How To Buy the Best Running Shoes for Cheap

Don’t say this too loudly at your next race, but buying good running shoes is never about spending more money or having the latest model. The truth is, it’s all about you. When it comes to running shoes, you are a special snowflake. Your feet are different from your funny buddy’s feet even if you wear the same sized shoes. Here are twelve tips for getting the best running shoes for you at a deep discount.

Tip #1: Expensive shoes are just expensive.

Believe it! Over the past decade running shoe prices seem to have been on a skyward trend. Sure manufacturers have R&D costs to cover when they create their shoes and creating new lasts (the form for the shoe) or using newer material technologies costs more than re-using existing ones but that doesn’t make a new shoe cost its weight in gold by itself. Marketing is the main driver of cost. Even if a cost+profit margin equation spits out a $40 retail price for a pair of shoes the marketing department doesn’t care. What matters is which shoes on the market was this shoe created to compete with.

If the competition’s similar shoes are $120 you can guarantee that the $40 shoe will be priced at $119. What does this mean for you? It means that you can ignore the price when you start looking at shoes. The price only partly reflects the quality and technology, and it definitely isn’t going to tell you if it’s the right shoe for you.

Your feet aren’t like my feet and my feet aren’t like anyone else’s. Find the shoe that works for you, not your running partner.

Tip #2: The shoe you need is the shoe that works for you.

This is where the price blindness I mentioned in tip #1 helps you find the right shoe. In a minute I’ll explain how you can get expensive shoes for cheap if you find that the perfect shoe for you is a chunk of change. When looking at shoes, pay attention to the following:

Tip #3: Avoid putting on (shoe) weight.

When you pick up the shoe for the first time does it feel like you are lifting a six-pack or an empty can? The lightest shoes aren’t necessarily the best but the heaviest shoes should be avoided. Think of it this way. If you put steel wheels and 7-ply tires on your car, you are forcing your car to work harder to go the same distance. It’s the same for your body: your knees and legs will not be happy. Fortunately, even if you are buying shoes online you can easily find out how much a shoe weighs and compare that number against others.

Tip #4: Your toes need room. (Toe Box)

The toe box is the area of the shoes where you put (you guessed it!) your toes. Too many people buy running shoes that are too tight but tell themselves that they’ll break in. NO!!! Modern running shoes don’t break in. They either fit correctly or they don’t. The toe box dimension is a factor of both the design of the shoe and the sizing. If you find a pair of shoes you like but it’s slightly too tight around your toes and to the left and right of the ball of your foot, try the next size up. It’s not only about foot length. More about this below.

Some shoes are notoriously narrow and some are designed to be very wide in the toe box area. Shop around. Your toes shouldn’t be anywhere near the front of the shoes and your feet should sit comfortably on the footbed without feeling like they are sitting in a vice. Also, make sure you stand up and walk/run around before deciding if it is too tight or too loose in this area. Without all your weight pushing down on the shoe you can’t make a decision.

Tip #5: Pay attention to shoe mouth design. (ankle clearance)

Those of you with ankles that seem to be halfway up your legs will never have to worry about this but for the rest of us: pay attention to what your ankles are saying. If you feel the mouth of the shoe (where you stick your foot in) rubbing against the side or bottom of your ankle bones (medial malleolus or lateral malleolus) don’t buy the shoe. Some shoes have low mouth openings and some have an odd shape (like many Brooks models) so pay attention.

Tip #6: Watch out for heel slip.

The right shoe for you will lock your heel in place without rubbing. Sometimes you need to lace your shoes using the second hole along the mouth of the shoe (SURPRISE! That’s what it’s for) or use the slightly more advanced heel lock lacing in order to get a really snug heel fit (lacing is discussed in a minute). However, if you try these additional steps and your heel still slips then try different shoes.

Tip #7: Understand heel drop. (aka heel-toe differential)

You will see this term thrown around with a number assigned to it expressed in millimeters. You will also come across the term “zero drop” or “low drop” but don’t panic. This simply refers to the height of the heel compared to the ball of the foot, typically 0–12mm. A zero-drop shoe has a heel that is no higher than the rest of the shoe. A 12mm or higher drop has a built-up heel. Why is this a thing? Who cares what that number is? Well, you might. There are a number of factors that make the drop of a shoe an important consideration. It’s a little too much to discuss here, but you can read a short explanation then keep your range in mind as you shop.