Cold, hard, shoes (Read 841 times)

Does this happen? Specifically, does cold weather make your shoes harder, thus absorbing less impact and making my feet sore? I run in Brooks Beast '08's which are a pretty comfortable shoe, but I noticed that, mainly on long runs, my feet get more sore in the cold as the miles add up, especially after 12 miles or so. In warmer weather, not so much. The shoes have gel in them, so maybe it thickens up... I'm perfectly willing to accept the fact that I just need more training at longer distances, but the last few long runs I've done, my feet were really barking at the end, and the shoes aren't worn out (less than 100 miles) and feel great on shorter runs. I'm also curious if anyone has used those heating insoles that hunters use, because wearing heavier socks doesn't really help much, and probably just makes things worse because there isn't as much room in there as there should be. But maybe the heated insoles would help keep the shoes warm and pliable when temps get in the 30s.

They are the longest, and that's what makes it hard to tell. I've increased distance this month and I'll probably just stay where I am for little while and get stronger at the 13-17 mile distances before pushing longer. But if it is the shoes than maybe I'll wait until spring to make the push.

I definitely notice this. And it's more noticeable the denser the midsole is, at least with the NB models I've worn. The shoe that seems to be the least affected by temperature is the one that has the lighter-weight, more flexible, squishy midsoles to start with. It seems to happen any time the temps dip much below 40, in my experience.

I'm not as experienced as you guys, but I swear I notice stiffer shoes in the cold too. It's like they don't "bend", and I feel less stable.

I think it has more to do with the feet being cold and tight than the shoe. The feet, much more than the shoe, are what reduce shock and provide balance. The foot is complicated and must warm up, just like everything else.

Maybe, but I notice a difference with different shoes, even under identical weather and warm-up conditions. Or 2 days in a row in a single model of shoe...one day with warmer temps (ie 50-60º) and the other below freezing (see my avatar--this is no joke in my neck o' the woods)--it's like wearing 2 totally different shoes, sometimes.

A few weeks ago, this question was also brought up in the gears and wears forum, see this (short) thread: 'Freezing midsoles'

"does cold weather make your shoes harder," Only if you leave your shoes outside. When you run, you create friction which creates heat.

I've never noticed a difference here, and I've run in temps down close to 0 F.