Best Clearance Running Shoes Early 2023: Three Sale Picks Worth Buying Right Now

Introduction

Clearance season is one of the best windows to build a running shoe rotation without paying full price. The three picks here share two things in common: each was scored and reviewed in depth, and each still has a decent, if not perfect, selection of sizes available in the sale stock. That last point matters. A deal only counts if your size is actually on the shelf.

The rotation below covers the three roles most runners need: an easy day and daily trainer, a tempo and middle-distance shoe, and a race day weapon. Together they come to a mix of discounts and final scores that make them easy to recommend as a budget-conscious early-year setup.

Easy Day Pick: New Balance FuelCell More v4

The FuelCell More v4 earns its spot as the easy day and daily trainer of this rotation. Its full review score came in at 7.2 out of 10, which is not a headline number, but the value case is strong: it is currently 23% off, bringing it to $114, and it has one of the healthier size ranges still available.

It is a lot of shoe underfoot, which is exactly why it works for easy days and daily mileage. Some runners also use it for long runs, and that is fine, but it would not be the first choice there. For its intended role, though, it is the ticket, and the fact that the price has already dropped this early is worth appreciating.

Tempo and Middle-Distance Pick: ASICS Novablast 2

The Novablast 2 is the archive pick of the bunch, and it comes with a strong personal preference attached: this model is preferred over its successor, the Novablast 3. With 38% off at $79, it is butter-to-the-bread value for the middle ground between easy running and racing.

Its review score broke into the 8s, which says a lot for a shoe now sitting this far down in price. It is the first choice for babyish tempo runs, fartleks, and middle-distance efforts, and it still crosses over well into the daily trainer category. If you want one shoe to cover a bit of everything at pace, this is it.

Race Day Pick: Saucony Endorphin Pro 2

The Endorphin Pro 2 rounds out the rotation as the threshold and race day shoe. It scored 7.8 out of 10 in its full review, and while the newer Endorphin Pro 3 was a big upgrade and is the better shoe overall, it still retails at $224. The Pro 2, at 50% off for $99, will still get the job done.

This is a half marathon and marathon shoe, and it would even work for a 10K race. It is definitely not a 5K racing pick, so keep expectations calibrated accordingly. For runners who want a plated race shoe for key workouts and goal races without paying current flagship prices, the math here is hard to argue with.

Building a Three-Shoe Rotation on a Budget

Once you niche down, a three-shoe rotation is a sweet spot. You can go four, five, or six pairs, or try to manage with one or two, but the smaller or larger the rotation gets, the harder it is to feel sharp underfoot on every type of run.

The risk of a thinner rotation is using a soft daily trainer for a threshold day, which is exactly the mismatch this trio is designed to avoid. Each shoe here has a clear role: the More v4 absorbs easy miles, the Novablast 2 handles tempo and fartlek work, and the Endorphin Pro 2 covers race days.

Conclusion

As a clearance rotation for early in the year, this trio is hard to beat: the FuelCell More v4 at $114 for easy days, the Novablast 2 at $79 for tempo work, and the Endorphin Pro 2 at $99 for race day. None of them is the newest model on the market, and that is precisely the point. Buying one generation back, while sizes are still available, is one of the simplest ways to save without sacrificing a shoe that genuinely fits its role.