Best Running Shoe Bargains: Nine Discounted Trainers Worth a Second Look

Introduction

Sales windows come and go, but a genuinely good shoe at a genuinely good price is worth flagging while it lasts. This roundup collects nine running shoes that were knocked down to impressive prices at the time of the deals, spanning cushioned daily trainers, all-weather options and carbon-plated racers. If one of them matches your training, this is the kind of discount that turns a solid shoe into a standout buy.

Nike Invincible Run Flyknit 2

The Invincible Run Flyknit 2 landed at $115, a tremendous price for a very good shoe and a surprise discount so soon after release. The second version improves on the original with a better upper, and the fatigue-lessening properties of the ZoomX midsole material are the headline attraction. The outsole is the very definition of multi-terrain, which widens its appeal well beyond the treadmill and dry pavement.

This is an easy recommendation for runners training for marathons, where reducing fatigue over long miles matters most. At this price, it is one of the strongest max-cushion deals around.

Nike Pegasus 39 Premium

The Pegasus 39 Premium was cut by 40%, down from $115 to $69, which makes it a really great daily trainer. This version brings extra premium materials in the upper and a design nod to Nike’s Blue Ribbon Sports heritage. Around 100 miles of testing turned up very few issues: it is simply a solid daily offering with a bit of history behind it.

The Pegasus line occasionally nails the balance of cushioning and upper fit, and this iteration does exactly that. With great grip for the coming winter months, this trusty horse is worth the asking price.

Nike Air Zoom Vomero 16

Longer-run fans get a 50% discount on the Vomero 16, now $67. It features ZoomX material in the midsole alongside Nike’s SR02 formula, and the ride is quite soft, almost like nougat: squashy enough to comfort, yet still resilient enough to give some response. It never feels like quicksand, and it avoids the sluggishness of some recycled foams.

At $67 it is an absolute steal and one of Nike’s best daily shoes released in recent years. Give it a whirl if you want a soft but not dead-feeling everyday shoe.

Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind

Over at Start Fitness, the under-loved and light Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind version one dropped to just $70. It works both as a daily trainer and as a pace shoe for faster efforts. The Flow material serves as both midsole and outsole, and it proves very durable with grip that ranks right up there. Under Armour’s embedded tech also pairs with a phone or watch for very accurate cadence readings, since the sensor sits in the shoe rather than on the wrist.

This is the champion of overlooked shoes. If it wore a different logo, more people would be talking about it. For anyone after something outside the stripes-or-swoosh mainstream, it is the one to check out.

Puma Deviate Nitro

The Deviate Nitro was 44% off at Start Fitness, with many sizes of the fetching Windwash blue colorway at $84. That is a great price for a Nitro midsole plated shoe, and underneath you get Puma Grip, which does not get much better. A carbon-plated trainer and racer at this money is a fantastic deal.

It compares favorably to the current Zoom Fly models and arguably has a bit more race chops than the Endorphin Speed. Several colorways are worth searching for, making this a real price buster.

Saucony Endorphin Pro 2

Some lower sizes of the Saucony Endorphin Pro 2 were available in a sunflower-yellow gold colorway at $109, down from close to $200. For a shoe with a PWRRUN PB midsole and a carbon plate, that ratio is hard to beat. It is a firm yet fair carbon-plated shoe, true to size, though some may find it a touch too rigid for daily use.

Best pulled from the cupboard for faster speed or tempo sessions, and for racing. You could race pretty much anything in it: 5K through to marathon.

Puma Velocity Nitro

A mega deal: 41% off the Puma Velocity Nitro version one, reduced to $59 at Start Fitness. That value even takes on Reebok. The Nitro midsole includes a small wedge of EVA in the back, which keeps the ride nice, smooth and controlled. Puma Grip wipes the floor with pretty much any other outsole at this price.

It is a 2021 model, but that should not worry value hunters. Start Fitness carries a wide range of colorways, so there is plenty to choose from.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 RunShield

At Running Experts, $99 buys another winter option, this time in ladies sizing only. The RunShield variant has a water-repellent upper that keeps moisture away from your feet on cooler, wetter days, which matters when the weather turns and dry feet become a priority.

If you train through a wet season, a water-repellent version of an already well-regarded tempo shoe is a sensible buy.

Adidas Adizero Adios 6

Last up is the Swiss army knife of running shoes: the Adidas Adizero Adios 6, a shoe that earned shoe-of-the-year honors for daily models. This blue version with a hint of chalky red was around $76, roughly 30% off, with loads of sizes available. It is hard to understand why people sleep on it.

It is quick, nimble, and a shoe to beat into submission: the Lightstrike Pro gets better the more you use it, firm yet snappy, like cereal with just the right amount of milk. It is a racer disguised as a daily shoe, equally at home in faster-paced sessions.

Buying Advice

If you want maximum cushioning for marathon training, the Invincible Run Flyknit 2 leads this list. Daily miles on a budget point to the Pegasus 39 Premium, Vomero 16 or Velocity Nitro. Faster sessions and racing are covered by the Endorphin Pro 2 and Deviate Nitro, while wet weather pushes you toward the RunShield. The Adios 6 and Flow Velociti Wind suit runners who want something a little different from the usual suspects.

Conclusion

Every shoe here earned its discount honestly: strong performance first, reduced price second. Match the shoe to your training, check your size while stock lasts, and one of these bargains could easily become your next favorite pair.