Shoe Trivia, Facts and Tips

1. The average cost of a pair of running shoes is currently about $85-$95. Unlike most others things in our world (movie tickets, a gallon of gas, college tuition), this price has only slightly changed (by about $5.00 or about 5%) over the past decade. When we opened our doors back in 1982, that average price was in the $30-35 range and the most expensive shoe on the market was the Nike Air Columbia at a stratospheric $64.99! The Nike Pegasus, which now retails for $80.00 was introduced in 1983 with the hefty price tag of $39.99! Most of the rapid inflation of shoe prices occurred between 1983 and 1989. The first company to charge $100 for a pair of shoes was New Balance, who introduced the now legendary 990 at the inaugural triple digit price back in 1983.
2. The average exercise life of a running shoe is about 400 miles. When a shoe “breaks down” it’s usually in the midsole (engine) not the outsole (tires). A dangerous pitfall is to use the outsole wear as your sole (no pun intended) means of gauging the condition of the overall shoe. That’s a bit like looking at the wear of the tires of your car and using that, even if the engine is about worn out, as your only means of judging the overall condition of the car. Want to “knock around” or wear your shoes for other activities or for everyday use? Then forget about getting 400 exercise miles. Most folks who wear their running shoes around on a regular basis usually only get around 200 running miles out of the shoes!
3. Running shoes are excellent for a regular “walking” regimen.
4. All of the shoe companies replace pretty much all of their models once a year, regardless of how well they’re selling. Only Nike, thanks to the dying wishes of the legendary Bill Bowerman, will keep a few of their models in their line longer and that’s usually in the 18-24 month range. When we opened in 1982 all of the companies were replacing their shoe models every 2-3 years!
5. Running shoes should not be used for lateral activities like tennis, basketball, step aerobics, racquetball or any other sport that causes you to pivot and cut from side to side. A “Cross-Trainer” (a sort of running/tennis shoe) would be a more suitable shoe for these types of activities.
6. The sock liner insert that comes with the shoes is the very first part of the shoe to wear out. What little cushioning and support that they provide, in most cases, wears out in only two-three weeks of normal wear.
7. Never, ever place your shoes in the dryer or near a source of intensive heat like a woodstove. One of the worst places you can leave a pair of a shoes is near the window inside a closed car in the summertime. Why? Because the intense heat will melt the midsole!