View Full Version : Trail Runners: Shelf Life
ChinMusic
10-09-2010, 19:20
I have a favorite trail runner that I thought they had quit making. I found some online and want to buy a load of em. I'm just afraid of how long they will stay good in the closet.
How long would you think a trail runner would keep its properties while stored in its box indoors?
mweinstone
10-09-2010, 19:26
in 900 years they will still be fine. dry, crunchy sounding and a little crumbley inside, but you could hike in them. the elastic wouldnt be elastic but you could hike in them. bad idea though. good luck with that.
I've always heard/read 2 years is the shelf life of running shoes so I'd guess that trail runners would fall into that category.
mweinstone
10-09-2010, 19:41
tank can answer all of your questions. not only is he a phsicks doctorial dude type,..he , as far as we and carbon 14 dateing can tell,....was born with the shoes he still now wears at this time . come to the gathering in pipestem. all you shoes will fit.
Wise Old Owl
10-09-2010, 20:16
I heard they don't do well in a Flood zone.....
bigcranky
10-10-2010, 08:57
My wife had the same issue -- loved a NB shoe and wanted to buy several pairs. A rep told her that running shoes degrade over time and she shouldn't buy more than a year in advance.
4eyedbuzzard
10-10-2010, 10:52
Just a bit of a scientific guess here, but if you put them in a big ziplock and flood it with a bit of argon gas to replace the air (small aerosol cans of argon used to be available to spray in wood stain cans before resealing, or a local welding shop/garage might help you out). The biggest things that degrade synthetics and rubber tend to be oxygen and sunlight and heat.
The other easier possibility would be to just seal them in the big ziplock and suck out as much air as possible to limit the oxygen available as much as possible.
And of course, either way store them in an opaque bag / dark place that doesn't get too warm.
rodonne1
10-10-2010, 22:38
I have been in the same situation, however, I don't buy the same ones twice anymore. I like trying new things especially as new technology comes out. If you try some new ones, you may find something you like even better... just a thought. Good Luck!
Trailbender
10-10-2010, 22:54
My wife had the same issue -- loved a NB shoe and wanted to buy several pairs. A rep told her that running shoes degrade over time and she shouldn't buy more than a year in advance.
Never heard of that. A shoe should last years.
I bet the shoes would be like new in a cool closet for many years.
The ziplock sounds like an okay idea, but I wouldn't bother with the argon. Decay will stop once it finishes using the small amount of air in the bag.
Google is your friend... Lots of info on shoe shelf life to be found via search.
ChinMusic
10-11-2010, 10:54
Google is your friend... Lots of info on shoe shelf life to be found via search.
Or enemy.....
The shoes-die-early-on-the-shelf camp and the shoes-are-fine-after-six-years camp are both represented.
Or enemy.....
The shoes-die-early-on-the-shelf camp and the shoes-are-fine-after-six-years camp are both represented.
And you thought you were going to get a definitive answer *here*?? :)
neighbor dave
10-11-2010, 11:36
i put 1000 miles (seiad valley to canada) on a pair of 806's that i purchased new, 3 years after they hit the market.
ChinMusic
10-11-2010, 11:42
And you thought you were going to get a definitive answer *here*?? :)
What was I thinking? :D
Yesterday I broke in a pair of trail runners that I have had in my closet for nearly two years. They felt fine. No issues. Will they last as long? Time will tell.
I have a favorite trail runner that I thought they had quit making. I found some online and want to buy a load of em. I'm just afraid of how long they will stay good in the closet.
How long would you think a trail runner would keep its properties while stored in its box indoors?
I've had the same thought, but my feet change nearly every year in one way or another. Lately it's been arthritis :(.
Sometimes I find out that the "old favorites" don't fit a second time even if the design hasn't changed.
mweinstone
10-11-2010, 19:11
i like short dark haired woman ,....how do they keep?
Wise Old Owl
10-11-2010, 19:21
i like short dark haired woman ,....how do they keep?
Don't massage them the wrong way..... and they might keep you.
Appalachian Tater
10-11-2010, 20:21
I had a pair of new Rockport walking shoes in a box in the top of a closet that stays fairly warm because of hot water pipes in one wall for about 13 years and they were fine. Leather will dry out and glues and rubber can degrade but as I said, those shoes were fine.
Someone above made a good point about technology advancing, though. I have been wearing New Balance shoes and have been able to find a pair that is similar enough to the ones I'm replacing to keep my happy. I have a hard time finding comfortable shoes and will often have 3-4 pair that I rotate daily and then when down to 2 pair start looking for some new ones but stocking up for the decades has never been necessary.
There is also the possibility that your body changes--you may have issues with your feet or knees or something and those shoes you stock up on may not suit you in five years. I stocked up on my favorite tee shirts years ago when BVD stopped making them but now I only wear wicking material so that turned out to be a mistake.
kayak karl
10-11-2010, 20:45
i like short dark haired woman ,....how do they keep?
i don't know, but red heads live forever.:mad:
ChinMusic
10-12-2010, 12:59
I called Cabelas and challenged them stating that the New Balance website shows the 806 as being discontinued and discontinued for a long time. Cabelas said that New Balance makes "special runs" for them at Cabelas request and that these are indeed NEW shoes.
I called New Balance to confirm this. They first stated that the 806s were discontinued and 813 is the current model. I asked them about Cabelas claim and the backed it up.
They said Cabelas' customers seem to love the 806 and Cabelas asked for a "special run".
So these 806s are indeed new shoes.....SWEET
They are on sale for $69.99 with $5 shipping on orders over $99.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Footwear/Mens-Footwear/Mens-Casual-Shoes/Mens-Athletic-Shoes%7C/pc/104797980/c/104747580/sc/104824080/i/103897980/New-Balance-806-All-Terrain-Series/749307.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffootw ear-mens-footwear-mens-casual-shoes-mens-athletic-shoes%2Fnew-balance%2F_%2FN-1102509%2B4294961120%2FNe-4294961120%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_103897980%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_ stype%3DGNU (http://www.cabelas.com/product/Footwear/Mens-Footwear/Mens-Casual-Shoes/Mens-Athletic-Shoes%7C/pc/104797980/c/104747580/sc/104824080/i/103897980/New-Balance-806-All-Terrain-Series/749307.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffootw ear-mens-footwear-mens-casual-shoes-mens-athletic-shoes%2Fnew-balance%2F_%2FN-1102509%2B4294961120%2FNe-4294961120%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_103897980%3FWTz_st%3DGuidedNav%26WTz_ stype%3DGNU)
For chrissakes they are made of plastic. They're going to last for f-in ever. People find shipping crates of them washed up on beaches and they're still good.