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 gave the start to the “Searching For The Best Sneakers” Project. 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 living in different countries and environments. Before those, In my college life I had a Converse Basketball shoe and Nike Air Max Skyline shoe. The Converse didn’t make it long after high school and early college and the Nike Air with the open accessible bladder at that time just blew and I lost all cushioning. In this blog, you get ideas of my current experience, maybe you feel with me. I provide pictures so you can see for yourself and compare with your closet or wardrobe as expat or local. I must admit, both shoes have done a quite tremendous job for me in carrying my body in basketball, volleyball, badminton, tennis, and street walking. I selected them for fit and giving me stability on these activities. I went for tight fit with room in the toe box. One of this shoes is mine since 13 years the Adidas Super Nova Sequence 6 Multicolor Men’s Running Shoes with Adiprene 4 sole. I bought 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 other Shoe is mine since 25 years the Nike Air Pegasus 25 (2008) Bowerman Series in all black (it fit the Nike+ to send to iPod or iPhone) which I purchased mainly for walking and outside frequent use with the Nike+ sensor 1998 in a Nike outlet store in Washington DC, USA. Now, after Covid-19 period is pushed back to normal flue level, we are all doing sports again. I, like so many must take care, that they do not fall of my feet during sports or plain walking after being idle for so long time. New shoes must be coming in: The exiting facts :

• 13 and 25 Years of using a sports shoe in the hot and humid UAE clime 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 in that time:

1. The sole rubber with the different softness got harder and brittle, fell off the glue. Especially on the outside area (lateral) of the shoe.
2. The base of the shoe is detaching from the sole on the rolling pints of the (metatarsal) fore foot, on the in and outside.
3. The glue attachment between the fabric and the Rubber Sole/Adiprene resolved partly.
4. In total, the Adidas was more used and more worn, had to be changed. The Nike is worn and falls apart, comes back with some glue and works even still.

This text and blog is not 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. A lot of my European and US American equipment also didn’t survive the moving between 3 continents or living now here in the UAE: Like Rubber Feet of JBL iPhone Radios, grip of rubber-like devices on PC USB Hubs, on table tennis rackets, scuba rubbers and other materials. So please note, 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 the Supernova Cushion 7 looks more like this Supernova. Where the sole looks quite the same as in mine. I hope they solved the hardening of the rubber problem. The Nike is meanwhile has 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. On the side, just remember that I tried now for changing quite some shoes for selection of using myself. While I was working for some professional football clubs in first leagues in Germany and in the UAE, I was supplied with the seasons sponsoring shoes of Adidas, Nike or Puma. Obviously, there was no direct need for replacement and always alternatives. These shoes however where basic for football staff and not a special shoe for runners, or basketballers. Check-Out the pictures of this both shoes. you will hopefully see the tear and wear, and where it is to be seen. Remember to check your shoes from time to time in the hote environment of the Gulf states for deterioration.