Worn-Out Soles? 5 Clear Signs You Need New Running Shoes

The most important piece of equipment you need when running are shoes. So how do you know when to replace them? The main reasons are if your tread is worn out or if you have rips in your shoes, but also they should be replaced if you have hit the recommended mileage limit or if they are bothering your feet. The final reason they should be replaced is if you are looking to upgrade your shoes. Starting off with the first reason, your tread. You might be wondering what exactly  is the tread of a shoe. Basically the bottom of every shoe has canals and different bumps and ridges. These all make up the tread of the shoe, it’s what gives you grip on the different surfaces you run on. Overtime though, that tread wears down and your shoes begin to lose their grip. When that happens, it’s time for new shoes. The second main reason you should replace your shoes is when you begin to see rips or tears in the shoe. These can happen anywhere but most commonly they are seen in the toe box or the heel of the shoe. Both these locations are not great for rips because the shoes lose some structural integrity with those rips. The last thing you want on a run is your foot to rip through the top of the shoe or get a blister because all the padding is gone on the heel. Moving to the next reason, it is important to replace your shoes when you hit the recommended mileage limit of the shoe. Most shoes are designed to work effectively for a certain amount of miles. The general numbers are 300-500 miles but each shoe is different so it is important to know that number for your specific shoe. The reason you should replace it when you hit this number is that once the shoe hits that mileage, it starts to deteriorate and lose its effectiveness. So when you hit that number, it’s time for new shoes. Another situation that would require new shoes is when your current ones are bothering your feet. It is uncomfortable and harmful to run in shoes that cause pain or discomfort, especially during a run. If this is happening to you, you should get new shoes that don’t cause pain or discomfort so that you don’t harm your feet. Lastly, if you are looking to upgrade your gear and find better performance, the first thing you should do is look for new shoes. There are plenty of shoes out there that will be more efficient and lighter which will cause your workouts to be better and more enjoyable.