Shelf life of EVA in trail shoes?

Also interested. I just got some Salomon hiking runners and I'm wondering when I'll be dropping another $125. I've had three surgeries- I can't risk having no absorption 100 miles from home.

To the best of my knowledge …

The EVA breaks down under load and humidity. You will often find that the area under the heel and under the ball of the foot gets hollowed out.

I have EVA sheeting on the shelf which has been there for 5+ years without any noticeable degradation. So I don't think you should have any problem with stored NEW shoes.

> some scientific studies on trail shoes
Interesting idea, except that all the major companies cycle through models every 12 months. I think they also update the technology every year or two. You would need to do some accelerated aging – for which I do not have the necessary lab facilities. :-)

Cheers

Let's not forget, turns out the shoes I just bought (Salomon Speedcross 3) use three different densities of EVA. Lab testing would be a nightmare.

$20 on the adhesives holding it all together fail with aging.

I get between 500-700 miles per pair of my Salomon XA Pro 3D's. I am on my 5th pair and I find that by that time the outsole is well worn but the lining inside the shoe is the first thing to go along with two holes in the fabric in the flex point of the shoe (seems to be a deal with this shoe).

I replace my running shoes (road/treadmill) every 500 miles and can tell a big difference in cushioning even though the sole and upper can look brand new (particularity if I have done a lot of treadmill running). I buy multiple pairs of each shoe I like as they seem to change them just as I find one I like. I have noticed no degradation of shoes when stored indoors unused.