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How long do basketball shoes last

Avoid Foot and Ankle Problems: Replace Worn Basketball Shoes

Too many basketball players overlook the importance of buying a durable and high-quality pair of basketball shoes, which is astounding when you consider how much time they spend pounding their feet into the ground. Bad shoes can lead not only to foot and ankle problems, but leg, hip, and even back pain as well. That's because alignment begins with your feet and moves up to influence the rest of your body. In time, the stress to a certain soft tissue or bone structure will create a fatigue injury which then renders the player unable to participate in his or her sport.

The average high school basketball player can greatly decrease his/her incidence of overuse injury by simply replacing his/her basketball shoes frequently, said Michael Lowe, DPM, team podiatrist of the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association. Dr. Lowe presented a study which showed that the average high school basketball player will utilize only one pair of new basketball shoes per season. Dr. Lowe recommends that the basketball shoe be changed monthly during the season. This has been found to greatly decrease the rate of injury to professional players, to the point that they will often replace shoe gear every two to three days or games.

The use of proper shoe gear has a strong relationship to the performance and stability of foot function within the shoe. Those shoes which compliment foot requirements for stability, flexibility and shock absorption, can greatly aid in the dissemination of stress to foot and leg structure. The amount of stress applied to the shoe gear before replacement with a new shoe also has a profound influence upon protecting the athlete. Most runners are encouraged to replace shoe gear every 350 -500 miles depending upon the size of the runner and his or her running environment. The same should be true of the basketball player. The average runner will spend about 66 hours in running to accumulate 500 miles on a pair of shoes (8 minute per mile pace times 500 miles). The average high school or collegiate athlete will work out easily 72 hours per month. Basketball shoes are now made of the same types of materials, i.e. eva or polyurethane midsole and a harder outer sole material. These materials all have a fatigue factor which greatly influences function of foot and stress delivered to bone and soft tissue structures. Players in the NBA will rarely use a basketball shoe for longer than 7-10 days before replacing it with a new pair of shoes.

A positive secondary by-product of frequent shoe change is that of a protective influence of shoe gear to foot and ankle stability to external forces. As the shoe is worn over hours of use the leather uppers slowly begin to stretch to the rotational forces applied. Also the midsole material slowly deforms or compresses to repetitive ballistic starting and stopping of play. As these external changes to the shoe continue the rotational movement of the foot within the shoe slowly increases in range of motion. Therefore it can be seen that with newer shoe usage, there will be fewer inversion injuries as compared to injuries due to the lack of support from worn and stretched shoe gear materials which lack the integrity to decelerate foot rotational movement beyond normal positioning.

The use of a high top basketball shoe is still one of the best means for protecting the ankle from inversion sprains. NBA players choose a wide variety of shoe gear styles to play in; 68% of the players utilize a high top shoe, 15% utilize a 3/4 top shoe, and only 10% will use a low top basketball shoe for regular play. Your choice will be tempered by what is available and what properly fits.

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How Long Do Basketball Shoes Last? – Baller Gears

How long basketball shoes last depends on several factors like usage. According to professionals, if you play basketball 2 to 3 times a week, it is recommended you replace your basketball shoes every 3 to 4 months. If you are playing basketball 5 to 6 times a week, it is recommended you buy new shoes every month. NBA players change their basketball shoe frequently, usually replacing it no later than 7-10 days.

According to Dr. Michael Lowe, a team podiatrist of the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association, if you played basketball just one hour per day, five days a week, you would have to replace your shoes just a little over every three months.

The more you run and the more you use basketball shoes, the quicker you need to replace it.

For example, runners replace their shoes every 300 to 500 miles. For someone that runs 20 miles per week that would mean swapping your running shoes out just under every four months, on the shorter end of that spectrum.

Another important factor to considering if you want to replace your basketball shoes is BUDGET. Basketball shoes can cost anywhere from $60 to $170 depending on the brand.

It’s important to have good basketball shoes because they provide the great ankle support and right traction needed to be comfortable and perform well on the court.

The key benefits of replacing basketball shoes is it helps reduce the risk of injury and enhance performance.

Worn out basketball shoes will increase the risk of spraining an ankle, wont provide good traction, and will impair performance. When they are replaced with newer or better basketball shoes, the player will get the right stability, flexibility or shock absorption.

Dr. Lowe, a team podiatrist of the Utah Jazz of the NBA, conducted a study among high school basketball players and found changing basketballs monthly during the season has been found to greatly decrease the rate of injury to professional players (Source: AASPM).

Not replacing your basketball shoes when you need to can cause alot aches, pains, ankle problems, and can increase your risk of injury.

Broken-down shoes can lead to a major break down in your muscles and joints. If you feel an increased occurrence of muscle aches, cramps, and joint pain during or after play, then your shoes may need to be replaced. Furthermore, if you’re experiencing more soreness after a typical practice or game and begin to notice injuries such as shin splints, chronic calf cramping, or knee pain, your shoes may be the cause.

Bad shoes can cause injury in other parts of your body. That’s because alignment begins with your feet and moves up to influence the rest of your body.

THE UPPER

When discussing the upper portion of basketball shoes, the first decision you have to make is which height you want. Basketball shoes are available in high, mid or low heights; each of these appealing to a different style of player.

High: The upper wraps around your ankle to provide an extra layer of support and stability. With this extra coverage often comes extra weight.
Mid: As the name suggests, mid-top basketball shoes provide a happy medium for players in terms of ankle support. The upper material sits right at the ankle to provide some coverage without an all-enclosing design. Mid-tops allow for increased flexibility.
Low: Built for speed and agility, low basketball shoes have little ankle support due to their lower profile.

UPPER SECURITY

There are a number of closure techniques available, laces being the most popular.

You might also find basketball shoes with zippers, straps or hook-and-loop closures. These pieces can add more support to your ankle, especially in high-top models, as well as provide another layer of coverage over your standard laces. Keep in mind added coverage means added weight.

Click HERE to find basketball shoes with the best ankle support.

THE MIDSOLE

A basketball shoe’s midsole is where the footwear’s cushioning will be found. This makes this section one of the most essential parts of a shoe’s performance. Most midsoles are comprised of various foams, EVA and compressed EVA foam being the lighter options, compared to polyurethane midsoles, which are dense and more durable.

Brand-specific cushioning technologies are also found in the midsole; namely in the heel and forefoot. This technology is added to give extra cushioning in pressure points that will endure a lot of stress during the course of a game.

THE OUTSOLE

A shoe’s outsole is made of a rubber or synthetic material and is the point of traction for your footwear. When deciding on basketball shoes, look for a relatively flat and wide outsole to provide you with maximum balance. For added grip, search for outsoles that feature a herringbone or hexagonal pattern, since these are designed to help secure your feet and prevent you from sliding up and down the court.

Nearly all basketball shoes are designed with indoor play in mind. Outdoor courts are less forgiving than indoor hardwood ones. So, if you know that you’ll be playing exclusively on outdoor surfaces, look for a shoe with a thicker, more durable outsole. Also, keep in mind that asphalt can eat up your shoe’s tread.

By the time you notice major wear and tear on the bottom of your shoes, the damage is done: the integrity of the shoes’ midsole, cushioning, and stability have already been compromised.

Source: Dicks Sporting Goods

Basketball shoes are now made of polyurethane midsole and a harder outer sole material. These materials can wear down easily after extensive use.

While basketball shoes suffer general wear and tear as you run, jump, and slide around an indoor court, playing outside tends to wear down your shoes quicker.

Knowing how long your shoes will last when you are joining pickup games every day of summer is something you’ll want to know for your convenience and to save money.

Since concrete and other outdoor materials have a tendency to be much more rough than the glassy finish of an indoor court, the rubber on the bottom of the shoe faces more damaged.

For example, the abrasive and rough materials like concrete or broken down basketball courts can result in a grinding on the bottom of the shoe that can force it to lose traction and can even alter the overall shape of the shoe itself. This is why shoes that are used outdoors tend to get chewed up more quickly than an indoor only pair.

Most people tend to have an indoor and an outdoor pair when possible because of the damage that can be done to the bottom of the shoe, which can make bigger problems when you are trying to play indoors on a nice court.

Still outdoor shoes tend to be tend to be heavier and more durable overall. If you only use your outdoor shoes during a few summer months, the lifespan might very well extend into years.

Get the best outdoor basketball shoes HERE.

NBA players change their shoes alot mainly to prevent injury. Many NBA players replace their shoes every couple of games. Professional basketball players take injury prevention more seriously and they have the money and resources for shoes.

Dr. Lowe states, “I continue to tell my athletes and it has remained true, that after a shoe has been worn more than 60 hours then it should be thrown out and not used for workouts or games any longer, due to midsole compression and stretching of the upper from the torque of use and being wet from sweat.”

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When is it time to change your running shoes?

How do you know when it's time to change your running shoes?

The time when sports shoes should be replaced depends on the amount of use, signs of wear and age of the shoes. The three main components of athletic shoes that can wear and break are the outsole, the insole, and the heel counter.

OUTER SOLE
The outsole material consists of carbon rubber, which should be very resistant to abrasion. On some sneakers, even more durable and resilient rubber is used on the heel of the shoe, since this is where the greatest load occurs. If the outsole is worn through or has a difference of more than 4mm from one side of the heel to the other, the running shoe should be replaced.

INSOLES
The midsole is usually made of foam materials: ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU) or a combination of these two materials. The midsole is designed to absorb shock, and in some models also serves to control excessive movement of the foot. After a certain amount of repetitive use, the outsole won't absorb shock and control the foot as well as it did when the shoes were new. In some cases, the sole deforms and compresses unevenly, which can lead to foot deformity and injury.

The inner sole should be considered worn:

After 500-700 km of running or walking. Consider your weight and height. Heavy athletes should change their running shoes faster, after 500 km.
After 45-60 hours of basketball, aerobics or tennis.
Has unevenness when placed on a flat surface.
Visible creases and folds are visible.

Basketball shoes are also made from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), which loses its rebound qualities over time. Let's compare the game of basketball with running. A runner will spend about 60 hours on a run of 800 km. In typical basketball training, an athlete trains for 3 hours a day, 6 times a week. Accordingly, shoes will be used for more than 60 hours per month. Therefore, basketball shoes should be replaced every month.

HEEL BACK
The shoe's heel counter helps keep the heel on top of the sole and prevents excessive heel movement. The heel counter should be considered broken when it becomes movable when compressed from side to side, or there is a deviation to the side when the shoe is viewed from behind.

Even if not actively used, the shoes can wear out. Depending on the conditions in which they are stored. The outsole, insole, and some upper materials may dry out and not function optimally. Therefore, it is best to replace sports shoes that are more than one year old, whether worn or not.

The most common injuries that occur due to running shoes that are not replaced on time are sprained ankles, heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, and stress fractures.
Therefore, changing shoes is a relatively cheap investment in preventive medicine.

Do not skimp on the timely replacement of sneakers, take care of your health!

Expiry date: when should you throw away your sneakers?

How long ago did you change your running shoes? Are you sure they are still fit for running? Even if the outsole of a sneaker looks good, it does not mean that they have not worn out. So how do you know when it's time to replace your favorite pair with a new one?

Any pair of sneakers has a recommended period of use: it is calculated in kilometers of “run” and is set by manufacturers. Obviously, it is not profitable for manufacturers to indicate too long a period (otherwise you will not buy a new model in the new season), and stretching one pair for years is fraught with injuries. At the same time, a number of factors can affect the active life of your running shoes, and it is not so easy to determine the suitability of a shoe for running by eye. Even if the outsole looks good on the outside, it does not mean that everything is in order on the inside. So how do you know when it's time to throw out your sneakers and replace them with new ones?

If you look at the material the soles of any sneakers are made of under multiple magnifications, you will see thousands of tiny pockets filled with air, like in a sponge. Meet this polymer called EVA, or ethylene vinyl acetate. When you run in your running shoes, the air pockets in the sole compress to provide cushioning.

Three main parameters that determine how quickly sneakers will become unusable

Runner weight. The heavier the runner, the more likely the EVA in the midfoot is to be exposed to a lot of stress. As a rule, the heel part - unlike the middle part - is significantly thickened and therefore wears out longer. You should not focus on its wear, evaluating the condition of the sneakers as a whole - pay attention to the thinnest part. Where it is subtle, there is trauma.

Too frequent use. Your sneakers will last longer if you alternate between different pairs. The air pockets that form the foam need time to recover their shape. Studies show that running alternately in two pairs of shoes will last as long as in three, used in turn.

The area of the sole that hits the ground. Some runners kill their heels on their shoes by landing on them. Others wear out the outer or inner sides of the sole. If you're running from the heel, look for shoes that have the heel foam protected by carbon rubber (usually a black hard material). Some manufacturers use compacted rubber: it is softer, but wears out faster. It is difficult to give an unambiguous answer which option is better: they usually choose based on what outweighs the "comfort-wear duration" pair.

When should you change your running shoes?

One way to find out is to check the material in the midfoot. Remove the insole, grasp the sides of the shoe with both hands, and use your thumbs to press the material in the midfoot into the sole. In new sneakers, this material is stubborn and resilient. If the foam has become soft, it means that it no longer works: the air pockets that form it have burst and “blown away”. These shoes are not suitable for running, but you can just walk in them.

If you're a little overweight, you can run 750 kilometers in just running shoes without the risk of hurting yourself.