by Jerry Morgan for the Beachbody Blog

When it comes to working out, failure is a good thing. Bringing your muscles to the quivering brink of structural integrity is what makes muscles stronger. But when it comes to your footwear, the last thing you want is failure. Unlike muscles, shoes are not bound to the same laws of recovery. Once they’re done, they’re done. Use them past their “expiration point” and they may be doing you more harm than good.

It becomes important, then, to understand how long your shoes might last given your chosen workout regimen and how to know when they’ve expired.

How Long Do Workout Shoes Last?

When it comes to shoes, you really do tend to get what you pay for. Shoes that are purpose-designed with higher-quality materials tend to last longer. But no matter the manufacturer, studies have shown most shoes exhibit similar wear in one very important area: compression capabilities, or their ability to absorb the shock of you jumping.

According to research published by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the average running shoe loses 50 percent of its compression capability in 300 to 500 miles of use. Researchers concluded that most shoes should be replaced within that mileage window or every six months, whichever comes first. But how do you calculate that when your workout doesn’t center around running?

How Your Specific Workout Affects A Shoe’s Lifespan

What does your workout entail? If it’s Shaun T’s INSANITY, your workout is bound to include a lot of intense cardio and you’ll essentially be racking up those simulated miles, in addition to jumping. In this case, those compressive forces may wear out the integrity of the shoe a bit faster than just taking a jog every morning.

Programs like Body Beast and P90X definitely have their moments of high-intensity, foot-to-floor exertion as well, but in general these workouts will be more forgiving on your shoes than INSANITY or T25. The same applies if you’re a gym-goer who trains mostly with weights: You can expect markedly longer shoe life with these types of workouts.

And if you are a runner, the life of your shoe depends on intensity. Someone who runs sprints, for example, will be translating exponentially more force through the sole of the shoe than someone who just walks. If you are a sprinter, you may want to condense the NSCA’s six-month recommendation a bit.

Signs Your Shoes Are Done

So, how do you know if your shoes are ready for the circular file? The best way is a simple visual inspection of the shoe itself.

Don’t just look on the underside of the shoe. Take the time to inspect areas that display wear long before, such as the midsole, which is visible from the side of the shoe. If the midsole shows excessive horizontal creasing or wear on the areas that absorb the most load – the heel and the ball of the foot – then it’s probably time to toss them.

You can also perform what’s called a press test, where you press on the outsole (read: bottom) of the shoe and inspect for compression. If the outsole gives very little, that means that the material is highly compressed and doing you about as much good as a set of snowshoes on hardwood.

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The Best Shoe for Every Workout

Odds are that you own more than one outfit; after all, you’d never wear a suit and tie to a tailgate, or a T-shirt and jeans to an important client meeting. But we’re also willing to bet that you have only one pair of shoes in your gym bag. Here’s why that’s a problem: What you put on your feet can determine how fast you see results, and when it comes to training, one size doesn’t fit all. To maximize your performance and optimize your gains, you need to match your shoes to your workout.

Pick the Right Tool for the Job

If you’re doing Body Beast in your living room, you probably don’t want a pair of high-top basketball shoes, which can restrict ankle mobility and reduce range of motion. Likewise, you won’t do yourself any favors by wearing running shoes (their elevated heels can sap power and strength). Instead, invest in a pair of flatter-soled athletic shoes.

“For Beachbody programs, court shoes are best because they’re made to support multi-directional movement, whereas running shoes are only designed for moving forward,” says Beachbody Vice President of Fitness and Nutrition Steve Edwards. “Cross-training shoes also work well.”

Ideally, you’ll have a different pair of shoes for each type of exercise you do (basketball, running, strength training, etc.). “But unless you have an injury, you should never allow a lack of the ‘right’ shoes to prevent you from working out,” Edwards says. Bottom line: If you don’t have enough dough to expand your training shoe quiver, sweat in whatever you have.

Bare Your Sole

Another option: Go barefoot. “First-time exercisers should generally wear shoes, but once your feet become strong, it can make sense to train barefoot, especially if you’re doing non-explosive training,” says Edwards.

Here’s why: The soles of your feet are packed with microscopic sensors called “proprioceptors,” which provide feedback about joint angle, muscle length and tension, and body position and alignment. Optimizing that feedback by putting your feet in direct contact with the ground can boost muscle activation, mobility, and coordination, ultimately leading to greater gains in strength, stamina, and performance. “Barefoot training became popular on the heels of the exact opposite craze, in which people were wearing over-supportive shoes that actually made their feet weaker,” says Edwards.

If you’ve never trained barefoot before, begin with low-intensity activities to help your muscles, joints, and connective tissues warm up to the idea. “Yoga and Pilates are good places to start,” says Edwards, adding that as your feet become stronger, you can build up to more demanding exercises and workouts. “While your feet can get strong enough to handle plyometric (ballistic) training, I would rarely recommend doing it barefoot.” The increased risk of injury isn’t worth the potential gains.

Know Your Tread Life

The life cycle of running shoes depends on a number of factors, including workout intensity and frequency, as well as gait and body type. But as a general rule, you should replace them every six months or 500 miles, whichever comes first. Wait any longer, and your risk of knee and ankle injuries increases as your shoes’ shock absorption and stability control deteriorate beyond safe levels.

As for indoor training shoes, pay close attention to your tread. Over time, the rubber on the bottom of your outsoles — where your shoes make contact with the ground — will wear away much like the treads on your car’s tires. That can ultimately translate into reduced traction and stability, and an increased risk of injury. “Flimsy shoes will also blow apart on the sides, especially in programs like P90X and INSANITY MAX:30, which have a ton of explosive lateral movements,” says Edwards. Investing a bit more money in footwear upfront can lead to a stronger, fitter body down the road.

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