Keep the good old Running Shoes, or is it time for a change?!

(here Adidas Super Nova vs Nike Pegasus 25)

© Dr. Hans-Joachim Poessel

Hello, and welcome to another episode of my Blog about shoes.
Here: The Old, That Must Go!
This blog gave the start to my PRoject “Searching For The Best Sneakers” .

It started all when I found out that my two most loved sport shoes for all purpose fell apart one by one after 13 and 25 Years of using them, while living in different countries and heat environments.
Before using those, during my college life, I used my Converse Basketball shoes and Nike Air Max Skyline shoe. The Converse did not make it long after high school and junior college years and the Nike Air with the open accessible bladder at that time just blew and I suddenly lost all cushioning.

In this blog I want you to get some ideas of my experience, maybe you feel the same as I did.. I provide you with some pictures to see for yourself and compare with your closet or wardrobe of trainers as expat or local resident.

I must admit, both of mentioned sneaker shoes have done a good job for me, in carrying my body weight in basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis, and street walking. I selected them for fit and looks and they were giving me stability on these activities. I went for tight fit with room in the toe box. (buy to size)

The first of this shoes i bought 13 years ago,
the  Adidas Super Nova Sequence 6 Multicolor Men’s Running Shoes with Adiprene 4 sole. I found this shoe 2010 in the UAE adidas shop Al Wahda mall for the flashy colors! I liked it for the neon yellow and red outfit.

The second shoe i bought  nearly 25 years ago,
the Nike Air Pegasus 25 (2008) Bowerman Series in all black (it fit the Nike+ to send to iPod or iPhone) which I got mainly for walking and outside frequent use with the Nike+ sensor 1998 in a Nike outlet store in Washington DC, USA. The Black outfit was an easy mach for jeans going out.

Recently, in the after Covid-19 period, where a cold is pushed back to normal flue level, we are all doing our sports again. Like so many others I must take care, that they do not fall of my feet now during sports or plain walking after being idle in the closet for so long time. The time for new shoes is in the air:

The exiting sneakers facts :

• 13 and 25 Years of using a sports shoe in the hot and humid USA, Germany and UAE clima and habit.
• Purchase in Adidas Abu Dhabi, Al Wahda Mall
• Purchase in Nike Outlet Washington DC.
• I still like the color and the perfect fit.
• Size 10,5 US = 44,5 EUR
• Storage within Air Condition in Flat/House
• Usage in Running, Biking, Padel Tennis, Tennis, Badminton
• Photos are mine, original and done by me, sorry for any bad lights.

What happened on the shoe during that time:

1. The rubber soles with the different softness has hardened and went brittle, recently fell off the glue of the midsole. Especially on the outside area (lateral) of the shoe.
2. The base of the shoe (midsole) is detaching from the outsole on the rolling points of the (metatarsal) fore foot, on the in and outside.
3. The glue attachment between the fabric and the Midsole, Rubber Sole/Adiprene resolved partly.
4. In total, the Adidas was more used and more worn, and had to be changed.
   The Nike is worn and falls apart too, comes back with some glue however and works even still. Eventually the midsole broke off the Shoe in parts.

This text and blog is not made for criticizing the Producer of the Shoes or like scolding Adidas, Nike et al, but it is one example of the fact, that nothing is forever especially in Running shoes.
A lot of my European and US American equipment also didn’t survive the moving between 3 continents ending now here in the UAE: Rubber Feet of JBL iPhone Radios, the grip of rubber-like devices on PC USB Hubs, the plastic wrap on table tennis rackets, some scuba rubbers and other rubber like materials.
Be aware that wear and tear has to be considered in sport shoes too.

Meanwhile Adidas has the Supernova 3 since 2021 and changed the sole to a new, more resistant material.
The Supernova 3 is a daily running shoe that is best suited for long easy or recovery days. The around $100 price tag makes it a great value option for the budget conscious runner or newcomer wanting a comfortable and stable ride. Also available in fabric with lots of breathing options. However they still have this rupper stickers on the midsole, this time much larger.

However the Supernova Cushion 7 looks more like my Supernovas. Where the sole looks quite the same as in mine. I hope they solved the hardening of the rubber problem.

The Nike has developed meanwhile in a good stable street shoe in the Nike Pegasus 40 Road Runner Shoe with a complete changed optics, here for Ladies. I bought this for my Lady in Size 6.5 and she is quite happy.

By the way, I just rememberd that I tried quite some shoes for selection to use myself.

While I was hired as sports physician for some professional football clubs in first leagues in Germany and in the UAE, I was on the fly supplied with the seasons sponsoring shoes of Adidas, Nike or Puma. Obviously, there was no direct need for replacement and always alternatives at this times. These shoes however where basic shows for football staff and were not any special property shoe for runners, or basketballers.

Check-Out my pictures of this both torn shoes. You will hopefully see the tears and wear where it can be seen. Remember to check your shoes from time to time at the sole area in the hot environment of the Gulf states for deterioration.

Running shoes come with a deadline 500 to 800 km max before destruction. The last marathon winner from adidas is discussed to be SINGE USE!
Definately not economically useful!