I read somewhere that if you rotate your athletic shoes, and let them air out, they will last longer..
So, I've always had at least 2 pairs of tennis shoes. I try to rotate them.. Also, comfortable running/walking tennis shoes are more expensive than regular shoes and I would save them for playing tennis in or something really athletic specifically...
I like nature walks.. for that, you need high-tops and good, deep tread.. Ideally made out of leather because they are warmer and last longer.. Sometimes, you might need 2 pairs of these.. one for winter (really warm, lined, gortex, leather) and one that is more "breathable" for summer.
Then, there's the worn out pair of tennis shoes that I use for going to the grocery store, etc... Those get the most wear and end up being the most worn out.. I wear them until them get holes in them... Eventually the running shoes will end up turning into the grocery store shoes.. ultimately, they end up being the walmart/thrift store shoes with holes... and Finally, the yard-work or painting shoes... ha until there's nothing left of them and they get thrown.
I have to have a decent pair of "going out" shoes like to wear to a restaurant or doctor's office. These usually are not very comfortable though.. I have a couple pairs of these to wear for the sake of having different colors.. they are usually black or brown though, nothing too fancy.
I've collected a few pairs of cowboy boots I buy cheaply at the thrift stores and also, for concerts where people are likely to try and trample my feet, I have a couple of left-over steel-toed work boots from my days working at having to load and unload alot of stuff.. They were from my old job and I still have a couple of pairs that have alot of life left because i dont' go to those crowded concerts very much.. If I think I could be in a dangerous situation, then I will wear the steel-toed shoes also.. just in case I have to use them as a weapon
o.k. sorry my post is getting too long.... Oh, a pair of waterproof surf sandles for walking in the surf at the beach and a couple of nice flip-flops too... I'm really trying not to buy any more shoes -- I get them really cheaply sometimes though, but I know, I really have TOO many shoes.. and need to let them wear out.. I'll probably have the steel-toed boots for life..