Best Running Shoe Deals of Mid-February 2023: 13 Pairs Worth a Look

Introduction

Mid-February is a surprisingly good window for running shoe bargains. Retailers start clearing early-release colorways and older versions of recent models, which means the savings can be genuine rather than a marketing gesture. We pulled together the best deals found across Nike, Puma, Adidas, Saucony and Asics, from carbon-plated racers to everyday cushioned trainers, and flagged one shoe that is not worth the discount. Prices below are roughly in British pounds unless noted, and stock moves fast on popular sizes.

Nike Deals First: Tempo Next% and Pegasus Trail 4 Gore-Tex

Nike is running a 25% off deal when you buy two full-priced items, valid until 20 February. The selection is a little slimmer with some exceptions, but there are strong running shoes in the mix. The Nike Tempo Next%, previously known as the Tempo, sits around a £180 retail price and becomes a much more tempting purchase with the discount applied.

The Pegasus Trail 4 Gore-Tex is also part of the deal, and it doubles as a genuinely good winter walking shoe thanks to its waterproof construction. One caveat: the Vaporfly Next% 2 is included too, but only a few colorways remain on Nike’s own site, likely because stock is being cleared ahead of the Vaporfly Next% 3 launch. For the Vaporfly Next% 2, retailers such as Sports Shoes.com and Keller Sports carry a wider variety of sizes and colors at around the £150 mark, which is easier to justify.

Saucony Endorphin Pro 3

The Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 is the deal we think most runners should test if they have not already. Early-release colorways always get discounted first, and the Prospect Quartz version is down to about £165 at retailers like Runner’s Expert and Start Fitness. Even better deals existed briefly, with one store listing it around £125, but those sold out fast. It is a genuinely strong Vaporfly alternative, so act quickly because these shoes do not stay in stock for long.

Nike Alphafly Next% 2

If maximum cushioning is your top priority and you are shopping in smaller sizes, Nike currently has the Alphafly Next% 2 discounted to around £162, roughly £100 off retail, which is remarkable for such a recent shoe. The catch is sizing: only smaller sizes, roughly UK 3 to 5.5, remain in stock. If that range fits you, the discount is hard to beat for a top-tier race day shoe.

Puma Deals: Deviate Nitro 2, Deviate Nitro Elite and Velocity Nitro 2

Puma offers some of the best value in this roundup. Sports Direct carries a small discount on the Deviate Nitro 2, a shoe we find superb across many session types. It works as a daily trainer, handles speed sessions, and suits longer slower runs too. The plate adds a touch of stabilization compared with max-cushion plateless models, the upper is slightly plusher than the Elite version, and the outsole is exceptionally durable. At its discounted price it is a solid bet for any rotation.

The often-overlooked Deviate Nitro Elite is at Start Fitness for £85, with a couple of colorways and plenty of sizes available. Despite a midsole stack that is not maxed out, the ride is very cushioned and forgiving, and we find it great after long runs. Ignore the stack height debates: this is easily enough shoe for a half marathon or marathon, and criticisms that it lacks cushioning feel overblown.

For a reliable daily cushioned trainer, the Puma Velocity Nitro 2 at just £50 is hard to beat. There is no plate stiffness here, but there is more rubber underfoot, and the dual-density midsole pairs a softer top layer over a firmer, more stable base. It is a very good Pegasus alternative if you find Nike’s model a bit too firm or dislike the inconsistent air unit feel.

Adidas Deals: Takumi Sen 8, Adizero SL and Adios Pro 2

Start Fitness has the Adidas Takumi Sen 8 in a striking orange colorway for just under £100, a £70 saving from retail. This is a shoe worth grabbing at a discount: it is fantastic and becomes even better value with these price cuts. It features a foot-hugging upper, so it suits narrower feet, and it is set up for 10K racing or perhaps a half marathon. It keeps grip and durability on point, holding up even on more testing trail-like terrain, and plenty of sizes are available.

The Takumi Sen update itself left us a little perplexed, feeling more like a Sen 8.5 than a true successor, which makes discounted Sen 8 stock the smarter buy.

One to avoid: the Adidas Adizero SL at its discounted £79 price. It is overpriced even at that level. The shoe feels firm and generally unpleasant to run in, with a plush upper sitting on top of Lightstrike foam that comes across as a bit of a slab. It improves slightly after some wear, but plenty of other shoes feel great straight out of the box, and the Adios 6 or 7 is a much better buy for similar or slightly more money. It has been discounted barely a month after release, and there is a good reason for that.

The last Adidas bargain is the Adios Pro 2, found at TK Maxx in lots of sizes for as little as £80. It was the cutting edge roughly 18 months ago, and it still delivers plenty of pop from the energy rods plus stability from the heel plate. At £80, you cannot lose. It is worth checking your local store, though be aware you may also spot the less-loved Adizero SL on the same shelves.

Cushioned Bargains: Invincible Run 2 and Novablast

If the recently released Nike Invincible Run 3 is not working out, whether due to the heel slip some runners experience or the £170 price tag, the previous version on discount is a smart move. The Invincible Run 2 is available for under £100 at Sports Shoes.com, with lots of sizes in a tasteful predominantly white colorway with red and blue touches. Sports Direct also carries some, though sizing is patchy there. The new model has subtle improvements, but are they worth £70 more? Probably not, so if your old pair of Invincibles has worn out, now is the time to stock up on V2s.

Over at the Asics outlet website in the UK, there are loads of discounted pairs of the original Novablast in a wide variety of sizes at around £74, with the black and Marigold version at £75. Some women’s versions are even cheaper, with the black and Pink Glow colorway at £52. The original ride is not far off the Invincible Run in terms of squashiness, and later iterations have actually become firmer, with the Novablast 3 feeling noticeably firmer than the original. At these prices it makes a superb recovery shoe and offers quite a different ride to the newer version.

Overall Buying Advice

A few patterns are worth noting. Racing shoes with carbon plates are seeing genuine discounts, particularly on earlier colorways and outgoing models, so the Endorphin Pro 3 and Adios Pro 2 are standouts. For daily trainers, the Puma Velocity Nitro 2 at £50 and the discounted Deviate Nitro 2 offer the best value per mile. And when a successor launches, the previous version often becomes the smarter buy, as the Invincible Run 2 and original Novablast demonstrate. Check sizes early, because the best deals in this list are the ones that sell out first.

Conclusion

Mid-February 2023 delivered an unusually strong set of running shoe deals, from sub-£100 daily trainers to discounted carbon racers. Match the shoe to your actual training needs, act quickly on popular colorways, and skip the Adizero SL entirely. Happy hunting, and if you spot a deal worth sharing, pass it along to your running buddies.