How many running shoes do you need

Why have more than one pair of running shoes? Posted: Aug 04 How many pairs of running shoes are you currently training in? If you are like most runners, you have one pair that you wear for all of your training. But what if you had more than one pair of shoes in your rotation — would there be any benefit?

It turns out there is! At a minimum, every runner should consider having at least two pairs of their main running shoes that they are actively using at one time and rotate different running shoes between workouts. Your shoes will last longer as your kilometres are spread across more than one pair of shoes.

The other reason they last longer is benefit 2 below. Each foot strike places forces that are 1. By having more than one pair of shoes to rotate in your training you can then allow for maximum time for the foam to fully decompress over hours between runs.

If you are a twice a day runner, this is even more important as 12 hours or less is not sufficient for shoe recovery. Lots of running within a short period of time will wear your shoes down faster. The most common foam in running shoes is a type of EVA foam Ethylene vinyl acetate , which is compacted over time. Whether you buy two pairs of shoes now or just one, your cost is the same.

If you have just one pair of shoes you would end up spending money to replace them once warn out. With the extended amount of time between buying shoes you are just shifting that cost to less often. Every year shoe companies release new models of their shoes. Today's Best Deals. Type keyword s to search. By Steve Mazzucchi. A version of this story first appeared in Gear Patrol Magazine. Subscribe today. Henry Phillips. ZoomX Invincible Run Flyknit. Nike nike.

Ultraboost Adidas adidas. Carbon X 2. Hoka hokaoneone. The entire running world is in unanimous agreement on this one: replace your shoes based on mileage run, not months worn. Back then, buying a new pair of shoes each year was a no-brainer.

But as an adult runner, your commitment to your running routine can easily vary from year to year, based on training goals, injuries, life events and even weather. How many miles is too many miles? That answer is slightly up for debate. The brains at Asics recommend miles as a cap. REI says This former shoe engineer at New Balance also says We can take as a cap, which sounds like a lot on the surface. But even a relatively light running habit — three-mile runs, four days a week — will only get you through about nine months of the year.

If you forget, well, you can always just look down and inspect the shoes. Practice inspecting your shoes for signs of wear. First, and most obviously, are there are any tears or holes in the toe box? In the back, is the heel still sturdy, or has it collapsed inward? How about the outsole? Has its rubber traction system faded away? One last eye-test: place your shoes on the ground and look at them from the back. Are they symmetrical? A shaved-down running shoe is the typical, unwelcome endgame of over-pronators — a fancy term for runners whose feet roll inward as they move.

It occurs because the outer part of their heel generally hits the ground first. The foot rolls inward to try and flatten the arch and the shoe loses a little bit of rubber in the process. For instance, running on cement will wear out a shoe quicker than running on dirt trails unless, of course, the trails are dappled with rocks and thorns.