Forums >Gears and Wears>Cheap Running Shoes?
E-mail: eric.fuller.mail@gmail.com -----------------------------
Professional Noob
I've decided my recent toe problems are largely the fault of the Nikes, and too much mileage on the shoes (and I'm sticking with that story)
Roads were made for journeys...
rectumdamnnearkilledem
Getting the wind knocked out of you is the only way to
remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air.
~ Sarah Kay
Jake, what I have found is that going to the expensive running store is really a great way to find the perfect shoe and pay full-price (my own NBs are $135) and be properly fitted...but after that if you fall in love with them, start doing froogle.com searches from time to time to find bargains. Right now I could have a pair of my 1222s for about $100. I'd probably be able to find them cheaper on eBay if I didn't require wide widths (everything on fleabay seems to be medium). Honestly, the shoes are one place I won't scrimp. Most of my other running gear I have gotten on the cheap from TJ Maxx, Campmor, and Sierra Trading Post. But the shoes are one thing I just sort of close my eyes and hand over my debit card for. I have weird, hard-to-fit feet, so I am used to spending more on my footwear than pretty much any other part of my wardrobe (ask backroadrunner about my little Danish orthopedic clog fetish). I refuse to spend more than $25 for a pair of jeans (and that's only if I am desperate and can't get them on clearance), but shoes are a whole 'nother story. k
Runners run
Dog-Love
In my humble opinion, there's not much difference between the $70-80 category of shoes and the $100+ category (except a lot of marketing for the latter) (Anyone have any experience otherwise?). Still, as someone pointed out, running is A LOT cheaper than most other sports (compared to biking, for instance!)
-Jess
So I did a few quick calculations, used imaginary numbers, divided by Pi ... and discovered that this little hobby could get pretty frickin' expensive, pretty quick. I could easily spend more in a year on shoes than on beer. And that's just wrong.
In my humble opinion, there's not much difference between the $70-80 category of shoes and the $100+ category (except a lot of marketing for the latter) (Anyone have any experience otherwise?). I do think that once you go under $70 you start losing some of the support features that keep your feet healthy. I'd be concerned about buying shoes JUST because they're cheap... if they're not a good fit also, you'll definitely end up on the bench. But the hardest thing is to find a pair of shoes that is perfect for your feet. If you find a pair for $50, $70, or $100+ that you love, stick with them.. they're worth their weight in gold. I've found my favorite (Boston Classic) for $80 and I won't switch until they stop making them.... even though Adidas has "fancier" ones for $100+.
Cheese is another one. Trust me: Kraft is worth it. Kroger brand cheese could make a squirrel gag.
You'll ruin your knees!
""...the truth that someday, you will go for your last run. But not today—today you got to run." - Matt Crownover (after Western States)