You shelled out the cash. Now it’s time to take tips on getting the best out of your propelling investment. Though somewhat less exciting than indulging in a new, crisp purchase that requires no sprucing up – proper care and maintenance of your best running shoes in India is one of the skills every runner should have.
A lot of the time, it’s easy to forget that your running shoes need looking after. It’s a testament to how well this complex piece is made. They contain tens of minuscule components operating at excellent tolerance – we expect them to maintain pace 24/7 and soak up a great deal of punishment along the way.
Keeping your best running shoes in good nick, in fact, won’t extend their life by miles, but ensure they live long enough to harvest as much performance out of them as possible. It is like tuning up their complexion – so it functions at its best.
Designers and the runners helped to walk us through their best practices of shoe wearing, storing, and even cleaning correctly; plus they offered some essential products that will help keep running shoes looking great. All this, below.
.01
Don’t Let It Get Worse
The old adage “Prevention is better than cure”: so much of what can afflict a running shoe – potentially landing you with a chunky bill – can be avoided in the first place with a bit of thought.
While it can be tempting to step out in your newly acquired best running shoes in India as soon as it lands on your doorstep, taking a few minutes to know their actual reputation will pay off in the long run.
Buy Before The Old One Die
Our editors can wax rhapsodic on the subject of running shoes. Running get more and more beautiful with such pairs, gaining character with every stride as they mold to the feet in the most delicious way.
It’s a feeling that someone who has ever broken in cardboard-crisp selvage mesh into a malleable, perfectly-molded-to-your-instep pair can attest to.
And such bespoke experiences are most certainly not made overnight – some shoes demand an incredible amount of patience to break in.
Don’t get rid of your older running shoes that – so far – go anywhere with you, collected adventures and incredible memories in their wear and tear: memories that can further enhance the capabilities of your new running shoe (more on this later).
As much as you want to wear your new running shoes right away, it pays off to wear them for small periods/runs. Use your older pairs for this transition, as you gradually drive more miles with the new ones.
While such a gradual approach delightfully ditches the built-in distressed appeal, it does so without messing up the integrity that leads to a smoother return… in case those distress grows more pronounced!
Those Shoes Are For Running, Right?
Gentleman, you got running shoes for running? Power move. Now, we know what you’re thinking: You (or your very nice relative) just spent a whole bunch of money on it – hedges allure (or comfort thereof) that you can’t reserve them just for running. We’re sure it looks fantastic on you and wearing it feels like snuggling smooth butter.
Yes, they blend nicely with your casual wardrobe, nice enough, in design and fabric to go with everything from denim to chinos, that it is tempting to wear them (or show off) around all-day…
…but as much as you may love the thing, you’re actually adding up the extra miles (or cutting down the run-able miles) and, eventually, reducing the longevity of that exceptionally soft ride.
Even standing or walking in your running shoes wears down the cushioning/midsole faster, as the foam never has the chance to expand back to its normal shape, so it will lose its bouncy feel more quickly.
Every shoe has a life expectancy, and every time they’re on your feet, your shoes are living part of their life. Best running shoes for men in India are special and should be treated as such.
Make Sure They’re Right For The Job
Every type of run comes with its own set of technical challenges, and the running shoe (a pair you’ve reserved just for running, right?) comes with its own set of solutions to carry us through some specific challenges. Knowing the capabilities of your running shoes is, as a rule, better safe than sorry.
Running shoes are more specialized than ever, with different shoes catered to sprinters, distance runners, and real runners going off-road. Align your training plan with what your running shoes were made for, and it really does make a difference.
Your trail running shoe could please your craving to take in some nature as they are buttery smooth on rocky and varied terrain but will wear out faster on asphalt and concrete. Your cousin’s cushion-y road shoes will bounce back best there!
Though your cousin would never reconnect with that organic barefoot experience that a minimalist running shoe offers. Make sure your pair boast weatherproof features to keep you on your favorite outdoor routes all season, though they tend to be less breathable.
The point is to use the best running shoes for men in India for the purpose designer intended – and you’ll get a lot of mileage out of your best running shoes in India.
.02
Dry Them… Naturally!
Even though you didn’t run through a rainstorm, a flooded trail, or a stream crossing: You gotta remember you’re sweating in those shoes. Either way, they’ll pull in unchecked moisture. Moisture that drastically shortens the life of a shoe.
Wet shoes (and socks) aren’t just uncomfortably squishy — they’re also more likely to cause blisters, and they create the perfect environment for mold to grow.
Since the perfect fit makes the difference between a supported run and a painful one: your average tumble dryer has no business handling expensive running shoes.
As we don’t want to risk any change to the shape or fit of your shoes. And while wet shoes that air-dry on their own—just stank!
Just remove the insole, set them aside where they can easily dry, and stuff the shoes with something absorbent, like newspaper or paper towels: they speed up the drying process without damaging or altering their fit.
After the first 10 minutes, the paper will have soaked up as much water as it can, so switch it out with another batch, and leave it. Make sure you dry them completely before you get on the treadmill or hit the trail again.
Let the paper dry out afterward and you can reuse it several times. Shoes came in the box with paper stuffed in them… keep it! It’s already the perfect size and texture to absorb excess moisture. Your local running store probably has a giant pile they would be thrilled to give you.
.03
Store Them Like Wine
One of the great pleasures of learning about and enjoying running is finding a running shoe that is personal to your tastes. But choosing and buying this gear is only part of the process: they also have to be stored, and in the realm of high-end running shoes, storage is crucial, however mundane that might sound.
It’ll ensure that your purchases will serve in the best way possible. But poor storage can spoil even the best running shoes for men in India. To runners who keep only a few pairs of running shoes (maybe just one), such focus on storage may seem strange. But the elite takes it seriously for several reasons.
Running shoes are tolerant of most things – however, it doesn’t react well to extreme temperatures. Have you ever picked up a shoe that’s been sitting in a car during the middle of the summer heat? It’s not pretty, it’s more like putty.
Exposing the shoe to extreme cold and heat can cause serious strain on the shoes, especially the heat: that activates the glue used to hold your shoe together. This can cause parts of the shoe to delaminate. The upper material might shrink, changing the fit of the shoe.
If they’re stored in cold weather, the foam will become stiff, making it unable to decompress and absorb shock the way it should. It’s not like keeping them in a bomb shelter, but basically providing the optimal environment for the materials they are made of!
There is no “Celsius Precise” scale to follow or exact temperature at which they should be stored. Look for a place in your house where the temperature stays consistent throughout the day and year.
Think about not storing your shoes in temperatures where you would find yourself too hot (or too cold). For example, don’t leave your shoes out on the porch to bake in the sun for days.
.04
Clean Them Like Cashmere
So, you’ve been publicly “sneaker shamed”: Your colleagues, friends, family, or lovers are balking at your admission that you don’t wash your running shoes—like, almost ever . . . all because you prefer your trainers as natural, as true as they can be, right?
If you can muster up the courage, why not go ahead and give your running trainers a good sniff? It’s somehow even more frightening than you could’ve fathomed, right?
Either take your dirty running shoes as the marks of a runner who has braved the elements, raced a wet, muddy, wild track, and has a story to tell, or is it the mark of a runner who simply does not look after their gear. . . don’t leave to just be what your running shoes are; accept the budge on washing them.
Though we would not get into the weeds of Why is not washing one’s running shoes is such a polarizing subject, we will share a number of our hard-learned secrets, carefully culled from decades of disasters.
Wash Your Trainers The Right Way
Can running shoes be put through the washing machine? This is easy enough if you have your washing machine—put that baby in a mesh bag, set the dial for the gentle cycle, and cross your fingers. You can do it this way, but it’s not a good idea.
While it can be tempting to let the machine do all the work, this method is likely to leave your shoes damaged and may weaken the fabric and adhesives. We’re going to let you in on a secret: We’ve saved hundreds of dollars by hand-washing our best running shoes in India.
We highly recommend hand washing over machine cleaning, after all, it is a more delicate and devoted way like your shoes are translating what you wanted them to say… without losing the character and shape your running life had given them.
First, you should remove the innersoles and laces to allow for a more thorough cleaning. Wash off any debris, add a little soap and water onto the inside of the shoe and use a lint-free cloth to work it in.
You can use a toothbrush to get into the gritty parts and lightly squeeze around the shoes’ edges, front, and heels. This can be a bit time-consuming, but dry them in fresh air or in the sun. You can also hang them up in an airing cupboard or leave them in a warm room.
Our tip for making the process a little bit easier and faster? Remove the sock liner and stuff a few sheets of newspaper into the cavity. Trust us, this actually works.
Whatever you do, avoid using artificial drying devices like radiators, hairdryers, or tumble dryers. Like the washing machine, their high temperatures are likely to melt the glue and compromise your shoes’ quality.
And How Often Should You Wash Running Shoes?
Now, this is down to personal preference, while, of course, it’s not necessary to wash them after every run, neglecting them altogether can compromise both the appearance and functioning of your shoes.
The terrain where they’re cruising, how dirty they are (and from what), the material of the shoes, and the method by which you wash them will decide how often they should be washed.
.05
Give Them Rest
Rest days help to strengthen your body, sharpen your mind, and boost your motivation levels so that you actually want to get out for your next run. Though for your running shoes, a rest day isn’t for getting more resilient in the future, but for getting back to what they initially are!
If you take some days off from your training. . . your muscles bounce back! If you let your running shoes some days off from training. . . their cushion bounce back. An extra day or two without use helps your shoes to last longer.
But if you run today, tomorrow, and the next day, it never (neither your muscles nor the shoes’ cushion and responsiveness) has time to fully repair. Eventually, you (and your wallet) could be looking at a stress fracture – and a lengthy spell out of action.
Most of the best running shoes for men in India use foam for cushioning. As you run, the foam in your shoe naturally compresses to dampen shock and keep you feeling fresh. If you regularly wear your shoes for consecutive days, the foam will begin to absorb less and less shock as it becomes more permanently compressed.
While shoes’ exact recovery times depend on multiple factors (material, weight, terrain, distance), allowing ample time for their foam midsoles to decompress after a run will help them fully support you on your next outing and retain more responsiveness over time.
It takes about no less than 24 to 48 hours, according to Nike engineers, for the foam to de-compress. According to Runner’s World, such post-run cool-downs can extend the life of a pair by up to 100 miles.
.06
Consider A Rotation
If you’re applying the best ways to introduce your body to running, allowing more time off your training for the fitness level to respond and adapt – your running shoes might be accumulating enough rest as well!
As you typically run fewer than four times a week at around the same speed every time, you don’t need to consider a “Shoe Rotation”. Therefore, one quality pair of everyday running shoes should do the job.
We’ll not get into the “no days off” mentality is either doing more harm than good? But if that 48-hour rest feels like too much for your dedication and love of running or you’re simply running more frequently, you have good reason to start a shoe rotation.
Although shelling out for another pair is an investment up front, “Shoe Rotation” doesn’t mean owning as many shoes that you can’t track them all. Give your shoes a 48-hour break between runs by training with a second pair. This will give each pair some time to decompress and allow the foam to rebound to its original state.
Plus, if you use two different models of shoes, the subtle change in stack height or heel-to-toe drop can help strengthen the small muscles in your feet and legs. Yes, it strengthens, but have you aligned your wandering eye with some of the other key benefits of considering a shoe rotation?
.07
Don’t Forget The Birthday
Birthdays are a special time of year. They remind us how far we’ve come, but they also symbolize that we’re growing older. Either way, Birthdays are a cause for celebration and a great excuse to show someone how much you appreciate them.
So what, then, is the appropriate way for a grown man (or we can say: A Grown Runner) to behave on his running shoes’ birthday?
Though, retiring your favorite (well loved!) pair of running shoes is never easy. . .
. . .that’s the traditional birthday ritual designed for running shoes.
Unlike a quality pair of leather dress shoes, The goal of caring for your running shoes isn’t to extend the life of the running shoe forever. It’s to extend it for as long as it’s designed to last.
Yes, Running shoes have a shelf life, whether we wear them or not. Shoe materials deteriorate over time, not just with mileage, so even if they sit in your closet they are slowly breaking down.
So, How to Know “The Birthday”?
Elite and professional runners assiduously replace their shoes after running about 200 miles in them. Some might go through two pairs a month on the note of keeping their equipment as fresh as possible.
Of course, Athletes, sponsored by brands, do not have to pay for their shoes. Most of the rest of us do, and at around ₹8k a pair – they aren’t cheap.
Meticulously locate the “Birthday” and you’ll squeeze every single run-able mile out of those pairs while not raising a dead shoe from the great beyond. So how do you know when it’s the end of the road?
The runners, experts, or brand representatives we’ve walked the question with – are most inspired by “The Miles” approach. So for the best running shoes for men in India: birthdays are not a matter of time, but a matter of miles.
Most shoemakers, of course, would prefer to see us trade in sooner, though we’ve checked the manufacturer’s manual for details that define the dying point as somewhere between 300 to 500 miles . . .
. . . but there are many factors involved: from the shoe and how well its features match your biomechanical patterns, to how you use them and how well you maintain them.
A 45-kg runner with a near-perfect stride will get many more miles out of a pair of shoes than a 90-kg runner who overpronates. Experts suggest keeping an eye on the condition of the shoe, but some shoes don’t show when they’re past their prime, especially if you use them indoors.
Golden Harper, a developer of Altra running shoes and founder of the company, said any advice on mileage was “a lot of malarkey.” Mr. Harper, a distance runner, said elites could feel when their shoes need to be replaced. “You get a sense for it,” he said. “Nothing hurts, but it is going too soon.”
There may never be a simple answer. Just check your shoes and your body. Are shoes showing visible signs of wear and tear? Tread worn down to a smooth finish? Getting less response or need a longer recovery after a run? If this sounds like you, then… congratulations! You’ve given your shoes a long, fulfilling life. Be proud. And then stop running in them.
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