7 Best Cheap Running Shoes in 2024

Jovana Subic
Jovana Subic on
7 Best Cheap Running Shoes in 2024
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Running shoes can be cheap (cost less than $100). Especially if you’re not chasing records or racing competitively.  

After testing cheap running shoes both on the test runs and in our lab, we came up with the top picks in different categories. Depending on what you find the most important in your running shoes, we have options that highlight style, cushioning, durability, or a little bit of everything.

Also, we let you know about all the RunRepeat options that help you find a great deal, be it a price email alert, price history, or filters for discounts.

How we test running shoes

We, a team of experienced shoe testers, are here to help you find the best deal. In our independent lab, we scrutinize every new release, seeking out the underdogs among budget-friendly models. Here is our process:

  • We do multiple test runs in each pair, averaging 30-50 miles per shoe.
  • In our lab, we measure the shoe's flexibility, softness, breathability, durability, etc. We end up with 20+ data points that accurately describe each cheap running shoe. We even cut them in half to reveal everything - layers, materials, stitching. 
  • All running shoes are purchased with our own funds to avoid bias.

Best cheap running shoes overall

What makes it the best?

Hours of lab tests and miles of running showed us that the Nike Downshifter 13 is the ultimate cheap running shoe. At only $75, it’s way below the $100 budget and boasts remarkable durability for a longer shoe lifespan. Additionally, its flexibility and breathable nature create a sense of effortlessness in our ride.

The Downshifter 13 delivered outstanding resilience and toughness in our lab, even beating its more expensive counterparts. Our durometer reveals a high 90.5 HC reading vs. the 80.1 HC average, indicative of its strength. It even conquered our abrasive Dremel with only minor damage, proving it’s built to last.

The midsole displays amazing versatility, making it easy for us to move naturally. Our bend test confirms its flexibility by needing 39.7% less force than average to bend to 90 degrees. 

Above our feet lies a light and perforated upper that allows seamless airflow. We undeniably enjoyed the cool sensation in our runs, which our smoke test mirrors with an impressive 4/5 rating.

However, while the ride feels smooth, it lacks spark. Those who crave an exciting ride will be satisfied with other models.

Pros

  • Improved breathability
  • Good durability
  • Easy on the wallet
  • Ideal for heel strikers
  • Doubles as a walking shoe
  • Weight reduction from v1
  • Sustainable design
  • Improved materials

Cons

  • Limited energy return
  • Forefoot stack is a bit low
  • Grip could be better
Full review of Nike Downshifter 13

Best cheap running shoes for long distance

Saucony Axon 3
89
Great!

What makes it the best?

Runners looking for a budget shoe built for long distances can't go wrong with Saucony Axon 3. It boasts premium cushioning, a light build, and exceptional durability in our lab and run trials, making it an easy pick for our top cheap long-distance shoe.

At just $100, it falls significantly below the $130 average of daily trainers. Despite its low price point, it has much more cushion and less weight than usual. Both features rarely go together, but Axon 3 made it happen. Our scales show it’s only 8.6 oz (244g) vs. the 9.4 oz (266g) average of road-running shoes.

We measured its forefoot to have 3.2 mm more foam than average, which gives us extra protection on longer runs, especially for forefoot strikers. The cushion feels soft underfoot and our durometer confirms an 18.3 HA measurement, 22.5% below average. 

After repetitive test runs, the outsole displayed reliable grip and barely showed visual signs of wear. Axon 3 proves it can take the beating of several training blocks as it uses rubber that’s 0.7 mm thicker and 3.5% harder than average.

However, we don't recommend the Axon 3 for runners in search of a flexible shoe for that natural feel. This shoe is quite rigid torsionally and longitudinally.

Pros

  • Incredible value at only $100
  • Significant weight reduction from version 2
  • Impressively cushioned with PWRRUN foam
  • Fantastic durability
  • Suitable for quicker paces
  • Excellent as a daily workhorse
  • Lovely upper
  • Works for short and long runs

Cons

  • Probably too stiff for very relaxed runs
  • Slightly narrower forefoot than before
Full review of Saucony Axon 3

Best cheap running shoes for flat feet

What makes it the best?

At an affordable $110, there’s nothing like the ASICS GT 1000 13. It inspires confidence through steady arch support most comfortably and naturally. It's built to last, making it an excellent value compared to the $141 average for stability shoes. Our lab tests and runs found that this cheap running shoe performs best for flat feet.

The Flytefoam perfectly blends impact protection and support by making the stack a well-cushioned 33.7/25.0 mm that’s made of a balanced 22.5 HA foam. Meanwhile, the PureGEL technology in the heel enhances softer landings for added comfort.

This shoe also has mild stability elements such as the 3D Guidance System, midsole sidewalls, and heel reinforcements to ensure steady strides. Despite the structural stiffness, the ride still feels versatile and pleasant since it bends without restrictions. Our 90-degree bend test confirms it’s 50.0% more flexible than average—a stark contrast vs. traditional stiff counterparts.

The AHAR outsole’s durability is very impressive and offers great value for money. Our durometer reading shows it’s a high 85.1 HC and it resisted our Dremel bravely with a minimal 0.7 mm dent, cementing its toughness.

This shoe ticks many boxes, yet speed isn’t one of them. More advanced runners may find the midsole’s lack of energy underwhelming.

Pros

  • Enhanced overall comfort
  • PureGEL technology for softer landings
  • Increased cushioning
  • Cozier feel
  • Durable outsole
  • Ready for long runs
  • Doubles for walking or gym sessions
  • Enhanced for heel strikers
  • Reasonable weight

Cons

  • Price increase
  • Still lacks energy return
  • Breathability downgrade
Full review of ASICS GT 1000 13

Best cheap lightweight running shoes

ASICS Gel Pulse 15
79
Decent!

What makes it the best?

Low price and weight plus high versatility and support perfectly sum up the ASICS Gel Pulse 15 experience as confirmed by our lab and runs. At $100, it offers the comfort, stability, and effortless ride we expect from a more premium shoe. It’s light on the feet and in the pocket—making it our top lightweight cheap running shoe.

Its 8.4 oz (237g) build feels easy on the feet as it’s lighter than the 9.4 oz (265g) average road-running shoe. Its midsole offers minimal resistance and adapts to our every move, as validated by our flex test with 26.1% better bendability than average. Its natural feel makes it versatile for walking and other daily activities.

Its 21.0 HA cushion feels soft, protective, and surprisingly stable. With a caliper in hand, we found the midsole stabilizes our landings with its wide 118.8/97.9 mm base. The light shoe, flexible build, and soft cushion combo lead to a comfortable and enjoyable ride. However, the midsole will feel limiting to those who crave a responsive ride. We believe this shoe shines best on easy paces.

Pros

  • Exceptional value
  • Durable design
  • Excellent stability
  • Superb weight reduction
  • Upgraded FlyteFoam midsole
  • Superb comfort
  • Versatile for multiple activities
  • Better than ever for long runs
  • Improved for heel strikers

Cons

  • Breathability
  • Outsole coverage
  • Rigid heel counter
Full review of ASICS Gel Pulse 15

Cheap running shoes with the best cushioning

Nike Winflo 11
86
Good!

What makes it the best?

At an accessible $105 price point, the Nike Winflo 11 offers a luxurious experience and a lasting outsole. Its thick, breathable upper and plush underfoot feel make it exceptionally comfortable for all-day wear. After conducting actual wear tests and lab analysis, it’s our best cushioned cheap running shoe pick.

Despite being a budget-friendly shoe, the Winflo 11 is generously cushioned. Besides its massive 37.6 mm heel stack, it features a full-length Air unit that enhances the overall softness with some bounce for a more effortless ride. Our durometer confirmed what we felt: the foam measures 35.0% softer than average, ensuring comfort for long hours.

Even the upper feels soft to the touch. Yet contrary to what we expected, the shoe is well-ventilated. We were amazed when it received a remarkable 4/5 breathability rating in our smoke test.

Underneath, it balances softness with toughness. Our durometer shows a robust 93.0 HC rubber that resists wear, evidenced by its minimal signs of use post-testing.

However, the downside of a well-cushioned shoe with a solid outsole is a heavier weight of 10.4 oz (295g). We don’t recommend this pair to runners who prefer light trainers.

Pros

  • Comfortable engineered mesh
  • Exceptional durability
  • Excellent value for price
  • Spacious toebox
  • Gusseted tongue
  • Ideal for heel strikers
  • Plush foam cushioning
  • Perfect for beginners
  • Full-length Air unit

Cons

  • Small price increase from v10
  • Notable weight gain
  • Lacks stability
Full review of Nike Winflo 11

Cheap running shoes for all-day wear

What makes it the best?

Among cheap running shoes, the Nike Interact Run was kind to our feet and finances, making it the best for all-day wear. It features the premium, plush, and airy Flyknit upper despite being an $85 shoe. Our lab confirms it’s an exceptionally versatile shoe that’s great for casual runs and daily activities because of its lightness and flexibility.

The upper’s comfort is prominent upon slip-on, feeling soft to the touch and breezy on the foot. Our microscope reveals a dense Flyknit material that’s dotted with ventilation holes for free airflow. Our lab results align with our observations, earning a 5/5 breathability score. While most shoes perform inversely for resilience, Interact Run breaks the norm with a perfect durability score.

Adding to its weightless feel is its actual light 8.5 oz (241g) build, 9.1% below average. This is mostly attributed to its minimal cushioning, which also leads to higher flexibility. True enough, it emerged 50.2% less resistant than average in our bend test, making it comfortable for daily walks and errands.

However, we find the cushioning lacks support and energy return. We recommend more serious runners to invest in other shoes.

Pros

  • Ideal for hot climates
  • Perfect for everyday life
  • Exceptional comfort
  • Fantastic value
  • Great for beginners and heel strikers
  • Flyknit upper under $100!
  • Really lightweight
  • Upper durability

Cons

  • Not enough energy return
  • Outsole needs improvements
  • Only for short and easy runs
Full review of Nike Interact Run

Best cheap trail running shoes

What makes it the best?

With its excellent cushioning and impressive breathability, the Asics Gel Venture 9 is a noteworthy beast on the trails. With a surprisingly low price tag, the Asics Gel Venture 9 is the best cheap trail running shoe.

At a jaw-dropping price of 80 USD, it is tough to find a better shoe at the same price point. It provides insane value in having a versatile shoe to handle trail running, hiking, or even road running in a pinch.

We measured the heel stack of the Gel Venture 9 to be at 33.3 mm—more than the 31.7 mm average stack height of trail running shoes. Additionally, when we pressed our durometer against the midsole foam, it found the foam to be 10.87% softer than average—all contributing to comfortable cushioning while tackling the trails.

The Asics Gel Venture 9 has a well-ventilated mesh upper. We tested the shoe’s breathability by pumping smoke inside the shoe. The smoke effortlessly passed through the material, garnering a well-deserved score of 4/5. Trail running even in hot weather is definitely not a problem with these shoes.

While it does provide great value, the upper's durability is a weakness. It scored a poor 1/5 on our Dremel test. Trail runners may want to look at other options for trail running shoes with more durable uppers.

Pros

  • Fantastic value
  • Summer-ready mesh upper
  • Enough stack height
  • Stable ride
  • Good for heel strikers
  • Ready for hiking
  • GEL technology for amazing impact protection

Cons

  • Durability could be better
  • Lacks energy return
  • Heavy
Full review of ASICS Gel Venture 9

4 ways RunRepeat helps you find cheap running shoes

We've made it easy to find the best deal or to notify you once the price drops! Here's what you can use on our website to find great deals: 

  1. Price alert 
  2. Price filters
  3. Price history
  4. Deals 

RunRepeat Price Alert 

If you have a price cap on a shoe you want to buy, you can use Price Alert. Just click on Add price alert and enter your email. 

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We will notify you once the price of the shoe, in the selected size, drops below the current one. 

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Price filters

On the page where we list all the running shoes we have tested, in the field and in the lab, you can use a “Cheap” filter to immediately filter only those that cost less than $100. You can also use other filters that correspond to your budget. 

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Price history 

Having the price history is meaningful because you can learn a lot from it, like: 

  • Is the price actually lower on Black Friday?
  • How does seasonality affect the shoe you want to buy? If it’s a waterproof (Gore-Tex) shoe, is it more expensive in autumn and discounted in spring? Are women’s shoes cheaper around Mother’s Day? 
  • Is the current price around the average or maybe you’re lucky enough to visit the page when the best deal ever is available? 

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Price history is more precise, of course, if you choose gender, size, and maybe even color. 

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Deals on RunRepeat 

At any moment, you can visit our Deals page and look for running shoes that have been discounted by at least 30% (some more than 70%!)

Context needed when it comes to shoe prices

In our shoe reviews, you can also find the chapter on price. This is where we elaborate on the shoe’s value, whether we think it’s worth the money or not, and it’s where you can see how the shoe in question compares to the other shoes from the same category when it comes to the price. 

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Average price of running shoes per brand 

This is another piece of the puzzle or more context one could use when looking for cheap shoes. 

average-MRSRP-running-shoes.png Again, using our database, we’ve pulled the numbers for average prices of running shoes. Keep in mind that we used MSRP, which stands for the manufacturer’s suggested retail price or the price once the shoe was released, not when it was discounted

Which brands make cheap shoes?

Based on our database, Inov8, Hoka, Mizuno, and On do not make cheap shoes (shoes that cost less than $100). For other brands, we’ve listed the percentage of shoes that cost less than $100 in the chart below. 

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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.

3 general tips for finding cheap running shoes

  1. Browse online stores. Usually, they allow for shoes to be filtered by price or discount. Additionally, shoes are often cheaper online as there’s no cost related to owning a specialized shop, hiring people to work there, etc. 
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

When looking for older models, on RunRepeat, you can also select a size and then add older models to the comparison table to have a clear overview of the current price (yay!) and other features that might have changed and are relevant to you

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What makes running shoes expensive 

$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. carbon-fiber plate, premium foam, GTX membrane, etc. These 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.
technologies-salomon-trail-shoes.jpg
Expensive features in trail shoes: durable outsole, Gore-Tex membrane, stabilizing technology 
premium-foam-carbon-fiber-plate.jpg
Expensive features in race shoes: carbon-fiber plate, premium foam, sock-like super-breathable upper

Downsides of getting cheap running shoes

Cheap running shoes can be quite comfortable, however, what they usually lack is a) new technologies, and b) durability. 

When it comes to new technologies, this means that you’ll be getting a standard foam, not a premium one. This is not at all a bad thing, most of the daily trainers have the standard one. However, premium foams are way more responsive, leg-saving, and, well, expensive. 

Other technologies you might be missing out on are: a carbon-fiber plate for extra stiffness and propulsion (when combined with premium foams), a waterproof membrane like Gore-Tex, maybe even a rock plate (in trail shoes, for extra protection), high-quality insoles, and so on. 

When it comes to durability, you can always check how the shoe performed in our durability tests before purchasing it. If you’re not familiar with our durability tests, we perform them on the toebox, outsole, and heel padding. 

Testing the durability of the toebox in RunRepeat lab

Once we’ve done the damage, we assess it on a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most durable. 

Different levels of toebox damage in running shoes

We apply the same process to the heel padding: press a dremel against it using the same force, RPMs, and duration. 

Different levels of heel padding damage as a result of our durability test (1/5 being the least durable)

Testing the durability of the outsole in RunRepeat lab

When examining the damage on the outsole, we don’t have to assess it because we have a tool that measures the exact depth of the dent: a tire tread gauge. The shallower the dent, the more durable the outsole, of course! 

Different levels of damage on the running shoe outsoles (left: rubber, right: exposed midsole)
Author
Jovana Subic
Jovana Subic
Whether it's a vertical kilometre or an ultra, climbing in the Alps or exploring local mountains, Jovana uses every opportunity to trade walls and concrete for forests and trails. She logs at least 10h/week on trails, with no off-season, and 4x more on research on running and running shoes. With a background in physics and engineering management, she prefers her running spiced with data.