What To Do With Old Running Shoes
- anastasiabrett0
- Feb 23, 2023
- 2 min read
If you’re a runner, you probably have a bin full of running shoes in various states of wear. Whether you’re training for a marathon or a 5k, it seems inevitable that you accumulate worn-down shoes faster than you'd expect.
Running shoes have a shorter lifespan than everyday shoes, typically breaking down between 300 and 500 miles. Even if you invest in a pair of high-quality running shoes, they will eventually wear out no matter how well you take care of them. After all, you can hardly expect the shoes you run in to last as long as a pair of street shoes.
Unfortunately, running shoes are difficult to recycle. All those shock-absorbing and springy materials are hardly environmentally friendly. Each shoe has a combination of rubber, foam, fiber, glue, and other materials, not all of which are readily recyclable.
Regardless, replacing your running shoes as needed is essential to stay injury-free and keep your legs feeling good. So what do you do with your retired shoes? Unless they're truly destroyed, don't just throw them in the trash. Whether you choose to repurpose or donate them, here are a few options on what to do with old running shoes.
Repurpose Your Running Shoes
If the only issue with your shoes is that the cushioning is too worn out for running, consider repurposing them for a different use.
These shoes can be worn for lawn work or other heavy-duty outdoor activities. If they’re not too grubby, you could use them to run errands around town or to perform household tasks like painting or renovating rooms.
Donate Your Running Shoes
It's worth considering that while old running shoes may longer be suitable for running, that doesn't necessarily mean it’s too worn out for someone else’s use.
Keep in mind, however, that not every pair of running shoes is a welcome donation. If they're worn enough for you to remove them from your rotation, they may be too shabby for a second owner.
In situations where there’s still some life left in them, lightly worn shoes are perfectly good to donate. Besides dropping them off at your local thrift store, here are a number of places that will gladly take used shoes off your hands.
Soles4Soles is a program that focuses on recycling and distributing second-hand shoes to people in need around the world. This organization collects gently used footwear for impoverished people and plans work trips to give out the shoes.
Nike created its Reuse-A-Shoe program where runners can drop off used athletic shoes at participating retail locations. These shoes are transferred to the "Grind" program that grinds and recycles the materials to create athletic apparel and surfaces such as turf fields, basketball courts, and running tracks.
One World Running collects and washes shoes before shipping them to individuals in developing countries. Donated shoes that don't meet their standards are sent to Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program.
If you have a Fleet Feet store in your area, most Fleet Feet branches have donation bins or partner with recycling programs to put old running shoes to good use. Just give your local store a call to confirm that they collect shoes before dropping them off.
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