Looking for affordable running shoes

Biketechgirl

Decathlon have a good range of different prices and specific running shoes

PipneyJane

Nanako said:

Hello all!
I have recently started the famous Couch to 5k program, and i spent three weeks running 3x a week, and getting much fitter, i was seeing great results until I ran into a proverbial wall: Shin Splints

Not a fun condition, so now i'm in the middle of a 2 week break from running to let my shins heal. I do want to return to it though.
Shin splints has many causes, weight, environment, stance, etc. But one important factor I've overlooked so far is proper gear. The trainers i was using for running are old, worn, and relatively flat soled, this is not good.

So I am looking for advice on getting some better shoes. My first priority is functionality and ergonomics, I need trainers that will work well to cushion high impact physical activity

But a second priority is cost. I know that the shoe market is flooded with all kinds of crazy brands, that charge ludicrous prices. This muddies the waters and makes it really hard to find reasonable products, when you can find a pair for 20 bucks, and a functionally identical pair for 10-20x the price. I need some guidance here.
I have no interest in fancy brand names or fashion, i just want something that will work for intense purposes, and not cost an arm and a leg.

My provisional budget is £50 for now. If there's a really good reason, i could stretch to 100. I doubt i could fathom spending more than that on a pair of shoes.

Is this reasonable? Any ideas, product advice, etc? What should I get?

Firstly, apologies but I haven’t read anyone-else’s reply, so sorry if what I’m about to say is a duplicate of advice you have already received.

Secondly, the most important thing you can do is to go to a proper running shop and get your gait analysed.  Do you over-pronate, under-pronate, run on your toes, put excessive pressure on your heel?  These are all things that will be examined, after which you will get a recommendation for one - or several - different shoe brands that cater for your type of gait.  

Yes, you may have to pay for gait analysis.  If not, then it’s good manners to buy your shoes - or at least something - from the shop, as a thank you for their time.  However, once you know the shoe brand that suits your feet, you can always buy your next pair directly from the brand’s website.  (I overpronate.  My brand is ASICS and I usually buy my trainers from the sale section of their website, for £40-ish a pair.)

HTH

- Pip

Stolas

Definitely a good idea to get a gait analysis, as there’s a chance you might need a more specialised stability shoe. 

Getting last year’s model of a shoe can easily get you under the £100 mark, though £50 may be trickier. There generally aren’t huge changes from year to year between models so you won’t be missing out. 

I’ve picked a few that sprang to mind. 

Brooks Ghost.  Many people start running with these shoes, they’re comfy, stable, have a good amount of cushion, and a reputation for durability. Version 15 or 14 should be the ones to look out for. 

Puma Velocity Nitro 3. Also comfy, stable, with good cushioning. The current version can already be found sub £100, while the version 2 is around £60. A bit of a springier ride than the Ghost, so you can take it up tempo a bit. The Pumagrip outsole is durable, and something people love in wet weather. Version 2 isn’t as breathable as some would like, but that may not be an issue as we’re coming into colder weather. 

Reebok Floatride Energy 5. A “budget” trainer that reviewers have really enjoyed. Possibly the easiest one to find close to £50. 

Edd Budd and FOD Runner on YouTube have some good reviews of these. 

Also worth bearing in mind that some brands will let you use the shoes and return if they don’t work for you (you do need to order direct and  pay full price). Brooks, ASICS, and Hoka. Though double check before ordering. 

Hope that helps! 

SpikyHedgehog

Totally agree with PipneyJane and the others who've said gait analysis! 

The other thing I was going to say is,  have you done a physio referral?  The NHS physio was very helpful for me,  and for my mum,  when we had pains from running. 

I haven't done Couch to 5k, I'm in a local women's running group,  which has been really useful in looking at form and if we're running in a balanced way.   We've also got a Facebook page,  where people share "sale on at local trainers shop" and other useful things. 

Grumpy_chap

Nanako said:

My provisional budget is £50 for now. If there's a really good reason, i could stretch to 100. I doubt i could fathom spending more than that on a pair of shoes.

For training, try a pair of Nike Revolution 7 or similar.  Currently £60 on the Nike website - an Outlet store (if there is one near you) may have a keener price.

Is there an Up And Running store near you?

Have you visited your local Sports Direct?
They are currently listing:
 - Asics Jolt 4 at £31.50
 - Nike Air Zoon Vomero at £33
 - Brooks Trace 2 at £52.50
 - Nike Pegasus 40 at £63 - I mention these as I have a pair as my "training" shoe and find them to be very good, though gutted I paid full price at Easter time.  The Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 at £55 is probably better value.

noclaf

My only additional point is that if you have a certain foot shape e.g: wider, narrower and a preference to what feels 'comfy' then ordering online is risky.....yes there will be great deals on FB marketplace, eBay etc However you could easily end up spending the equivalent of a brand new full price pair.....I know because have been there and got the t shirt! Though you can never have too many pairs

I have a wide foot and narrow ankles, generally need decent padding/support in the ankle collar or end up with ankle pain so through trial and error with various brands and models, ASICS Cumulus tend to work well for my foot shape. Others that IMO work well and are popular with beginners are Brooks Ghost, Mizuno Waveriders and Nike Pegasus. I have used all 3 though the Pegasus run too narrow for me.

Scarum

When in the infancy of running buying online without trying first is a bit of a risk unless it's a running shoe make and model you have tried before.

I've never suffered with shinsplints (but plenty of other injuries!).  Is there a coach associated with your couch 2 5k program?  If so, ask your coach to check your running style from front/behind.  Gait analysis may help in which case look for a Runner's Need shop.  With a local Runner's Need I have always found the staff very helpful and some staff (university students on summer holiday breaks), highly knowledgable.

Edit... Also worth noting, as a rule of thumb, on shoe size, you would usually buy 1 size larger, sometimes half a size larger (depends on make), than your normal "smart" shoes.  You don't want super tight shoes the same size as your smart shoes (unless track spikes perhaps!).  The way you lace the running shoes makes a dramatic effect on how they fit around your foot (ie tighter lacing at front, or back, or both).

Looking on Runner's Need website just now I can see regular prices are high for the usual branded shoes so a shoe on sale for under £100 is your aim but you'll be hard pressed to find one below £70.  For shoes on sale you may have to forfeit the choice of colour to the more funky but I say, embrace the colour!

If you become addicted to running and find a shoe you simply love to run in, hold on for the sales and buy a few pairs whilst you can!  I look for my top shoes on eBay and I think they are no more.

Emmia

Scarum said:

When in the infancy of running buying online without trying first is a bit of a risk unless it's a running shoe make and model you have tried before.

I've never suffered with shinsplints (but plenty of other injuries!).  Is there a coach associated with your couch 2 5k program?  If so, ask your coach to check your running style from front/behind.  Gait analysis may help in which case look for a Runner's Need shop.  With a local Runner's Need I have always found the staff very helpful and some staff (university students on summer holiday breaks), highly knowledgable.

Couch to 5K is usually app based, no personal coach who could offer guidance on gait or shoes.

Grumpy_chap

Scarum said:

Edit... Also worth noting, as a rule of thumb, on shoe size, you would usually buy 1 size larger, sometimes half a size larger (depends on make), than your normal "smart" shoes.  You don't want super tight shoes the same size as your smart shoes (unless track spikes perhaps!).  The way you lace the running shoes makes a dramatic effect on how they fit around your foot (ie tighter lacing at front, or back, or both).

That is an interesting observation and contrary to my experience / advice I received.  I always have running shoes 1/2 to 1 size smaller than normal work shoes so that the running shoes fit tight (like a glove) and have no movement that can result in rubbing and all the energy rebound goes into my pace rather than being mitigated through the movement of the shoe relative to my foot.

jbrassy

I do a lot of running and I used to get a lot of shin splints. I went to an Asics store and did the gait analysis as others suggested. They recommended a neutral shoe which helps a lot. I've sworn by Asics ever since.

Asics do lots of different trainers, but in general, the more you pay, the more cushioning there is on the bottom of the shoe and the less likely you are to get shin splints. Asics Gel Nimbus are the shoe with the most cushioning in the neutral shoe category and I have never got shin splints off them. The downside is you'll struggle to find them below £100. 

One trick is to buy a pair which have been around for a couple of years. The current version are the Asics Gel Nimbus 26 (RRP £180). But you can still buy the Gel Nimbus 25 or 24 at a much lower price. They're worth a Google.

Running shoes below £50 probably aren't worth buying. They won't be durable and I doubt they'll have much cushioning.