When is cheap kit too cheap?

4 watchers

paul0 Dec 2021 11:17am, 1 Dec 2021 277 posts	0 paul0 I have a pair of Lidl £7.99 trail shoes. Should I wear them for a forthcoming 50km race? Or should I shell out £70-100 for a more serious pair? If I was just pottering round I would wear the Lidl pair, but I'd also like to do well and their budgetness might play on my mind. Their entire life history is: --worn at home for a day --worn for 30miles on a muddy mixed surface race --left muddy in garage for 18 months --worn for 10mile very muddy race --worn for 3miles round the roads this morning. Felt comfortable but stiff.
The Mussile Dec 2021 11:46am, 1 Dec 2021 769 posts	0 The Mussile If you wore them for a 30 mile race they should be fine for a 50km race as its nearly the same distance. Only question for me would be surface type, and whether they are suitable or not.
Velociraptor Dec 2021 12:27pm, 1 Dec 2021 55,202 posts	0 Velociraptor If the shoes are comfortable and haven't disintegrated from being left in the garage covered in mud for 18 months, anything else is small print. If the 50km is also on trail, I'd use them.
paul0 Dec 2021 12:53pm, 1 Dec 2021 278 posts	0 paul0 Thanks for the comments - liking these answers Should have added I walked most of the previous 30mile so I wasn't sure it was comparable. They haven't disintegrated and the forthcoming race is on trail. So everything is pointing towards using them
jacdaw Dec 2021 1:50pm, 1 Dec 2021 3,517 posts	0 jacdaw Not considering the social and environmental issues around very cheap items?
Velocirappingpaper Dec 2021 2:19pm, 1 Dec 2021 55,208 posts	0 Velocirappingpaper I believe there's a thread for that and you're on it, jacdaw I trust encouraging a runner to use what they've got rather than buying new stuff would be in the spirit of that thread.
jacdaw Dec 2021 2:52pm, 1 Dec 2021 3,518 posts	0 jacdaw Just confused by the title. And I'm not on that thread any more.
paulcook Dec 2021 3:57pm, 1 Dec 2021 168 posts	0 paulcook It’s a very justifiable response imo. Do we or should we be aware of our environmental impact on kit?
StuH Dec 2021 4:26pm, 1 Dec 2021 4,305 posts	0 StuH We yes, but to quote Dan Lawson (Re-run) The most environmentally friendly piece of kit is the one you already own or words to that effect.