MapMyRun Community - What do you do with all your old shoes?

What do you do with all your old shoes?

Peacemaker636 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:07:24 -0500

I'm a fairly light, seasonal runner. I started actually running a year ago, then did swimming this most recent winter. Now that I'm running again, I got a new pair of shoes. Ok, so that's all good...but what do I do with the old pair? They are still in pretty good condition. What do you guys do? Do you just throw them away? Is there a recycling program? Can you give them to charity? I know a lot of you burn through shoes pretty quickly, so what do you do with all your old pairs?

What do you do with all your old shoes?

cfinger — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:02:31 -0500

If you're in or around Austin, Texas, you can go to RunTex and get a 10% discount on you new shoes for trading in your old ones. They donate the old shoes to local charities.

What do you do with all your old shoes?

dwmyer — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:17:14 -0500

I save mine for my everyday, walking around, mowing the yard, etc. shoes. I also try to save a pair for running on the trails when it gets really muddy (doesn't happen often in Southern California). Lots of running stores will take them for charity or recyling and if there is a Nike store in your area they have a recylcing program.

What do you do with all your old shoes?

rpetreccajr — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:22:25 -0500

Check in at the next running expo for your nearest big race. I got a flyer for a charity that takes shoes at the expo for the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon last May. Unfortunately I don't remember the namne of the org. Local running stores are a good place to ask as well. The store I got my last pair of shoes at collected for the charity whose name I can't remember. I think it was a national charity, but can't be sure.

What do you do with all your old shoes?

claytman — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:07:28 -0500

Insulate the house? Tie them together and build a boat?

Just kidding. I do go through dozens of shoes a year and I keep a pair around for the garden, 1 pair around for next winter's 'screw shoes', and the rest go to Goodwill.

I ran in an endurance relay last fall that collected like 600 pairs for a group called "Soles 4 Souls" ( http://www.soles4souls.org/ ).

What do you do with all your old shoes?

the_rainmaker — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:56:43 -0500

Hey Peacemaker, how many miles have you up on your old shoes? Depending on your weight and usage , you can get up to 500 miles out of a pair of shoes.

If they are still in good condition keep using them, alternate using them with your new shoes.

What do you do with all your old shoes?

Lostsheep — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:10:28 -0500

Our shoe shop will knock 10% of the next shoes if you donate an old pair. They donate them to charity too.

I usually keep a pair on hand as my work shoes around the yard and whatnot.

What do you do with all your old shoes?

Peacemaker636 — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:38:38 -0500

rainmaker they are too worn out. They were causing injury.

I'll see about getting 10% off by donating them to the local running store, thanks!

What do you do with all your old shoes?

goddessrfl — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:44:50 -0500

Nike has a great program for recycling old shoes. You can mail your old athletic shoes into a Nike Recycling Center and they will use the materials to create sports surfaces like a track, a basketball court or a playground.. Check it out at www.nikereuseashoe.com!

What do you do with all your old shoes?

hubergal — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:52:21 -0500

Most of the locally-owned running stores in the Atlanta accept old running shoes in return for a 10% discount. I'd call around to stores in your town to see if any of them have a similar deal. Luck!

What do you do with all your old shoes?

ardydub — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:05:46 -0500

Old shoes?? Its been over five years since I even HAD an old pair of shoes. You see, I chucked my old shoes and never replaced them. I became a barefoot runner in 2003 for its many health and enjoyment reasons. I don't need to "donate" money to businesses for their useless products that only cause damage to my joints, tendons and muscles! I'm injury-free, wealthier and freer than I ever was before. Plus, a whole lot happier.

Ryan, Vancouver, Washington

What do you do with all your old shoes?

rpetreccajr — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:34:12 -0500

So, Ryan (and any other barefoot runners out there), what do you do in sub-zero (F) weather?

What do you do with all your old shoes?

Peacemaker636 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:50:54 -0500

Incidentally Ryan, that's why I started this thread

I too started barefoot running and will never go back (except during track season when the coaches/my parents make me). I just didn't want my old shoes to clog up a landfill somewhere

What do you do with all your old shoes?

suge27 — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:20:01 -0500

I donate my "old" shoes to a men's shelter near our church .

What do you do with all your old shoes?

sbr703 — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:06:18 -0500

I use Nike's Reuseashoe. Just drop them off at the nearest Nike store.

What do you do with all your old shoes?

twilighthours — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:34:23 -0500

Someone mentioned it already, I think: turn those old runners into screw shoes.

How else can you run trails in the winter?

What do you do with all your old shoes?

leezer — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:23:03 -0500

rpetreccajr:So, Ryan (and any other barefoot runners out there), what do you do in sub-zero (F) weather?

Not really an issue. For the same reason you don't wear a parka during the winter while running. I'm not entirely sure of the medical science behind it but if you don't stop, you don't freeze. Heh, on my end at least.