Affordable running shoes?

[MotherOfGreyhounds]

I appreciate "affordable" is relative, but I'd like to spend under £100 (and probably a bit less ideally).

I've JUST started running (only five park runs under my belt so far) and I was going to hold of buying anything new until I'm certain I'll stick with it.

However the soles are coming away from the front of my poor old trainers (I keep picking up twigs!), so needs must.

What do people recommend? Waterproof would be nice (I prefer running off-road) but not absolutely essential. I'm hoping I might be able to find a bargain on Sports Direct or similar.

Thank you!

Decathlon own brand are excellent value.

Try an outlet. My children and I get all our running shoes from McArthur Glenn outlet - I have Nikes at about £70 down from £100-£150. They have ASICS. They normally pay £80-£100, but are running marathons

Sportsshoes.com have good value trainers

I've tried so many, and have found any ASICS miles better than any other brand. As PP have said, you can normally get decent prices at outlets.

If you can size wise go to kids section. They are way cheaper!

You could try going to a decent running shop and asking if they have any ‘last season’ shoes and give them a budget. I’d guess you can probably get a pair for £80-£100 .

if you’re running off road then you want trail shoes, they are ‘easier’ to buy as they don’t need to be gait specific. (Running on a flat road the way you foot hits the tarmac is important.. but on trails / off road your foot angle will change with the surface so they are generally neutral) . You’ll also need to buy at least a size larger than normal shoes as your shoes may butt up against roots etc so you need room to move.

Inov8 have good waterproof shoes but are expensive so wait for sales or black friday. You can also get waterproof socks .

I used Hokas as my first pair of running shoes. They have an outlet shop on their website and can get shoes under £100.

Everyone I see running wears hokas and they're very comfortable to wear as everyday shoes as well.

The normal recommendation for offroad is not waterproof because your feet sweat too much and you risk getting athlete's foot. They're difficult to dry out so end up very smelly. Instead wear synthetic running socks so they don't rub when they get wet and run hard enough to keep your feet warm.

I second the suggestion of looking for old season trail shoes. They'll have more grip and are less personalised. I'm in the EU, but by googling "trailing running shoes bargain" there are decent brands (Saucony, Asics, Brooks, Hoka) for ~€50 so long as you don't mind odd colours and searching through lots of websites for your size.

I second this, really good

I'm on my 2nd pair of Brooks Divide trail shoes - per other posters go for last years model and you'll get them for nothing. Also Karrimor running socks last absolutely forever.

Not for nothing, for about £70!

I love my karrimor trail trainers from decathlon. I’ve bought trail shoes costing £100+ and yet always come back to these at less than £50.

I get mine from sportsshoes.com or startfitness. Regular sales and there's generally a discount code if you poke about. I've been tempted by waterproof but can't justify the extra cost.

There is some really terrible advice on this thread.

If you're a fairly new runner, and want one pair of all-rounder shoes at a sensible price, what you need is a classic pair of neutral cushioned road shoes. Asics, Brooks or Nike Pegasus are the places to start - and go on Sportsshoes for last year's shoes at cheaper prices.
If these are still too spendy, then Decathlon are an OK backup.

Hoka are Marmite, so avoid. Unless you are running 100% of the time in absolute bog and clag, you do not want your one pair of shoes to be trail shoes, so forget that. Inov8 are great on fells but not so much on parkrun!
And you definitely don't want waterproof unless you want hot, sweaty, feet with all the water pooling inside.

Everyone I see running wears hokas

Very few serious runners wear Hoka. They have a reputation for being very narrow on the toe box, coming apart on the seam, and losing their bounce after about 100 miles.
You see lots of people walking around in them as everyday shoes though. Much like ON.

@FeelinTwentySixPointTwo road shoes are so slippy in the mud though. I guess it all depends what OP means by 'off road'.

In summer, I happily wear my road shoes on all kinds of trails and paths, but from autumn onwards it's not enjoyable sliding everywhere if it's been raining.

Either way OP, if you're planning to do a fair bit of running then it's worth getting some advice. Many independent running/sports shops will have last season's models to shift (esp if you're not a size 5 or 6). If you're not planning on running on tarmac then get something designed for off road - doesn't have to be full on trail shoes. But spending a few £ more now is very likely to be better than buying cheap and then having to buy again in a few weeks when you find you haven't got the right shoes.

Don’t buy the most recently released models and you might be able to pick up a fairly good pair reduced as they’re an older model. Do make sure they’re a good fit for your feet as you’re going places together :) if you are buying online and don’t have a chance to try on in a store, read the return policy. Some companies have final sale on sale items, some have a return if not worn outside, while others might offer a 30 or 90 day return policy

Just don't walk into a 'running' shop unless you have the strength to say no. My friend (very recreational runner) was strong armed into buying a pair of £200+ ON shoes which she really didn't need.

I don't wear Hokkas as I think they look too high and I'm worried I'd fall over in them. Brooks are a fairly safe bet, and what runners seem to wear around me. They also come down in price quite well, specially if you're not fussy about colour.

Most shoes sold as trail shoes in cities these days are actually neutral cushioned road shoes. Most 'trail' runners only make it a far as the bark chippings at the country park, so they want something with a bit of padding against lumps It can be quite hard to avoid gait correction shoes unless you really know what you're buying so ones marketed as trail are a bit safer online. I've found you have to go to a specialist shop in a fell running area to get real low drop mountain shoes that wouldn't be suitable for a beginner.

You're making me laugh now @StamppotAndGravy - and you're entirely right of course.

I'm in my 60s so old joints and I use ASICS from sports direct. They cost between £55 & £80 depending on the model/ fit. I run two or three times a week and they seem to last about 3 years.

I agree with past seasons ones.

i have brooks ghost 14’s which I got for about £50 as there are about another 4 versions ahead of them!

the other option is Vinted. Plenty of people spend £££££ on shoes and then don’t make it to the end of couch to 5k…

I got these ASICS trainers from sportsshoes.com for £50. Like you I just started running in the park and wanted something affordable while I am making sure that I will stick to regular running. So far so good. The trainers arrived quickly, they are comfortable to wear and more than enough for what I do :).
https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/asi15270/asics-patriot-13-women's-running-shoes---aw24

I like Altras (wide toe box) and get them from sports shoes.com or mandm direct. Basically I Google Altras 6 39 and buy whatever's cheapest.

When I first started running I went into a running shop and found Asics to be the best brand for me. They seem to create a new version of my trainer a lot so if I need to buy a new pair then I just buy the older version online cheaper.