How often do you replace your tennis shoes?

[IowaGuy]

Trying to maximize cushioning in my tennis shoes to be gentle on my knees, currently use Asics Gel Court FF.

I know with hiking shoes, the cushioning often breaks down before the shoe is actually worn out. Many hikers replace their shoes at 300-500 miles.

How many hours of tennis do you put on your tennis shoes? Or do you just replace when they are worn out/have holes in them?

 

[Tennis_Hands]

When you notice that the cushioning is gone?

Also, most serious hiking shoes don't even have real cushioning, and certainly aren't replaced after 300-500 miles.

You are probably talking about trail/trail-running shoes, but even for them that is extremely short time to replace.

 

[IowaGuy]

When you notice that the cushioning is gone?

Also, most serious hiking shoes don't even have real cushioning, and certainly aren't replaced after 300-500 miles.

You are probably talking about trail/trail-running shoes, but even for them that is extremely short time to replace.

I know some through-hikers of the big trails (AT, PCT, CDT) who swear by frequent replacement (300-500 miles) of their trail/hiking shoes in order to keep their knees healthy...

YMMV...

 

[TagUrIt]

Hiking and tennis are obviously different activities, so it’s not really a fair comparison. Most of us (most) play on hardcourts, I buy two pairs of shoes and rotate them. I go by the soles, you can always replace insoles if they start to wear or lose cushioning. When I see the soles of any of my shoes start to wear thin, it’s time to replace them.

Or if Nike comes out with new color scheme or better version of the current pair.

 

[J011yroger]

When I wear through the outsole on hard court shoes or when clay court ones look beat up.

J

 

[JordanWinning]

If I can get 8 months out of barricades I'm happy. Trying out some K-Swiss now. Super comfy, look durable so far

 

[kimguroo]

70-90 hrs for lighter shoes (vapor etc) and 90-120 hrs for durable shoes (barricade, ballistec etc....).

 

[Tennis_Hands]

I know some through-hikers of the big trails (AT, PCT, CDT) who swear by frequent replacement (300-500 miles) of their trail/hiking shoes in order to keep their knees healthy...

YMMV...

This is a hiking shoe:

I don't know anyone who would run such a shoe into the ground for 300-500 miles, but maybe there are such people.

I was actually referring to hiking boots, as the distinction started with the invention of the low mountaineering shoes like the above, and the hiking boots are actually the original "hiking shoes".

 

[Nostradamus]

Trying to maximize cushioning in my tennis shoes to be gentle on my knees, currently use Asics Gel Court FF.

I know with hiking shoes, the cushioning often breaks down before the shoe is actually worn out. Many hikers replace their shoes at 300-500 miles.

How many hours of tennis do you put on your tennis shoes? Or do you just replace when they are worn out/have holes in them?

After about 3 month, I toss them even if it doesn't have holes. Yonex shoes I wear, the cushioning breaks down long before holes happen

 

[CosmosMpower]

I typically buy 3-4 higher end pairs and use them for a year rotated. For 2018 I killed a pair of GR7 and Cage 3 for regular practice and play and a pair of Court FF and SS3 for matches

 

[swizzy]

i used to try and skimp on shoes.. i have been playing since a kid and about 40 years ago.. shoes were not what they are today.. laces and upper and a slab of rubber. being from that era it is hard to imagine how $130 for the cage 3 is warranted.. but i really appreciate a good pair of tennis shoes and have been burning through and switching my cages after about 3 months pretty consistently for 10 years now. the durability guaranty from nike has been amazing all these years.. having now claimed about 30 pairs in that time.

 

[IowaGuy]

I typically buy 3-4 higher end pairs and use them for a year rotated. For 2018 I killed a pair of GR7 and Cage 3 for regular practice and play and a pair of Court FF and SS3 for matches

What is your theory on rotating different brands/models? Is this just random or for foot/joint health?

I typically use the same model for a couple of years, but have wondered if it would be better to switch between shoes more often...

 

[PBODY99]

I rotate different models of shoes & usually break down the tops before I wear out the soles. 3 pair used up year for the last ten years 8020 clay to hard courts.

 

[CosmosMpower]

What is your theory on rotating different brands/models? Is this just random or for foot/joint health?

I typically use the same model for a couple of years, but have wondered if it would be better to switch between shoes more often...

I mostly use asics I just thought I’d try the cage 3 when they were on sale. I rotate shoes so I don’t kill the cushioning on one pair really quickly. I don’t think brand matters that much as long as it fits you

 

[Fintft]

3 months on hard courts (ballistecs- once the thread becomes a tad bald and I start slipping) and 1-2 years on clay (Asics Gel Resolution 7), although on clay I waited too long: not only it was lacking cushioning after about 2 years but it gave me a blister on the upper side of my toe. It's a callous now and it hurts a bit, even with new shoes (need to tape it).

 

[J011yroger]

I mostly use asics I just thought I’d try the cage 3 when they were on sale. I rotate shoes so I don’t kill the cushioning on one pair really quickly. I don’t think brand matters that much as long as it fits you

I rotate in the summer so they have time to fully dry out.

J

 

[LJ92]

within a couple months mine have holes, kind of a toe-dragger. tried a few brands, adidas worst, fila best, so far...

 

[TahoeTennis]

Between 3 and 49 weeks usually

 

[Winners or Errors]

Old and injured these days = replace them when padding wears out instead of waiting for a hole like I used to. Shoes last me about 6 months to a year depending on how many pair I have in rotation.

 

[WestboroChe]

After about 3 month, I toss them even if it doesn't have holes. Yonex shoes I wear, the cushioning breaks down long before holes happen

That was totally my experience with Yonex shoes. I won’t buy them anymore because of that.

 

[jklos]

I burn a hole in my right toe out sole about every 4 months.

 

[mctennis]

About 3-4 months on average. At the most 6 months if I find a shoe that just fits great and I cannot find another one in that exact style or one like it.

 

[Dartagnan64]

I rotate. I start a fresh show as my hardcourt shoe, when I notice the outsole starting to wear, I turn it into my clay court shoe. When the upper wears from clay it gets binned. I use custom insoles and rarely notice a cushioning issue before I've noticed significant wear on the shoe. But I'm always using fairly fresh shoes on hard courts so I max cushioning then. Since I mostly play clay, I get 8 months on a pair of shoes generally.

 

[J011yroger]

I rotate. I start a fresh show as my hardcourt shoe, when I notice the outsole starting to wear, I turn it into my clay court shoe. When the upper wears from clay it gets binned. I use custom insoles and rarely notice a cushioning issue before I've noticed significant wear on the shoe. But I'm always using fairly fresh shoes on hard courts so I max cushioning then. Since I mostly play clay, I get 8 months on a pair of shoes generally.

You are doing it backwards...

J

 

[Deleted member 23235]

hc = typically 30-40 hrs before a hole is worn through, so probably in a month or 2 (so always return for 6mo warranty)
clay = usually year or more... tread is fine, but the top of the shoe (and insole, support) starts falling apart.

 

[TheIntrovert]

Every year or so. I’m pretty light on my shoes.

 

[heninfan99]

I switch between two pairs. When there's no more grip or the glue on the side rubber give way or holes and then I switch to a new one.