You Can Save Money on Running Shoes, but Buyer Beware

By Brian Metzler

How much money do you expect to pay for running shoes this year? If you’re a regular age-group runner, it’s probably in the range of $280 to $600, depending on how many miles you’ll be running and the races you have on your calendar. That’s based on the notion that most high-mileage trainers and do-everything trail runners sell for about $140 and racing super shoes are in the $200 to $275 range. Most runners go through at least two pairs of trainers every year and, well, a new pair of racing shoes can blow everyone’s budget.

When buying a new pair of shoes, I highly recommend runners visit their local running store and spend time with one of the store’s expert shoe fitters. That way, you can find shoes that will optimally fit the size and shape of your feet and match any unique traits of your running gait. I’ll continue to stand by that same advice, even while making these suggestions on how to possibly save money on your next pair of shoes. Take these suggestions with a grain of salt, knowing the most important thing about your next pair of shoes is how well they fit and perform on your feet.

1. Shop From the Sale Table of Your Local Running Store

Speciality running stores are typically selling the current season’s shoes, and that’s what the shoe-fitter will likely bring out from the store room when recommending shoes during your fitting session. But if you’re on a budget and want to save money, ask about the store’s stock of sale shoes. Most stores have them on a table offered at discounted prices, but some keep them in the back with the rest of the shoes. Most of those shoes were very good the previous season, it’s just that they’ve been outdated by the new model. There’s no guarantee that the store will have your size in its sales stash, but it’s worth asking. I wouldn’t advise settling for just any model that happens to be your size because it’s offered at a reduced price. You still need to get shoes that fit your feet and match your gait.

2. Consider Discounted Closeouts Online

Every shoe brand has a direct-to-consumer sales website that is promoting the same models you’ll find at your running store. But somewhere on most of those same sites is a drop-down menu item that will point you to close-out models at a discounted price. The good news is that, if you know a brand and model that’s worked well for you, you could find exactly what you’re looking for and be able to keep running in the same shoes that worked well for you in the previous season. However, the challenge is that you might be enticed by another discounted model that you know nothing about and might consider opting for the great price. That could work out for you, but it could also be a recipe for disaster if the shoe just doesn’t fit well or match your gait pattern, leading to unexpected soreness or an overuse injury. Most retail sites offer discounted closeouts too, including the Clearance Gear offered by Running Warehouse.

3. Most Brands Make Entry Level Shoes That Aren’t Sold at Running Stores

But what about bargain shoes? No, I don’t mean discounted shoes, I mean entry-level shoes that most brands make but don’t really market to experienced runners. Every brand makes shoes that they sell for about $110 or less and some are pretty good. But buyer beware: you get what you pay for. Those lower-level shoes don’t have the premium materials that the shoes in the $140 to $180 range have, so you’re not going to get the opulent comfort, responsive springiness, or overall performance if you opt for an entry-level model. That should sound like a no-brainer, but that’s not a reason to ignore that crop of shoes, either. I’ve said many times that I love the Brooks Launch 10 ($110) and typically run in those a few times every month. Other shoes in that category include the Nike Downshifter 13 ($75), ASICS GT-1000 ($110), New Balance FreshFoam 680v8 ($80) and Skechers GoRun 7.0 ($100). The current crop of entry-level shoes are much better than the entry-level shoes that brands were making 10 to 20 years ago because the midsole, upper and interior cushioning materials have improved across the board, and there’s a significant trickle-down effect from top-tier and mid-range models. Those shoes can be great for new runners or for a runner who wants to save money on a pair of shoes they’ll primarily use for recovery runs and midweek mileage. However, I’d be wary about buying any of those shoes and expecting it to be a high-mileage workhorse trainer or an up-tempo model for speed workouts. 

4. A Few Running Stores Have Opened Separate Closeout Businesses

A few years ago, Naperville Running Company owner Kris Hartner realized a large part of his suburban Chicago customer base was interested in less-expensive running shoes. His solution? He opened The Annex, a store that mostly sells closeout models. He said 94 percent of shoes sold at The Annex are shoes sold at his three Naperville Running Company retail stores. “There’s a massive market out there and there’s a lot of people that just don’t care if it’s a brand-new model,” Hartner told me. “Maybe they do all their shopping online or at Nordstrom Rack or Costco. And there’s shoppers who love the treasure hunt.” Pacers running shops in and around Washington D.C. created a similar secondary business known as Relay, a site that sells closeouts. As with anything you’re buying, the more you look around, the more you can find good deals. But there’s a limit to that strategy. For example, you can probably even find used running shoes at a garage sale, but, obviously, that’s not something you should ever consider.

What’s the bottom line? Saving money on running gear is usually a good thing, but I would be careful if you’re hunting for bargains as your primary shopping tactic. Having knowledge of specific shoes before you buy them is important, and having the chance to try those shoes on is even more important.