Best Running Shoe Deals of October 2025: 10 Trainers and Race Shoes Worth Grabbing

Introduction

October is when the hype shoes from earlier in the year quietly start dropping in price, and this round of deals is one of the strongest we have seen in a while. The list below covers three territories: everyday daily trainers, carbon-plated race shoes, and max cushion mileage machines. Every shoe here was found on sale at the time of writing, several of them well below their original MSRP. Prices can shift or sell out quickly, so it is worth checking multiple retailers and size runs before committing.

Best All-Rounder Daily Trainer: Asics Novablast 5

The Novablast 5 was on sale for $100 at Dick’s Sporting Goods, and that price makes it one of the easiest recommendations on this list. It is a fun, peppy daily trainer with a soft feel and it works well for a variety of runs. It is not a super fast shoe, but for newer runners, runners who do not like carbon shoes, or anyone whose paces are not in the fives or sixes, it doubles as a capable 5K, 10K, or even first half marathon shoe. Some people find it slightly too soft and not supportive enough, and it does not last super long, but as a one shoe does everything pick that does not break the bank, it is an excellent deal.

Best Comfort Pick: New Balance 1080 v14

The 1080 v14 is not a shoe that has stayed at the top of the hype cycle, but at $70 at Sierra it is hard to argue with as a pure comfort purchase. You get a very soft foam that does not have the most bounce, which is part of why it has slipped down the running ranks compared with the v13. It also lacks the impact absorption of the max cushion shoes of 2025. What it does deliver is all-day comfort. If you want a super comfortable walking or jogging shoe and you do not care about speed or having the latest and greatest, this is a great pick. Note that the Sierra deal had limited sizes, mostly smaller and bigger men’s sizes, so check availability in your size first.

Best Speed-Oriented Daily Trainer: Saucony Mach X2

The Mach X2 was $100, actually $99, at Dick’s Sporting Goods, which is dramatically better than the $150 price at Running Warehouse. This was a favorite marathon training shoe of its year: a bottom layer of support foam, a top layer of race foam, great rocker geometry, and a plastic plate. It is a speed training shoe you can also take on long runs and even races. Paired with a daily trainer like the Novablast 5, a two shoe rotation for around $200 could carry you all the way through to spring races. It has a genuine snap to it and a slightly more aggressive feel than the newer generation. One note: some runners found the heel collar cut into their legs, so padded socks are worth considering to avoid blistering.

Best Value Carbon Race Shoe: Nike Vaporfly 4

The Vaporfly 4 at $170 to $175 at Dick’s is a surprising deal given the shoe only released a few months ago at an MSRP of $260, later $270. That is essentially $100 off. In the race shoe landscape it sits in the balanced middle territory: a stiff carbon fiber plate, slightly firmer foam, and a mid-to-high 30s heel stack without extreme geometry tricks. It does not feel super soft, super tall, or super assisted, and it is not doing an aggressive rocker that forces you up on your toes. What it offers is a very natural ride that is easy to turn over. If you want a lightweight shoe for the track, a half marathon shoe on a deal, or a budget race-and-train option, especially for a high school or college runner, this is the best carbon deal out there right now.

Best Marathon Race Shoe Deal: Nike Alphafly 3

At $220, the Alphafly 3 is the opposite end of the Nike race lineup: the same foam as the Vaporfly but with a higher stack plus the air unit, so it feels softer, more cushioned, and noticeably more assisted, putting you up on your toes with a ton of pop. It is a shoe that has proven itself over serious mileage, with one pair covering roughly 250 miles across training and racing. It remains one of the best marathon training and racing shoes available, and with a successor rumored to arrive soon at a likely much higher price, $220 for a shoe that will carry you through winter and spring racing is a strong deal.

Best Middle-Ground Racer: Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris

Finding the Metaspeed Sky Paris still in inventory at $200 at Dick’s is a genuine surprise, given how efficiently Asics seems to clear out previous generations once a new one launches. Priced and positioned right between the Vaporfly 4 and the Alphafly 3, its ride experience sits there too: not as tall and endurance-tuned as the Alphafly, not as low and unassisted as the Vaporfly. You get more snap off the forefoot than the Vaporfly and a wide forefoot plate that delivers real speed assistance when you push power down through the front. It is not the most stable option, so it is best reserved for tempo runs, track days, and racing rather than very long runs. The foam is durable and arguably feels better with miles on it, though the heel foam can fray cosmetically if you wear through the back.

Best Goldilocks Carbon Shoe: Hoka Rocket X2

The Rocket X2 at $185 is the safe bet of the carbon deals. It is more assisted than the Vaporfly but less aggressive than the Sky Paris, with foam sitting right in the Goldilocks zone. It has plenty of aggression and a great rocker, and it holds up surprisingly well over miles, with pairs looking great even past 100 miles. Very few runners who try it end up hating it, which makes it the pick if you want a carbon shoe for both training and racing but are not sure what will suit you. If your budget is under $200 and you want a high chance of a shoe that just works, this is the one to grab.

Best Max Cushion Mileage Machine: Brooks Glycerin Max

The Glycerin Max has now settled at around $160 at Dick’s Sporting Goods so consistently that it is effectively the new price. It was one of the most comfortable max cushion shoes of the past year and still sits in the top five of max cushion rankings. This is a comfort-oriented mileage machine in the same category as shoes like the Asics Superblast: soft in the heel, more energetic and responsive up front, with a great rocker. Where standard daily trainers tend to lose their pop once you pass the hour mark, the Glycerin Max keeps its bubbly feel deep into long runs. For utmost comfort and protection during marathon training, it is an A-grade pick at $160.

Best Sleeper Deal: Saucony Endorphin Trainer

The Endorphin Trainer can be found for $135 at Running Warehouse with a discount code. This shoe’s reputation took a beating when it first released because many expected the 3/4 carbon fiber plate to make it a speedy shoe. It is not super fast, though it is not slow either and does offer some speed assistance. Think of it as an amped-up daily trainer, similar in intent to the Glycerin Max. Its standout quality comes from the top layer of newer PWRRUN PB-class soft foam, paired here with a much more stable EVA base layer that creates real structure in the heel, plus the classic Saucony rocker geometry. It is a great long run and recovery run shoe for runners who want impact relief as mileage climbs without committing to an aggressive race shoe every day.

Best Comfort-Oriented Race Shoe: New Balance SC Elite v4

The SC Elite v4 rounds out the list at $130 at Sierra, with a $180 option at Running Warehouse with a discount code. Like the 1080 v14 deal, the Sierra price comes with limited size availability. It is grouped with the max cushion picks because that is genuinely how it rides: a floaty, boaty feel that is wide, stable, and comfortable, built on PEBA race foam with a carbon fiber plate. It is not as fast as the Vaporfly, Alphafly, Sky Paris, or Rocket, but the runners who love it most tend to be bigger runners, runners who want more stability, and those spending longer on their feet in the half or full marathon. If the $130 price is in your size, grab it. At $180 it works as a long run alternative with more pep than a Glycerin Max.

Buying Advice: How to Choose from These Deals

For a two shoe rotation on a budget, the Novablast 5 plus Mach X2 at roughly $200 total covers daily miles and speed work all the way to spring races. If you want one carbon race shoe and cannot decide, the Rocket X2 has the highest odds of working for you. If you know exactly what you want, the Alphafly 3 suits cushioned marathon racing, the Sky Paris rewards aggressive tempo and track runners, and the Vaporfly 4 is the best value for a natural-riding all-purpose racer. For comfort-first training, the Glycerin Max is the most protective, while the Endorphin Trainer and SC Elite v4 blend comfort with a little extra assistance. Note that several of these deals, especially the Sierra ones, have limited size runs, so availability matters as much as price.

Conclusion

The October 2025 deal landscape is unusually generous, with recent race shoes approaching $100 off MSRP and excellent daily trainers dipping under $100. Match the shoe to the job it needs to do, double-check size availability, and these ten picks represent some of the best value in running right now.