AIBU to think expensive trainers are a waste of money?

[CrazyToast]

I'm walking a lot lately and my skechers memory foam just werent supportive enough, plus I have hip issues. It stopped me going for a family walk on Christmas day (within covid rules in case you wonder). My brother in law was saying I should spend over £100 on something like New Balance or Asics. He just would not stop going on about it and saying it was my fault I had hip pain since I was to stingy to 'invest in myself'. But I hear that such fancy trainers are not actually better, just paying for the brand name etc. AIBU or should I tell DBIL to stop going on about it (and stop blaming me for being in pain)!

Sorry didn't mean to enable voting! But since I did:

YABU: get some expensive trainers they are better
YANBU: you are paying for the brand, they are not better

I suffer with joint pain and buying decent trainers makes a massive difference. However, i don’t pay full price. I look out for them in the sales. I had friends who raved about sketchers, as soon a i put them on to try i could feel they would not offer any support.
So yes, YABU, go get some good trainers but in the sale.

New Balance are excellent. The people I know who wear them are serious about their sport rather than interested in brands.

Yes and no.

Designer name stuck on a regular shoe / trainer / plimsoll then probably not getting much more than a high high street alternative.

Running trainers, gym trainers, walking trainers and other sporting trainers are absolutely worth the investment. You need specific shoes for the activity type really. You don’t have to spend hundreds but you absolutely do need to invest in something which supports your foot type / gait etc or yes you will struggle with more than just a couple of miles casual walking.

I mean, do you see Mo Farah running in 20 quid trainers? No. Do you see athletes in primark plimsolls? No!
There is a reason for this - look at them as equipment. They aren’t fashion items (even though of course some sporting brands cross over into fashion and street wear) they are tools to enable people’s hobbies and sports!

I don't rate New Balanc tbh. my local running shop always recommends Asics or Brooks or Saucony. I find Saucony fit my feet best. I generally spend about £65-80 (try to get last year's colours, cheaper) and buy a new pair about every 9-10 months. I do run every day tho.

Agree with Clementine, bargains to be had if you aren't fussed on colourways/latest releases, I bought a pair recently at full price (just over £100) and they're so comfy I've since bought two more of the same but different colours at half the price of the original! It's not just the name, its the durability, the research into comfort/suitability, that you pay for.

Theres an element of both. I think a fashion brand like skechers wont do your feet that much good. It doesnt mean you need to shell out loads though.

When things reopen can you go to one of the running shops where you get your gait properly analysed? Simple things like having decent arch support for overpronation can really help. There's usually no obligation to buy after a gait analysis, you could find out more about your gait then look online for something that might work well for you without it costing the earth.

I buy brooks for overpronation but always hunt online for ones a couple of years out of date and get them 30 or 40% cheaper.

To an extent: I don’t find there to be much of an improvement in quality in line with price once shoes/trainers go above £100. But I do think it is worth paying a bit extra for a better shoe, as someone who works on their feet all day, I can tell the difference.

DH runs a lot. He wears Hokas and notices a huge difference if he buys cheaper brands. It was a mistake he only made once.

I run a lot, 20 miles+ a week and wear proper trainers. I wouldn’t pay £100 for a pair though, as I’m replacing them every 3/4 months. I know they need replacing when my knees start aching.

If you walking in them rather than running you might need walking shoes rather than trainers.

Sketchers go walk are great, but I wouldn’t do any proper walking in them, they aren’t supportive enough.

Your BIL is right. I had terrible foot pain with Skechers and other cheaper trainers. I took a deep breath and ordered some Asics Gel Kayano trainers on the advice of a friend - over £100 😱. They're absolutely brilliant. I've even been able to take up jogging again, something I never thought I'd be able to do again. Fit Flop shoes also great and have good sales.

I’m an indifferent runner so don’t want to spend too much on trainers.

I bought Nike running trainers on Black Friday. They are actually the range for older kids, but come in adult sizes too and were £27 (you also get free delivery if you sign up the the free Nike Plus membership).

So no, I don’t think you need expensive trainers unless you run a lot or do similar activity a lot.

Your BIL is right. I'm a runner and I've run in cheap trainers and got injured. Proper running trainers make all the difference.

I could walk for miles and miles in my ASICS and have no pain the next day. One of the very few things I will spend proper money on and as a PP said if you are not fussed on colours you can get bargains. Mine are bright orange and I love them.

@HmmSureJan

Your BIL is right. I had terrible foot pain with Skechers and other cheaper trainers. I took a deep breath and ordered some Asics Gel Kayano trainers on the advice of a friend - over £100 😱. They're absolutely brilliant. I've even been able to take up jogging again, something I never thought I'd be able to do again. Fit Flop shoes also great and have good sales.

Looks they’re on sale for £69 if you fancy another pair!

Memory foam trainers, your poor ankles.

Good trainers should be firm and supportive, memory foam, bouncy bits etc are awful for your ankles.

@CrazyToast

I'm walking a lot lately and my skechers memory foam just werent supportive enough, plus I have hip issues. It stopped me going for a family walk on Christmas day (within covid rules in case you wonder). My brother in law was saying I should spend over £100 on something like New Balance or Asics. He just would not stop going on about it and saying it was my fault I had hip pain since I was to stingy to 'invest in myself'. But I hear that such fancy trainers are not actually better, just paying for the brand name etc. AIBU or should I tell DBIL to stop going on about it (and stop blaming me for being in pain)!

View them like tyres.

If you want more lerfomance you need more r&d and more technical processes that costs money so they're going to be more expensive.

Personally I prefer boots to trainers though

Suffer in pain then!

It depends whether you're talking about expensive trainers that are more designed to be worn as fashion or functional trainers. I'd agree that you're paying for the brand for the likes of Nike & Adidas but trainers like Brooks or Saucony are designed to be functional & support your feet & body for activity.

Do you have a running shop near you where you could go and have a gait analysis? You don't have to pay full price as every brand has a sale but it is definitely worth finding out what kind of footwear will support your body whilst walking.

Yanbu expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. I bought a pair of cheap running trainers from TK Maxx years and years ago and they are still going strong! So comfy and I've run over 300 miles in them now.

YABU - I love Hokas - like running on clouds. And seconding gait analysis at a running shop. It's not about brand names - as such- but it is about spending money to get something that properly supports your body. If you are walking much more, it's important not to be in cheap quality footwear. Sketchers will be fine for wandering around the shops but it's very obvious after a few miles if you're wearing ill-fitting shoes

Both of those brands he suggested rate highly for jogging or running. They are not just a name or fashion. Your hip pain could be down to inappropriate footwear.

I'm another who waits until.£100+ trainers hit the sale. They make a huge difference to my leg/back issues. It took a while but I found 2 or 3 types that are comfortable for me. Shoes are probably the one thing I do spend good money on.

YABU but its not fancy trainers it's trainers that are fit for purpose and the correct fit for your feet esp if walking lots or running. There are many proper sport shops who do property measuring for trainers, not just size but also how your arches are etc.

I found Brookes and Salomons really good.

It depends, fashion trainers that are expensive just because of the name then no. But if you are walking a lot it is worth investing in a shoe that will offer the best support. It might be worth having your gait checked and then keeping an eye in the sales. I usually get my running trainers in a weird colour as they tend to go cheaper in the sales than black/white.