Wondering how to help your running shoes last longer? Check out my 5 best tips to maximize the life of your favorite shoes. Whether you are training for a marathon or a 5K, these tips are for you.
5 Tips to extend the life of your running shoes
Quick tips and tricks to use now to help your running shoes last longer.
Remove them correctly
You may be tempted to kick off your shoes as soon as you walk in the door from your run. Taking the time to untie them and remove them correctly will help keep the heel support intact.
Running shoes are just for running
Reserve your running shoes just for running. Using them for other sports and activities may accelerate their breakdown. It’s great to reserve a few retired pairs for walking and running errands though.
Have more than one pair
“Just like your body needs rest, shoes need rest days as well. When foam gets compressed and sweaty, it needs time to bounce back and dry out.” Rotating between 2 pairs of shoes allows them to dry out fully before the next use.
Dry them correctly
It is important to dry your shoes completely after a rainy or snowy run. Never put your running shoes into the dryer. Instead, stuff wet shoes with newspaper to absorb the moisture. Wipe off any mud or dirt with a damp cloth. It is also a great idea to have a spare pair reserved for bad weather days.
Store them properly
Take care to store your running shoes in an area protected from harsh temperature extremes (garages etc).This can put undue strain on the integrity of the shoes.
Rotate your shoes
Consider having 2 or 3 pairs of shoes in your weekly run rotation. This might include a pair more suited to speed work or trail running or even 2 pairs of the same model of shoe if you prefer. Switching them out in this way can help them to dry and recover between runs.
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Thanks for helping to make the Runners’ Roundup a huge success by visiting all of the hosts: Me, Debbie, Jen, Lisa
These are great tips! I was once in the habit of leaving my running shoes on the balcony in Florida where they were exposed to the glaring heat and sun.
They aged very quickly in those few weeks!
Oh yes I am sure that weather did not help!
I always untie my laces when I take off my shoes but I know so many people who like to leave them tied and slide them off! I have several pairs I rotate through and now its nice to have the Addiction Walkers that are specific for walking.
yes, having a specific pair for walking is very helpful. I kind of cringe when I see runners remove their shoes that way 🙂
Great topic.
Oops. I just kick them off.
But I do all the rest. Phew.
Still go threw many pairs.
I do wear the older ones for training and a newer pair for a race.
Kicking them off can really wear down the heel integrity 🙂
Great tips. I always untie my shoes to take them off, and the newspaper trick works great (the only problem is- we don’t get a newspaper anymore!) I used to rotate my shoes but now I just run in the same pair- I need to get back to rotating.
Sometimes you can find those local papers in the coffee shop. I like to hold onto one 🙂
Yes to everything mentioned!!! I learned, very early on, the value in rotating the shoes, and keeping the running shoes specifically for RuNnInG 🙂 That said, I have a slew of retired “runners” that I wear for other fitness-related things.
Yes, it does help them last longer to do.
Great tips! I do most of these things rights. Though I do kick of my running shoes (but at least I untie them before putting them back on).
baby steps! 🙂
Thank you for these important tips.
I rotate 3 pairs of shoes and I walk with the shoes that I don’t use anymore to run.
Moreover I never leave my shoes to dry under the hot sun.
smart!!
What I’m reading is get a shoe rack. And get more shoes. For life extending purposes. Got it. 🙂
absolutely agree and always a fan of retail therapy 🙂
Great tips! I am kinda bad about rotating and I usually have one, or sometimes two, shoes that I run in… I mean, I want more shoes, but they’re also expensive so I don’t tend to have multiple at the same time… haha. But I can see the benefit to have diffferent shoes for different purposes.
yes, and it also does extend the life of them