have taken your shoes too far. Sometimes it’s hard to estimate when to buy a new pair, especially when you’ve grown so used to your old pair. Many – most commonly referred to as “Sneakerheads” – do not experience this problem due mainly to their love of shopping and active wear brands, but to some, parting ways triggers a sense of dread.
However, it’s not only vanity that should prompt you to buy new running shoes, it is also a matter of health. Constantly wearing and tearing down on a shoe diminishes its ability to contain your foot and give it the sufficient arch support necessary to prevent aches and pains in both the foot and ankle region. A great analogy was recently made by University of Colorado biomechanics researcher, Rodger Kram.
“Think of a piece of Wonder Bread, kind of fluffy out of the bag,” he said. “But smoosh it down with the heel of your palm, and it is flat with no rebound.”
Yikes! Doesn’t sound pretty does it? A properly structured trainer could be the difference between a good run and a bad one. Of course, running is so much more complicated than that, but the general rule of thumb is to buy a new pair every 300 or so miles. Here is where the tricky part comes in. Depending on how much you run this could range anywhere from 3 months to 6 months or even 3 years, so make sure to roughly track your mileage!
If you are running – say – 3 times a week for 3 miles, we can suggest swapping them out every 6 months. However, if you are running every day of the week anywhere from 3-6 miles a day, every 3 months might be a better option. If you start running them into the ground (literally), you will probably start noticing anyways… from the smell! It should be noted though, that running is not the same as using the elliptical. The impact you make upon striking your foot to the ground is much greater, so don’t apply the same rule to other low-impact forms of cardio.
Athletic shoes might not be so cheap – coming in at around $100 a pair – but the investment is one you make towards your health. It’s worth it! Plus, with all the great options, you will have a hard time saying no.
How long do you wait to buy new sneakers?
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Ugh! I am SO SO SO bad about this! So bad. I have had the same sneakers for 5 years or so and I work out every day for 2 hours. MAN I need to get to the store and get some new ones, but… I just don’t see my sneakers as in bad condition, thus I don’t think it’s necessary. However, I DO KNOW IT IS! I had to put insoles in my shoes because I suffered from a stress fracture – common GiGi, if that’s not saying “GET NEW SHOES” I don’t know what will!