I have always heard that you should replace them every 400 miles. I did that for a few years, gathering quite a collection of “yardwork sneakers” then I started to taper off.
I suppose I ought to replace my current pair: I have had them for over two years and have probably put at least 2500 miles on them. I’m sure I am courting disaster.
But then you hear about folks who are running thousands of miles in nasty old Chucks, and the shoe thing begins to seem like the “change your oil every 3,000 miles” rule.
Yeah I’m the person who wears the nasty old chucks till they fall off my feet. I only replace my shoes when absolutely necessary. My arches are high and I have no foot/ankle/knee problems - I hear that exercising your feet on uneven surfaces with minimal or no sole underneath is really all you need to keep the arch muscles strong and working. I go walking in the woods in my chucks so I get plenty of that. I’d love to go around barefoot but there’s too much broken glass in the world.
For general running and knocking about in warmer weather I have completely given up sneakers and wear minimal sandals (Xeros, to be precise). I need to buy a couple of pairs of tennis shoes a season because apparently I drag the toe of my right foot when I do something, and it wears out pretty fast. I have another pair I wear to the gym for Zumba but I really like barefoot “shoes” for almost all activities.
I replace mine every 2 years or so. I wear boots to walk in the winter and sandals to walk in the summer, and my main exercise is in the pool, so my shoes don’t get as many miles as others during the year. I also wear New Balance.
When they fall apart. I’ve started buying gelled-filled insoles and they make a huge difference in comfort. My Nike Airs are 3 years old and still fit like a glove, so now I have three pairs of sneakers and wear them depending on what the terrain is, how long I’ll be on my feet, what clothes I’m wearing etc.
I never have to; I can still (and do, on occasion) wear the same pair of sneakers today that I had on 12 years ago. I replace them when I want some new ones.
Mine go “flat” long before they show any signs of wear and tear, so I replace them about every six months, depending on if I got them wet, if I was running on broken/uneven ice, trails, or if I was on straight asphalt.
I am prone to shin splits, so cushioning is a big deal.
Every January 1st, my running shoes become my walk around shoes and my current walk around shoes go into the recycle container. I choose this date so I don’t have to remember how long I’ve been running in my present shoes.
New Balance 4E (extra wide). I always go to Joe’s discount site and choose the most heavily discounted pair of “good” high end running shoes. Joe’s selection of unusual sizes and quality shoes can’t be beat. Often you can find running shoes that are discounted around 50%.
As far as arch support, unless you have medical / physiological reasons for avoiding this, what about working to develop strength in those muscles? I also have low arches but walk around barefoot or in minimal footwear whenever possible (including running, though that’s more advanced for someone who has never gone without mechanical arch support before). I don’t think any of my shoes have arch support, at this point.
Mechanical support prevents those muscles from doing their job, so they remain weak and untoned and will continue to get sore every time you do work them out. I guess I personally don’t see the connection between “flat feet” and “must have arch support.” You generally only need it if something is wrong, like a foot injury (Achilles tendonitis a common one); and low arches are a normal variant of feet.
I replace them when I want some new ones.