How much life to expect from shoes?

[Cyclone]

Hi all, just wondering how long people usually get before the support of their shoes starts to go. I recently switched to the Asics Gel Solution Speed 2 and am on my second pair. They're wonderful shoes, though with both the previous and current pair after about 3 months of playing 3-4 times per week I've noticed small "injuries" come up, whether it be strain on my anterior tibialis with the previous or a twist of my foot leading to posterior heel pain. The anterior tib strain disappeared after I switched to my current pair, so I figured perhaps the support of my previous pair had softened up?

The outsoles are still very playable and I'd hate to chuck shoes for no reason, anyone else have this experience? Thanks very much!

 

[beepee1972]

Indoors (hardcourt) I can use shoes for 3-6 months, playing 2-3 times a week for 1.5 - 2.5 hours per time. By then, the profile of the outsole as vanished around the front part of the shoes, the rubber surrounding the edges around the toes (dragging) is gone. But long before that, I have pushed my big toe through the inner sole and am required to use new insoles to prevent blisters. So indoorson hardcourt, I don't mind a slick outsole and usually have a 6 month period. Outdoors (clay and smashcourt), I can do all season (march - october) with one pair. By the end of it usually the inside of the shoe has some holes in the heel part (and insole has been replaced as well).

But hey.... it is never bad to have to buy new tennis shoes ;-)

 

[Cyclone]

Indoors (hardcourt) I can use shoes for 3-6 months, playing 2-3 times a week for 1.5 - 2.5 hours per time. By then, the profile of the outsole as vanished around the front part of the shoes, the rubber surrounding the edges around the toes (dragging) is gone. But long before that, I have pushed my big toe through the inner sole and am required to use new insoles to prevent blisters. So indoorson hardcourt, I don't mind a slick outsole and usually have a 6 month period. Outdoors (clay and smashcourt), I can do all season (march - october) with one pair. By the end of it usually the inside of the shoe has some holes in the heel part (and insole has been replaced as well).

But hey.... it is never bad to have to buy new tennis shoes ;-)

Thanks for replying! Hmm so it sounds like you have to replace insoles long before the outsole wears out, implying that the support has been worn through already, correct? I'm wondering if my current shoes have lost their supportiveness despite maintaining outsole integrity.

 

[elga]

I haven't used the Asics Gel Solution Speed 2 before, but most of the time my outsoles are worn through within 3 months (hard court, 3 days a week, 2.5-3.5 hrs each outing) and the insole and cushion hasn't quite given way yet.

I do have one pair now, though, where the insoles lost their cushion after about 2.5 months and the outsoles have a few weeks before they're gone - it's a struggle using them to wear through the outsoles for the warranty.

Bottom line - while I don't have experience with that particular shoe, it's definitely possible that the support / cushion is gone even though the outsoles haven't worn through yet.

 

[cknobman]

Impossible to say without knowing more information.

What level do you play at?
Do you play singles or doubles? How often per week do you play them?
What surfaces do you play on?
What type of game do you play?

All of those questions can significantly impact shoe life.

 

[Cyclone]

Impossible to say without knowing more information.

What level do you play at?
Do you play singles or doubles? How often per week do you play them?
What surfaces do you play on?
What type of game do you play?

All of those questions can significantly impact shoe life.

Fair enough! I play NTRP 4.5 singles with a bunch of ex-college players, 3-4 times per week for 1.5-2 hours at a time, play only on hardcourt, playstyle is "baseliner transitioning into aggressive all-courter"

 

[cknobman]

You're gonna be lucky to get 3 months out of your shoes.

Buy 6 month warranty shoes and get double for your money

 

[Cyclone]

You're gonna be lucky to get 3 months out of your shoes.

Buy 6 month warranty shoes and get double for your money

Haha! Are you talking a lucky 3 months for outsole or insole/support?

 

[cknobman]

From my experience, I'm a similar style and level of player as yourself (maybe a tick lower, lol) I've worn out every outsole of every shoe I have ever bought in time to claim warranty on it.

When I was playing 4-5 days a week I could wear an outsole out in less than 2 months.

 

[Cyclone]

Interesting... I'm not sure why I don't wear through outsoles as much, they usually stay decent while the guts of the shoe (support, stability) seem to die on me first...

 

[cknobman]

Yes very interesting indeed.

I find the toe area on my shoes wears quite fast.

But then again everyone tells me I naturally walk on my toes, LOL.

 

[kimguroo]

Vapor lasts around 70-80 hrs and LB or barricade lasts 90-100hrs for me.
Air max cage was the worst shoes which only last 40hrs.

Everyone has different wear out pattern so it will be case by case though.

 

[Fintft]

Indoors (hardcourt) I can use shoes for 3-6 months, playing 2-3 times a week for 1.5 - 2.5 hours per time. By then, the profile of the outsole as vanished around the front part of the shoes, the rubber surrounding the edges around the toes (dragging) is gone. But long before that, I have pushed my big toe through the inner sole and am required to use new insoles to prevent blisters. So indoorson hardcourt, I don't mind a slick outsole and usually have a 6 month period. Outdoors (clay and smashcourt), I can do all season (march - october) with one pair. By the end of it usually the inside of the shoe has some holes in the heel part (and insole has been replaced as well).

But hey.... it is never bad to have to buy new tennis shoes ;-)

I agree in general with the differences being:
I play 4-5 times a week 1-2 hours singles at a time.
Indoor shoes I buy the ones with 6 months warranty, like Nike Lunars, b/c they profile of the outsole lasts me only about 3-4 months and once I start slipping I don't want to risk an injury.

Clay shoes last me one season, at least, but they have to be decent like Asics Gel Resolution 5 or 6 and not Vapor (the lateral support gives in for me after 1-2 months)
I'm heavy, 100kgs and try to move aggressively, how about you?

I never use stock insoles, but Dr Scholl's active (or now Spenco's) in all my tennis shoes, including on clay and those last me at least 6 months, up to a year.

 

[swizzy]

2 months and shoes are pretty shot.. i always go for warranty shoes with 6 months.. they never last anywhere near that long

 

[Pronate]

I think if you play everyday on hard court then it should last around 3 months. If you play once a week, your shoes may last past 6 months!

 

[Moveforwardalways]

How do you tell when a shoe's life is up? What is the criteria?

 

[Pronate]

I would say that it would be when you lose proper footing. When going for a shot, you should be able to still have good lateral movement (and not experience aching joints) I use shoes as long as my feet don't get hurt. But ultimately it's up to you for what feels comfortable!

 

[Pronate]

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[Pronate]

I would say that it would be when you lose proper footing. When going for a shot, you should be able to still have good lateral movement (and not experience aching joints) I use shoes as long as my feet don't get hurt. But ultimately it's up to you for what feels comfortable!

 

[Pronate]

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[junior74]

A slight over-@Pronate ?

 

[Pronate]

Sorry

 

[ultradr]

How do you tell when a shoe's life is up? What is the criteria?

good question. i've seen some people don't care much and wear them until they punch a hole on their soles.
then again some people claim soles lose their cushions and replace them in a few months no matter what state the sole is in.
their total priority is on the health of their joints, so to speak.
i do notice though i occasionally slip here and there slightly more frequently after i wear out the outsole (usually partially heel or toe area).
i think i can wear shoes as long as my bear foot doesn't touch the ground directly
but since I have some structural issue on my ankle, i replace them once outsole worn out considerably, as long as my financial situation is ok with it.

 

[Toyo]

I got about 4 months out of my SS2s before the uppers stretched to the point where I lost too much stability and support which caused my feet to ache after playing. I also noticed my footwork was suffering as I had difficulty setting up properly. I just picked up a pair of Res 6s and my feet are back feeling good again.

 

[Cyclone]

Looking back I'm realizing that it makes sense that lightweight, speed-oriented shoes would lose their form and support much earlier than the usual Gel Res, Lotto Raptor, etc. which are made more for durability and support... Too bad I'm paying for it with bruised heels picked up a pair of the Barricade Boosts and I can tell just by walking around how much more substantial it is, should (hopefully) maintain its support for a good deal longer than the SS2