Do Tennis Shoes Go Bad? (Expected Lifespan & More)

A pair of tennis shoes is often quite an investment costing $100 on average. It’s important to know whether they will go bad and at what time to determine whether your investment will be worthwhile or not.

In this article, I will teach you whether tennis shoes deteriorate, how long you can expect them to last, and when to know your tennis shoes are worn out.

Before I get ahead of myself, do tennis shoes go bad?

Tennis shoes will go bad regardless of whether they are unworn or worn. Unworn tennis shoes naturally last considerably longer. However, you should start using them 12 months after purchasing because the materials will slowly deteriorate. Tennis shoes in use will last from 6 to +12 months.

That being said, tennis shoes will go bad over time as all materialistic things. However, don’t immediately think that your tennis shoes are gone bad if they are dirty. There are various ways to clean your tennis shoes, so you should try them first!

Now, let’s take a closer look at how long tennis shoes will last if they sit in the box or are used.

How Long Do Tennis Shoes Last?

Many people buy multiple pairs of tennis shoes at once, so they have a backup pair always ready or from sale at a good price. I’ll show you how that will play out if the shoes sit in the back of your closet.

1. Does unworn tennis shoes go bad

Unworn tennis shoes will go bad over time because the materials will start to deteriorate. However, the deteriorating process starts to happen 6 to 12 months after buying, depending on the materials used, and the process will be really slow.

Nonetheless, the process will be happening, and you will see it in the rubber sole and foam cushioning first. When rubber and foam have aged, they lose their characteristics, and as rubber and foam are mostly there because of shock absorption thus, that feature will lose most of its effect.

This can cause discomfort while playing tennis and even injuries because your feet are now taking more shock and impact force than with fresh shoes. If you notice that the shoes aren’t as they should be because they have been in the closet so long, you should get a new pair of tennis shoes.

In addition to the rubber sole and cushioning, the upper shoe will also start to deteriorate in addition to glue, so if enough time has passed, the lateral support won’t be protecting your ankles from strains, and some parts of the shoe can come off when you make a powerful movement. This opens up new possibilities for injuries and discomfort.

The point is, don’t bulk buy tennis shoes in your closet to wait for use for years. However, one pair extra won’t have the time to deteriorate if you change tennis shoes approximately once a year.

2. Does tennis shoes wear out

Wearing your tennis shoes will obviously make tennis shoes go bad and in considerably less time as well. On average, tennis shoes will last from 6 months to years depending on many factors such as playing time, court type, shoe quality, and more.

• Playing time has the most effect on how long your shoes will last. If you play once a week one-hour sessions, then your shoes will likely last for years before they need to change. However, if you’re an advanced player training 5 times a week for 4 hours each time, your shoes will wear out in months.
• Court type The court type has a huge effect on how fast the outer sole will get too damaged to wear. Hard courts have the roughest surface, so outer soles will get worn out fastest. However, there are shoes designed for hard courts that have harder outsoles, so depending on if you are using hard court shoes or clay court shoes on a hard court, that affects the lifespan of your tennis shoes as well.
• Shoe quality is yet another great determinator of how fast your shoes will wear out. Whether you use $20 general sports shoes or $100 quality tennis shoes for the right kind of court type will have an astronomical effect on the time your shoes will wear out.

Keeping these things in mind, you will have an estimate on how fast your tennis shoes wear out, and you can even take action to increase that time by wearing quality shoes on the right court.

Learn more: Can Tennis Shoes Be Used For Walking?

How Do You Know Tennis Shoes Are Worn Out?

Knowing when to change tennis shoes is really important because you shouldn’t play with shoes that shouldn’t be played with. This opens up the possibilities for injuries, discomfort, and decreased tennis performance.

The easiest indicator if tennis shoes have worn out is the outer sole. If it doesn’t provide traction as it used to, and it is now smooth and shapeless, it’s worn out. Also, if you notice new aches, pains, or torn tears and treads, it is a reliable indicator of a shoe that has gone bad.

If you still aren’t sure, then think about how they feel. If you don’t like how they feel anymore, then you should change your tennis shoes.

Why are tennis shoes so expensive?

If you compare tennis shoes to running shoes, tennis shoes are a bit more expensive on average. Why is that?

Tennis shoes are expensive due to their complex design and tennis culture. Tennis shoes have lateral support, well-targeted cushioning, extra durable outsoles, and quality materials that drive up the price. Also, brands can price shoes higher than usual because tennis is considered expensive as it is.

I highly encourage you to learn more about tennis culture and why it is so expensive because it’s a fascinating topic, and it helps you understand the pricing better.