7 Best Cheap Running Shoes in 2023

Jovana Subic
Jovana Subic on
7 Best Cheap Running Shoes in 2023
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Running can be cheap. Especially if you’re not chasing records or racing competitively. A cheap pair of running shoes might perfectly accompany you on your occasional runs along with casual walks and running errands.

We define running shoes as cheap if they cost less than $100.

Having put over 100 budget-friendly pairs through the wringer, we came up with the top picks in five different categories. Depending on what you find the most important in your running shoes, there are options that highlight style, cushioning, durability, or a little bit of everything.

How we test running shoes

Cheap doesn’t always mean bad.

Our team of experienced shoe fanatics has reviewed over 350 cheap running shoes to help you find the best deal. Our shoe testers and an independent RunRepeat lab 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.
  • Measure 30+ different parameters in our lab, including flexibility, softness, breathability, etc. We even cut shoes into pieces to evaluate each component.
  • All shoes are purchased with our own funds to avoid bias.
  • Our system incorporates over 2.5 million ratings from shoe experts and regular users to keep the scores comprehensive.

As a result, every shoe gets a CoreScore, which reflects its performance across the board. It is a number from 0 to 100 which allows us to pick out the best running shoes under $100.

Best cheap running shoes overall

Brooks Revel 5
90
Superb!

What makes it the best?

An affordable trainer that's got the makings of advanced running shoes? Hello, Brooks Revel 5! It's a smooth and lively jack-of-all-trades that will keep your feet comfy and bouncing. It can push the pace, eat up half-marathon distances, and breeze through your daily runs!

Pros

  • Fits like a dream
  • Accommodating stretchy upper
  • Efficient transitions
  • Surprisingly peppy
  • Laces stay tied tightly
  • Low to the ground
  • Durable construction
  • Great deal
  • Do-it-all shoe
  • Impressive weight
  • Breathable

Cons

  • Not for long runs
  • No reflective details
Full review of Brooks Revel 5

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black/Grey/Blue (053)
Black/Ebony/Crystal Teal (091)
Ebony/Alloy/Metallic (025)
White/Oyster/India Ink (182)
White/Peacoat/Blue Shadow (153)
titan/peacoat/flame (498)
Pageant Blue/True Blue/White (403)
White/Black (121)
More colors

Best cheap running shoes with wide toebox

ASICS GT 2000 10
88
Great!

What makes it the best?

ASICS updates their long-running, budget stability shoe and finally moves away from the plastic post design. This shoe is an ideal daily trainer for runners looking to get into the sport who pronate or have flat feet and want a product that’s comfortable, consistent, and lighter on the wallet than competing shoes.

Pros

  • Lightweight stability shoe
  • Responsive ride
  • Comfortable
  • Wide toe box
  • Good lockdown
  • Durable outsole
  • Price

Cons

  • Overly padded tongue
  • Thick ankle collar
  • Runs warm
  • Feels a touch long
Full review of ASICS GT 2000 10

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Sheet Rock/Electric Blue (1011B185021)
Black/White (1011B185002)
Metropolis/Graphite Grey (1011B186020)
Lake Drive/White (1011B185401)
White/Black (1011B185100)
Carrier Grey/White (1011B185023)
Glow Yellow Black (1011B185750)
Metropolis/Electric Red (1011B185022)
More colors

Best cheap running shoes for all-day wear

Adidas Duramo 10
87
Great!

What makes it the best?

The Adidas Duramo 10 is a budget running shoe that's great for beginners who want a cushy ride to ease their way into running. With its down-to-earth price, there's nothing down about it when it comes to being an all-rounder. Whether it's for the short or long haul, you can rely on the Duramo 10. And if you want to take it outside of running, it's an excellent pick for walks, casual wear, and gym training.

Pros

  • Comfy for all-day wear
  • Lightweight for its kind
  • Stable even during sharp turns
  • Breezy on warm days
  • Perfect for beginners
  • Can handle gym training
  • Durable for the price
  • Soft upper
  • Affordable
  • Eco-friendly upper

Cons

  • Break-in period for wide feet
  • Lacks spring for fast runs
Full review of Adidas Duramo 10

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black (GW8336)
Better Scarlet Ftwr White Solar Red (HP2382)
Blue Rush/Sky Rush/White (GW8349)
Orange (HP2373)
Grey Five Court Green Ftwr White (HP2372)
Carbon/Night Metallic/Solar Red (HP2379)
Halo Silver/White/Dash Grey (GW8344)
White/White/Almost Lime (GX8708)
More colors

Best stability cheap running shoes

What makes it the best?

The eleventh version of the ASICS GT 1000 is a stability running shoe that's designed for everyday running. It's cheap, but it offers a bang-for-the-buck performance even outside of running. If you're longing for support during your walks and trips downtown, the ASICS GT 1000 11 is an awesome choice.

Pros

  • Stable ride
  • Unobtrusive for neutral runners
  • Lightweight
  • Comfortable all-day
  • Very affordable price
  • More flexible than before
  • Perfect fit for narrow feet

Cons

  • Not for wide feet
  • Poor durability
Full review of ASICS GT 1000 11

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black/Blue (1011B452001)
Black/Cilantro (1011B354005)
Black/White (1011B354001)
Sheet Rock/Black (1011B354020)
Indigo Blue/Midnight (1011B354403)
Black/Black (1011B354002)
White/Blue Harmony (1011B354100)
Blue (1011B356400)
More colors

Cheap running shoes with best cushioning

What makes it the best?

The ASICS Gel Excite 8 is the perfect all-around runner for those who want a mixture of an easy training shoe and something that could work for everyday wear. With simplicity at its core, the Gel Excite 8 gets right what it needs to and doesn’t worry about anything else.

Pros

  • Fits true to size
  • Good cushioning
  • Breathable upper
  • Very consistent midsole
  • Reliable grip
  • Good heel lockdown

Cons

  • Could provide longer laces
Full review of ASICS Gel Excite 8

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Black Electric Red (1011B036009)
French Blue/Bright Lime (1011B036415)
FRENCH BLUE/DIGITAL AQUA (1011B036401)
Black (1012A915002)
BLACK/MARIGOLD ORANGE (1011B036004)
Carrier Grey/White (1011B037023)
Blue (1011B036403)
GLACIER GREY/THUNDER BLUE (1011B311960)
Graphite Grey/Piedmont Grey (1011B036025)

Best cheap running shoes for long distance

Adidas Questar
82
Good!

What makes it the best?

The Adidas Questar is a road running shoe that's targeted at beginners and casual runners who want a comfortable, easy-pace running shoe. It's plush and soft; it doesn't hurt the feet. Even better, it doesn't hurt the wallet with its price tag. Overall, if you want a versatile running shoe that's perfect for daily runs and long walks, the Questar will do the job.

Pros

  • Comfy for recovery days
  • Soft upper
  • Lightweight
  • Breathable for summer runs
  • Perfect for beginners
  • Affordable price
  • Upper made with recycled plastic

Cons

  • A no-no for wide feet
  • Hard to put on for some
Full review of Adidas Questar

Today's best price

Men
Women
Any color
Blue (GY2267)
Ftwr White Grey One Grey Six (GZ0630)
schwarz (GZ0631)
Impact Orange Wonder Steel Dash Grey (GY2266)
Core Black Grey Six Pulse Lime (GZ0621)
Core Black Carbon Matte Silver (GZ0632)
Black (GY2259)
Grey Three Ftwr White Grey Five (HP2434)
More colors

Comparison of the 7 best cheap running shoes

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Best
CoreScore
Users rating
Experts
Best price
Ranking
Popularity
# of colorways

Tips for finding shoes at cheap prices

finding-best-cheap-running-shoes.png

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.

Saucony Axon is a $100 version of the premium Endorphin line. It delivers a sense of the more expensive shoes for budget-friendly price.

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.

brooks-hyperion-elite-2-heel-design.jpg

Brooks’ elite racer, the Hyperion Elite, was a big letdown for the fans. They booed this $250 pair for being too frail and heavy for its price.

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:

price-vs-rating.png

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. 

cheap-models-by-brand.png

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

cheap-shoes-prices-by-brand.png

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 a great deal, make sure you keep in mind these few tips:

TIP #1. Shoes should be comfortable! (try them on before buying).

TIP #2. Shoes should satisfy your intentions (check the performance details or use our guide to buying running shoes).

TIP #3. Shoes should fit. If you’re having doubts about the size you need, use RunRepeat’s ultimate shoe size guide.

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.