How Long Do Running Shoes Last (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 300 to 500 Miles

Running Shoes, as can be inferred from its name, are the principal shoes needed for running and other sporting activities. These shoes tend to last longer as compared to regular use of cloth shoes or office use leather boots. These shoes have more strength and can undergo many times more wear and tear than regular shoes.

However, no shoes are expected to last infinitely. Even these running shoes tend to be of no use after some time. It comes to be certainly hard for a sporting person to retire these shoes that had once saved them from rough and grave surfaces and took care of their feet.

How Long Do Running Shoes Last?

Running shoes are expected to go longer. On one hand, casual shoes and leather shoes are expected to last for nearly about a hundred miles to two hundred miles. However, the running shoes are seen to be lasting many more times than that.

As per most researches, the average length that can be covered by a pair of running shoes is four hundred miles. This is in consideration of the fact that the running shoes are of normal quality and neither too advanced nor too poor in quality.

However, the minimum length that is coverable in a pair of running shoes is three hundred miles. This situation is attained when the running shoes are of below-average quality or when the running conditions are very tough to train like that of mountainous or rocky terrain.

Yet the running shoes can still cover a greater length if the quality of the shoes is superior or the running conditions are better. The running shoes can go for a maximum distance of five hundred miles in those conditions.

Why Do Running Shoes Last For That Long?

The lasting period for a pair of running shoes depends upon several factors. However, factors like type and usage frequency of running shoes, the speed of athletes, and innovations regarding the construction of these shoes are more predominant in this area. The more and better these factors are, the more shall the shoes last.

The speed of the athlete using these running shoes is also an important determiner. A person’s average mileage determines how sooner or later a person will have to replace their running shoes. An athlete in training will require a new pair of running shoes weeks later than a well-trained athlete as the trained athlete will certainly have higher average mileage than the amateur one.

The style of the soles of the running shoes also influences the length that can be covered in its lifetime. If the shoes are sturdier and their soles are thick, they shall certainly give their athlete the advantage of a long-running life. However, in contrast to this, if the soles are less in height, the shoes may not be sturdy enough leading to a lesser running life.

In addition to the above factors, the research and innovation implied in the process of the creation of these running shoes are also a factor. In the past years, the development of lightweight foams has immensely contributed to increasing the expected life of running shoes. Moreover, the innovation concerning carbon fiber plates has also helped in this regard.

Conclusion

Running shoes are one of the basic requirements of a sportsperson. These shoes are stronger than others and so, last more than others. These shoes last for about four hundred miles on average. Nonetheless, they can be maximum in use for five hundred miles and minimum for three hundred miles.

The running length of these shoes depends on numerous factors. These include the quality and style of shoes, the frequency of their usage, and the research and innovation used in the production of these shoes.

References

1. https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/43/3/159.short
2. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/036354658501300406