One of the most common questions people ask at the sporting goods store is exactly how long their new gear is going to last. Unfortunately, there is no magic number that applies to everyone, but a good general rule is somewhere between three hundred and five hundred miles. The total lifespan depends entirely on how heavy your backpack is, the type of ground you walk on, and your personal stride. If you mostly walk on soft dirt trails and carry a light daypack, your Mens Low Top Hikers will easily push past the five hundred mile mark. However, if you frequently hike across sharp volcanic rock or jagged granite, the abrasive surfaces will chew through the rubber tread much faster, drastically reducing the life of the shoe.
You cannot just look at the bottom tread to judge if a shoe is dead. Sometimes the rubber looks completely fine, but the internal foam midsole has completely collapsed. This thick foam layer is what absorbs the shock of your body weight hitting the ground. Once it flattens out, you will start feeling sharp pains in your knees and lower back after a long walk. Even if the outside of your Mens Low Top Hikers looks great, the internal support might be gone. A smart trick is to press your thumb hard into the bottom of the sole. If it feels as hard as a brick with zero bounce, the cushioning is dead, and it is time to throw them out. Your body weight also plays a huge role. A heavier person will compress that internal foam much quicker than a lighter person. Keep a log of your weekly mileage to track the wear safely.