Best Running Shoe Bargains Worth Grabbing Right Now

Introduction

Sale season is one of the best times to pick up a running shoe that would normally sit outside your budget, and right now there are some genuinely strong discounts floating around. This roundup gathers six shoes from Puma and Reebok that are currently reduced, each with a clear purpose: short-distance racing, everyday training, wet-weather running, or long, cushioned miles.

The picks below are ordered roughly from race-day sparkle to max-stack cruiser. Prices and stock levels change quickly, so it is worth checking your size before committing.

Puma Fast Forward Nitro Elite

The Fast Forward Nitro Elite is an unusual shoe with a very specific mission: fast 5K to 10K running for midfoot landers who want serious cushioning while also nudging their turnover higher. In the Psychedelic Rush colorway, it is currently discounted by 40 percent across almost all sizes, dropping from a retail price of 209 to 126.

Notably, this is a shoe that has held up well in both training and racing use, with no obvious durability concerns. At this discounted price, it becomes a much easier way to experiment and slot something new into your rotation.

Puma Velocity Nitro 2

The Velocity Nitro 2 is the no-frills daily trainer in this lineup, and at half off it becomes one of the easiest recommendations here. The midsole uses two layers of foam directly underfoot: Puma Nitro foam on top with a slightly firmer EVA blend beneath it for consistency. Everything is protected by Pumagrip rubber, which has a well-earned reputation for durability.

The upper is breathable with a few reflective hits for winter running, and the insoles are removable if you prefer to use your own orthotics. Despite all that stack protection, it comes in under 300 grams, which is rare for a daily shoe these days. It is down from 105 to just over half that at Sportsshoes, with a plentiful supply of colors and sizes.

Reebok Floatride Energy 5

The Floatride Energy 5 is the wild value play of this roundup. Stock is sadly very limited in terms of sizes, but the price is close to giveaway territory at 36, which makes it a genuinely excellent budget daily trainer. Floatride foam is easily good enough for everyday runs, though the roughly 30mm heel stack means it is not a max-cushion shoe by modern standards and is best kept away from very long efforts.

With a lower drop and a lower price than most of its competition, it is a steal if you can find your size. If the price is within budget, it is hard to go wrong as a basic daily driver.

Reebok Citros 2.5

The Citros 2.5 builds on the Floatride formula with more cushioning depth, particularly in the heel, plus a hint of stability. A raised midsole wall around the rearfoot and a firmer rubber element in the heel help steady the ride for runners who want a little guidance in their stride.

Floatride foam measures around a Shore A28 durometer, which sits bang on average across running shoes and still counts as genuinely soft. The profile works better than the Energy 5 for longer runs, making this the more versatile long-run option of the two. It is down from a 100 retail price to 65 on Reebok’s own website, with plenty of sizes available.

Puma DV8 Nitro 2 WTR

The DV8 Nitro 2 WTR is the water-repellent version of an already strong trainer, and it is a sensible pickup as the weather turns. The outsole rubber is exceptional, seemingly never wearing down, and the midsole pairs a hefty amount of Nitro foam with a slightly softer, more resilient Nitro layer underneath that measures close to Puma’s Nitro Elite material in feel. A composite plate sits inside the midsole as well.

That combination makes it a compelling wet-weather training option for variable late-autumn conditions: wind, debris, soaked paths, and routes with the odd challenging stretch. Wet feet first thing on a run is never fun, so a water-repellent upper is genuinely useful to have in the rotation. It is down from 105 to 99 at Start Fitness, with loads of sizes currently available in the black and white colorway.

Puma Primex

The Primex is the max-stack head-turner here, and in the UK it may be among the last chances to pick up the original version anywhere. It is down from 249 to 159 in the green colorway, a 36 percent discount, and Start Fitness is even throwing in a free pair of socks.

The spec list is stacked: a record-breaking midsole with around 50mm of stack in the sample size, energy rods, a plate in the heel, and a seriously durable outsole. Both pairs tested still felt superb after a couple hundred miles, with the outsole rubber barely showing any wear. The weight is remarkable too, coming in under 300 grams despite all that cushioning. It makes a brilliant long run shoe, as long as stability is not a concern and you are careful through corners.

Overall Buying Advice

If you want one cheap shoe to rotate into easy days, the Reebok Floatride Energy 5 is unbeatable value where sizes remain. The Velocity Nitro 2 and Citros 2.5 cover daily training and cushioned stability duties respectively, while the DV8 Nitro 2 WTR earns its place for anyone facing a wet winter. For race-day ambitions, the Fast Forward Nitro Elite offers speed for shorter distances, and the Primex is the pick for runners who want maximum cushion and durability for long miles.

Conclusion

Six discounted shoes, six different jobs. Match the shoe to the running you actually do, double-check sizing before the stock disappears, and any of these can be a smart, well-timed addition to your rotation.