17 replies to this topic

[laotze]

not one to promote commercial retail, but...

REBEL sport are clearing out their old model stock, and have some really keenly priced running shoes. Notably 2090 ASICS at $129, and a few pairs of Gel Kayanos at $149.

Unfortunately not my size.

But maybe worth a look in the next couple of days.

[wind in her hair]

Thanks for the heads-up awiseman. The 2090 are my kinda shoe, trotting off to Rebel now to have a look.

[Grey beard]

Yep - thanks awiseman. I was due for a new pair and found the last in my size!

[Freerunner]

Well when I first saw the title of this post (re others cheap), I thought finally someone on this forum is posting something sensible about running shoes.
Sorry to be a little disappointed but man do people actually pay $129 for shoes (and then change em like less then a few thousand kms as many previous post suggest)?
What do I do? Well every few years I buy 1 pair of Sfida shoes for around $40 from Amart. I just recently (well 6 months ago) replaced my first pair of Sfida (which btw were hardcourt tennis shoes) after over a 21/2 year and many thousands of km of injury free running, with another pair of Sfida (althought these look closer to running shoes;).
Also I am often the subject of ridicule at races when I put on my 4 year old racing flats (which have done many races including marathons, and 3 speed sessions a week for many years), I am happy with them and still believe there is much life left in them.
At then end of the day I am happily training many thousands of km and improving my times every year without getting caught up in the hype and paying hundreds of dollars a year to wear pieces of glorified foam, made cheaply in some 3rd world country attached to my feet.
Each to their own I suppose.
Cheers
FreeRunner.

[42.195]

Definitely each to his own...
I bought 2 pairs of size 12 ASICS 2090's this morning from Rebel Sport in Melbourne. There was still 1 size 12 pair left, and plenty of 13's.

[Stu Mac]

In response to Freerunners claims - I would find it very difficult to believe that anyone can run a few thousand k's in any shoe let alone some poor quality shoe that is sold in 'mart and made in a low paying country (probably Indonesia - guess). Yes, I am an ASICS fan, and yes I do to a degree agree that the 500-700k per shoe is a little over the top, but I keep very detailed records of shoe usage for myself and son. Me - a plodder 50-60k a week, 43 min for 10k, 86 kg, 37 yrs; my son 40-60k a week, 36 min for 10k, 60kg, 16yrs. Whilst keeping records for the 2 of us none of us have got much past 1000km, both will be thru the sole (not on the side, in the middle, nice even wear). My 6 year old can not last 3 months in a pair Sfida, so I find your example extremely hard to believe.

Quality footwear is the first part of the running for life dream........

:P :P :P :P :P (my stars)

[Mister G]

If BOOF can run a 36 minute 10K wearing Dunlop Volleys, then anything is possible.....

[Haile]

Freerunner appears to be one of those fortunate people who no matter what shoe they run in they are able to stay injury free due to good biomechanics.

For others, such as myself, the choice of shoe is crucial to keeping me in the sport. Many years ago people with poor biomechanics had to drop out of the sport due to injury problems. Now such people can remain in the sport due to scientific developments in footwear enabling biomechanical deficiencies to be somewhat corrected.

Freerunner you should count your lucky stars that you can save lots of money and remain injury free by running in cheap shoes, but for others this would only lead to disaster.

[Fish]

For those of you who like the ASICS 2080's like myself, you can get these on a 2 pairs for the price of 1 at paulswarehouse.com.au for $199. These can be purchased via the web or at one of their stores.

... and no, I don't work for these guys but I do buy all my shoes from them. If you get a chance to get into one of their stores they often have a great specials table as well (for running apparel). I got 2 pairs of running tights for $20 each and a long sleeve coolmax for around the same price from their Geelong store recently. It was well worth the trip!

Fish

[kazz]

The ASICS 2080's at "Pauls" in Newy were only the narrow "A" fitting, the D fitting shoe wasn't available, so, for wider feet, check the width of the ones available before ordering. I didn't and had to send them back. :rolleyes:

kazz.

[mikey_a]

I have just visited Victoria Market (Melboure) on the recommendation of an earlier post. It was well worthwhile (Asics 2090 for $140) - I'd already established that Rebel (City) only had size 12 and above!
Thanks guys, this MessageBoard just saved me $60.
It took me a while to find the stall becuase it has moved (after 7 years). It's now:
Pacha Noori Shoes Trading
Stall E61 (Tue,Thur-Sun)

[Obi-Wan]

mikey_a,

I haven't been down to the Vic Market for a while, off the top of your head do you know if they stock Brooks?

Cheers

[langswm]

I was up at Rebel, Mid City Centre, Sydney, yesterday. Plenty of 2090's for sale at $125, but only sizes 12,13 and 14

[Freerunner]

Stu Mac,
Are you saying I'm crazy and calling Me a liar all in the same day?
Haile, yes I do agree that some people need certain shoes to correct bad biomechanics, however I think its far fewer then many would have u believe. BTW I cant actually wear every shoe eg if I wear shoes made for overpronators I quickly get pains on the outside of my legs.
Actually Stu Mac, while Sfida are considerably cheaper I would not consider them any poor quality build then any of the name brands, in fact for me I have found Sfida, Brooks, Addidas and Puma trainers seem to last longer than Nike and Asics Trainers.
I think most label brands of shoes quality goes down considerably once they get a name and a share of the market.
I can assure you my above post was the truth, I am actually more surprised at how few km other get out of their shoes then you probably are about how many I get out of mine.
FreeRunner.

[celtic runr]

This may not be very relevant but here goes - on the subject of how long shoes last. The lifetime of shoes depends how often you wear them and the distances. I have shoes eg Nike Pegasus I bought in 1998, which are going great. The trick is that I buy about 5 pair a year, write the dates on them, and alternate about 40 pairs. Clearly I wear my best ones on 30K plus runs and the oldest at 7km warmups. After each run I touch up the soles wth shoo goe. For marathons I use racing shoes but not more than 4 races.Then they get used for halves and 10ks. It also depends upon whether your partner/family can tolerate baskets of old running shoes in the house!

[run67]

Don't worry Freerunner I can vouch for your well-used shoes after witnessing them at the Warwick events recently. In fact I made a comment to you about how that were probably good shoes many years ago. ;)
You obviously do not have any biomechanic issues and should be pleased of that.
I have no doubt after reading another of your posts (how many km's) that you do run several thousand K's in them. Maybe my shoes are lasting ok because I only average about 60-70k/week.

[Stu Mac]

Freerunner, maybe I was the one going crazy that day......

[Freerunner]

Stu Mac, for once I may have to agree with you;).
Yes Run67 I'm still hurting from your mockery.... ;)
Anyway my point was that many runners join the running community and are fed crap like you need to spend $100's every few months on these labeled shoes or you'll get injuried.
I am suggesting that shoes last much longer then many suggest and that there are often less expensive shoes that will do a good job. Yes I will agree that some people need special shoes and for such reason they may need to purchase more expensive shoes.
$40 Sfida for me do a good job, last ages and I stay uninjured despite very high mileage, so why would I spend hundreds on shoes? If I followed most suggestions here I would be spending several hundred every month. If it came to that, out of principle I would wear what bears do, as I have not seen one pair of running shoes worth more then say $50.
BTW Run67 you run well for only 60-70km a week, you ever thought of trying higher mileage?
Cheers
FreeRunner.