Athletic Shoe Usage Cycle

As I've become older, it seems more important for me to have good athletic shoes for my sports activities. Since I have flat feet, my joints are less sore after vigorous activity when wearing good shoes. However, athletic shoes are often designed specifically for a sport and last less than a year. To mitigate the cost of ahigher frequency purchases, I extend the use of the shoes by cycling them through normal usage. Here is a typical cycle of my athletic shoes:

Exclusive use for a sport. Initially, I wear the shoes for the sport for which they are intended. Tennis shoes are only worn when I play tennis. Running shoes are only worn when I run. As a result, the shoe uppers are still in excellent condition after the soles and cushioning are worn out.

Use for casual activities. After sports use, I wear my athletic shoes for everyday activities such as shopping, attending classes, and running errands. Since the uppers are still in good condition, I can use the shoes for most casual wear activities, including restaurants and parites. In addition, the cushioning is still excellent for everyday walking.

Use for yard work. When the condition of the uppers decline, I start wearing the athletic shoes for yard work, such as gardening, tree trimming and grass cutting. Since the shoes are old, I don't mind if they get muddy or stained. I keep using these shoes until they are worn out or a new pair is rotated in from casual wear use.

By wearing my athletic shoes for multiple purposes, I maximize the useful life of my tennis and running shoes. Thus, I don't feel as bad spending $80+ for specialized sports shoes.

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This is not financial or sports wear advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

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