shoe air leak

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shoe air leak

Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

shoe air leak Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:17 pm

I've sprung a leak! I noticed that after my run today, one of my shoes was making funny noises. I discovered a small piece of glass stuck in the tread in the forefoot area, which I pulled out. The strange thing is that the glass seems to have "punctured" the shoe, and now I hear the sound of air squeezing in and out with every step. These are Asics GT2080's, not Nike Airs, and to my knowledge, they don't use air for cushioning, so I'm confused. With every step, I hear the unmistakable sound of air being forced out of the tiny hole as I push off, and then rushing back in as I take my weight off the shoe. Has anyone else ever experienced something like this with a non-Air shoe? Can I still run in these shoes, or have I destroyed the cushioning? They are pretty new shoes with only 75 miles on them, so I don't want to toss them in the garbage and be out 80 bucks.

OldManRunner
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
Rochester, NY
Joined: 28 Nov 2004
Posts: 262

Re: shoe air leak Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 6:54 pm

With just 75 miles, I'd suggest taking them back to the store where you bought them and asking for at least partial credit. I've punctured the air cushions in shoes before, but only in Nike's with exposed air cells.

mfox

South Orange, New Jersey
Joined: 19 Dec 2004
Posts: 367

Re: shoe air leak Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 5:02 pm

Twice I've pulled tacks out of the bottom of my running shoes (two different pair) and never did it cause a hissing sound. I agree with OldManRunner. I think you should be able to take them back for at least partial credit if not a full refund. These shoes are practically new and either the sole should be robust enough not to be punctured by glass or the shoe should be designed to withstand a puncture to the sole without compromising the cushioning. My guess is that you haven't actually ruined the shoe but simply created a hole to the midsole that compresses and expands as you run. The material in new midsoles are mostly foam with very tiny air champers which are designed to collapse as you step on the shoe and then return to it's original shape as you take your weight off the shoe. Over time the material loses it's ability to return to it's original shape and thus becomes compressed in the collapsed state. It's at that point that the cushioning effect is lost and the shoe is ready to be replaced. But that shouldn't happen until 300-400 miles have been put on the shoe. So, I think you have a legitimate gripe with the shoe. If you bought it at a local running shoe store I would hope they woud stand behind their service (because you paid more than you would have if you bought it online) and replace the shoe. You may be able to get a replacement if you bought it online too...depending on where. If you bought them from RoadRunner sports then there is a good chance they'll replace them. The business that sold you the shoe might argue that the shoe is perfectly fine and the hole has not compromised the integrity of the shoe. And if that satisfies you then okay. But if the hissing sound annoys you, which it certainly would me, then I think you have the right to argue that the shoe is not performing the way you expect it (silently) and demand that you either get a replacement or a different model that isn't prone to this sort of thing.

Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

Re: shoe air leak Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 5:39 pm

I bought the shoes online at Road Runner Sports, so returning them would be a little bit complicated. Until I have a chance to run in them again, I can't really say if the cushioning has been affected or if the hissing noise is distracting. I only noticed the noise when I got home, and was walking slowly across a bare floor in a quiet room. Outdoors at normal running speed, it may not be an issue.

mfox

South Orange, New Jersey
Joined: 19 Dec 2004
Posts: 367

Re: shoe air leak Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 7:28 pm

Rickshaw wrote:
I bought the shoes online at Road Runner Sports

Are you a member of RAC or VIP? If so, you are allowed to return your shoes for any reason up to 45 days after you receive them (they used to allow up to 60 days).

Rickshaw
Runworks 2005 5M Racer
San Francisco, CA
Joined: 26 Nov 2004
Posts: 1157

Re: shoe air leak Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 12:57 pm

I cancelled my RAC membership, because I wasn't buying enough stuff for the discount to make up for the membership cost. After a few more runs on these shoes, the air wooshing noise seems to have gone away, and I haven't noticed any problems with the forefoot cushioning. So I think they're OK.

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