So How Long Do You Keep Your Tennis \ Running Shoes?

[slow&rusty]

Not talking about shoes that you actually jog or play sports in, just knock about Tennis shoes that you wear when you go to Home Depot or run errands.

I wear mine for years and years and my wife recently commented that they look awful and make me look homeless...I laughed.

What kind of mileage do you guys get out of yours?

[drkshdw]

This is the only pair of shoes I own. I've had them for 13 years and wear them only when I have to go inside a store or am in public, otherwise I'm barefoot. And everyone is always on my case to buy a new pair. Even had a guy hand me a $20 at the grocery store and told me to go buy a new pair of shoes with it. Until the soles wear through, I ain't buying another pair. BTW, last pair lasted me 18 years so got another 5 years to go on these...

[Tobra]

Do you wear socks in the winter?

For kicking around shoes, as long as the heels are not rounded too much from wear on the outside edge, forever, or until the wife throws them away

for running shoes go by miles

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by slow&rusty

Not talking about shoes that you actually jog or play sports in, just knock about Tennis shoes that you wear when you go to Home Depot or run errands.

I wear mine for years and years and my wife recently commented that they look awful and make me look homeless...I laughed.

What kind of mileage do you guys get out of yours?

Had a coworker who HATED shopping for shoes.

We are in the elevator one day with the CEO and my buddy is wearing these tattered sneaks with a hole int he side. Mind you he was making a 6 figure salary.

CEO looks down, looks at him and says "How far did you have to chase the bum for those"

Don't think I've ever laughed so hard.

To answer the question, till they smell or feel "moist"

[red-beard]

Well, it depends on how you define "keep". I buy a new pair of sneakers about every 6 months to 1 year. I keep the old ones for around the shop or around house until the sole starts coming off. I usually have 2-3 pairs of old sneakers around.

Regular shoes last 10+ years. Most are higher end brands and are worth being resoled/re-heeled every few years.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

To answer the question, till they smell or feel "moist"

With the right socks, that doesn't happen. I used to have "bad" smelly feet. I switched to wool socks for regular shoes and dri-fit for sneakers. No issues.


The wool sock thing came from a winter in Rhode Island as we were installing/starting up a small power plant. The first Mrs Beard bought me some excellent Tony Lama boots. My feet were freezing! I switched to wool hiking socks and found that my athletes foot simply went away. I've worn wool socks where I could ever since. Can't wear wool with sneakers, so switched to dri-fit when they came out.

[legion]

I buy new running shoes every 4 months. If I like an old pair and they are still comfortable, they may get promoted to "everyday shoes" and be kept up to an additional two years.

[slow&rusty]

drkshdw - your picture has me laughing...I'll post up a picture of mine when I get home tonight, glad I'm not the only one.

[fastfredracing]

Pretty much till the sole falls off, or my toes are sticking out. I keep one nice pair that I can wear out somewhere and not ashamed of, and have 2 0r 3 old pairs for beating around the yard, shop shoes etc. I keep a pair in my truck tool box. Nice , if your feet get wet, to have a pair of warm and dry socks and shoes .

[crb07]

Gym/running shoes go to lawn duty when they start getting old then the trash. A pair lasts about a year.

[wildthing]

For just around-town, I throw them out when the rear soles have worn down or there are holes in the canvas or leather. Maybe 4 years on a pair of Vans sneakers. But I don't wear them everyday. Gym shoes maybe 3 years. I don't run...

[Noah930]

'Til the soles wear out. However, I try to have at least one presentable pair of sneaks on hand.

That being said, I'm reaching that point again where all my sneakers are at the end of their lifespans, so I splurged and bought 4 pairs. Should last me at least a decade, if not longer.

[kach22i]

I have a pair of Converse Chuck Taylor's +20 years old.

The foam rubber on modern shoes starts to harden in the second year.

By year four they have shrunk and harden so much they get tossed.

Does not seem to matter if you pay $40 or $140.

[Scott Douglas]

These are about worn out and ready for the trash bin. Usually use them when riding my bike down at the beach. Yes, hot asphalt will leave a slight burn mark on my foot so they're going to be replaced soon.

[widgeon13]

Too bad we don't have scratch and sniff here.

[mepstein]

6 months and then used for yard work.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

Too bad we don't have scratch and sniff here.

You meant that in green, right?

[VincentVega]

a long time, once they get through the cycle of wearing in public to HD/lowes to around the house. Damn things are 'spensive, cant be wasting my dough!

[stevej37]

For me..it's entirely a matter of how easy it is to get them on and how comfortable they are.
If they are a pain to get on or off..never wear em.

[Tervuren]

I make the change based on comfort.

Really depends on the shoe.

I had a pair of Nikes that were discontinued the day I bought them, never had a shoe before or since I liked so much. I still have them, got them the day the Senna Documentary came out.

The tread is long gone, but the structure of the shoe is there. I should throw them away years ago. Just nothing else has that "fit" so I keep them for a reference to look at before I go buy shoes.