I suspect many gyms would exclude you if you wore 'brown' shoes... I wouldn't really know, as I don't do gyms - haven't set foot in one since my rowing days back in the, erm, late eighties!

I retire my old trainers for gym use only, when they get near the end of their life. That way you have a separate clean pair for the gym but they are no longer shiny and new. So that satisfies all criteria!

Thanks all, for the post didn't think it would get such a response. But it would seem the way forward is dirty "street cred" shoes, which is hard to do as an Ex Army Sergent Major. But def no more wasing machine, "wire brush and dettol" to quote Billy Connoly.

Wash the Lake District off under a tap. chuck 'em in the washing m/c on a short, cool cycle (with no detergent), dry as usual. I always take the insoles out and wash them separately (in hotter water, with detergent).

Then call Tourist Information and see if they want their mud back!

They'd probably dry faster (mud and all) outside - hang 'em on the line.

Stuffing balled up newspaper into wet trainers seems to work well drying them out and stopping them smelling.

True!

my washing machine actually has a setting for trainers.....not used it yet though, trainers not worn enough yet

Mmmm. I'd check the destructions to see what that setting actually does - a washing machine manufacturers idea of trainers doesn't necessarily match ours of running shoes.

I don't worry about them looking slightly grubby. I wash the sock liners (inner soles) seperately from the shoes to keep them fresh, but wash the shoes (occasionally) on a gentle, cool cycle, with no detergent, then dry them gently.

Yeah, I think heat can affect the gels used in the construction too.

I also tie the laces together - very close to the end, otherwise they get stuck in the holes in the drum!