Running Shoe Release Date Calendar

Today is a big day for us because we could finally publish our running shoe release date calendar.

Keeping track of new running shoe releases is a bit tough because brands constantly update their running shoe arsenal and the problem is they tend to release their shoes at different months of the year.

Some companies release their new updated shoes in January while others wait for summer or the holidays to try to maximize their earnings from their new models.

You can bookmark this page and come back to it whenever you want to rejuvenate your running shoe rotation with some freshly released models.

Not only that but right under that chart, you’ll find:

• When to replace running shoes.
• How long do running shoes last?
• How to help shoes last longer.
• Do you really need multiple shoes?
• Types of running shoes.
• Ranking running shoe companies.

Sound interesting? Let’s dive right into it…

Running Shoe Release Date Calendar

You can use Ctrl+F on PC and Command-F on Mac.

While shoes are a very simple piece of gear, having shoes that fit well and aren’t dead as they say is really important to making sure that you’re running healthy and happy.

So let me ask you a question. Do you know when you should replace your running shoes?

When To Replace Running Shoes

Here’s the thing…

Running shoes don’t last forever. Sure, they’re tough and they take us mile after mile after mile, but they get squashed on the asphalt, they get scraped up, they get caked in mud, they get left out in the sun, they get sweated in and left in your car, etc.

Of course, each one of those things takes life off of your shoes.

I guess the best way to know when it’s time to replace your running shoes or at least be wary of the warning signs that they may start to be worn out is when you start to approach that 400 to 500-mile mark.

But what if you haven’t been keeping track, how can you tell?

Let’s run through some ways to tell if your running shoes are worn out.

Nagging Aches & Pains

While nagging pains can always be a sign of other injuries, it’s a good idea to start with your shoes. If your pain persists for more than one run, it might be time for a new pair of shoes.

You may not be feeling those aches and pains, but every step might feel flat. That’s because the bouncy midsole of a new pair of shoes or shoes with life left in them absorbs the impact of every step. This saves your feet and your joints from taking an extra beating.

As your shoes age though, the foam loses its ability to rebound like it used to and it really starts to feel like you’ve sort of put a brick on top of a marshmallow.

It’s not a good feeling.

I used to run in the same shoes over and over for months and months putting hundreds of miles in the same pair of shoes. After like 300 miles, I would notice that my legs would feel a bit more tired when I go out running.

I just always think that I was in the wrong, but honestly, it was because I was wearing a shoe that was broken down completely.

Wear Pattern

The outsoles of your running shoes have tread just like the tires on your car, and that helps to cushion your landings and grip the pavement. But the ground is abrasive, especially if you primarily run on concrete and asphalt.

So, you may notice some uneven wear pattern on the bottom of your shoes. If that wear pattern has removed lugs and is digging into the midsole of the shoe, it might also be a sign that you’re not wearing the right shoes for you and it is probably a sign that it’s time to get a new pair.

When you notice a weird wear pattern on the bottom of your shoes, it’s a good idea to take that pair with you to the store when you get outfitted.

Anyway, here’s an easy-to-digest bullet point list:

• Sections of the rubber outsole are badly worn or even worn through.
• The midsole feels too soft and collapses easily under pressure.
• The heel counter might have become more mobile or less supportive.
• Your toe is poking through.
• One or both of your shoes no longer stand up straight when placed on a flat surface.

How Long Do Running Shoes Last?

Unfortunately, the answer is not all that clear. If:

• You’re really hard on your shoes.
• You do not keep them in a climate-controlled environment
• You leave them outside time
• You do not clean mud off of them all the time

…, they are going to last less miles.

All of that said, most running shoes will last anywhere from 300 to 500 miles, and 200 is a really big window. The more you take good care of your shoes, the more they’re going to last you.

The other issue that comes into play is also the amount of time that you have shoes. Again, while running shoes are very durable, the materials themselves also break down over time.

So, if you’re trying to hoard your favorite model of a certain shoe and you buy six pairs thinking that the newest pair you wear in a year from now is still going to be great, think again.

Even an unworn shoe on the shelf a year later is going to be broken down, and that’s just because materials break down over time.

Knowing all of this, how can you help to make your shoes last longer?

How To Help Shoes Last Longer

Number one is a really simple one.

“Run on the surface for which your shoes were designed.”

If you have a pair of trail shoes, don’t go wearing them on the pavement all the time because those thick lugs are going to get worn down quicker.

Same thing for road running shoes. Don’t go taking them on really burly single-track trails where you have lots of mud, rocks, and river crossings.

“Dry them out and clean them up.”

Again, this is important because it helps to keep the upper of the shoes and the materials fresh for longer.

The next point is one of the most important ones and it’s really rooted in biomechanics…

“Get more than one pair of shoes.”

Any coach worth their salt will tell you this and that’s because every shoe is made differently. There are multiple types and brands of shoes that best fit your feet.

The value of having multiple pairs of shoes in your running shoe rotation is one, for the shoe’s longevity because you’re switching back and forth between multiple pairs, which allows you to extend the life of those shoes.

Two, because shoes are made differently, the way that you land on each foot while you’re running is different depending on the brand.

Just something as simple as changing up the pressure points where you land is just another important factor in helping you to be a more balanced injury-resistant runner.

While rotating between two pairs of shoes is great, if you can do it, we recommend three pairs.

That way you have a light fast pair for your speed days, a really plush cushioned shoe for your recovery days, and then kind of like a middle-of-the-road that can handle the bulk of your daily miles.

Do You Really Need Multiple Shoes?

You’d be forgiven if you got confused if you hear something like a fast-day shoe, easy-day shoe, tempo shoe, daily trainer, etc.

In this section, I’m going to tell you exactly what a running shoe rotation is and if you should consider building one.

Essentially, you can think of a running shoe rotation as the runner’s arsenal of shoes for different types of workouts.

If you’re going to go for a long easy run, you might want something with a little bit more stack height or a little bit of softer foam.

If you’re going out there for a very fast run, you might want something a little bit more lightweight or a little bit more springy under step.

There’s just a bunch of different types of running shoes and those running shoes can fill certain needs within your running shoe rotation.

So, does a running shoe rotation really matter?

Here are some benefits of having a running shoe rotation.

1. Honestly, the most important benefit is it’s just fun to try different running shoes.

Trying out different running shoes makes running very exciting and motivates you to get out that door having different running shoes to try.

2. Injury reduction

We all know running shoes really degrade over time, and the biggest degradation is midsole compression.

When you’re running in your shoes, the midsole literally squishes all the way down, and if you’re not allowing it time to rest and breathe and wear it the next day when it’s not back to its fully decompressed position, that will make the midsole break down even faster.

Running on a midsole that’s a bit more compressed can definitely increase the chance of injury because the impact protection just isn’t the same.

Another practical benefit along those same lines is your shoes will last longer…

3. Shoes last longer

I know you’ll have to get more running shoes so you’re not really saving money in any sense, but your running shoes will last longer if you’re allowing that midsole to decompress a bit and you’re also not wearing out the old sole as much and you’re not wearing the upper all the time.

So having more running shoes will allow those running shoes to last a bit longer.

With any light, there is a darkness, and the darkness for having a running shoe rotation is just the cost of it.

Running shoes are getting outrageously expensive and I don’t understand how the manufacturers can justify the price of the running shoes anymore.

So the price of building a running shoe rotation is obviously a huge downside.

Types Of Running Shoes

As I mentioned, the running shoe rotation consists of three different types of running shoes. If you have multiple pairs of running shoes, your running shoe rotation could be upwards of five or six different shoes.

But typically, a running shoe rotation consists of three main types of running shoes. The foundation of any good running shoe rotation is a good daily trainer…

Daily Trainers

For example, the Puma Velocity Nitro is a fantastic daily trainer which is pretty well-priced.

A daily trainer is something that is very versatile. It’s not going to be great at any one specific thing, but it can do pretty much anything.

It can go out there and soak up the miles, and because you’re going to be wearing it the most frequently, you want that shoe to have a lot of durability.

Within the daily trainer category, you have stability running shoes, moderate stability shoes, soft everyday running shoes, and the list can go on.

Next up is my favorite type of shoe because I love going slow…

Easy Day Shoes

One of the best easy-day running shoes hands down is the New Balance Fresh Foam More which is just magical.

An easy-day or recovery-day running shoe for me has a lot of that midsole stack height and soft midsole.

But why would it have a lot of high stack height? It’s going to absorb all that impact making your easy days actually easy and allowing your body to recover.

We want active recovery, not something beating up our legs when we’re trying to do those tasks. So, having an easy-day or recovery-day running shoe can be a great tool in your arsenal.

Everyone’s favorite running shoe is your tempo-day or race-day shoes…

Race Day Shoes

The Asics Metaspeed Sky and the Nike Alphafly do have a carbon fiber plate, but race-day and fast-day shoes don’t necessarily need carbon fiber plates.

You don’t really need a carbon fiber plate shoe for fast-day and race-day stuff, but it does help.

Typically, a race-day or fast-day shoe is a little bit more of a lightweight package, and the midsole has a bit more snap and responsiveness to it.

What I’m trying to describe with those terms is essentially, it just feels a little bit more snappy. You’re not losing a lot of energy to the midsole itself.

Again, there are so many great fast-day shoes that don’t have a carbon fiber plate or any type of rigid body in them like the Saucony Endorphin Speed which has a nylon plate. 

One of my favorite tempo or fast-day shoes is the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v2 which does not have a plate.

That’s all well and good. We know what a running shoe rotation is and we know the different types of running shoes, but should you get a running shoe rotation?

To answer that question, I’m going to ask you three questions, and if the answer is yes to any of these three questions, you might want to consider getting a running shoe rotation started.

1. Do you run more than four times a week?
2. Do you do varied types of runs? Do you do normal everyday runs followed by some fast stuff and also easy day runs?
3. Are you training for a specific race or goal time?

If the answer is yes to any of those questions, absolutely consider getting a running shoe rotation. But honestly, even if the answers are no to any of those questions but you want to have different running shoes to experience, just go and do it. It is so much fun.

Now let’s get into the running shoe company tire list…

Ranking Running Shoe Companies

This is going to be all my personal feeling and I’d like you to put your tier list in the comment section down below as well.

I’m going to decide what I consider the best running shoe company based on a couple of things.

• The entire product line (daily trainers, tempo shoes, race-day shoes, etc.)
• My overall experience and level of excitement I’m getting when running in a shoe.
• The durability.
• The price points of what they’re offering.

We’re going to rank them from S down to D.

Adidas (B)

I’ve tried the SL20 and the Boston 10. I’ve tried the Prime X for those ultra-plush long-distance trainers and I’ve also tried the Adios Pro 2.

I don’t really like that firmer feeling of the LiteStrike, but I really do enjoy that LiteStrike Pro in the Prime X which is one of my favorite shoes of all time.

The Adios Pro 2 is a little bit firm for my liking but still pretty good, but I don’t find they’re that bad in terms of their price point.

Because I will probably choose their racing lineups, I am going to put Adidas in the B tier because I don’t feel that their daily trainers are that terrible.

If I went on a trip and I forgot to bring anything but the SL20, I wouldn’t be too mad to have to bring that shoe and wear it.

Asics (S)

If I had done this last year, Asics probably would have been the C tier, but Asics is doing something so special with that FlyteFoam Blast, FlyteFoam Blast +, and FlyteFoam Turbo.

Those FlyteFoams are magical and I can’t wait to try any shoe that has FlyteFoam Blast+. The GlideRide 3 looks amazing with that FlyteFoam and FlyteFoam Blast+ combination.

So, the Asics shoes themselves, the durability, the reasonable price points, Asics innovation with the FlyteFoam, and their FlyteFoam Turbo in the Metaspeed Sky is just amazing.

The GlideRide 2, the GlideRide 3, the Gel Kayano, the Gel Nimbus, the Gel Nimbus Lite, and every shoe that I’ve tried in Asics have been very exciting to try.

All in all, Asics is definitely my S tier choice.

Congratulations Asics on making the S tier and I hope you continue innovating. Don’t just think you’re in the lead and sit back and relax. Keep on pushing because you guys have something special going on.

Related:

• Asics GlideRide vs Evoride

Brooks (D)

Brooks and I used to have a really good relationship because I took them on all of my best runs. I even ran a lot of my PR’s in the Brooks Adrenaline line, but Brooks just don’t excite everyone the way they used to do.

Their DNA Flash or DNA Loft v3 and whatever they’re coming out with maybe is going to change my mind. But for right now, the Brooks shoes that I try are just not very exciting.

The Hyperion Elite is one of my least favorite shoes of all time.

While their price points aren’t that amazing, the durability is good. But I think Brooks has to be in the D tier.

Their shoes don’t excite a lot of runners and the price points aren’t amazing. The only thing they have going for them for me personally is their durability.

Related:

• Brooks Adrenaline vs Ghost

Hoka (C)

Hoka is another one of these things where when they came out of the gate, they were really innovative. They were winning, they were making people rethink the game and really think about how much stack height should be in a running shoe.

But honestly, their innovation has just not been there because they just use the same EVA compound, and their Bondi X is just a normal foam with a carbon plate. Throwing a carbon plate inside normal foam doesn’t make it very special in my opinion.

Hoka’s durability is also not good and their price point is not that great considering the durability.

I can’t put them in the B tier because they’re definitely not on the same par as the LiteStrike Pro.

The Rocket x 2 seems exciting and the Mach is pretty good and so I’m going to have to go C tier.

Hoka, I really hope that you just start to innovate with your foam compounds because, to be quite honest, your EVA compound is what’s holding you back.

Related:

• Hoka Mach vs Saucony Endorphin Speed

New Balance (B)

New Balance is another one of those companies where I didn’t think that I’d really enjoy any of their shoes, but trying the New Balance FuelCell line of shoes was fantastic.

The reality is it doesn’t really work for me because I have those weak non-elite ankles, and the softer foams just keep me rolling all over the place.

But what I’m seeing in their future lineup looks super exciting. It seems they’re widening the landing platform just a little bit and I think that’s really going to help me and people like me that need just a little bit of extra help with our ankle stability.

I really loved the New Balance shoes that I’ve tried like the Fresh Foam More v3 which is one of my favorite easy-day shoes of all time.

It’s going to go B tier because I do think that FuelCell compound is on par with the LiteStrike Pro.

Related:

• New Balance Fresh Foam More vs New Balance 1080

Nike (A)

I really enjoyed the Nike ZoomX Invincible and I really love the Nike Alphafly Next% and the Vaporfly.

The reality is their daily trainers and their tempo-day shoes are not there for me personally. I don’t really find the Pegasus line to be very inspiring but I think the Vomero line is super great.

Again, for me personally, the Nike daily trainers just aren’t there, but again the Nike ZoomX is so good that I have to put them in the A tier.

I’m really looking forward to the Nike ZoomX Invincible 2 and the new Zoom Fly 5 and Pegasus Turbo Next Nature.

Related:

• Nike Invincible vs Asics Novablast
• Nike Zoom Fly vs Pegasus Turbo

Puma (A)

Puma knocked everyone’s expectations out of the park with the Velocity line of shoes and they have some very interesting stuff coming up.

For me personally, it’s the price point that wins it for me. I think Puma are right up there with Nike because their whole product line is rounded. Their prices aren’t crazy, their durability is high, the Puma Grip is awesome, and I’m really looking forward to what they can do.

I know they’ve been around for much longer than I’ve been alive, but in the last couple of years, their running shoe line has taken a whole new breath of life.

That being said, Puma deserves to be A tier.

Related:

• Puma vs Adidas

Saucony (S)

I absolutely love the Saucony Ride 15, the Endorphin Speed, and the Endorphin Pro.

I’m so looking forward to the Speed 3. I hope they don’t mess it up because they’re making some pretty big changes, but the Pro 3 is what I’m most excited for. It looks like they’re making some really great changes.

The Saucony Endorphin Pro is a great price compared to Nike Vaporfly.

The Saucony Triumph line is still looking really good. It’s just their whole product line is fantastic, but their pricing is also fantastic.

Anyway, I really enjoy their daily trainers and I absolutely love their race-day options with the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 because that’s a very versatile shoe.

Overall, I’m going to have to give Saucony the S tier as well because I really feel they have the whole package. They have the durability, they have the okay price points, and they have the overall package lineup.

Congratulation Saucony. There’s not much wrong with your lines in my personal opinion.

That’s everything we have for this running shoe release date calendar. If you know when a shoe is going to release and we haven’t covered that, please let us know in the comments.

Until then, I hope you’re staying safe out there, and see you in the next one 🙂