Before replacing walking shoes, look at their condition and how they work for your usual outing. Check the soles, heels, lining and fastening rather than deciding from the age of the pair alone. Wear that changes their function deserves attention even when the upper still looks tidy.
This is a practical inspection, not a way to diagnose your walking pattern. A photograph of one worn patch cannot explain every reason it developed or tell you which medical treatment you need.
Look underneath, then inside
Clean off loose dirt so you can see the sole. Look for worn areas, separation or damage, and compare both shoes. Then check the inside for rough seams, damaged lining or an object that should not be there.
In its guidance for prescribed orthopaedic footwear, Guy's and St Thomas' lists worn soles, heels and rough seams among the checks, with repair or replacement reviewed by the orthotics service. For ordinary walking shoes, keep the practical question clear: what needs attention now, rather than whether the pair looks new enough for somebody else's standard?
Check the parts that hold the foot
Look at the heel area, laces or other fastening and the material around them. If a fastening no longer holds as intended, consider the actual fault. A replacement lace is a different problem from a damaged structure that no longer works properly.
Do not conceal a substantial defect with a quick adjustment and then assume it has been repaired. Ask the manufacturer, a suitable repairer or a footwear professional when the right response is unclear.
Consider the outing you are planning
A familiar short pavement walk and a longer uneven trail place different demands on footwear. Think about the route you actually use, including wet surfaces and the distance home. Keep the decision tied to the shoe's suitability for that outing.
For example, noticing a separating sole before a planned walk gives you time to use another appropriate pair or change the plan. Waiting until the loose section catches during the outing is not a useful test of how long the shoe can last.
Do not turn a mileage estimate into a diagnosis
People, shoes and use differ. A general replacement estimate can be a reminder to inspect a pair, but it cannot tell you that a damaged shoe is sound until a particular number appears on an app.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons discusses fit and shoe construction, including that some well-made shoes can be resoled. Ask whether repair is appropriate for your particular pair rather than assuming every walking shoe is repairable.
Keep any repair advice with the pair so you know what was changed. A repair should answer the actual condition problem, not merely make the shoe look cleaner.
Keep discomfort in the conversation
If you develop persistent foot discomfort, seek appropriate advice rather than repeatedly buying different shoes to guess the cause. Bring the footwear and describe when the problem occurs. Prescribed or adapted footwear should be reviewed through the relevant care service.
Finish the check with a clear decision: continue using a suitable sound pair, arrange an appropriate repair, or replace it. The point is not keeping shoes indefinitely or replacing them on a rigid calendar. It is having footwear ready for the walk you intend to take.