10 Best Cheap Running Shoes (Buyer's Guide)

Tips for finding shoes at cheap prices

Here are some tips to help you find a good deal. 

1. Browse online stores. Usually, they allow for shoes to be filtered by price or discount. 
2. Browse online shoe databases. Much more comprehensive than regular online stores. RunRepeat database is updated on a daily basis and offers sorting by discount (from less than 30% to more than 70%) and the cheap filter. 
3. Use “price drop” email alerts. Some shoes are worth waiting for, so why not get an email once their price drops. 
4. Pay attention to older models, they tend to be discounted more often than new models. Especially if you’re offline shopping, smaller shops might have those models on sale.
5. Exercise caution if buying on Black Friday. Turns out sneakers are cheaper on 66% of days throughout the year than they are on Black Friday. Worth keeping in mind when buying running shoes too.

What’s a good price for a running shoe? 

$110-130 will probably get you the most value for money. The premium price of $150-350 simply isn’t always worth it. When looking for a cheap running shoe, people tend to stay in the $60-80 range. 

Keep in mind that shoe prices are defined by: 

1. Shoe features - e.g. rock plate, GTX membrane, maximum cushioning, innovative technologies (might work wonders for specific conditions, but also might not be needed for your every day running);
2. Marketing - the bigger the campaigns - the more expensive shoes get;
3. Timing - do you want the new shoe as soon as it’s available? Or even pre-order? The more you wait, the greater the chances to find that certain model discounted. 

Cheap vs. expensive running shoes 

The line that separates inexpensive from expensive running shoes is the price: $100. It’s nothing official, but a wide-spread notion. 

What might support your decision to buy a cheaper pair of running shoes is our study on shoe prices. According to RunRepeat’s research on expensive and affordable running shoes people are 8% less satisfied with expensive running shoes.

Are expensive shoes better?

They are not. 

According to our study, the trendline on this graph surely backs this up. It shows that expensive running shoes get lower ratings:

Brands with the biggest % of cheap running shoes

To help your shoe hunt, this is the overview of the top 10 brands with the biggest % of cheap running shoes and their average MSRPs.

Here’s how those brands compare to each other when it comes to their average MSRPs.

To assist you with this search, we’ve created collections of cheap Reebok, Puma and Skechers running shoes separately. Keep in mind that the overview was based on the initial retail price. This in no way means you won’t be able to get a more expensive shoe at a great price. Keep looking for discounts!

When you’ve nailed the great deal, make sure you keep in mind: 

1. Shoes should be comfortable! (try them on before buying) 
2. Shoes should satisfy your intentions (check the performance details or use our guide to buying running shoes)
3. Shoes should fit. If you’re having doubts about the size you need, use RunRepeat’s ultimate shoe size guide.