Running shoes that don't cost 100 quid!

[Charleyhorses]

Hi. I want to do couch to 5k. Trying to find some trainers. When I have looked for recommendations they are all for really expensive ones.
Can anyone suggest some for nearer the 50 quid Mark?

Hi, I got some trainers from sports direct for £35 that have done the job no problem. I did couch to 5k and now run 2/3 times a week in them.
Good luck x

I often get mine from start fitness. They often have last seasons (or the one before) which essentially just means different colours. My budget is generally 60-70 and I usually find something from there.(or maybe ebay - for new trainers, of course) Or Google the style of trainer you're looking for, and see where is cheapest

This is much easier if you have unusual sized feet, because the answer is to have a short list of trainers you would want, and then see who is selling off cheap last year's colours.

So if you want a small sized ASICS go to Wiggle as they have oodles at the moment. Also try www.sportsshoes.com or Decathlon, who have an own brand now (and who IME are much more likely to have staff who know what they are talking about then Sports Direct)

And try Runners Need but only if they have a sale on

Reebok floatride. The cushioning is on a par with much more expensive shoes and they have regular discounts. Best value for money!

Karrimor! I love them and they're only around £30 or so...sometimes cheaper...in Sports Direct.

Karrimor (I dont think) do half sizes. I went to sports direct looking for trainers once and while I did not ask for them they directed me to karrimor (they are encouraged to promote them as it's their own brand) they were too big so I said I didnt want them and he tried to sell me insoles.....or I could just get a pair that fits me...?

Please please please don't buy Karrimor or Sports Direct shoes. Shoes are the single most important thing you need as a runner, and high quality shoes don't have to be expensive. Cheap ones could give you a whole load of problems, from bad knees to foot and hip issues.

As erstwhile running guru @AuntieStella said, Sportsshoes should be your first port of call. To start with, you need a cushioned/neutral (not stability, until at least you know your running style) road shoe.
I'd recommend Nike, Brooks and Saucony. Hoka are like Marmite, so avoid until you know what you like. Asics have some good shoes and some crappy ones, ditto Mizuno. Don't touch Under Armour.

Here are some examples of quality running shoes for around the £50 mark:

www.sportsshoes.com/product/sau3682/saucony-jazz-21-women%27s-running-shoes/

www.sportsshoes.com/product/sau3577/saucony-ride-iso-women%27s-running-shoes/

www.sportsshoes.com/product/nik16405/nike-zoom-rival-fly-2-women%27s-running-shoes-~-sp20/

I run a lot of miles and would never spend £100 on a pair of shoes. It's just not necessary (apart from my carbon plate cheat shoes, but that's for another thread entirely )

Unless you're one of the few lucky people who has size 3 or 4 feet and can get the previous season's colours drastically reduced then I would be very cautious of running in any trainers that cost less than £50! I bought some Karrimor ones for the gym to try and save my expensive runners and the guy said to me "I wouldn't run extreme distances in them".....when questioned what he meant by "extreme" he said more than 10k!! I laughed out loud. In all honestly though, i wouldn't run any more than for the bus in them and that was one of their more expensive trainers.
It is so worth spending more to get the right shoes from the outset. The cost different is only one physio session when you wear the wrong ones and end up injured!
Sportsshoes or StartFitness are usually my go to websites if I know what I'm buying although in the current models my local running shop came up cheaper recently. You also need to check the returns policy on those websites as you often end up paying the postage, they don't come with a returns label.

I get Merrell vapor glove on sale.

Have you got a Decathlon near you? They sell good quality, cheap proper running shoes.

Running shoes are definitely something where you get what you pay for. I did couch to 5k last year. I was wearing a pair of cheap £35 Nike trainers from sports direct and once I got up to running consistently for 20 mins + I began to get terrible shin splints and be in pain for days after each run.
I then invested in a pair of asics after getting my gait analysed and have had no pain since, I'm really glad a friend suggested it as I was all set to give up thinking my bones weren't cut out for running.
Are you near any outlets? I picked up the asics there and got last years colour for around £60

Was going to say sportsshoes.com but see others beat we to it. They often have old seasons models which are much cheaper and just a different colourway than this years.

I got some from decathlon for £15. After the first week of C25k I found they didn't give enough support for my high arches, so bought some inserts from Amazon for a fiver. Job done. I'll spend money on a decent pair if and when the running thing actually sticks

Decathlon?

Decathlon. I'm on my 3rd pair + trail runners. I run up to HM and they perform just as well on life and performance as my premium brand shoes did.i have fussy legs/ feet too and know it if I have bad footwear.

Another vote for sportsshoes, I always buy from there and don't believe that you need to go to a running shop. I've been fitted twice in running shops (well recommended independent ones) and both times ended up with shoes I didn't like much. Instead, I'd recommend buying 3-4 pairs online with a plan to send the ones you don't like back, that way you can try them out at home. I always do this, put them on my credit card and return the rejects straight away for a refund. The extra postage to send back is way less that the extra you pay to buy them full price in a shop.