Mileage on Running Shoes

[LewWagner]

Well, jogging and walking with gradual easing into running, anyway...

I bought a pair of Saucony Hurricane 16 running shoes back in mid-June, because my old New Balance walking shoes were pretty much toast, by then.

Well, about 600 miles later (and 200 over the life span of such shoes), I went back to Track Shack and tried on several different brands, but felt the Saucony Hurricane still felt the most comfortable.  So I got another pair.

Also was introduced to better socks, ones that don't have cotton in them and that shed water very quickly.

I got another pair of shoes from New Balance, called M990ONV3 (the "990" line) for everyday walking and will use them as backup running shoes for the Saucony's.

I'd be interested to see what lessons learned you all have had with this important aspect of getting or staying fit.

I tend to stay off of concrete and asphalt and like gravel trails best, but I'm pretty used to cross country rugged trails with rocks and tree roots and lots of uphill/downhill grades.  I decided to stay away from trail shoes with plates in the sole because I liked the flexibility of my Saucony's.

Thoughts?

Lew

[WendyB · Accepted solution]

I can always tell when I need new shoes.

But Mine go out at about 350 miles.  I generally have 3 pair so I can switch them off

My feet like Asics or Brooks

They do not like New Balance or Saucony

[LewWagner · Accepted solution]

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@WendyB wrote:

I can always tell when I need new shoes.

But Mine go out at about 350 miles.  I generally have 3 pair so I can switch them off

My feet like Asics or Brooks

They do not like New Balance or Saucony

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Wendy,

Thanks for the info!  I tried on some Asics and Brooks.  I liked one of the Asics brands I tried on at the Track Shack, but still felt better in the Saucony's. 

Lew

[Colinm39 · Accepted solution]

@LewWagnerI have just replaced my NewBalance walkers because I felt they were starting to feel like slippers and my lower back was being aggravated. I had great advice from @WendyB , confirming the life of my shoes, did some research (see links below) and I fixed the back problem immediately. I only do walking and I got 390 miles out of 2 pair of shoes and 50% of the walking is walking at about 4+ mph.

I got a good deal from the NewBalance outlet down here and purchased 4 pair of the same black walkers. I use them as day shoes as well as Fitness shoes. I always rotate the shoes because my daughter was told be her shoe specialist to have at least 2 pair and rotate daily to give the shoes a rest. By having a standard black walking shoe I enjoy many opportunistic walk challenges at any time of the day. Stop the car somewhere when you see a scenic walk area and out you go and enjoy it, no shoe changing.

This link is very helpful and this link is also helpful.

Thanks for sharing your experience

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@LewWagner wrote:

Well, jogging and walking with gradual easing into running, anyway...

I bought a pair of Saucony Hurricane 16 running shoes back in mid-June, because my old New Balance walking shoes were pretty much toast, by then.

Well, about 600 miles later (and 200 over the life span of such shoes), I went back to Track Shack and tried on several different brands, but felt the Saucony Hurricane still felt the most comfortable.  So I got another pair.

Also was introduced to better socks, ones that don't have cotton in them and that shed water very quickly.

I got another pair of shoes from New Balance, called M990ONV3 (the "990" line) for everyday walking and will use them as backup running shoes for the Saucony's.

I'd be interested to see what lessons learned you all have had with this important aspect of getting or staying fit.

I tend to stay off of concrete and asphalt and like gravel trails best, but I'm pretty used to cross country rugged trails with rocks and tree roots and lots of uphill/downhill grades.  I decided to stay away from trail shoes with plates in the sole because I liked the flexibility of my Saucony's.

Thoughts?

Lew

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[WendyB · Accepted solution]

@Colinm39  Thanks for the other link. Had the other one bookmarked already. But this other one is good as well.

I totally agree that the shoes should be rotated. I have one pair for the weekends. Its a dirt trail and they are pretty dirty

[trainer · Accepted solution]

I wore Sauconys for many years until they made some fairly subtle change and the shoes no longer fit my foot. I now wear Brooks cascadia. Most manufacturers publish mileage for their various shoes, with  most of them averaging about 500 miles. I am a personal trainer and on my feet in a gym most of the day 6 days a week so _I_ go by date, not mileage. My Brooks last 2.5 to 3 months depending on a variety of things. I wear minimalist 'slippers' just for walking around in the summer. My Brooks most of the day, every day, and at home go barefoot. I have very recently bought a pair of skechers go walk2 to wear JUST on my rebounder. My assumption is that these specific shoes should last me a long time or will break in a few weeks (I'm very hard on shoes and I feel skechers are pretty poorly made).

[SunsetRunner · Accepted solution]

I wore Saucony for about a decade and enjoyed them but switched to Asics 5-6 years ago.  A few months ago I tried both again when I was due for a new pair.  Took the Saucony home and tried it around the house but ended up taking those back and getting another pair of Asics Nimbus 16.  The Saucony and Asics are in the same price category and I expect are about the same quality-wise.  The Asics just fit me better at this time.  For trail walking I have a pair of Merrill gore-tex lined trail shoes with a much firmer sole that I have had for some time.  Those are too hot for warm weather wear but are great for cool and/or damp conditions.  I've also been trying several new types of socks and those seem to make more difference than I would have expected.  Like the shoes I expect that what works best will vary by individual feel/needs.  I have tried three different ones - all of which were recommended - and have one that is simply "better" for me.  The others are OK, just not as good for my style.

[WendyB]

@trainer  Thats what happened to me with Sauconys. That change really hurt my foot.

[LewWagner · Accepted solution]

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@trainer wrote:

I wore Sauconys for many years until they made some fairly subtle change and the shoes no longer fit my foot. I now wear Brooks cascadia. Most manufacturers publish mileage for their various shoes, with  most of them averaging about 500 miles. I am a personal trainer and on my feet in a gym most of the day 6 days a week so _I_ go by date, not mileage. My Brooks last 2.5 to 3 months depending on a variety of things. I wear minimalist 'slippers' just for walking around in the summer. My Brooks most of the day, every day, and at home go barefoot. I have very recently bought a pair of skechers go walk2 to wear JUST on my rebounder. My assumption is that these specific shoes should last me a long time or will break in a few weeks (I'm very hard on shoes and I feel skechers are pretty poorly made).

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So, what was the change?  The Hurricane 16's I had and have again are very comfortable and provide lots of cushioning for my overpronating feet.

Lew

[franksj]

Thanks,

I just got a pair of Brooks Addiction walking shoes that I will alternate with my Brooks Ghost 7 running shoes.  Interested to see how the two compare.  I also sprung for some Superfeet insoles.  Has anyone tried them?

Best,

Jim

[Palerang]

Great for all you sorts who can hop off into a shop and buy running shoes/walking shoes/any sort of shoes. I have feet that are size 13 AAAA in a woman's size and I cannot buy shoes of any sort, not even slippers, in Australia. I have to import all my shoes from America and I never get to try them first and I can only get New Balance because New Balance is the only company that will actually make shoes in my size for walking but for running when I used to run they were still too wide because they were size 13 but only AA and caused me to trip and fall over too much. And then I broke my big toe on my right foot and it developed osteoarthritis and so now I walk and I walk a lot and I need good shoes and I have to import them, and the only company that makes them in my size is New Balance. And they make a walking shoe in size 13 which is AAAA so I am much more stable now that I am walking with a shoe that actually fits my foot correctly. I am 6 foot 2 and slender and have the longest thinnest feet imaginable for which no shoes exist in Australia. So if you can actually walk into a shoe shop and come out with a pair of shoes consider yourselves lucky, the only reason I would ever go into a shoe shop is to be a nuisance. And you just can't buy from anywhere in America because most shops will not sell outside continental USA and so I have had to find someone who will get them for me specifically. It is a vexed issue indeed.

[thethinker]

I wear Nike exclusively. I am a female, size 12 overpronator.  I love the Lunear glides. I put 2,500 miles walking on the last pair. I've had to replace New Balance after six months of wear.

[Palerang]

Size 13 is not size 12, and it makes all the difference to whether or not I can buy any brand of shoes. I'm glad you like your Lunear glides, they do not come in size 13 AAAA. With my New Balance walking shoes when the heels wear down I get the local shoe repairer to put extra rubber on them and that way I get them to last around about a year, three times getting extra rubber on them before turning them into gardening shoes or chucking them away.

[thethinker]

@Palerang, my comments were to the community, not you directly. However, I do understand a part of your struggle. It is a rare "feet" to find size 12 in athletic shoes in store- much more-dress shoes. I have one pair of dress shoes with 3 inch heels. I stand 6'3.5" in them. It has been a lot of work to learn to walk in them. They do wonders for my legs in dresses XD