How to tell when you need new shoes
How do you know when it's the right time to replace your running shoes?
Let's not waste too much time and dive right into it.
1) You're starting to feel little aches and pains
In an ideal scenario, we don't want to wait until the body starts hurting to buy a new pair of shoes.
But...a surefire way of knowing when to get a new pair of shoes is when you begin feeling little aches and pains in areas that until this point was feeling pretty good!
When you try on a fresh pair of the same shoe you're currently wearing, you may feel like that shoe feels completely different! Your shoe has likely experienced significant wear and tear, and in turn, so has your body!
2) The visual test
The visual test may be the easiest way to tell if you need new shoes.
When your shoes show clear signs of overuse such as uneven wear patterns, holes in the fabric, or the tread has lost all traction, you know it's time!
3) When your shoes feel hard or non-responsive
Shoe technology has advanced so far in the last 5-10 years. These advancements have helped your shoes pass the visual test, but what you don't see is the inner workings of the shoes, referred to as the midsole. The midsole of your shoe, when worn, becomes compressed, leaving your shoe feeling stiff and not the same gushy, springy feeling you fell in love with!
When you begin feeling like your shoes resemble bricks versus clouds, it's time to head to your local running store.
4) Your shoe odometer
Most shoes last between 300 and 500 miles. Performance shoes (such as the Nike Vaporfly Next % 2) often last between 100 - 300 miles.
The number of miles your shoes can handle is also affected by the terrain you run on. A road shoe may not last as long on the trails, and a trail shoe may not last as long on the road!
Be careful to monitor the miles you put on your shoes because if you do, you can avoid injuries and discomfort that stem from old running shoes!
5) When you just feel like it
Okay, this one's just for fun, but sometimes, you just want some new shoes!
No shame in that.
Plus, having a rotation for various runs can provide the necessary means of staying healthy and feeling comfortable on the different terrains you experience.
Whatever it is, you don't need an excuse - it's okay to treat yourself ;)
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