I used to be like that when I got back into running and felt I couldn't justify the shoe cost (now I am in triathlon spending even more money. . .). Now I typically have 2 pairs for each cycle to wear between runs, then I retire them around 350 give or take and pick up a couple new pairs. In all, counting my retired shoes, I think I have 6. My dog reduced that number by eating a couple.

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Yeah. I was that way once, for about 6 months. Then those shoes got old, and spongy like they do. I bought a new pair, nice and stiff, supportive, etc. And immediately starting having "foot issues". Learned to constantly rotate shoes into and out of rotation, so that I was running on shoes of varying levels of support. Then they become yard work shoes, etc. Then I learned you could save a lot of money by buying "last years model" on overstock sites, and often by buying 2-3 pairs of shoes at a time.

So, now I have a stack of boxes of new shoes waiting for their turn, the shoes in the current rotation, and those that haven't quite made it to the trash...I think I guessed about 6, when I answered the survey. I don't really know the count, because I'm not sure where they all are. They tend to make it into one gear bag or another as a backup set or something.

I feel like the categories: 2-3 and 3-6 might cover the same territory...just a bit.

Right here bro. I've got one pair of Supernovas.

I'm a cyclist, not a runner. However, I do fancy doing something to maintain some bone density and be a little more well rounded. You know, in case I get chased by some kind of animal or something.

I'll do some 5k stuff for workouts all the way up to running up to 10 or a 1/2 at a slower pace.

I do have 3 pairs of bike shoes. One road/race, one cheapo mtb with spikes as a cyclocross shoe, one road converted to spd for gravel riding.

Same here. Full time swimmer, part (summer) time triathlete. One pair of Brooks to run in. Soon to be retired and replaced, but don't feel I run enough to justify owning more than one serviceable pair at a time. I do have 3 sets of bike shoes, though; a pair of tri shoes with cleats for the Look Keo pedals which are on the tri bike, a pair of Shimano RT82 road-touring shoes with SPD's for "serious riding" on the road bike, and a pair of Shimano CT-71 Commuter shoes for ride-and-walk adventures on the road bike or the old-school (90's era) Specialized mountain bike that's kind of a multi-purpose steed for gravel roads, light trail work, and family vacations.

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"They're made of latex, not nitroglycerin"

I do have only one pair and running is my background. I usually do at least one 4-month running-only training cycle per year.

I've found by trial and error something that is good for my toes - Nike "FreshFoam something". When they die, every 5-6 month I bring them to a local running shoe store and ask for the same thing. At some point Nike will change the naming or discontinue the model, then I'll have to search again.

I'm not sure why would you need many pairs of shoes. May be one more for trails, but I don't do those.

Yep. Me. Voted this morning. I only own 1 pair of shoes that I would currently run in. And I also use them for playing slowpitch and pick up soccer.

I should stipulate that there are 4 pairs in the closet, but 3 of which have been worn to death in succession and been retired to lawn mowing shoes or white water rafting shoes... so I don't count those

The current pair are rapidly heading in that direction.

The poll specifically states:
How many pairs of running shoes do you own right now? New, old, used, unused, racing, training. (Did you see the shoe rack behind Sam Gyde's VASA?).

My interpretation of "old, used" was running shoes in my possession regardless of condition.

Fair enough - I interpreted that as shoes that you would still use for running, regardless of their state and/or intended purpose. (for example: running in hiking boots, I'd count as running shoes. Sneakers where the sole is falling off and used for lawn mowing, not counted)

Going by your intended definition - 4

By that count I have three pairs of asics: one pair I actually run in, one for the beach, and one for the lawn

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

Glad I wasnt the only one then. Should have mentioned "New, Old, Used, Unused, No longer used for running, Racing, Training"

same here. one pair that I actually run in.

I have 2 pairs of lawnmower / camping / painting shoes with holes in the uppers and soles falling off, and a pair of cross-trainers that are for casual walking around. But only one pair that I could actually run in.

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Swimming Workout of the Day:

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What's wrong with only owning 1 pair of running shoes?

...And when you receive an offer for 50% off because of a website glitch for your favorite running shoes, one takes the opportunity to stock up. Four pair trail shoes new in box, two pair in rotation (may not dry before the next day's trail adventure), one pair race flats, two pair road/pavement shoes (again depending upon season and shoe rotation, a wet pair may not be dry the next day), two pair higher cushion shoes for pavement (rotating those out, not thrilled with them, already worn out), one trail pair worn out for running but used to walk the dog, another worn pair for yard work. Soon trying a higher cushion trail shoe for a race this fall where both characteristics may come in handy. Two more pair mid cushion trail shoe that I tried, that were okay/meh and now spare in the suv for emergencies or whatever, and pair of spikes. Still have an old but like new pair of gortex Nike Pegasus lying around somewhere. Four pairs of cycling shoes which include waterproof ones.

I've been downsizing and minimizing work and casual wardrobe for efficiency, black boots, shoes, that work for multiple options because I also hate shopping for that stuff. Yet running shoes and outdoor jackets, I have a problem. Especially since I hit the Columbia/mtn hardware employee store each time I get a pass. Outerwear I justify as we have every type of weather there is.

Is there a twelve step for this?

I'm sure there is...I just don't agree with step 1.

Nothing wrong with having only one pair of shoes.

I have one pair of trainers (just ordered a second pair because they were 50% off). I do 98% of my runs in these. The other 2% - brick runs and actual races, I wear flats.

I don't understand the "need" to have an uptempo shoe for faster running. I just wear my trainer shoe. Maybe it's holding me back?

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Attacking this day with enthusiasm unknown to mankind.

The poll is poorly written. If you have 3 pair, in which bucket do you fall? 2-3 o r 3-6?

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Suffer Well.

Well, depending on how you count, one or three.

If you're talking about active runners - just one, always and for decades.
The other two are old runners now retired to lawn/soccer/kayak fishing duty.

Fixed.

Supposedly there is some research that indicates alternating shoes reduces the risk of injury. I'm not making any claims here, that's just what I've read, and why I typically have 2 different brands I rotate through.

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Strava

Interesting - thanks. Thankfully, I've never been injured (running for 10 years now), and I'd like to keep that streak going. So is the key having different brands, or is it more important to have different types of shoes (or something else)? If you have a link to something I can read, that'd be great.

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Attacking this day with enthusiasm unknown to mankind.

If you google "rotating shoes injury prevention" there are a lot of articles that pop up

The top result is a runner's world article that claims rotating models reduced injury risk by 39%

https://www.runnersworld.com/health-injuries/a20820451/study-backs-rotating-shoes-to-lower-injury-risk/


Again I'm not making any claims or suggesting you follow this advice, but I have heard this pretty consistently in articles/literature and on this forum

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Strava

That would be me. Why do I need more than one pair? I wear them until they are worn. Get a new pair. Repeat.

see my comment above yours.

These polls are getting worse and worse. #pollboycott

I don't even run any more, and I have more than one pair of running shoes...

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I have only one pair. I run with a Stryd and am too lazy to switch it between different pairs. Not kidding!

me, adidas ultra boost lasted 3 full years of training and 3 ironmans.

Got a new pair this year, will repeat.

#dirtysecrets

One pair here. Go about 350-500 miles, then switch

I do intend on getting a racing pair though and cycle with my training pair

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Tough Times Don't Last, Tough People Do.

I do. I’m a poor ex-pro that just starting my first career/job that isn’t bike related. I would love to have multiple pairs of shoes but I don’t run that much yet so I make due with 1 good pair. I would also really like a CycleOps Hammer but I don’t think that’s the correct thread for that one ;)

I've got 2 pair of adidas Ultra Boost, they won't die. Had to pretty much replace the laces as they are the only thing that wore out after a couple years. One of the most durable soles out there.

Just had a pair of HOKA Bondi 5's lose the tread (it peeled off & I've only got like a dozen runs in them). Didn't like them anyhow after those runs so they have been walking /street shoes for the last year. The right inside heel tread wasn't worn much at all just walking around, the back half of the "triangle" tread piece literally looks like it tore off.

Lately, I've gone back to Nike Pegasus (for faster runs) and Vomero for slog / slower longer runs. So far so good.

40 years ago the magazines were advocating 2 pairs.

Alternate them each day to help them ‘recover’

Is this not true?

Even if it might or might not be true I don’t think it costs more to have two pair and make the two last twice as long as 1 pair

I have one pair of running shoes and one pair of cycling shoes. Am I missing out?

I came from a running background before doing tris and had a pretty good deal with the owner of the local running store back then (he started doing tris around the same time I did and we occasionally trained/raced together) where I would buy 3-4 pairs at a time and he'd give me a discount. Tri days are over and I mainly ride now, but I keep one good pair of running shoes for the few times that I do occasionally get out the door for a run. I still have about a half dozen old beat up pairs that I use for yard work, wearing around as regular sneakers etc. They are in various closets around the house or in the basement and are comfortable old friends (my wife says otherwise and wants to throw them out). I honestly can't remember the last time I bought a pair of actual sneakers.

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"You can never win or lose if you don't run the race." - Richard Butler

Why would I need a second pair? I run in them until replacement time and get my next pair. I understand some like to collect running shoes. I am oriented functionally - I need one pair to run in so that is what I have. I only run in these and have other shoes for leisure.
John

The crux of this poll revolves around whether you are the sort of person who keeps things until they absolutely fall apart, literally, or whether you throw things away when you don't think they work well enough. Being in the first category, i have somewhere around 30 pairs of running shoes in my bedroom (BR). If my former GF had not talked me into letting her give away and/or sell another 50 or so pair of shoes, i'd have at least 80 pairs in my BR, accumulated over the past 33 yrs of running. I wear my old shoes for yard work, running errands, etc. Also, i don't even run that much, average of about 20 mi/wk over last 33 yrs; a real runner who saved all his shoes could have over 200 pairs after 33 yrs of running. :)

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"Anyone can be who they want to be IF they have the HUNGER and the DRIVE."

One pair is just not possible. If for no reason than because shoes change so often when I find one that works I stock up 3-4 pairs right away. Besides that, I also have two training shoes in rotation, one at work, a pair of near mint Clifton 1, one all-black that can pass as a dress shoe, and the Chrissie Wellington special edition Brooks shoes from that one year they sponsored her and she didn't start in Kona due to flu I think? There were a lot of unhappy people at Brooks that October.

I only have one pair, or maybe 2.
Each off season nov/dec i go to the store and get fitted for a new pair as i feel like the old ones are worn out. I do not run more than 1k km/year so that equates nicely to around 1 pair.
But this topic got me interested! Because if there is a benefit in having more than 1 pair when it comes to injury, i'm very intrigued! Is there a benefit in rotating 2-3 pairs? Or does it depend on the runner? I'm injury prone and do all my running in a pair of well cushining, lots of support shoes (previously brooks adrenaline gts 17 narrow, which i would sell off my GF to get 2-3 pairs of!). Now in a saucony which is okay but not as good as the brooks was.

Should the rotation shoes be:
a) Different models?
b) Same shoes but with different tear and wear?

During my first two years in triathlon I only had one pair of shoes at a time. The for the next couple years I had two. It wasn't until I got into trail running that my shoe collection grew.

Now it's more like:
Long run/every day shoes
Lighter shoes for when I want to feel fast
Triathlon racing shoes (sockless)
Every day trail shoes
Trail racing shoes

and that is just 2 pairs? Impressive. I probably have around 6-7 trail pairs with different soles (hard ground, mud, sticky rubber for rocky stuff, ...) and that is not even counting the Salomon X-Alp Carbons when I get to terrain where I might have to throw on crampons.

I loathe when they make changes to the shoes I come to love. Altra has not been too bad, but some of their shoes do not have a lot of longevity. Last thing I want to do before a trip is to be tracking down another pair of running shoes if a pair is worn or I need two, so I tend to scope out clearance deals as often they will also sell out of my size. I will wear them for running till they run no more then wash and donate. Rotating shoes has also helped tho I believe runnning trails helps more to stay injury free, more stabilizing muscles get worked etc. Then there is the training to do marathon, try a new model, like the model so get a fresh pair shortly before the race so I'm not running on worn out cushion the day that I will feel it most. They do begin to add up...

I've learned it is not such a great idea to use worn out running shoes for walking. Different wear pattern can create issues if you do a lot of walking. So I tend to have a separate pair I never run in, that I use for walking, especially when travelling.

Tony Clifton himself, always advocated having two pair

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"What's your claim?" - Ben Gravy
"Your best work is the work you're excited about" - Rick Rubin

I really didn't want to sound too excessive :)

I have only 3 pairs that I actually use. 2 othem trail running shoes, the other a road running shoe. And 1 Pair that I retired, but I couldn't stand to throw away since I used them in the military. Never heard of rotating shoes prevent injury, interesting article.

I have 1 pair of shoes for training and 1 pair for races. So, technically not just 1 pair, but I don't have multiple pairs that I rotate through for training, or different shoes for trail running etc.

I have one pair for road running and one pair for trail running. Provided you take care of them there is no need for more.

I use the old ones for yard work and running errands.

I had a run coach who wore just one shoe the adidas Marathon. He used to say “The shoe finally feels broken in after 2,000 miles”

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Dave Jewell
Free Run Speed

That would be me!

I find a pair I like and I rock them for 250miles and replace them - I have been on the same model (Hoka Hupana) for 2 seasons now.... use them for speed, distance, trail, hiking... whatever!