I read 2 different posts by ebuckley that midsoles tend to harden over time and that first-run retailers won't sell shoes that came out of the mold more than a few months ago. Is this why a pair of Nike shoes I ordered almost a year after it was first released felt nothing like the first pair I ordered when they were first released (same color same size same retailer)? The first pair still feels cushioned (I run every day) but the new pair felt hard and sure enough I immeditely developed knee pain. I contacted Nike but their response was unhelpful. This shoe has now been updated and I'm wondering should I try another pair like the original pair I bought from another retailer? After reading posts by ebuckley I'm thinking not. Anyone else have this experience?
Why don't you ask
ebuckley directly? But lately he's been doing a fair amount of barefoot running. So perhaps he's just as annoyed by his shoes as you.
Oh, I'm happy to field it here. Yes, EVA (the most common midsole material) does harden over time and the shoe will have less cushion. If you like cushy shoes, you should buy the latest models from first line retailers or online places like Zappos that do enough volume that their inventory gets turned over quickly.
I don't really look for cushioning in a shoe. I only wear them at all so my feet don't get cut. When I'm running on grass, I typically go barefoot. Therefore, I buy older models at discount stores and am quite happy with them. My DS Trainers were purchased for $50 (half normal retial) and I'm still happily running in them after 1000 miles. My racing flats are 3 years old (but don't have many miles).
I should point out that I have no special insider knowledge on all this. What I am saying here can be found in online literature from a number of reputable sources. My particilar source is my cousin, who is a sales rep for Nike. That's obviously a biased view, but she has no reason to lie to me. I can't wear Nikes because the forefoot is too narrow and even if I did, she'd give them to me for free.