Running has always been one of the most accessible sports. While you can go all out and buy extensive, expensive gear, all you really need is a good pair of shoes (although, technically, you don’t even need those). Unfortunately, despite its reputation as an easy-entry sport, running still requires an initial down payment in the form of new shoes (and recurring payments every 300-400 miles). Most running shoes cost between 100-200 dollars – not enough to break the piggy bank, but definitely a significant investment. A lot of people can get by with a single pair of shoes a year and, for the casual runner, this might be all you need. But the higher your mileage, the higher the demand for new shoes. Some runners put over a hundred miles into their shoes in a single month. For these athletes, it is more common to have to buy three or four pairs of shoes a year – at least!
Whether you are a casual athlete or a high mileage runner, it’s tough to dish out hundreds of dollars for shoes. Fortunately, there are a few tricks I’ve seen that will help you never pay full price for running shoes again. Then, you can use the money you saved towards other gear, race fees, or another pair of shoes! However you slice it, saving money on shoes is a great feeling.
Buy Last Year’s Edition
One of the most sure-fire ways to save money is to buy the previous iteration of a shoe. Most companies release a model and, if it sells, continue to refine it year after year, which is why you see names like the Clifton 7 and the Kinvara 11. When a new shoe launches, the company always has some amount of the old shoe left in stock that hasn’t been sold yet. Because the company is focusing all their marketing on the new shoe, this becomes their money maker. At a certain point, last year’s iteration goes on sale so that that the company can get rid of this stock and make room for the new version of the shoe. After all, who would buy the previous edition of a shoe for the same price as the latest and greatest version?
It helps to do a bit of research on the different versions of a shoe because not all iterations are created equal; the original HOKA ONE ONE Clifton’s were groundbreaking, but the Clifton 3, 4, and 5 were considered pretty terrible. Ideally, however, you’ve spent a bit of time researching shoes before you buy them anyway. I made this mistake last summer when I bought the Brooks Launch 7. I’ve worn the Launch since version 3 so I assumed the newest model would be just as good as the previous models I’d worn. Unfortunately, the Launch 7’s are some of the worst shoes I’ve worn. I couldn’t run more than 3 miles in them without sustaining a blister – even after putting 200 miles on the shoe. I ended up ordering the Launch 6’s because I knew they would work and, it turns out, they were priced at 30% off. I feel obligated to mention the Brooks Launch because the Launch 8’s just came out and, while I haven’t tested the 8’s yet, if you think you can buy the 7’s and get the same experience you are sadly mistaken.
Usually, you can just google the shoe you are looking for and find it somewhere online without much trouble. Unless you have an unusually large or small foot you should be able to find your size without much trouble. In the same way, even if a shoe is a few years old you can usually find old reviews with a quick google search, which will help you decide whether it was great (like the original Clifton) or a bust.
Buy Shoes from Running Warehouse
A second, great way to buy shoes at a discount price is to use the Running Warehouse website. I promise I don’t work with Running Warehouse or anything, it’s just that their clearance section blows away the competition. Other online distributors have clearance options, but none offer such an expansive variety of discount shoes.
It used to be that when you needed a new running shoe, you’d go to your local shoe store and pick out the shoes you wanted. This can be helpful if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for in a shoe. These stores often employ knowledgeable runners who can help you figure out which shoe is right for you and can answer questions you might have regarding different types of shoes, sizes, and fit. But it’s difficult to get a great deal buying shoes in person because, depending on your local store, shoes don’t often go on sale. Even when they do, this is limited by availability.
Running Warehouse offers five categories of shoes: Neutral, Stability, Racing, Trail, and Recovery. The company is always having sales on top running shoes, usually ranging from 20%-50% off. I’ve seen all kinds of shoes offered on the website, from the HOKA ONE ONE Carbon X under $100 to the Nike Next%’s down $40 from its immense $200 original price. I find it most useful to check the Running Warehouse clearance page every month or so – especially if you don’t need new shoes in the next week – in order to optimize the likelihood that the shoe you are looking for is on sale. And even if you can’t find a specific shoe, odds are that you’ll find something pretty close.
Sign Up for a Subscription Shoe Service
Okay so currently there are only two companies I’m aware of that offer this as an option (and one technically hasn’t launched yet), but stick with me. The concept is that you subscribe for free and then pay a discounted price for shoes on a regular interval. The first option is to get a subscription with Atreyu Running Company. Atreyu is a startup from Austin, TX which operates on the premise that shoes should be affordable to everyone. They offer premium running shoes at $55 a pair for subscribers. Subscription is free, but the catch is that you will be mailed shoes every two months with one “skip” allowed annually. You can cancel anytime, so you aren’t locked into 5 pairs of shoes a year, but the plan doesn’t allow for much flexibility if you find yourself not running as much as you thought. I do plan on posting a full review of Atreyu, however, so I won’t go into much more detail than in the above. For now, just know that the shoes cost $55 for subscribers and ship every two months. If you don’t want a subscription, however, you can still purchase the shoes for $75.
The second company offering a subscription model is On Running. The service will not launch until Fall 2021, but the company plans to offer customers the option to pay 25 Euros a month (29.99 dollars for American subscribers) and On will replace the shoes once they wear out. They compare the experience to Netflix, but for high performance running shoes. The shoes – On is planning to call them the Cyclon – are expected to take about 250 miles before needing to be replaced. Unfortunately, On Running only plans to replace shoes twice a year, which means the average cost shakes out to be around 180 dollars per shoe. It remains to be seen whether On will refine this model, because at this point the selling point is novelty. The shoes are zero-waste and 100% recyclable (you can send your old pair back and On will recycle them), but you aren’t reading this article because you’re trying to save the environment, you’re reading it to save money. That said, the shoes are still worth checking out for the zero-waste aspect, but at least for now you aren’t really saving money with On Running’s subscription service. Once the shoe releases, I’ll post a comparison of On Running and Atreyu Running Company.
While both companies have drawbacks in their subscription models, the fact that they even exist is encouraging for the future. Atreyu only launched in early 2020 and On’s subscription service is still in a gestational period. The future of running for the non-elite athlete could be subscription shoes and it’s exciting to see companies push the envelope in this area, even if they aren’t perfect yet.
At the end of the day, you shouldn’t have to use all your lunch money for running shoes. While this might mean you don’t get to run in the newest Nike carbon-plated, rocket-boosted, trampoline-embedded racing flats, you can still save money with the methods listed above. If you love what you’ve seen from a current model, see if last year’s edition is still in stock. If you aren’t searching for something specific check out Running Warehouse’s clearance section. And if you’re feeling ready to try something new, get a subscription to Atreyu Running Company or On Running! Ultimately, you don’t need the latest and greatest shoe to be a great runner, you just need the motivation to turn the doorknob and get onto the pavement consistently.
What’s your go-to method of saving money on new running shoes? Leave a comment below to let us know what’s the largest discount you’ve found on a shoe and where you got it!
If you liked this article, check out: Building Your Running Shoe Rotation.
I wish i had these options. From my location, there is one shop that I know that sells running gear at very good prices.