My last post featured items that seem indestructible. Of course, you don’t know if you have one of these items unless it has lasted many years or been subjected to some sort of accidental trauma. Since it’s difficult to know items’ durability and assuming you want your running gear to last as long as possible there are easy, small things that can be done to extend its life. In one post I mentioned air-drying moisture-wicking technical clothing instead of putting it through the dryer.
Shoes can be a little tricky. They’re the most important item for a runner but they have the shortest life-span of the gear we use. Unlike pullovers or various hats, shoes must be used on every run regardless of temperature, condition, or distance. Most last 400-500 miles and there’s not much that can be done to extend that.
When running shoes still have life in them, they should be used exclusively for running. Additional steps and use wear them down faster. When I get a new pair of running shoes, I’ll eventually wear the prior pair for everyday use. However, before I do that I keep them to the side for several weeks. During that time, if the weather is rainy, muddy, or slushy I’ll use the last pair instead of the new ones. Running shoes are meant to get dirty and worn (and if you’re using trail shoes on trails, that’s a different story), but keeping them from getting soaked and trashed in the first few weeks may extend their life just a little. While they’re made of tough materials, subjecting them to extreme conditions from the get-go may shorten their life a little. If you can avoid that, the extra miles you gain may not be significant with one pair of shoes but over time, it can add up.
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