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Good budget running shoe

4 replies

Eminybob · 10/01/2026 20:44

I’m a running newbie and need some new trainers.
Don’t want to spend a fortune. Mostly road, and a bit of trail.
Can you please recommend some options? Specific style names as well as brands would be useful.
Thank you!

OP posts:
HoarFrosted · 10/01/2026 23:32

Try road shoes with decent outsoles. Puma is best for this. ASICS and Saucony make trailised versions of some of their popular road shoes (Asics Nimbus TR, Asics Novabast TR, Saucony Ride TR), which might be worth a look. Some brands are also bringing out 'gravel shoes' which might work for you - there's a Salomon one I'll have to look up the name of.
You could also consider the New Balance Hierro. This is officially a trail shoe, but runs very well on tarmac because it's flexible and has road shoe-like cushioning.
Asics, Saucony and New Balance are all very mainstream brands and you can usually get good discounts on sportsshoes.com.

Look at this Beginner's Guide for more suggestions and maybe also the 'daily trainer' section of this. Choose something that feels comfy. (When I started running I ran roads and trails in the Asics Cumulus until the winter mud forced me to admit defeat and buy proper trail shoes.)

I'll post the Salomon gravel shoe and a suitable Puma option tomorrow when I've more time.

Eminybob · 11/01/2026 07:40

Thank you!

OP posts:
HoarFrosted · 11/01/2026 16:24

OK, some more actual model names...

Basic running shoes: Asics Cumulus, Asics GT2000 (good stability), Saucony Ride, New Balance 880 (up to v. 14). Puma Velocity Nitro (good outsole, but 10mm heel-to-toe drop is on the high side).
More cushioned versions: Asics Nimbus, Saucony Triumph, New Balance 1080.
Lighter weight and bouncy (and surprisingly good discounts around just now): New Balance FuelCell Rebel.

There are TR versions of all the Asics models and the Ride. Running shoes have been getting lighter and lighter and this has meant road shoes tend to have less and less rubber on the outsole and often don't stand up very well to off-road use. Think of TR variants as more versatile road shoes: you wouldn't buy them as a trail shoe, but for off-road running on tracks and easy footpaths they're all you need.

If you're on the heavier side I'd go for shoes with slightly firmer cushioning, because you will tend to compress the squish out of soft shoes more quickly. Of those I've mentioned the Saucony shoes would probably be the best bet, especially the Triumph (generous quantity of not-too-squishy cushioning).

If most of your runs involve some trail and you don't fancy the NB Hierro then look at the Salomon Aero Blaze Grvl (not as soft or flexible as the Hierro).

Proper trail shoes that I know are runnable on tarmac (but only worth considering if you find yourself running more on trails than on tarmac and struggling with mud or grip in loose terrain) would be the Saucony Xodus Ultra (unusually the older version is available at a good discount just now because they've finally put a better outsole on v4 - the older outsole material is hopelessly slippy on wet rock, although the lugs are good) or the ASICS FujiLite - this has much less cushioning and is very flexible, so probably only suitable if you're reasonably light and light on your feet (but usually available at a great price).

Eminybob · 13/01/2026 19:06

Thank you so much for taking time to provide so much detail.
I think ASICS are the way to go, I’m looking at the various models now

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