323,776 Reviews Say "Expensive Workout Shoes Aren't Worth It"

Are expensive workout shoes worth it?

This study analyzed 323,776 reviews of 336 workout shoes from 20 different brands.

The analysis focused on the pricing, rating, and savings for shoes across the entire category as well as individual brands. 

The data makes it clear that expensive workout shoes are not better than more affordable ones and are not needed to enjoy the benefits of working out. 

In fact, the inexpensive workout shoes are overall rated better than the more expensive workout shoe options.  

Key Findings

• The cheaper a shoe is the higher ratings and user satisfaction are.
• The top 10 most expensive workout shoes cost 183.05% more and had a 2.3% lower rating on average than the 10 cheapest workout shoes.
• The three worst workout shoe brands: Merrell, Vivobarefoot, The North Face.
• The three best workout shoe brands: NOBULL, Skechers, Jordan.
• The three cheapest workout shoe brands: Avia, Skechers, Ryka.
• The three most expensive workout shoe brands: Vivobarefoot, NOBULL, Inov-8. 

Price vs Rating: Users more satisfied with lower-priced shoes 

All 336 workout shoes from our database had their prices and ratings plotted against each other. 

This data produced a trend line that clearly indicates a steady decrease in user satisfaction as the price increases.

Average price of shoes at each rating

This trend holds up when we analyze the average price for all shoes with the same score. 

To do this, all shoes with the same score were “bucketed” or put into “groupings”.

The average price for each “bucket” of shoes was then calculated and plotted. Providing a graph that shows the average price for all shoes with the same score, anywhere between 0-100.

The same significant findings appear that workout shoes with higher ratings are cheaper overall. 

Expensive workout shoes vs affordable workout shoes

To further investigate this, we pulled the top 10 most expensive and top 10 most affordable shoes in our database.

On average, buying one of the top 10 most expensive shoes has you paying 183.05% more!

Not only are the top 10 most affordable shoes significantly less expensive they also had a 2.3% greater user rating and user satisfaction.

Top 10 most affordable workout shoes:

1. Reebok Flexagon Energy
2. Avia Avi-Edge
3. Skechers Haniger - Casspi
4. Skechers Haniger
5. Avia Avi-Tangent
6. Avia Avi-Rival
7. Adidas Essential Fun 2.0
8. Adidas Essential Star 3
9. Avia Avi-Verge
10. Avia Avi-Solstice

Top 10 most expensive workout shoes:

1. Under Armour ArchiTech Futurist
2. ASICS Gel Fit Vida
3. Vivobarefoot Motus
4. Vivobarefoot Motus II Mesh
5. Vibram FiveFingers V-Train
6. Vibram FiveFingers KMD EVO
7. Nike Metcon DSK Flyknit
8. Vivobarefoot Primus Trio II
9. Reebok Froning
10. Reebok CrossFit Nano Pump Fusion

What are the best workout shoe brands?

To determine how each brands’ workout shoes compared against one another, the prices and ratings of each brands’ shoes were analyzed.

Brand Matrix: Average price vs average rating 

Analyzing the brands started by plotting the average score and rating of each brands’ workout shoes.

The data produced the below brand matrix which provides a clear visualization of the value offered by each brand.

Using the eye-test, look at the top half brands (from ASICS and above). It's clear the majority of these brands are producing very similar quality products, minus a few outliers.

It is the pricing that seems to go from one extreme of $63.11 (Skechers) to the other like $129.00 for NOBULL and $123.75 for Inov-8. 

We can also analyze these two factors of average price and rating individually for each brand. 

5 Most expensive workout shoe brands on average

1. Vivobarefoot: $139.17
2. NoBull: $129.00
3. Inov-8: $123.75
4. Jordan: $118.75
5. Topo Athletic: $110.00

5 Most affordable workout shoe brands on average

1. Avia: $49.17
2. Skechers: $63.31
3. Ryka: $73.57
4. Puma: $85.93
5. New Balance: $88.52

5 Highest rated workout shoe brands on average

1. NoBull: 95/100 CoreScore Rating
2. Skechers: 91/100 CoreScore Rating
3. Jordan: 91/100 CoreScore Rating
4. Inove-8: 89/100 CoreScore Rating
5. Puma: 89/100 CoreScore Rating

5 Lowest rated workout shoe brands on average

1. Merrell: 74/100 CoreScore Rating
2. VivoBareFoot: 76/100 CoreScore Rating
3. The North Face: 77/100 CoreScore Rating
4. Altra: 79/100 CoreScore Rating
5. New Balance: 79/100 CoreScore Rating

About RunRepeat

RunRepeat.Com is the industry leader at helping athletes find the perfect pair of athletic shoes. By using our innovative scoring system, CoreScore, we help you find the best training shoes. Whether you are looking for daily running shoes or competition shoes for your sprint workout footwear, or you are looking for weightlifting, workout, or crossfit shoes, simply check out the rankings and let the CoreScore show you what the best of the best are. No matter what shoe you are looking for, we compare the prices across the world to ensure that you get the absolute best deal. 

Be sure to check out other great guides, articles, and studies from RunRepeat here!