What to do with old running shoes
You know you live in a house of runners when it is normal to see this many pairs of running shoes in your garage:
Of course, each of us are actually only using one pair each right now. Steven uses the Adidas pair in the back, but is thinking about getting some Brooks, and I use the Brook Adrenaline GTS 10s on the end… okay, and the ones next to them when I am running in the mud (like yesterday!).
So, why do I still have so many pairs? Well, I do wear them on the walk to work. But at the same time, I just can’t seem to get rid of them. But I know I need to! There is no reason to hold on to shoes for this long… or is there (sentimental value)?
What do you do with your old, worn-out running or athletic shoes? How many pairs are you holding on to?
Erin and I were talking about this last week, and she told me about this Nike program where they accept any pair of old shoes and recycle them so they can be reused. I’ve also hear of other programs that will send your old shoes to people in developing nations. Have any of you participated in the Nike program or any other program?
Themocracy
I hoard old shoes as well. My wife is always telling me to get rid of them. We did find a program at Dick Pond where they donate them to Haiti and you get a coupon for money off any purchase in the store. I got rid of some but still have to many.
I’m a fellow shoe hoarder!
I don’t know why I have such a difficult time parting with them, but I definitely get attached. However, I know they could be put to better use. I know my local running store offers a drop-off point, so that shoes can be distributed to developing nations. This post reminded me that I should get on that. 😀
I sent a pair to another blogger who was collecting them to send to Africa (I think…) Otherwise, I bring them to my local running store, where they donate them somewhere.
I give all of my old things to people that can either use them or distribute them to people who can use them. All of my athletic shoes go to needy people but I do love the Nike program as well. Fabulous idea to recycle.
I’ve heard of that Nike program– I need to participate! I ALWAYS hang on to my old running shoes, and I never know what do with them!
I always give my old running shoes to Goodwill. Although they are too worn down for me to run in, they are usually in decent shape. I usually keep an old pair or two for myself to wear when I’m gardening or doing other dirty stuff outdoors. The Nike program sounds interesting though. 🙂
I have the same issue! I have a hard time parting with things…
Wash ’em up as long as they are no longer in the running rotation. Then either wear them for walking around or donate to running store or church. Friends with kids often want them too.
First they become my walking shoes, then they’re the shoes I wear just to go to and from somewhere by car and eventually, I usually put them in the giveaway bag, because I’m sure someone who is not a runner can still use them.
I kept all my old shoes from high school…I couldn’t part with them! One day I cleaned out EVERYTHING from high school and donated all my shoes to the local running store. I think they send them to Africa or something for kids who need shoes. Most running stores have some sort of shoe donation system set up.
I currently wear my old running shoes for work, and I think I have three old pairs around, three that I’m running in, and two more pairs waiting to be used…yikes!!
When I replaced the pair I was wearing when we moved to Chicagoland I actually gave to the running store where I bought my new pair. I was wearing them when I went in to try on new shoes and they offered to take them if I wanted to wear my new shoes out of the store. I don’t know what they do with them. I should probably find out. However, I do like having two “back up” pairs to rotate for strength training. Even though I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to wear running shoes to strength train….
What kind of shoes are you supposed to strength train?! There is so much I don’t know about strength training. I need to read more of that book you loaned me! 🙂
My shoes just pile up in the garage.. I’ve never heard of the Nike Program – I want to look into that!!
when i buy a new pair at my fav running store i donate my old one to them. they take donations and i feel good that i am giving them to someone who may need them 🙂
Err.. they may.. get thrown out. I have no idea what my mom does with my shoes when I buy new ones but I have a feeling it’s not something environmentally friendly. The Nike Program sounds cool though and I would definitely give my old shoes to them! I’d rather do that then just chuck them in the garbage.
Right now my old running shoes are just chillin’ in my closet 🙂 I can’t seem to throw them out either! They are kind of nice to have around though in case I ever do a race through mud or something. There is this one race in may that I want to do where my shoes are going to get completely trashed 🙂 I’ll probably wear my old ones for that so I don’t ruin my new ones.
I have a pair for muddy races too. Speaking of muddy races, did you race today? 🙂
The Nike program sounds cool! If my shoes (or clothes, for that matter) aren’t too beat up, I give them to Goodwill 🙂
my high school used to do sneaker collection drives so i donated many a pair to that cause, but since then i haven’t done anything good with my old shoes! i need to!
After putting miles onto my shoes so they can no longer be used for running, I make them my walking shoes, I use them for bumming around, etc. I usually throw those walking shoes out once I get through my next running shoes which become the walking shoes and the walking shoes go to the dumpster.
A local running store collects old shoes for either donation or recycling. Right now though I’ve been a bit lazy so they are hanging out all over my condo.
we recently gave all our shoes to solesforsouls, which contributed to the haiti earthquake relief.
I’ll donate shoes I bought but didn’t wear much (didn’t work for me, etc.) to charity. My worn-out shoes seem too disgusting to give to charity, so I am trying to find out about the Nike program. Just like others, I have a sort of downgrading process where I’ll use them for less-important things for a while before getting rid of them.
Im holding onto one really old pair of running shoes, and one pair that were just retired. The super old ones were my first ever official running shoes, and I cant part with them. They have holes in them and everything. I wear them on my stationary bike. The other ones I use when Im walking the dog, or going grocery shopping.
I used to keep my old running shoes to use as barn shoes, but since I dont have a horse anymore that doesnt apply.
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The couple of times that I have run the Ottawa Marathon, they always have a big expo and during that they collect old runners and donate them to African countries…I can’t remember the name of the program, but now I always carry my old shoes with me when I go to a sports expo since they usually have someone collecting them for something good.
And that pile is exactly what my front entrance closet looks like.
My mom takes/sends suitcases full of old clothes and shoes to Guatemala every time she goes to give away, so I think I’ve always saved mine until I, she or someone else goes… those donation programs sound like a good idea.
That is awesome! My family and I went down to Guatemala about 2 years ago and did the same thing. Brought suitcases of used clothes and shoes to give to the native who could not afford clothing. The program down there is amazing and it’s soooo appreciated!
There are programs that come up from time to time locally to donate old sneaks. I always seem to miss them and consequently toss them out then feel guilty about doing it.
I have 6 pairs of running shoes but I wear them all on rotation. 4 pair are seasonal – 2 spring/summer and 2 fall/winter. 1 pair is cross country. 1 pair are my racing (really lite weight no good for hi mileage) shoes. Last pair are for treadmill only. Do you only have one pair for all around use or do you have a couple so you can change on occasion? I heard that was a good way to help prevent foot problems?
I used to have only one pair that I used until they died out on me, BUT my new Adrenaline GTS 9s came in the mail today! So I will rotate between the two.
I hope it helps. My left foots has been a bit achy lately.
I am the same way. I am not sure if it’s the fact that I shelled out $100 + on the shoes that makes me struggle throwing them away. But I now have a “muddy” pair (I have been using these for bootcamp and for dirty hikes). I have my “gym” shoes that only go to the gym. And my “running” shoes that are only for outside clean runs. Lol! I think it’s just the fact that you run through them so fast they are still usable, just maybe not for running. 🙂 I loved the picture of all the shoes!
I like to rotate my shoes. I have 2 pair of Brooks Ghost and 3 pair of Mizuna wave creation. I have a really old pair that I use if it is rainy.
At the store where I used to buy all my running stuff before I moved, they had a drop box where you could bring your old running shoes and they would send them to other countries to provide shoes for people there.
I have a few pairs right now that need to be donated and need to get on looking for somewhere to donate them.
The fiancé just rolls his eyes when it tell him it’s new shoe day now. Because if work, I actually get a bunch of free shoes – so that I can use them and be more knowledgeable about them and/or to wear at work, basically as product placement. As a result I think I have 2 current running shoes (a
normal and a wide for long runs), a free pair of wides waiting for when my current one bites the dust, and 2 that are pretty much just for work (read: cleaner). I’ve also kept an older pair for rainy or muddy days. (so that’s a lot of shoes!)
I have a hard time parting with the old pairs, an I think it’s mental, but have taken advantage of my want to clean and purge lately. Our store does a donation to the local homeless, so I’ve put th all there. I really like that the shoes are kept local. (just think of all of the pollution and energy used to get beat up shoes to Africa.) I just wish there were some control over what happens to the shoebwhen it’s no longer wearable (ie recycled). When I hve the choice in shoes, I always go with the Brooks biomogo shoes – not only do try work for me, but they biodegrade in ~20 yrs once in a landfill. Others take 1000+.
How cool that you get to wear new shoes for free! I have been thinking it would be fun to work part-time at our local running store… hmm.
Oh man. I would be SO UPSET if I found out an organization was secretly selling the shoes I donated. WTF?
Oh, and I can say that it’s important to have a running store/charity that you can trust. Another local store here takes old shoes, saying they are donated to Nike, but he really then sells them on eBay. Some people.
I just saw a bin at the local running store to donate old shoes to Congolese refuges. I think Harrison and I (and most runners) could fill up the bin with our shoes alone!
Although this doesn’t answer your question… the first thing that came to my mind was a program called Shoes for Orphan Souls. Unfortunately, they collect new shoes. http://www.shoesfororphansouls.org/index.shtml
Thanks for the link! Maybe someday I can donate new shoes! 🙂
If they are worn out and cannot be donated for use to anyone else, they get tossed. I’ve looked into recycling them, but no such luck here locally.
BTW, that’s a lot of running shoes. But anyone that reads your posts, will understand why you have so many.
That stash is ridiculous!
I have a ton of different things I do with them: (in order of after I get done running with them)
Biking shoes (I still don’t have clipless pedals)
Yard Shoes
Shoes for when it is muddy
I then turn them in for a $10 rebate at my local running store! 🙂
I bring my old running shoes to New Balance, where I *think* they donate them to the needy.
I typically trade in shoes from two pairs ago when I get my new shoes (that way I always have a decent spare). The store I get my shoes from has a program where they send them off to developing nations, so it makes me feel better than having 4-5 pairs sitting around the house.