There’s isn’t any bulletproof, surefire, set mileage rate for when tennis shoes are in need of replacement, but if yours are ripping at the soles and are as hard as rocks to walk in; it’s time! Even the best tennis shoes can’t last forever, so although there’s no blueprint for when to replace tennis shoes, here are a couple of tips even the doctors vouch for.

Different Soles for Different Activities

If you want to preserve the life of your soles, be sure you’re wearing the proper tennis shoes for your activity. If you’re a runner (we’re talking a daily jog not a 10 mile a dayer), then you will want to clock your mileage as regularly as possible so that you know when you’ve reached approx. 500-525 miles; that’s when it’s time to replace them. This mileage is also consistent for the “normal” usages of let’s say, a pair of Van’s tennis shoes.

On the other hand, if you’re a hard core athlete or frequent hiker, biker outdoorsy type, you’ll need to replace your tennis shoes after around 300 miles of usage.

A Foot’s Intuition

Do you have a “my feet know best” mantra? Perhaps you should! That amazing pair of black tennis shoes you purchased last year, that sit in your closet because you can only stand to wear them long enough to check the mail, probably aren’t exactly comfortable. So, listen to your feet! Everyone’s feet aren’t created equally and perhaps you have a large arch or flatter soles. In either respect, comfortable shoes cost less overtime and will usually last longer because they are often made of more “foot friendly” material.

Shop around for the best feeling shoe and good deals. Remember, listen to your feet and replace worn out soles in time to keep your feet healthy.