7 Best Cheap Sneakers in 2024

Jaydee
Jaydee on
7 Best Cheap Sneakers in 2024
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Gone are the days when sneaker fans had to spend lavishly to look up-to-date. Scoring a pair of dope sneakers without squandering is much easier than most think. This is why we’ve put together a user-friendly guide to help you pick the best sneakers on the market. 

We've admitted the task of wearing, testing, and dissecting cheap sneakers so you do not have to. We also owned up to assessing them and choosing which ones definitely aced our scrutinization. Look over our selection in this article.

How we test sneakers

  • To avoid biased feedback, we use our money to purchase these cheap sneakers. 
  • For authentic results, we subject them to a whole slew of tests and comparisons by wearing them indoors and outdoors in different real-life settings and activities.
  • We meticulously gather more information inside our independent lab. We do all sorts of testing such as breathability, flexibility, and stainproofability. In addition to that, we also bust the shoes open with a saw to bring light to all the technologies and elements included in each of them.

One characteristic we find an absolute must for cheap sneakers is durability. We test this feature with our Dremel test. Basically, we observe how much a sneaker gets damaged upon applying a drill with an attachment to its various parts, including the upper, outsole, and sock liner. 

Best cheap sneakers overall

New Balance 574
90
Great!

What makes it the best?

A symbol of ingenuity, we found that the New Balance 574 has undergone countless spin-offs that can make a sneaker collection on their own. The shoe provided us with excellent support and comfort for day-long use. Not to mention its adaptable style that can go with almost any of our outfits. We are convinced, NB 574 is another street-savvy NB kick that will remain classic and in style for years to come.

Pros

  • Classic NB silhouette
  • Budget-friendly
  • Suitable for all-day wear
  • Real suede
  • Highly durable
  • Stable and supportive
  • Great for wide feet
  • Easy to style
  • Numerous color options

Cons

  • Lacks breathability
  • Stiff and firm platform
  • Tongue shifts a little
Full review of New Balance 574

Best cheap classic sneakers

Adidas Samba
90
Great!

What makes it the best?

Not only is the Adidas Samba famous for its classic aesthetics, but we also found it exceptionally durable for the price point. Despite some minor flaws, the shoe's incredibility remains unchanged as we choose to focus on the greatness it brings to the table. Part of the Originals collection, the shoe's combination of good looks, high-quality materials, and reliable comfort resonated very well with us.

Pros

  • Clean and minimalist style
  • Unbelievably affordable
  • Real leather and suede
  • Comfortable in-shoe feel
  • Long-lasting construction
  • Lighter than average
  • Highly flexible build
  • Good grip for casual use

Cons

  • Poor breathability
  • Tongue slides to the side
  • Not for all-day wear
Full review of Adidas Samba

Best cheap leather sneakers

What makes it the best?

The Classic Leather is easily among the most recognizable from the Reebok sneaker lineup. More than 30 years after it jumped into the footwear scene, the legacy of this heritage-running sneaker lives on in this incredibly comfy and stylish kick. With its affordable price and excellent cushioning, this iconic shoe is as easy on the foot as it is on the wallet.

Pros

  • Mighty plush
  • Great investment
  • Leader of the pack
  • Supportive
  • Aesthetically well-rounded
  • Enduring
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Downgraded upper
  • Dirt-magnet
Full review of Reebok Classic Leather

Best cheap lightweight sneakers

New Balance 327
90
Great!

What makes it the best?

Strut the streets in comfort and style with the New Balance 327. Inspired by several running shoes, this model is a standout for us because of its classic yet contemporary vibe. We adore its lasting comfort and superb ventilation, which make the featured kick such a brilliant summer shoe. Its grip is one for the books, too.

Pros

  • Fashionably sporty
  • Well-cushioned
  • Stable and planted platform
  • Lightweight and comfortable
  • Above average breathability
  • Superb grip
  • Suitable for driving
  • Budget-friendly

Cons

  • Relatively stiff
  • Fits a little tight
  • Not suitable for wide feet
Full review of New Balance 327

Best cheap basketball-inspired sneakers

Adidas Superstar
93
Great!

What makes it the best?

There is no doubt that Adidas Superstar is an iconic classic loved by many sneaker fans and casual consumers of all ages. We believe this because even we love it for its timeless design that goes well with many of our outfits. We found that its comfort and affordable price are what make it an even better deal.

Pros

  • Iconic style
  • Great for all-day use
  • Generously padded and comfy
  • Nice and flexible
  • Sufficient arch support
  • Very durable toebox
  • Accommodating toebox
  • Lots of colorway options
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Needs breaking in
  • Average breathability at best
  • Not for rainy days
Full review of Adidas Superstar

Best cheap canvas sneakers

Vans Old Skool
93
Great!

What makes it the best?

The Vans Old Skool is a surprisingly cheap canvas sneaker that is a joy to wear. It retails at $60, which is nearly half the price of the average sneaker at $115. This price also makes it cheaper than 95% of the sneakers in our database.

After several days of testing it in our lab and on the streets, we found it to be a brilliant shoe. While its iconic and time-tested look is already a given, it's the sneaker’s breathability, quick break-in period, and price which led us to choose it as our best overall cheap sneaker.

After walking and skating with it on hot summer days, we noticed that its canvas was highly breathable. What we particularly enjoyed was the fact that the air flowed well from several directions, whereas modern sneakers often depend on mesh panels in key areas. We tested this further in our lab by performing our weatherproof test. When we poured water over its upper, the liquid seeped through the canvas, going into the shoe’s interior. While this shows that it cannot be used in wet conditions, it also demonstrates how breathable the sneaker is.

While it may be tempting to wear the Vans Old Skool everywhere, we warn that it isn’t able to handle stains well. We conducted a stain resistance test by applying both wet and dry marks on its upper to see how well they could be cleaned. While dry marks were removed well, wet stains proved to be very difficult to clean because they penetrated the canvas. Thus, we don’t recommend the Vans Old Skool if you want a sneaker that stays in pristine condition.

Pros

  • A classic silhouette deserving of any wardrobe
  • Easy to wear in
  • Super comfortable
  • Fits true to size
  • Incredibly breathable thanks to the all-canvas upper
  • Clean aesthetics
  • Very durable outsole
  • Brakes well on the board

Cons

  • Not very durable in comparison to other modern skate shoes
  • Collect stains easily
Full review of Vans Old Skool

Best cheap skate shoes

Adidas Busenitz
92
Great!

What makes it the best?

Setting side by side with the average price of all the low-top kicks in our database, Adidas Busenitz is 29% more affordable. But that is not even the squeaker! Despite its competitive price of $80, the things it offers are fascinating: water tightness, easy maintenance, and, most of all, sturdiness. 

We subjected Busenitz to casual use and skating, and we noticed that it could flawlessly handle wear and tear. Little did we know that this was the least it could handle. When we brought Busenitz inside our lab, we pressed a drill with a wire brush attachment to its upper. To our surprise, it came out without any damage, not even a scratch!

Another thing that shocked us was its ability to keep off water effectively. If not for the sneaker’s tongue, not even a bit of the water we poured would enter the Busenitz. When it comes to maintenance, we also discovered from our stain-proofing test that Busenitz is a breeze to clean, whether it is marked with wet or dry stains. 

Our only concern is that it took us a while before we broke into the Busenitz. We confirmed the sneaker’s stiffness when we tried to bend it using our bar clamp, and it didn’t flex much. If you share the same concern, we suggest picking up more flexible sneakers. 

Pros

  • Incredibly durable
  • Fits true to size
  • Grippy as anything
  • Technical shoe for responsive skating
  • Surprisingly weatherproof
  • Classic silhouette
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Takes a long time to break it
  • Narrow in the toe box
  • The big tongue isn't for everyone
  • Not very breathable
Full review of Adidas Busenitz
Author
Jaydee
Jaydee
Jaydee dispels the myth that women can't be experts when it comes to sneakers. With hundreds of sneaker articles under her belt, she gained a surefire edge over others claiming to be experts. Since joining RunRepeat in 2017, she’s published formidable arrays of sneaker write-ups - some covered in lifestyle magazines. Interested in scrutinizing a pair of sneakers? Jaydee is the best person to talk to as she can intuitively chew it over with you even while doing her laundry. When she’s not writing, you can catch Jaydee playing with her two kids, online shopping, and spending far too much time on Instagram.