Talk to me about shoes

[OakLeaf]

Research actually shows that the so-called gait analysis is at best useless, at worst can contribute to injuries. Basically if you don't have any history of fracture, surgery or birth defects, then if your feet and ankles aren't functioning properly, it's because they're weak and/or stiff, and putting them into shoes that are, essentially, a cast or brace, actually prevents you from building strength and flexibility. The latest studies say wear shoes that are comfortable, make sure your feet can spread out in all directions inside the shoes (having narrow feet will make that much easier for you!), try them on after you've already walked several miles so you know how they'll fit when your feet are tired and swollen, and that's your best shot at staying healthy. The LRS will likely have a better selection than the big box stores, and their salespeople will almost certainly be more familiar with the way different models fit, but if they try to sell you shoes to control the motion of your feet and ankles, ask them to show you the studies they're basing that on.

But yeah - +1 on not cycling more than a few miles at a time in flexible shoes.

And, age of shoes has mostly to do with the condition of the midsoles, regardless of how the uppers are holding up. Depending on the shoes, the midsoles will probably start to compress within 150-200 miles. You can probably see "wrinkles" in the sides of the midsoles, or if not, if you compare them to a brand new pair of the same model (not that there's such a thing after 11 years ) you'll see that they're pancaked. That's why they're not insulating you from the ground - there's just no cushion left. Plus, since the midsoles will compress not uniformly but according to where your weight falls during your stride, they're probably oddly shaped by now and throwing your gait off.

How much cushion you might want depends a lot on your weight as well as the surfaces you walk on (concrete or rocks need the most cushion, soft sand and rock-free trails the least), and somewhat on your mileage. Historically more cushioned shoes had a lot of slop to them. I run in moderately cushioned shoes and still feel planted when I run, and from what I've read and heard (user comments more so than manufacturer ads), newer sole technology allows for a lot of cushion while still retaining good ground feel in maximalist shoes like Hoka One Ones. That's another reason to go to the LRS, since the big box stores usually carry only historical and superseded models.