Why Boot Midsoles Die Before the Uppers

James HerrinJames Herrin·1 min read·

Your boots can look brand new on top and be completely dead underneath. The midsole is the part you never see, and it is the first thing to go, usually around 500 miles.

Learn the warning signs early.

  • Knee and foot aches on trails you used to hike pain-free
  • A visible crease line across the midsole foam
  • The boot flexing too easily in the middle of the sole
  • Soles wearing unevenly on one edge

Check the midsole every hundred miles by bending the boot. When it folds like paper, the cushion is gone even if the tread still looks fresh.

When the midsole goes, replace the boot even if the upper looks new. Walking on dead foam is how knee problems start, and knees do not resole.