Trail Shoes breaking down too soon

[billy]

I bought a pair of Saucony trail shoes for $150 in the begging of Oct. last year, but the upper is now tearing on the sides with 178 miles (usually get about 400 miles in general) and Saucony won't give me a warranty replacement even though they have a 1 year warranty.  There site says, "A defective product is an imperfection from a manufacturing or design defect." Do I have any options outside of BBB?

[nereo]

I bought a pair of Saucony trail shoes for $150 in the begging of Oct. last year, but the upper is now tearing on the sides with 178 miles (usually get about 400 miles in general) and Saucony won't give me a warranty replacement even though they have a 1 year warranty.  There site says, "A defective product is an imperfection from a manufacturing or design defect." Do I have any options outside of BBB?

Well, is the tearing a result from an imperfection or defect?  If not, I’m not sure you have a case.

Contrary to popular belief, a one year limited warranty does not mean a product will always last at least one year.

It sounds like you need to find another shoe, and maybe not give Saucony any more money.

[NotJen]

No thoughts on dealing with Saucony.

But I do recommend Salomon shoes.  I’ve done 2 warranty claims with them in the past few years, and the process to get replacement boots was easy. I keep buying from them.

[billy]

I bought a pair of Saucony trail shoes for $150 in the begging of Oct. last year, but the upper is now tearing on the sides with 178 miles (usually get about 400 miles in general) and Saucony won't give me a warranty replacement even though they have a 1 year warranty.  There site says, "A defective product is an imperfection from a manufacturing or design defect." Do I have any options outside of BBB?

Well, is the tearing a result from an imperfection or defect?  If not, I’m not sure you have a case.

Contrary to popular belief, a one year limited warranty does not mean a product will always last at least one year.

It sounds like you need to find another shoe, and maybe not give Saucony any more money.

I was thinking it was a design defect as other reviews from Running Warehouse were complaining about the same issue with the upper.

[billy]

No thoughts on dealing with Saucony.

But I do recommend Salomon shoes.  I’ve done 2 warranty claims with them in the past few years, and the process to get replacement boots was easy. I keep buying from them.

Cool, I'll keep Salomon in mind.

[lhamo]

Look into REI for future purchases -- they have a very generous return policy.

Costco, too -- but not sure they ever have trail shoes.

[Scandium]

No thoughts on dealing with Saucony.

But I do recommend Salomon shoes.  I’ve done 2 warranty claims with them in the past few years, and the process to get replacement boots was easy. I keep buying from them.

Cool, I'll keep Salomon in mind.

just note that about 1/3 of the reviews of salomon shoes is about them tearing or not lasting long.. One of the reasons I didn't buy them.
Unfortunately this is pretty much how modern trail shoes are, unless you buy leather.

[billy]

No thoughts on dealing with Saucony.

But I do recommend Salomon shoes.  I’ve done 2 warranty claims with them in the past few years, and the process to get replacement boots was easy. I keep buying from them.

Cool, I'll keep Salomon in mind.

just note that about 1/3 of the reviews of salomon shoes is about them tearing or not lasting long.. One of the reasons I didn't buy them.
Unfortunately this is pretty much how modern trail shoes are, unless you buy leather.

Bummer, well my Hoka held up pretty well, still use em for work around the house. I just wanted something that was more fitted for the trails for my next pair.

[Dollar Slice]

Bummer, well my Hoka held up pretty well, still use em for work around the house. I just wanted something that was more fitted for the trails for my next pair.

I'm worried that Hokas are changing for the worse now that they're getting trendy... I got a pair of Bondis last year (which I've been wearing for many years, replacing at least once a year with a new pair) and they had big holes in the inner lining within 2-3 months of walking maybe a mile a day (I was dealing with illness/injury last year so just hobbling around, mostly). I paid $2 a mile!

[TreeLeaf]

I typically just buy the el cheapo new balance trail running shoes.

They have a sale usually every january-february at joes new balance outlet and I pick up some trail running shoes for 30-40 dollars.

Lately I have started doing this for my regular everyday walking shoes as well and picked up some 608s for 30 dollars a piece brand new.

[NotJen]

No thoughts on dealing with Saucony.

But I do recommend Salomon shoes.  I’ve done 2 warranty claims with them in the past few years, and the process to get replacement boots was easy. I keep buying from them.

Cool, I'll keep Salomon in mind.

just note that about 1/3 of the reviews of salomon shoes is about them tearing or not lasting long.. One of the reasons I didn't buy them.
Unfortunately this is pretty much how modern trail shoes are, unless you buy leather.

Which is why I stick with Salomon, because they actually replace them when they fail early.

Yes, the model I currently use starts to fail at about 150-200 miles, BUT with the replacements I can get almost 1000 miles out of 2 pairs of boots for the price of 1.

[Bruinguy]

I was disappointed with Brooks. I had two pairs where the fabric wore out on the inside by the ankle quickly.

Seemed like they were designed to fail.

[TimCFJ40]

Bought one pair of Saucony Trail Shoes a decade ago and they died in the first run.  I bought them from a national chain running store with a "satisfaction guarantee", and still they just glued them and gave them back.   Maybe Saucony's trail shoes have gotten better, but the upper on the ones I killed didn't seem much more substantial than a normal running shoe.

REI will  most certainly replace anything that doesn't meet your expectations, so try them for your next pair.  That said, I buy a lot of shoes from them and have never returned a pair that at least made a dozen runs or so. 

I go through 4 pairs of running shoes a year, running about 1000 miles.  (Usually 1 pair of road shoes and 3 pairs of trail shoes, and my runs are generally 3 to 1 Trail to Road)

My trails are very rocky, and I run in the wet a lot, so ~200-300 miles seems to be about all I get anyway.  La Sportivas last the longest for me, and I like they way they run.  Hokas have been OK too, but they aren't as deft on technical trail as they have all of that sole. 

Good Luck and Happy Running!  If you find a trail running shoe that can really last more than 300 miles of technical trail post up!  I need some of those!

[Bateaux]

I'm simply too heavy for trail runners. I have to wear boots.

[slugsworth]

My question is, is the tearing impacting the function. I know not everyone wants to flaunt the hikertrash vogue, but on the trail, I don't personally care. Stuff gets worn in the mountains.

Fwiw, everyones feet are different, I usually get ~500 miles a pair out of Brooks Cascadias.

[billy]

My question is, is the tearing impacting the function. I know not everyone wants to flaunt the hikertrash vogue, but on the trail, I don't personally care. Stuff gets worn in the mountains.

Fwiw, everyones feet are different, I usually get ~500 miles a pair out of Brooks Cascadias.

They keep tearing, so eventually. With your Cascadias, would you say the toe box is a bit narrow, average or roomy?

[Morning Glory]

I had issues with my last pair of regular running shoes from Saucony falling apart really fast, after having several previous pairs that were decent. A shame they have gone downhill as I have a hard time finding other brands that fit well. For now I have Adidas runners slightly too small and Hoka hiking shoes slightly too big in spite of being the same number size. The Hokas seem to be holding up well but had a break-in period to become comfortable. Before the last Sauconys I had a pair if Brooks that felt like they had an arch-support lump in the wrong spot.

[slugsworth]

My question is, is the tearing impacting the function. I know not everyone wants to flaunt the hikertrash vogue, but on the trail, I don't personally care. Stuff gets worn in the mountains.

Fwiw, everyones feet are different, I usually get ~500 miles a pair out of Brooks Cascadias.

They keep tearing, so eventually. With your Cascadias, would you say the toe box is a bit narrow, average or roomy?

I have wide toes, I wear wide Cascadias. I can't do the zero drop thing and have been very happy with my wide Cascadias.

[hudsoncat]

I've been running in Topo road shoes and hiking in their trail shoes for a couple of years. Spouse too. We've been generally happy with them and no complaints about early wear out. I've been pretty lucky pulling last season models/colors on sale at a nearby running store or finding them cheap online. Wide forefeet, low heel/toe drops generally (0-5 mm... nothing higher) which I know is a challenge for some folks.

[desertadapted]

I second the Brooks Cascadia recommendation.  I've owned about 15 pairs over the years.  I get at least 400 miles of trail running/hiking/backpacking in rocky terrain. They have a ~8 mm drop, which helps with Achilles issues, and built-in gaiter traps so you can conveniently use gaiters (like Dirty Girl gaiters), to keep out scree.  While it's possible to get more than 400 miles, I find that aggressively replacing after 400 miles reduces overuse pain.   

[jrhampt]

I have sauconys now, but I was thinking about trying out some Hoka trail runners when they need replacing.  Which Hoka trail runner version would those who are using them recommend?  Speed goats?  Torrent?

[TimCFJ40]

I have sauconys now, but I was thinking about trying out some Hoka trail runners when they need replacing.  Which Hoka trail runner version would those who are using them recommend?  Speed goats?  Torrent?

Personally I've liked the Speedgoats and Mafates.  They're not my favorite for really technical terrain (La Sportiva Kaptiva there for me), but for moderate trail and especially mixed road/path/trail, they're great.