You may think holding on to your old sneakers is being financially savvy and “getting the most” out of your beloved running shoes, but their worn-down cushioning could actually be causing you serious harm, although not to your bank account, your feet will suffer!
You may find yourself wondering , “How frequently do I need to buy a new pair of sneakers?”. Well, this is going to depend on a number of factors, such as your body weight, the shoe quality, the environment you wear them in (gym, track or road running), the type of workout you’re wearing them for and more obviously: how often you wear them. Owning a pair of sneakers for a certain period of time means drastically different things depending on whether you’re wearing them as a fashion statement, a leisurely stroll in your neighbourhood or triathlon training.
If you’re a runner
Runners tend to put the most wear and tear on their shoes. So when is it time to toss a pair? 480kms to 640kms is a reasonable indicator of when you should toss a pair of running shoes. Try to keep track of your distance, and really start to evaluate the midsoles of your shoes when you creep up near the 480km mark.
If you walk everywhere
Walking shoe replacement is going to follow similar protocol to running shoe replacement: Mileage is key. But keep in mind that walking is lower impact than running, and so your running sneakers will last at least 300km longer than they would if you used them for running.
If you use the cardio equipment at gym
Cardio machines such as the treadmill, elliptical and stepping machine don’t require as much impact as road running, so your training shoes should have a longer shelf life.
If you’re more of a dance cardio kind of girl
Dance classes such as Zumba are medium impact similar to walking. With dancing, it would be quite hard to work out the distance you’ve covered so you will have to judge when your sneakers have come to the end of there term by feel. When you bought them, they probably felt cushiony and flexible, where once they’re ready to give it they will be less flexible and a lot firmer. What does this mean? You’re overdue for a new pair of sneakers!
