Ask The Experts
For years, my son's socks have holes in the heels after 1-2 uses, and his shoes get holes right under the middle of his heels in a matter of weeks, no matter how good they are. Both my husband and I were in the Army, and I knew that New Balance was the only brand that would last more than a few months in the strenuous exercise of a light infantry PT regimen (I was a Manchu, 9th Infantry Regiment, for 3 years). Even though they'd last me a year with at least 30 miles of running per week in garrison, my son put holes in his brand new pair, that fit perfectly, right in the center of the heel area of the soles, in a little under 6 weeks! His socks have similar holes by the third wash. He has no pain in his feet, joints, legs or back from it, and both shoes wear down at the same rate. I'm truly baffled, but I am more so concerned with any health issues this could be causing him later, or even might be happening now. Do I have a reason to be concerned, beyond his abnormal footwear bill?
Thank you for contacting IPFH. We do not provide diagnoses or medical advice on line. Your son’s shoes and socks do seem to be wearing out quickly. We gather that this is due to regular running. One factor that we know is important in how long socks will last is proper fit, so we would encourage your son to ensure that his feet are measured accurately and that he is wearing the proper size of both socks and shoes. IPFH recommends using the integrated approach for selecting and fitting footwear. IPFH also recommends the use of padded socks, which tend to be more durable than regular socks. Also, there may be some aspect of his gait that is related to the wear of his socks and shoes. With each stride, runners tend to strike the ground on the heel, the mid foot or the forefoot. There has been and continues to be much discussion on which part of the foot is the best in terms of running efficiency and avoidance of injuries, but most runners tend to strike with the heel. This may be the case with your son, and some adjustments to his running gait may help address the issue. We would encourage him to consult with a foot health professional who can provide a gait analysis, which might indicate some reasons for this wear. It might also provide the basis for a medical professional or trainer to advise your son on his running style – whether it is “healthy” or whether it is likely to lead to injury over the long term. We hope these suggestions are useful. Running is great exercise, and we hope that your son will enjoy it for many years – free of pain and injuries.