Longevity of Running Shoes
Discussion
Whilst inspecting my running shoes the other day I was a bit surprised to see the upper starting to come away from the sole on one of them. Not sure how much longer it's going to last. Thing is they're not that old. Looking back through my Strava logs I calculate I've done about 290 miles in them.
I know it's said you should replace shoes every 300-500 miles but I was expecting to get a bit more out of these. They're Hoka One One Bondi 6's and the previous Bondi's I had (5's I think) did at least 500 miles and still looked decent when I retired them. Would expect a bit better from a £130 pair of shoes?
Do you think there's any mileage (excuse the pun) in contacting Hoka and/or the place I bought them from to say I'm not happy with the wear? Thing is I like the brand / shoes as they work quite well for me so it would be a shame to have to look elsewhere.
I know it's said you should replace shoes every 300-500 miles but I was expecting to get a bit more out of these. They're Hoka One One Bondi 6's and the previous Bondi's I had (5's I think) did at least 500 miles and still looked decent when I retired them. Would expect a bit better from a £130 pair of shoes?
Do you think there's any mileage (excuse the pun) in contacting Hoka and/or the place I bought them from to say I'm not happy with the wear? Thing is I like the brand / shoes as they work quite well for me so it would be a shame to have to look elsewhere.
Nothing to lose by contacting them and explaining situation. What they do about it is another matter, I suspect nothing but you never know if you don’t ask, particularly as it’s a brand you like.
In the past few months I’ve started running regularly and I’m keen to see how my new trainers (Saucony Ride) wear over time/distance. Garmin Connect thinks mine should be retired after 650km, of which I’ve done 110km so far.
In the past few months I’ve started running regularly and I’m keen to see how my new trainers (Saucony Ride) wear over time/distance. Garmin Connect thinks mine should be retired after 650km, of which I’ve done 110km so far.
JonnyJustice said:
In the past few months I’ve started running regularly and I’m keen to see how my new trainers (Saucony Ride) wear over time/distance. Garmin Connect thinks mine should be retired after 650km, of which I’ve done 110km so far.
I've just done my 500km in my Saucony Ride's and they still seem as good as new - very impressed with them.re: OP -like others have side, i'd go to their social media (Twitter or FB) and raise the subject and see what happens. Nothing to loose, and everything to gain.
Does sound a bit on the low side. I've always worn Asics running shoes since I was about 15, they just seem to fit my foot shape. You can feel they start to go "off" for running after about 350-400 miles, but then they get relegated to general wandering around in shoes and they last years and years- the outsole wears out before the upper starts falling to bits.
I think it can also depend on your running style and how much your trainer is supporting you. I'm pretty heavy and run in Asics Kayano or Brooks Adrenaline and after about 400 miles I can feel a huge difference in how I run as the shoe offers less support, so I buy new ones.
My wife weighs bugger all and has a very neutral running style so her Adidas boost (dunno the model) have lasted absolutely ages (800+ miles).
My wife weighs bugger all and has a very neutral running style so her Adidas boost (dunno the model) have lasted absolutely ages (800+ miles).
Gargamel said:
290 sounds light on distance for sure and at that price I would be composing too.
I used Innov 8 trail shoes for years, they were also good for 450 before the uppers wore/tore
Agree with this. Although trail shoes are less about absorption due to the ground you run on. I had a pair of inov8 trail shoes and hated them. I stick to Salomon Speedcross now.I used Innov 8 trail shoes for years, they were also good for 450 before the uppers wore/tore
I always wear a big hole in the front/middle of the sole after a few hundred miles, so I limit myself to £50 a pair. Usually get a type of Adidas Boost from one of their outlets. Found Nikes to be similar but the toe box in the Nikes seem to have got a bit more narrow lately.
Splashed out on a pair of ASICS a few years ago but they fell to bits in no time at all. The mesh on the top started to detach and the sole was in sections which just fell off bit by bit
Splashed out on a pair of ASICS a few years ago but they fell to bits in no time at all. The mesh on the top started to detach and the sole was in sections which just fell off bit by bit
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 26th July 14:42
A couple of thoughts:
- Could be just a bad batch, in which case contact Hoka and express your disappointment compared to the previous outgoing version you had.
- Could be a symptom of Hoka switching the upper material to something thinner and more breathable, in which case contact Hoka as above.
- Could be a symptom of Hoka using slightly different sizing than the previous outgoing model. I had a pair of Nike Zoom Streak 6, which used a very thin mesh where the foot naturally bends; combine this with my slightly wider than normal feet and they started coming away from the sole and holes began forming in the mesh. I would still contact Hoka.
- Is the shoe more of a race or tempo shoe that you happen to use for general training? If so, 290 miles is actually about right for a race shoe in my experience, with some giving way nearer 200 miles.
Hope you get a good resolution to this situation.
- Could be just a bad batch, in which case contact Hoka and express your disappointment compared to the previous outgoing version you had.
- Could be a symptom of Hoka switching the upper material to something thinner and more breathable, in which case contact Hoka as above.
- Could be a symptom of Hoka using slightly different sizing than the previous outgoing model. I had a pair of Nike Zoom Streak 6, which used a very thin mesh where the foot naturally bends; combine this with my slightly wider than normal feet and they started coming away from the sole and holes began forming in the mesh. I would still contact Hoka.
- Is the shoe more of a race or tempo shoe that you happen to use for general training? If so, 290 miles is actually about right for a race shoe in my experience, with some giving way nearer 200 miles.
Hope you get a good resolution to this situation.
Yes, I'd definitely contact them.
I do what my Garmin tells me, which is to replace running shoes every 650km. At my age I don't want to take risks with injuries. I keep my last pair of running shoes for wet weather, so they probably end up doing 750-800km. On Sunday morning it was wet, so I ran 10km in my old pair and to be honest they feel and look fine. 290 miles (467km) doesn't seem like much at all for a pair to start coming apart!
I do what my Garmin tells me, which is to replace running shoes every 650km. At my age I don't want to take risks with injuries. I keep my last pair of running shoes for wet weather, so they probably end up doing 750-800km. On Sunday morning it was wet, so I ran 10km in my old pair and to be honest they feel and look fine. 290 miles (467km) doesn't seem like much at all for a pair to start coming apart!
Those who change shoes regularly, do you do so when you feel some aches comming on or just change at a set mileage?
My asics have probably done 1000mls+ now and still look ok but i'm starting to get left arse cheek pain after a few miles running.
I've always thought the 300-500mls change was just a shoe makers ploy to sell more but maybe not?
My asics have probably done 1000mls+ now and still look ok but i'm starting to get left arse cheek pain after a few miles running.
I've always thought the 300-500mls change was just a shoe makers ploy to sell more but maybe not?
Zooks said:
Those who change shoes regularly, do you do so when you feel some aches comming on or just change at a set mileage?
I’m a tall heavy chap and always wear Brooks Adrenaline. Around 350 miles on a pair, I’ll start to get shin splints. On a couple of occasions I’ve deliberately pushed the mileage above 400 and it’s always got worse. Unfortunately this means changing shoes every 8-9 weeks, which ain’t cheap :-(
Zooks said:
Those who change shoes regularly, do you do so when you feel some aches comming on or just change at a set mileage?
My asics have probably done 1000mls+ now and still look ok but i'm starting to get left arse cheek pain after a few miles running.
I've always thought the 300-500mls change was just a shoe makers ploy to sell more but maybe not?
I had my biggest ever running injury, which put me out for nearly 10 years, after reaching 800 miles on a pair of running shoes. I didn't know any better. Funnily enough, I had another injury that put me out for a month after about 500 miles on a pair. A sample of two could never be decisive though. What I do now is stay on the side of caution and change them when my Garmin suggests, which is at about 644km (very specific! I don't know what it's based on).My asics have probably done 1000mls+ now and still look ok but i'm starting to get left arse cheek pain after a few miles running.
I've always thought the 300-500mls change was just a shoe makers ploy to sell more but maybe not?
Thanks for the replies guys.
Well I have just come back from having gait analysis at my local running shop. All seems ok and I'm apparantly pretty neutral gait.
Knackered old shoes now replaced with a new pair of Brooks to run in.
I don't want to think about how much cheaper they might have been elsewhere!
Well I have just come back from having gait analysis at my local running shop. All seems ok and I'm apparantly pretty neutral gait.
Knackered old shoes now replaced with a new pair of Brooks to run in.
I don't want to think about how much cheaper they might have been elsewhere!
Zooks said:
Thanks for the replies guys.
Well I have just come back from having gait analysis at my local running shop. All seems ok and I'm apparantly pretty neutral gait.
Knackered old shoes now replaced with a new pair of Brooks to run in.
I don't want to think about how much cheaper they might have been elsewhere!
Great news.Well I have just come back from having gait analysis at my local running shop. All seems ok and I'm apparantly pretty neutral gait.
Knackered old shoes now replaced with a new pair of Brooks to run in.
I don't want to think about how much cheaper they might have been elsewhere!
You got the gait analysis session and advice from a trained member of staff, that's what you're paying for
An update...
As my holiday was looming I took them away with me and did a 6 mile road run in them, the split got worse so I didn't use them again whilst away fearing that the whole upper might come adrift several miles out somewhere. Stuck to the trails (and my Salomons) after that.
This week I emailed some photos and an explanation to the retailer as well as to Hoka. The retailer promptly responded for me to send them back so that's what I've done, now awaiting the outcome. Got a standard reply from Hoka that as I didn't buy them direct from them I need to take it up with the retailer but I could get back to them if they weren't responsive. Fingers crossed.
Problem is I'm not wealthy enough to own many pairs of shoes, generally keep one set of road and one set of trail shoes. I went out in old shoes last week and it's really noticeable as to how little spring they have in them so yes it is important to replace them periodically. Kind of need a new pair ASAP as I'm upping mileage for a half in mid September but don't want to get anything until I know the outcome as they might give me a credit note or something.
Shame really as I really liked the shoes but probably wouldn't have another pair due to them failing and the next revision has yet to arrive.
As my holiday was looming I took them away with me and did a 6 mile road run in them, the split got worse so I didn't use them again whilst away fearing that the whole upper might come adrift several miles out somewhere. Stuck to the trails (and my Salomons) after that.
This week I emailed some photos and an explanation to the retailer as well as to Hoka. The retailer promptly responded for me to send them back so that's what I've done, now awaiting the outcome. Got a standard reply from Hoka that as I didn't buy them direct from them I need to take it up with the retailer but I could get back to them if they weren't responsive. Fingers crossed.
Problem is I'm not wealthy enough to own many pairs of shoes, generally keep one set of road and one set of trail shoes. I went out in old shoes last week and it's really noticeable as to how little spring they have in them so yes it is important to replace them periodically. Kind of need a new pair ASAP as I'm upping mileage for a half in mid September but don't want to get anything until I know the outcome as they might give me a credit note or something.
Shame really as I really liked the shoes but probably wouldn't have another pair due to them failing and the next revision has yet to arrive.
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