Black Friday - best deals from 52 stores 5 Best Cheap Gym Shoes in 2024
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There’s no need to spend a fortune on a new pair of gym shoes. In fact, if you’re on a tight budget, you can still score good quality workout trainers from popular brands like Adidas, Nike, and Reebok.
Let’s get this out of the way though: you can’t expect a $50 pair of shoes to be loaded up with the latest innovations in gym shoe technology. But what you will get is still a solid quality product from trusted labels that offer stylish design, ample cushioning, and support to keep you comfortable in the gym.
To help you choose the perfect fit, we tested and cut in half best cheap gym shoes out there priced at $90 and below. We’ve tested each very thoroughly and picked our top favorites in specific categories.
How we test training shoes
Identifying our best picks in the budget-friendly category requires meticulously testing. As fitness enthusiasts ourselves, it's exactly what we do.
Here’s our process:
- We purchase affordable gym shoes across different brands. We use our own money for this to avoid bias.
- We use the shoes to their full potential before making our final assessments. That means wear-testing the shoes in a variety of training regimens and cardio exercises. We note the shoes’ fit and feel, performance, breathability, and many other properties.
- We anchor all our in-depth reviews on our personal experiences with the shoes.
- We go to the lab, where we cut shoes in half and use a caliper, digital force gauge, durometer, smoke machine, band saw, and other instruments to measure and analyze every inch of the shoe.
Based on all the lab data and our gym sessions, we deliver an objective, backed-with-data, in-depth review. Such approach allows us to also present the top picks - in this case, best gym shoes that cost less than $90.
Best cheap gym shoes overall
What makes it the best?
Post-testing affordable gym shoes through intense exercises and lab evaluations, we chose the Nike MC Trainer 3 as our top pick. For just $80, it offers delightful comfort through its plush cushioning and breathable upper. The added bonus? An uncomplicated build that kept us agile in the gym.
It’s amazing how we had such a cushioned and supportive experience for a trainer under $100. With a stack height of 30.6/21.8 mm, our caliper revealed above-average cushioning. High-impact moves such as jumping or running kept us free from pain, especially since our durometer shows the foam is 13.0% softer than average.
Because of its lightweight design of just 10.4 oz (296g), picking up the pace was effortless. Its flexible construction, further enhanced by deep grooves in the outsole, allowed us to bend naturally when performing lunges, burpees, or planks.
The seamless ventilation offered by the upper kept us cool and our sweat under control, offering free airflow that earned a 5/5 rating in our smoke test—making it an ideal choice for high-intensity workouts. However, the delicate mesh is vulnerable to damage, as proven by our Dremel. Those who need tougher uppers should find another option.
Pros
- Fantastic value for money
- Highly breathable
- Doesn't drag the foot down
- Better cushioned than v2
- Heel bevel is better for running and walking
- Decent stability for moderate workouts
- Good flexibility for lunges and planks
- Accommodating toebox
- Comfortable padded interiors
Cons
- Not for flat and wide feet (narrow midfoot)
- Upper lacks wear resistance
Best cheap gym shoes for beginners
What makes it the best?
The Nike Legend Essential 3 is the best for beginners not only because of its low price ($65, the average price of a pair of trainers is $91) but also because of a series of superlatives that it delivers. First of all, it is super lightweight that we tend to forget that we still have something on. Also, it ensured a good deal of stability and lockdown, making us feel more confident with each step.
In the lab, we learned that the Nike Legend Essential 3 weighs only 8.78 oz or 249g. Compared to the average (11.18 oz or 317g), this figure represents an amazing 21% drop in weight! This shoe just felt so light that we didn’t want to take it off even after the workout was over.
Support was thankfully not a problem with this shoe. Its snug fit helped keep our feet in place even during the most intense plays and exercises. The sidewalls, laces, and even the slightly thicker insole (4.5 mm vs the 3.9 mm average) all helped in giving the foot a secure clasp.
Stability was also a function of the shoe’s wide platform. Based on our caliper measurements, the forefoot and heel areas of the platform are 112.2 mm and 90.7 mm wide respectively. These figures are higher than the 109.6 mm and 87.0 mm averages.
It’s just quite regrettable that we cannot recommend the Nike Legend Essential 3 to those who want shoes that last. Twelve seconds of Dremel-drilling already resulted in a hole, and we were forced to give this shoe only a 2 out of 5 for durability.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Super lightweight
- Breathable upper
- Enough cushioning for jumps
- Wide platform
- Flexible
- Good grip
Cons
- Lacks durability
- Not for heavy lifting
Best cheap minimalist gym shoes
What makes it the best?
We hail the Flex Control 4 from Nike as the best minimalist offer among cheap trainers because it excellently lives up to its name. First of all, it deserves to be described as cheap because, at $65, it’s much more affordable than the typical trainer, which is priced at $100. It deserves to be called “Flex” simply because it was truly very flexible, allowing us to bend our feet without much resistance. The “Control” in its name is also warranted. Its midsole was firm, and it allowed us to get a pronounced feeling of the floor, giving us more control over our movements no matter how fine they were.
Straight out of the box, we immediately appreciated the lightness of this shoe. We were not anymore surprised when our weighing scale in the lab reported that this shoe weighs only 9.8 oz or 277g, which is a lot lighter than the 11.2 oz or 317g average.
The flexibility of the shoe was a total dealmaker. Both the heel counter and the shoe’s base got a score of 2 out of 5 for rigidity, which means that they could easily go with the natural flexes of our feet during our sessions.
The firm midsole was appreciated a lot by the more quick-footed among us. Readings from our HA durometer revealed that this shoe is 19% firmer than the typical trainer. How easy it was to ace agility ladder workouts when we had the Flex Control 4 on our feet!
Too bad this shoe was not really built as the tanker we thought it was. Some parts of the upper already showed signs of wear and tear, and we have not even subjected it to the Dremel test yet!
Pros
- Comfortable in-shoe feel
- Lighter than average
- Very flexible
- Foot feels planted
- Budget-friendly
- Good grip
- Simple aesthetics
- True to size
Cons
- Durability issues
- Not for serious workouts
Cheap gym shoes with the best stability
What makes it the best?
The New Balance DynaSoft TRNR v2 offered the best stability among all the cheap gym shoes that we worked out in. For only $80 (vs $100 average), we already got a trainer with a very accommodating platform. This New Balance gym shoe also did not pale in comparison to pricier alternatives when it came to breathability and grip on any floor type.
The amazingly wide platform had the following measurements: 117.3 mm at the forefoot and 91.6 mm at the heel. These numbers are both higher than the recorded averages, which are 109.5 mm and 86.6 mm, respectively. Given the platform’s width, there was no way our feet would still slide off the footbed.
Our feet didn’t have to suffer from excessive heat because the upper was pretty well-ventilated. We pumped smoke into the shoe in the lab, and we watched in awe as smoke permeated the upper quite easily. We gave the DynaSoft TRNR v2 a well-deserved 4 out of 5.
We were spared from accidental slips and falls because the shoe had quite a bite on any floor type that we worked out in. The traction pattern etched in the outsole did what it had to do, and we couldn’t ask for more.
Speaking of asking for more, the shoe’s durability left a lot to be desired. Our Dremel had a heyday poking holes through the toe box and the heel padding. The New Balance DynaSoft TRNR v2 got a disappointing 1 over 5 across the board for durability.
Pros
- Highly breathable
- Lighter than average
- Wide and steady platform
- Hard-wearing outsole
- Solid grip on gym floors
- Comfortable in-shoe feel
- Can be worn casually
Cons
- Upper fabric tears easily
- Cheap and frail laces
Best cheap gym shoes with Air Max
What makes it the best?
For only $95, we gained access to the best cheap Air Max gym shoe: the Nike Air Max Gen Alpha Trainer 6. Our lab validates this trainer’s unit offers the sweet spot between impact protection and stability, allowing us to perform moderate lifting too. It has rigid elements that keep us well-planted, while the well-ventilated upper soothes our feet during intense sessions.
The Air Max unit is the star of the show, as it boosts the shoe’s height to a massive 36.1/25.0 mm, erasing any feel of the ground. Each landing felt well-cushioned while lifting felt good since the Air Max doesn’t compress too much.
The shoe offers a wide base to stabilize us, yet its stiff structure holds our feet firmly in place. Our manual assessment reveals the shoe has the highest level of torsional rigidity and heel counter stiffness, both with a 5/5 rating.
To soften the sensation on foot, the porous mesh upper allows cool air in and expels body heat out, evidenced by its perfect breathability rating in our smoke test. This boosted comfort since we could stay in the shoe longer.
However, the shoe’s thick platform made us feel disconnected from the gym floor, which is crucial for agility exercises, plyometrics, and heavier weightlifting. Those who prefer a more natural feel should find a low-profile trainer.
Pros
- Excellent breathability
- Decent durability for the price
- Abundant cushioning for high impact exercises
- Stable platform for moderate weightlifting
- Great lateral stability
- Comfortable padded interiors
- Visually striking Air Max unit
Cons
- Heavier than average
- Can feel platformy, disconnected from the floor
- Stiff for lunges and planks
Buyer's guide on the best cheap gym shoes
You should seriously research your options before buying cheap gym shoes. If you don’t, you might end up with a pair of shoes that won't function well on the gym floor if you don't know what to look for. Even worse, you might end up injured!
Let's drill down on the details of what to look for in a cheap gym shoe to help you get a great deal without compromising performance.
What are the compromises when buying cheap gym shoes?
There are several possible compromises you may need to take into account when purchasing inexpensive gym sneakers, including:
Inferior Materials
Cheap gym shoes could be composed of inferior materials, which could lead to decreased durability, less support, and a higher risk of injury.
We thoroughly check every single training shoe that gets to our lab. We use a Dremel to test the wear resistance of various shoe components (toebox, heel padding, outsole, etc.).
We found that sometimes a more expensive shoe doesn't mean better durability. But in some cases, it is worth investing in a longer shoe life.
Lack of Technologies
Cheap gym shoes could not include the technology and features found in higher-end versions, such as specific support systems or cutting-edge cushioning foams.
Jumping on a basic EVA foam like this...
...is going to feel different from jumping on a Zoom Air unit like this:
Lower Brand Reputation
Cheap gym shoes could be associated with lesser-known or worse-reputation brands, which might not provide the same level of quality, support, or customer care as more well-known brands.
What to look for when buying a cheap workout shoe
Finding inexpensive gym shoes that are safe and useful can be challenging, but there are a few considerations to bear in mind when shopping for low-cost options:
Check for Quality: Even if you're shopping for a cheap pair of shoes, you should still check sure they're built of durable materials.
Search for Sales and Discounts: During discounts, clearance events, or while using coupons, you can frequently find high-quality shoes at reduced costs.
Read Reviews: To learn how other customers felt about the shoes, read their reviews. You should take into account any safety or efficacy concerns they may have raised.
Choose a Reliable Brand: Although you might not be able to buy the most costly brands, there are many trustworthy brands that provide affordable solutions. A quality shoe can be obtained by selecting a brand with a solid reputation.
Match to your Workout: The goal is to select footwear that is appropriate for the type of exercise you plan to perform. For instance, you might not want to lift weights in a cheap running shoe.
Check the Fit: Ensure sure the shoe fits comfortably and correctly. Injury might occur from wearing shoes that don't fit properly.
Return Policy: Verify the return policy to see if you may send the shoe back if it isn't the right fit for you.
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