While some may raise an eyebrow at the thought of buying used footwear, when done thoughtfully it can be both a smart financial decision AND a meaningful environmental choice. Extending the life of quality gear keeps it out of landfills, and reduces demand for new manufacturing.
To help you make a more informed decision when considering used footwear, we’ve developed our Estimated Lifespan rating system.
How Lifespan Estimates Work
Every pair that we sell online is inspected using a set of consistent evaluation standards. We look at multiple indicators of wear and durability to estimate how much usable life remains. We then assign each pair of footwear into one of 5 categories—
100%
Estimated lifespan remaining
These pairs are effectively new. They may have only been tried on indoors or never worn outside. We expect they'll have full factory-level performance and durability.
95%
Estimated lifespan remaining
These pairs were likely worn just a couple times before the previous owner decided to move on. You may notice dirt or scuffs, but the sole shows almost no wear, and functionally, they'll have essentially the same lifespan as a new pair.
75%
Estimated lifespan remaining
These pairs have been worn regularly, but gently, and still have a long life ahead of them. They may begin showing the first signs of wear, such as initial wear on the sole.
50%
Estimated lifespan remaining.
These pairs are well into their lifespan but still have meaningful use ahead. You may notice visible sole wear or interior lining wear, but nothing that will immediately compromise their effectiveness. They’re priced lower, and are great for frequent use on a budget.
25%
Estimated lifespan remaining.
These show more significant wear in multiple areas. They still have enough life left and plenty of stories to tell, but you should expect to get fewer miles on them. Accordingly, these are offered at a significant discount to their original retail prices. These are great for taking on a trip, trying out a new sport or hobby on a budget, as backup pairs, or for trying out a new brand or model without paying full price.
How We Estimate Lifespan
Because we didn’t personally wear most of the footwear that comes into our shop, we rarely know its full history. Instead, our team does a bit of careful sleuthing, and evaluates each pair based on the following standards —.
1. Outsole Wear (Our Primary Indicator)
This is the most important factor. We look for:
- Remaining tread depth
- Sharpness of original tread patterns
- Wear on heels or forefoot
- Uneven wear patterns
The sole tells the clearest story of how much life remains.
2. Interior Wear
We inspect inside the shoe for:
- Heel liner thinning or holes
- Worn or missing interior branding
- Stitching breakdown
Please note that the compression level of the inner footbeds, while an important indicator, can be difficult to judge from visual appearance. It is not something we take into consideration, unless there is easily-identifiable wear.
3. Structural Integrity
We check for:
- Upper material cracks or holes
- Separation between sole and upper
- Damage near eyelets or lace hooks
- Delamination or weakening seams
Structural issues can dramatically shorten remaining lifespan.
A Few Limitations to Lifespan Estimates
While our Lifespan Estimate is a useful tool for choosing used footwear online, it has a few natural limitations you'll want to be aware of.
Lifespan Estimate is not a Time or Mileage Guarantee
Our estimates are expressed as a percentage of life remaining, not a measure of miles, months, or seasons.
Why? Because:
Different models are built with different materials and durability. We simply don't have enough information on the durability of each individual model to be able to make an informed estimate of mileage.
Every person walks, runs, and hikes differently. Everything from your stride, weight, preferred terrain, and storage and care may impact the actual lifespan of your footwear.
Lifespan Estimate is not a Laboratory Test
We rely on visual and tactile inspection. We can't analyze internal foam compression, microscopic material fatigue, or hidden structural changes.
We focus on what can be reliably evaluated visually.
Lifespan Estimate is Not a Measure of Cleanliness or Cosmetic Wear
Footwear cleanliness can often be misleading. A hiking boot that has only been on a single muddy hike may visually look old, but may still be rated as 95% lifespan remaining due to the lack of actual wear on the sole and elsewhere.
For this rating system, we consider function above cosmetics, always.
Final Thoughts: Making a Difference by Choosing Used
Used footwear doesn’t mean compromised performance. It means smarter consumption, better access to quality gear, and less waste in the outdoor industry.
Our Estimated Lifespan system exists to remove the guesswork—so you can focus on getting outside and enjoying your time in the mountains, on the trail, or in the snow.
Whether you opt for a "95%" pair or a "25%", by choosing used you're making a difference.
