Shoes: how many pairs, and how to make them last

housebuyer143

I have 3 pairs of sketchers which I wear about 8 months of the year and then 1 pair of boots I wear the other 4.  I do have another black pair of sketchers for smarter outfits.
I tend to wear the shoes until they are worn out and probably get 2-3 years from the sketchers and similar on the boots. 
I have a pair of walking shoes but find the sketchers comfier. Don't really need any other shoes . 

General_Grant

Rosa_Damascena said:

Tucosalamanca said:

My daughter pushed for Dr Marten school shoes. I reluctantly purchased at £130 per pair.
She's now about to start her third year wearing them and they're still in excellent condition (regularly polished with DM products). I guess they're worn around nine hours a day, 190 days a year, with a fair amount of walking involved.
Expensive to buy but excellent value for money....

If your buying for your daughter hasn't her foot size changed at all in 2 years?

I have countless shoes, at least 70 pairs at a guess. I wear 4 pairs 98% of the time. The rest I wear only to co-ordinate with outfits, and the majority of those haven't actually seen the light of day. I generally co-ordinate outfits from the shoes upwards, based on what I am doing for that day eg if I know I am going to be on my feet all day I start with comfortable flats and then built up from there.

@Rosa_Damascena
When I was 11 yo, my mother bought hockey boots for me.  I was then wearing a size 4 shoe but my mother bought size 5 boots so that I could grow into them in the coming years.  66 years later I still wear size 4 shoes.

t14cy_t

i own a huge amount of shoes, most bought cheaply and second hand usually from our local charity raising site or ebay. i always buy good quality and if they dont fit or im not into them then they are passed on to firstly my daughter then my sisters. i am a huge bargain huinter!! i always dress my feet first then clothes!! i am known for my footwear!!

Floss

otb666 said:

.... When my MIL passed away she had tons of hotter shoes at least 10 pairs but unfortunately they just seemed to literally disintegrate when I started using them.  (AS mil was bedbound the shoes had not been used)....

This is a know thing with Hotter shoes that are not worn for a long time, the soles start to break down with age.

tooldle

I use Keen and Salamon (walking shoes and sandals), Birkenstock and Dr Martens. Rule of thumb is around 500 miles for a pair of walking shoes. I average 45 miles a week. The Birkenstock and DMs have been used for work (not so much walking) up until now. In my experience anything with a Vibram sole gives good wear. 

Eowyn1

So many helpful responses here, thank you all! I tried to quote and reply individually but it kept malfunctioning. The point about lacing up rather than slipping into pre-laced shoes was eye-opening as I'm a terrible one for doing that, so I'm going to be good and stop doing this to see if that makes a difference!

I very much subscribe to the Vimes' Boots theory, but I've also found in the past that more expensive doesn't necessarily equal good quality, and it's hard to work out whether something will be good quality until buying them. A process of trial and error I suppose.

Points about insoles and finding a cobbler who can repair inner soles are also incredibly helpful, as are the comments about brands - thank you! The bare-foot shoe idea is interesting ... the look of them is certainly odd, but you never know! And the 500 miles per pair is good to know. I probably walk about 15-20 miles per week, so this will be a good barometer to see if shoes are lasting well or not. Thank you all!

catz4m8z

Your gait really does affect your shoes I find. I must walk really weird because I wear down one side of my left heel to the point it emphasises my gait problem and has given me arthritis of the hip over the years.
Ive found the best thing for me is shoes that are as close to bare foot as possible (so nothing to wear down at odd angles). I stick mostly to hi tops and tennis shoes (converse, rocket dog, vans, etc alot bought from Vinted).

My work shoes are actually black 'leather' plimsolls from Primark. They were dirt cheap but are surviving 12 hr nursing shifts fine (it helped that I lost all my excess weight though as well!).

Nelliegrace

My gait went crooked after various back injuries and years of lifting people (as we were taught,) and heavy equipment, and pulling beds. Two years of well taught Pilates and yoga at the local leisure centre have made a huge difference, less tripping over, no limp, and no pain. Off peak membership was not expensive, and there was no problem cancelling membership.

We used to buy leather shoes at the Clarke’s outlet at Street at £20 a pair. Some pairs lasted for many years, a good pair of walking shoes, black lace ups for midwifery, three pairs slightly different, two pairs to wear on alternate days, and one spare. I claimed the tax back on uniform shoes. They were polished regularly and had to be washed with antiseptic solution to remove various fluids quite often.
Crocs were a brilliant invention. 

My Clarke’s mens sandals with velcro are over 20 years old. I have a newer pair about ten years old from the sales. I have a pair of Hotter men’s shoes from their sale for dog walking. I last bought shoes before Covid, though I have bought good sheepskin lined slippers in the sales, I bought a second pair for when these wear out.

I have smarter shoes for dressing up and lightweight sandals to wear with summer dresses, all years old. Women need more shoes. 

I hate crêpe soles which turn to powder when the shoe is still perfect. Clarke’s. They looked fine until I got out of the car, walked a few steps, and then there was just the upper flapping, and wet socks. My leather boots were the same. Built in obsolescence is loathsome.

I have some leather trainers which are comfortable. I think my next shoes will be dark leather trainers with velcro. Like the grandchildren wear. So very sensible.

Pollycat

Floss said:

otb666 said:

.... When my MIL passed away she had tons of hotter shoes at least 10 pairs but unfortunately they just seemed to literally disintegrate when I started using them.  (AS mil was bedbound the shoes had not been used)....

This is a know thing with Hotter shoes that are not worn for a long time, the soles start to break down with age.

It also affects other brands like Clarks.
Clarks shoes, brand new, rotting in their thousands - check your wardrobes now! - Page 13 — MoneySavingExpert Forum

I have many pair of boots, shoes, trainers and sandals.
I keep an Excel spreadsheet with details of where each pair is located  (I have 2 shoe wardrobes with 6 shelves in each and boxes in 3 wardrobes).
I believe it stemmed from having very small feet (I take between a 2 and 3) and thinking that it might be the last pair I ever find to fit me.

For brands I like ECCO, Pikolinos and Clarks, very comfy.
I've been wearing DMs for over 50 years.
I wear Nike and Skechers trainers.
I've recently discovered Embassy London that do some fab designs.
I wear Teva Tirra trekking sandals.

Somebody once said to me 'how many pairs of shoes do you need?'
I said 'you're making the same mistake that most men do. Mixing up need with want'.

I don't think I've paid full price for any of my footwear, even DMs.
They have a good sale.
Most of my footwear comes from charity shops, eBay & Vinted.

The best bargain I got from Vinted was a pair of Alexandre Birman boots for £10.00 plus postage.
I checked his website and the cheapest pair of boots were around £600.00.
They are a joy to wear.

Siebrie

I have 'difficult' feet: slim heels, wide where the toes are connected. This usually means expensive shoes, but I try to buy them on discount. To keep them longer, I wear cheap slipper booties at home, or flipflops, or barefoot (but I had plantar fasciitis last year, so had to stop the flipflops and barefoot walking).

1 pair of Meindl hiking boots, bought full-price, 24 years old, resoled once, for working in the garden/hikes in the small woods next to our home.

1 pair of new Meindl hiking boots, gift from my Mum, bought at 10% discount (but still €244), for longer hikes or walks.

2 pairs of Panama Jack Vila sandals in 2 different colours, bought on 2nd pair 50% off. They have cork soles and are incredible! I float!

1 pair of Tamaris flat sandals in shiny-pinkish-gold (lovely, but I can't walk in them for very long as my tiny toes start poking out at the sides)

1 pair of dark red leather tlc loafers, from the BHS closing down sale 8 years ago for a pittance, in my desk drawer for emergency appropriate office wear.

1 pair of black leather Clarke's office shoes, bought about 7 years ago.

1 pair of dark blue slipper booties. I buy a new pair every year, because the soles wear out.

1 pair of green flipflops (for quickly hopping out into the backyard)

1 pair of Nike trainers, bought half-price, for my sports. DD2 (13) wears them to her PE class.

1 pair of high green Palladium canvas trainers, bought on discount.

1 pair of Tamaris low trainers with metallic rose flowers, bought on discount.

I try to wear the shoes in their appropriate season and for the appropriate conditions, wear them for only 1 day, brush and treat them regularly.

I don't think I've ever had this many shoes at one time in my life!