December 28, 2020

The Expense of Walking

I'm almost embarrassed to write this post, because it's going to sound petty. I'm not writing it as a complaint (well, not trying to) but I was thinking about it on my walk today and it was pretty interesting! 

My feet have been hurting really badly for a couple of weeks and I know it's because I need new shoes. Mine are VERY worn out after all of the miles I've put on them over the past five months. I needed new shoes at least a month ago and I've been putting it off because they are so expensive.

When I first started walking, I had a couple of pairs of running shoes without many miles on them, so I used those. And then I bought one pair (new) on eBay when I had to replace one pair. I've basically been rotating three pairs of shoes: 

Brooks Ghost 8 (yes, they are OLD! But I didn't put any miles on them until early this year)
Saucony Triumph ISO 4
Altra Escalante

The Ghosts are the most stable, but they are still a neutral shoe that is good for supination (under-pronation--a problem of mine). The Triumph ISOs are super comfy! I was wearing an older pair of them for a while and when they needed replacement, I bought a newer model on eBay and love them. The Escalantes are the perfect zero-drop shoe (you can read about Altra and the zero-drop heels on this post--nerdy, but very interesting!). 

All three pairs are extremely worn out now. I only ever use them for deliberate walking (not when I go to the grocery store or work in the garage or anything like that). I've always needed to replace my shoes every 300-350 miles or so. (Some people can wear them up to about 500 miles, but I am not one of those people--I start getting knee and foot pain after 300-350.)

I LOVE how comfortable these Triumphs are, but check out what has happened on the treads. See the big depression in the middle? I feel like there is going to be a hole in it soon.


My Ghosts have worn down to look really smooth where they are not supposed to be:


Same with my Altras:


In the past, when I found a shoe I liked, I'd always stock up on it when the new model was introduced so that I could get them much cheaper. That's why I had the old pair of Ghosts--when they came out with the Ghost 9's, I bought four pairs of the 8's because I liked them so much. And I just wore through my last pair.

Anyway, I cannot find the discontinued models of any of the shoes that I like (in my size at least). The cost for the new model of Ghosts are $130; the Triumph ISOs are $150; and the Escalantes are $130. 

When I was walking, I started doing the math in my head. Since I walk five miles a day, seven days a week... that's 150 miles per month. And if I change out my shoes after 300 miles, I only get two months wear out of them.

Let's say I get the Ghosts. I spend $130. Since I would wear them for two months, that would mean I'm spending $65 per month for shoes! For $130, I'm spending $2.17 for each walk. And to break it down into miles, I'm spending $0.43 per mile.

Each morning, I'm spending $2.17 TO WALK. Doesn't that sound crazy?!

When I was running, I never thought much about the cost of shoes because I wasn't putting this many miles on them. My mileage was about half of what it is now, so I was replacing less frequently. And like I said, I'd usually buy several pairs at one time when they were discounted. I'm going to have to start watching for when the new models are released so that I can buy the previous models at a discount!

Anyway, my feet have been killing me and today I finally decided I needed to buy a pair, even if it was going to cost $130. I read reviews of different shoes and found a pair that a lot of people mentioned was good for people who supinate. I've never tried them on, and I'm really hoping that they fit and are comfortable.

They're ASICS Women's Gel-Venture and they're actually a trail running shoe. When I walk Joey, I walk in the grass along the water at a few parks (in other words, not on pavement) for part of the walk. So, I figured that I'd try out the trail running shoes and hope that they feel good on pavement, too. They were only $50, so if they work out, they'll only cost me $0.83 per walk instead of $2.17 ;)  They have free returns, so if I try them on and they don't fit well, at least I can get a refund.

If I don't like them, I think I'll just bite the bullet and get the ones I've already tried and liked. I've been working out our budget for next year (our expenses have changed quite a bit this year) and it seems crazy that I need to include my shoes in our budget. I never really put this much thought into the cost of walking--it's nerdy, but kind of eye-opening.

Thankfully, the other costs for walking are minimal. I buy good-quality exercise clothes at thrift stores and they last forever. I've gotten a lot of Under Armour clothing (my favorite) and even Lululemon for super cheap. I do buy good socks (new)--I love my Balega socks (Amazon affiliate link) and they are about $14 per pair. However, those are great quality and I still have pairs from 2016--they hold up really well.

Well, there really is no point to this post other than to say... shoes are expensive! I didn't realize just how much until I did the math breaking it down per walk and per mile. But the walking has been great for me, mentally and physically, and it's worth it!

18 comments:

  1. Let me start out by saying as I read this post all I thought was "way too much math" and I will end with I HATE math but I loved your post. The post was insightful and cute. Good luck with the shoes!

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  2. Yesssss shoes are expensive but so worth it not to have pain in our feet and knees. I'm also a Brooks Ghost fan. I have a neutral foot and plantar fasciitis in both feet. I also buy them on ebay when I can find them in my size. Can't wait to see how you like the new shoes. Also did I miss the post about what Jerry did about his hair? I cut my husbands hair too but he always wants it super short so I basically cut it with no guard on the clippers so I can't really mess it up unless I cut him!

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  3. Hey! I feel you on this one. I wear the Brooks Ghost and they are SO expensive! I have been buying them on Mercari the last few times. It is a used clothing site and I look for the ones that have been worn only a few times. Sometimes they still have the box or tags on. I have to be patient to get exactly what I want, but it is well worth it and you can get them for much less than buying new!

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  4. Hi! Thank you for inspiring me to walk! I am hooked too. I am wondering if hiking boots would be better for you. They are definitely more durable, and since you are not running, maybe you don't need running shoes. I have been using hiking boots and although they are not cushiony or very warm, they are waterproof and don't cause me blisters

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  5. Thank you for writing this post. I agree shoes are expensive but the benefits to health are so much bigger. I am glad I'm not the only who feels this way.

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  6. I am this kind of nerd too! Breaking down the costs helps me understand my priorities and figure out if something is worth it, so I totally love this.

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  7. Hi Katie, Have you ever heard of Darn Tough socks from Vermont? If you get a hole in a sock, you can send them back and they will send you a replacement pair free. For life. I love them and can their walking socks last a lifetime!

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  8. as a walker I've had the same issues, but I have been able to find the mens version of my shoes sometimes (and you wear a smaller size) I also buy in bulk if I can find last years model on sale. Good Walking !

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  9. You are lucky to have boys b/c they won't or can't steal your socks!!

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  10. I second your recommendation of the Balega socks. They are, by far, the most comfortable socks I've worn. They are very cushiony and wash really well.

    You're reminding me I need to buy new running shoes, too. I have a friend who buys boys running shoes which are much cheaper. She has to replace hers every 300+ miles also. It's really important to have good shoes (speaking of someone who has broken her foot a few times and is friends with her podiatrist)!

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  11. Those are some worn looking shoes! I am surprised that the 350 miles that you get running holds true for walking too. I would have thought miles walked would be less wear on our shoes than miles ran?

    I'm with you though, I can't make it 500 miles on a pair of shoes either.

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  12. Spending $2 per day to walk is all relative...lots of folks spend way more than that per day on specialty coffee, for example. But think of it this way: is $2 per day a worthwhile expenditure to improve your physical and mental health? I would think so.

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  13. I love Asics; I rotate them with Nike sneakers on my runs. I hope they work out for you and I hope you like them! Money well spent ;)

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  14. I have a pair of Ghost 11 or 12 that are too small for me. Only worn 3 times. They are yours if you want. Size 11.

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  15. I'm surprised with your MI winters you haven't switched to a low winter boot like Sorel

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    1. I did buy some boots and I'm super bummed because I got a miserable blister the first day I wore them :( I've not heard of Sorel, so I'll check them out. The ones I got were Columbia brand.

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  16. I've had surgery on both feet......my feet hurt a lot! Can't wait to hear how the new shoes work out. Then I'll know if I want to give them a try. I also wear the Saucony shoe. They are so comfortable!

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  17. I'm pretty sure I wear the Asics gel venture, I'm too lazy to get up and look. I get them on Amazon and have gotten them for years. They are cheap, which is what I need and I don't have problems with them at all (unless I buy the wrong ones and then end up with a foot issue that has been slow to resolve because I'm unwilling to break my running streak of 2+ years). I tried the Ghost years ago when you mentioned how much you liked them, I didn't like them at all, so it's possible you won't like the Asics. :-)

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I used to publish ALL comments (even the mean ones) but I recently chose not to publish those. I always welcome constructive comments/criticism, but there is no need for unnecessary rudeness/hate. But please--I love reading what you have to say! (This comment form is super finicky, so I apologize if you're unable to comment)

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