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Just hit 500 miles on the same pair of trail runners | Backpacking Routes - The Design Community Hub

Just hit 500 miles on the same pair of trail runners

I was cleaning out my gear closet last week and checked the log I keep in my shoe box (a little weird, I know). My go-to Altra Lone Peaks from my Colorado Trail section hike last summer just passed 500 miles. I honestly thought they'd be toast at 300, but the tread is still decent and the uppers are holding strong. It got me thinking about how long you all push your main hiking shoes before swapping them out.

3 comments

3 Comments

kai_stone996mo ago

Gotta be honest, that makes me super nervous. Pushing shoes that far is asking for trouble with your knees or feet, even if the tread looks okay. The cushioning and support inside breaks down way before the outside shows it. I swap mine out like clockwork every 300-350 miles because I've learned the hard way. That hidden wear can lead to injuries that totally ruin a hiking season.

jordangibson5mo ago

Oh man, that mileage rule reminds me of when I used to do trail runs on old sneakers lol. I had this pair of Asics where the tread was still decent but the midsole felt like stepping on cardboard. Ended up rolling my ankle so bad on a simple root that I was limping for two weeks. Now I'm paranoid and replace shoes when the heel counter gets mushy, even if the uppers look fine. Funny how we all have that one injury that changes our whole shoe game forever. What do you guys look for first when you're trying to decide if a shoe is done for?

sage5286mo ago

Yeah but see I've never really tracked miles on my shoes, I just go by how they feel. If my feet or knees start talking to me, then I know it's time. I get what you're saying, @kai_stone99, about hidden wear, but I feel like that mileage rule can be a bit strict. Bodies and shoes are all so different, you know? My last pair made it through two whole seasons before they gave up the ghost.