Shoes are often an item of clothing that we don't give as freely to charity, always thinking there may be a day that we need them again, particularly when our shoes offer a sentimental memory to you. However, whatever your shoes are for, running or going out in, they will no doubt reach a point when they should be thrown out. Shoes lose their practicality and use over time and will need replacing with shinier, newer and more fashionable shoes at some point!

Don't worry, I am not suggesting that you need to throw away your most prized possessions, e.g. wedding shoes, but it is often easier for us to wear our favourite shoes into a state of disrepair, which can severely affect your foot health. The podiatrist and clinical professor of the University of Minnesota, Paul Langer, suggests:

'The shoe wears out in the area where we overload it, so the part where you need the most support isn't there...A worn shoe can exaggerate the biomechanical faults you already have.'

A factor that many of us will probably find in our shoes, but the support and cushioning that your shoe provides is essential as without it there is an increased risk of numerous health complaints, including shin splints, Achilles tendinitis, knee pain and plantar fasciitis (heel pain). All of us walk slightly differently and this will mean your shoes and soles wear out in different areas, often unevenly. It is also thought that in very old pairs of shoes, stress fractures can be caused.

There is no particular expiry date on a shoe because of different uses and wear for each individual person and their shoes. Equally, each manufactured shoe will differ in its properties, some wearing far quicker than others, so here are a few tips on how to check that your shoes are still 'healthy'.
 

~ Walking & Casual Shoes ~

This type of shoe is undoubtedly going to get a lot of wear, being the shoes that you wear for work, nipping out to shops and so on. Therefore, if you are wearing these shoes around 3-4 times a week, perhaps more, then these are more than likely going to need replacing or repairing after a year of wear.

What to look for:

• Scuffs on the heel of your shoe.

• An angled or worn heel back.

• Flat spots on the outer sole.

• An inside part of your shoe is poking through to the outside (e.g. nails).

If your shoes are showing any of these signs, they may need replacing or repairing; to really test if they do you should place your shoes next to each other on an even surface. If you notice any tilting of your shoes, I'm afraid to say they either need repairing or replacing.
 

~ Dress Shoes (Leather) ~

Dress shoes are ones that might last quite a bit longer than other shoes in your wardrobe as they are saved for special occasions, being lucky to see daylight once a month! What's more, with the correct care, your dress shoes could be lasting you anywhere from five to fifteen years...you may even find they go out of fashion before they need replacing!

The common repair requirement for your dress shoes is resoling or re-heeling, particularly with stilettos. However, carrying out repairs on your dress shoes can often be costly, and may not be a worthwhile investment (depending on how much you spent on the shoes initially). For example, a leather sole can be quite costly to repair. Here's what you need to look out for with your dress shoes:

• Your leather sole will need replacing if you place your thumb in the middle of the sole and at the ball of the foot and the leather feels soft.

• Try to prevent the leather of your shoe upper from becoming stiff as this can lead to cracking, which is unfortunately irreparable. Simple things such as cleaning, polishing and conditioning the leather can help prevent this from happening.

• Pack your dress shoes away carefully, away from moisture and heat to prevent them from getting damaged.

~ Sandals & Flip-Flops ~

Sandals do tend to have a shorter lifespan than other shoes because of their construction and the added stress the upper part of the sandal has to withstand. Your sandals will need replacing when:

• The straps are broken or stretched.

• If any sole problems as with ' Walking & Casual Shoes' occurs, e.g. cracks, scuffs, slanting heels occur.

~ High-Heels ~

Higher heeled shoes tend to have a thinner sole and heel, which means that these shoes will wear out a lot faster than your casual, flat shoes. The majority of wear will probably occur at the toe and heel of the shoe, where the most weight is placed on the shoe. High-Heels should be replaced when:

• The thickness of your sole is worn down to half the size of other parts of the sole.

• The metal of your heel starts to show through in the heel, you should probably look at replacing, or a heel lift can help to prolong the life of your shoes for twice as long.

~ Athletic Shoes ~

With the varying speeds and directions that your running shoes are required to endure, they are put under a lot more pressure and strain, with you putting two to three times more pressure on your running shoes than your own body weight. Or, if you're athletic shoes are used for basketball or another sport that involves jumping, your shoes will be put under pressure that is eight times your body weight.

Running shoes are thought to, on average, retain their support and practicality for around 300 to 500 miles. However, as with all shoes, this will depend upon each person and certain factors such as running technique and weight. Here's an example of when you should be replacing your running shoes:

• When you run on average four miles, four times a week, your shoes should be replaced twice a year.

• As a more casual runner, you could potentially only replace your shoes once a year, depending on the wear of your shoes.

• To test your shoes, look at the foamy part of your shoes (the midsole, between the outer sole and upper). If this area is losing some of its cushioning or it is start to wrinkle you should replace.

• Excess heat, moisture or sun exposure can cause the midsole to warp; so if you frequently run in more damp conditions then the midsole may wear down quicker.

• Running shoes should not be considered repairable.

Don't want your unwanted shoes to go to waste? Why not donate them to a charity, e.g. www.soles4souls.org