On average you should keep your shoes for between 8 and 12 months before replacing them. This averages to around 300 to 500 miles for running shoes. One good indicator that your shoes are worn is when the support and cushioning start to become compressed and the material doesn't bounce back the way it used to.
As a general rule of thumb, shoes should be replaced every 8-12 months for most people or every 500-700 kilometres for running shoes. Some shoes will last longer, and some will wear out more quickly.
If you buy low quality leather, bonded leather, or pleather shoes, you can hope for at least six months of regular use. If you only wore your shoes inside on carpeted floors, that same pair of shoes would easily last three to five years.
You should replace your shoes with foam midsoles between 6-12 months with daily use. Leather shoes with replaceable soles can last 5 years or longer. Shoes should be replaced when they cause discomfort, impact joint health, get contaminated, or become a visual eyesore.
Dry rot is the process in which leather degrades due to the lack of moisture in the material. When all the oil from the leather evaporates, the fibers in the material become brittle and crack, which leads to permanent damage. This process usually occurs if your leather footwear is kept in warm, dry conditions.
It can easily dry out, over-absorb water, or be damaged in other ways but cannot repair itself. If leather loses its natural oils and moisture, it loses it's flexibility and its fibrous interweave will start to crack and eventually break down. Once this happens it is lost and needs to be replaced.
But wearing your most prized possession can actually increase the service life of the shoe, believe it or not. If you keep a pair of sneakers deadstock in their box for too long, the glue will dry up and the aging process of the shoe actually accelerates when compared to a shoe that has been worn every once in a while.
Leather Uppers especially need time to air out
We define ample time as around 24 hours – so ideally give it a day between wears. If you don't give your shoes a day to air out, the sweat-soaked leather will warp, and your shoes can start to lose their shape — not to mention get musty and start to smell.
Durability
One of the biggest benefits of leather shoes is they are durable. Genuine leather shoes can outlive other shoes made from synthetic materials. High quality leather stays strong against demanding work environments meaning the shoes will last much longer.
Polish them every 6 wears
It's fickle. Luckily, there is an easy way to keep a healthy balance: Use a shoe polish every 6 wears or so. Shoe polish helps moisturize the leather while adding a layer of protection to repel dust and water. It also restores colour and hides scuffs and blemishes.
On average, heavily worn but well-maintained Goodyear-welted shoes can last between 5-10 years. A pair that is rotated out among a collection of shoes should last between 10 to 20 years.
Always store shoes in a cool, dry, and temperature-controlled area for best results. Boots should be stored in boot stands to help them retain shape. Other shoes should be stored with shoe trees for shape retention. Alternatively, you can use acid-free tissue paper to stuff shoes.
If the shoes are still in good condition, they can donate them to the less fortunate. You can sell them off to charity shops or drop them off at a charity shoe recycling bin, if available. Just a quick tip: tie the pair of shoes together so they will not get separated.
Leather is most often tanned with chromium, as well as formaldehyde, arsenic and other often carcinogenic chemicals. the leather tanning process not only harms workers, but their communities too, as pollution spills into their waterways, endangering the health of everyone who relies on them.
Low-quality leather should last between 3 and 5 years of regular use. But higher-quality leather shoes can last up to 10 years.
Real leather is going to have great durability over time because it won't crack or peel. Instead of wearing out, real leather will develop a patina on its natural surface. Faux leather, or PU leather, is not going to be as durable as real leather, but it will be more durable compared to bonded leather.
Incomparable Quality and Durability
It's not hard to see why leather lasts so long. Leather shoes are a great choice for individuals who want an investment that will last a long time because these kicks are always resistant to wear and strain.
When it comes to how often you should wear your favorite pair of footwear, Dan recommends trying to rotate every other day. This not only extends the life of the shoes, but it's best for your feet. “The repetitive stresses of wearing the same shoes day after day, hour after hour, can eventually make us uncomfortable.
Due to daily use, our shoes or slippers will end deformed and deteriorated in the same areas, especially inside and on the sole. This damage implies that we start to step correctly, and our feet will start to suffer pain or pathologies (as well as other structures such as the knee, hip, or back).
Compared to piling all your pairs on the entryway steps, having them stored inside their boxes is a better idea since shoe boxes are easy to stack and identify. Cardboard boxes can resist a small amount of moisture. This can protect your shoes from the damage caused by humidity.
Most shoes are made with a rubber outsole, which grips pavement and adds durability, and a foam midsole to absorb shock and provide a springy feel. Sadly, neither component lasts forever; both will eventually break down, even on unworn shoes.
Hydrolysis is the chemical breakdown of the PU polymer and the resulting physical breakdown or crumbling of the PU sole by the attack of water (usually in vapour form), occurring over a period of several years (even when the shoes are in store!). This process is accelerated by warmth and high humidity.