My current shoes have over 1000 miles on them. I suspect they’ll have 1500 before the tread wears thin. I see people say shoes should be changed every 200 to 300 miles. What’s the point?
you could probably run barefoot no problem too. Some people need the support and cushioning and some don’t.
yeah, depends on the runner, some need support and cushioning and in your case I suppose, some just need some rubber to keep the bottom of thier foot from wearing through. On almost all new shoes, the cushioning and support, mainly the cushioning wears out waaaaaay before the outsole rubber. I’ve seen some shoes that probably would make 3000 miles based on just tread wear.
These are the shoes that Dr. Romanov (founder of the Pose method of running) has run in since 1997.
Every 300mi is for harsh (and heavy) heel strikers who pound the shit out of their motion control shoes. As a former member of the above classification, I’m amazed I was able to run at all.
When I worked as a cobbler I used to resole a guy’s running shoes. He hadn’t missed a day of running in 20 years. He had multiple pairs of identical shoes and had them all numbered and knew the mileage on each pair. Each of his pairs had at least 1000 miles. It seems that 200-300 number gets smaller every year. I’m not sure where it came from.
It comes from the shoe companies and planned obselesence, a strategy perfected by the auto manufacturers and which bike companies are getting very good at.
Ah, the old Air Miriah.
I’ve put over 1000 miles on almost all of my shoes in the last few years. Most of the time I get news ones because I’m bored with them. The only pair that I got only 5-600 on was the Nike Streak Vengeance.
As suggested, some people need to replace their shoes sooner than others. Wear on the outsole is not necessarily an indicating factor for replacement. Although on some models, it is. Another clue is the midsole itself. On some models, you will actually see degradation in this area usually showing up as ‘wrinkles’ in the midsole area. You can also place the shoes on your table and look at them from behind. If you pronate or suppinate, you will see this. Me, I am a neutral runner, so this does not show up. If you see any of the above, replace the shoes.
I find the indicator for me is not the outsole or midsole wear, but discomfort in my lower back and knees post running. Usually, I find that my shoes ‘look’ fine, but the discomfort is my reminder to replace. At what point is this? Usually somewhere around 300 to 500 miles. However, I use really light weight trainers, since I am quite light, so I suspect that these may ‘wear’ faster than those heartier models. I have issues with my spine, so I would rather replace a shoe sooner than later. That means, that I can run virtually pain free.
What to do with all those shoes? My mother loves to walk, so I send some to her since there is still lots of life in the shoes. Others, I use for the gym for my weight workouts. Still others become walking/work shoes and others get the joy of gardening!
To sum up. Shoe wear is dependent on running style, running surface, runner weight, the shoe design itself and the materials used and the individual runner’s biomechanical issues. Replace when you feel they need it.
Good luck!
planned obselesence and the customers constant desire for lighter, lighter, lighter and of course cooler. there are still very durable shoes out there but they are pretty damn boring.
I’m a nuetral runner and I LOVE my new Nike Swift Vapors. They will probably wear out hella fast but they are amazing while they last. I just blew through a pair of Nike Zoom elites and loved every short minute of them. On the other hand, I have at least 600 miles on my Brooks Dyads and they are still going strong. Boring shoes the Brooks are, and not all that responsive, but they are light, cushy and last a long long time.
The Asics 2090 is the most popular shoe in it’s stability category and also probably the fastest wearing… But hey people love the weight, ride and fit. Buy a Asics 1090, the 2090’s little brother, save $15 and the shoe will probably last longer, but it doesn’t have the sweet ride of the 2090.
Thanks all for the comments.
I’ve concluded from the replies that as long as I’m injury free and the shoes are still wearable then, by God, I’ll wear them!
Of course now I realize I need shoes that match my clothing so I don’t look needlessly dorky. And perhaps lighter shoes if I ever become competitive in one of my future lives… 
Man, he must be really holding out for his Pose shoes to come out.