Best Running Shoe Deals Under $120: 10 Solid Picks Worth Grabbing

Introduction

Running shoe prices have gotten out of hand, with plenty of max-stack trainers now sitting at the $200 mark. The good news: you do not need to spend anywhere near that to rack up comfortable, productive miles. This roundup collects ten shoes currently on sale, most of them at or below $120, covering everything from soft daily cruisers to firm tempo machines. If one of these does not fit your stride, there is almost certainly a deal here that will.

Nike Invincible 3: Soft, Bouncy, and Fun

The Nike Invincible 3 is an awesome, fun, bouncy shoe built on 100% Nike ZoomX foam, the same family of foam used in the brand’s racing shoes. It has a light, airy feel with plenty of bounce, and it is surprisingly versatile: daily miles, recovery runs, even picking up the pace. It is not a stable shoe, and that is part of the charm. If you want an unbridled, joyful ride that is a little wild and not too tame, this is it. Just note the 10mm drop. It is on sale for $108 at Running Warehouse, with some colorways and sizes at $98 at Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Brooks Ghost Max 1: The Walking Shoe Pick

The Brooks Ghost Max 1 is one of the best deals on the market right now at $120. While the foam is not the most exciting for running, that misses the point: this is one of the very few walking shoes designed with genuine running-shoe technology. It is relatively lightweight, free of the heavy plastic stability elements that make traditional walking shoes clunky, and it looks good enough for everyday wear. If you are on your feet for long hours, whether you are a doctor, a teacher, or a frequent traveler, there may be no better shoe for the job. It still tops many walking lists even years after launch, undercutting rivals like the Saucony Hurricane 24 ($160) and New Balance 860 v14 ($140). If you want a bouncier running-focused version, the Ghost Max 2 is the one to hunt for instead.

Puma Deviate Nitro 2: Fast, Durable, Wet-Weather Ready

If you want a fast, fun, exciting shoe, the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 delivers. It uses two foams: a softer, bouncier compound up front and a firmer foam at the back that adds decent stability. The real draw is durability, with excellent rubber coverage front and rear, plus fantastic Puma grip that makes it a strong wet-weather option for fall and winter. It is versatile enough for daily miles, long runs, and workouts, though it runs narrower than much of the market and is a touch unstable, with some of that wild, uncontrolled character similar to the Invincible. A black colorway is available if you want something that hides mud. It sits around $110 at Running Warehouse, and the newer Deviate Nitro 3 has since arrived, pushing this one down in price.

Brooks Glycerin 21: The Cushioned Workhorse

The Brooks Glycerin 21 does not go on sale often precisely because it is such a bestseller, which makes the current price in the red colorway at Dick’s Sporting Goods a genuinely good deal. The foam is well balanced: supportive with the energy return you expect from a modern running shoe, fixing the main complaint about the Ghost Max 1’s flatter ride for running. It suits heel strikers, bigger runners, and anyone who wants a robust, cushioned daily workhorse that can pile up 400 to 500 miles. If you dislike high-drop shoes, note that this is a higher-drop platform and the lower-drop Ghost Max 2 would be the alternative, though it is not the one on sale here.

Brooks Hyperion Max 1: Lightweight and Firm for Fast Days

The Brooks Hyperion Max 1 was a polarizing shoe, and its rear-end geometry did not work for heel strikers. But for midfoot and forefoot strikers who want a slightly firm, fast, lightweight ride, it is a great choice at under $100. There is no plate and not much frill: good rubber coverage, a decently fitting upper, and very low weight. It is an excellent track-day shoe on a real track surface, where you do not want a soft, mushy platform, and some runners also like it for two-hour long runs if their mechanics suit a firm shoe.

Saucony Tempest 1: A Speedier Stability Daily Trainer

The Saucony Tempest has been on the market for a couple of years and remains one of the best stability daily trainers available. Its midsole pairs PWRRUN PB race foam up front with firmer PWRRUN training foam behind, plus a very structured heel, so it can genuinely rival neutral daily trainers. It handles everything from recovery to faster efforts: a 20-mile long run is well within its range. It has the versatility and slight bounce that made the Triumph 20 and 21 so well liked, with a lower drop than 10mm and a rocker that tips you forward without being aggressive. It is a smart pick if you want a little extra support for everyday miles, and it sits at roughly $100 to $110.

Saucony Guide 17: Firmer and Traditional

The Saucony Guide 17 is another stability option, on sale for about $110 at REI. The foam is not as exciting as the Tempest’s and you do not get as much bounce, but if you prefer a firmer, more traditional feel with modern rocker propulsion, this is the shoe for you. It is comfortable without cuddling you in softness, sits you up on your toes without being too aggressive, and has a nice upper and decent rubber coverage. If you want a firm, stable daily trainer, this is a good pick.

Adidas Boston 12: The Marathon Speed Specialist

The Adidas Boston 12 is one of the all-time great marathon training shoes, especially for speed work within marathon build-ups: long runs with race-pace segments, mile repeats, and tempo runs. It has race foam in the midsole that bounces you along, and the more power you put into the platform, the more you get back. Durability is excellent: one pair covered 300 miles and still looks nearly new, with rubber coverage that shrugs off rainstorms. The caveats matter, though. The upper is tight and some runners had to fight to get their foot in, the midsole can feel clunky at easy paces, and lighter runners not running fast in it often did not enjoy it. This is not a daily trainer; it rewards speed. Pricing ranged from about $90 to $120 depending on the colorway.

Nike Vomero 17 and Saucony Triumph 21: Two Reliable Workhorses

The final two are a pair of $95 workhorses that both list at $160 MSRP and share the same purpose: comfortable, traditional-feeling daily trainers with a 10mm drop. The Nike Vomero 17 leans a bit more traditional, with a soft squish from the top layer of foam and stability toward the back, plus excellent rubber coverage for durability and more flexibility and ground feel than the max-stack shoes on the market. It is the pick if you like a more traditional ride that is still soft.

The Saucony Triumph 21 is the one to grab if you want a non-plated long run shoe. Its foam is one of the best of the past five years for blending versatility, durability, and fun, and it works as a neutral shoe, a near-stability shoe, and a very comfortable do-it-all trainer. The key difference: the Triumph’s taller heel has less stability and can feel wobbly for some, while the Vomero is the steadier platform.

Buying Advice

A quick way to narrow this list: pick the Invincible 3 or Deviate Nitro 2 if you want bounce and fun, the Ghost Max 1 if walking comfort matters most, the Glycerin 21, Vomero 17, or Triumph 21 for cushioned daily workhorses, the Tempest 1 or Guide 17 if you need stability, and the Hyperion Max 1 or Boston 12 if you are chasing fast days. Check sizes and colorways carefully, since sale pricing varies by retailer.

Conclusion

None of these shoes cost anywhere near $200, and every one of them handles real training miles well. Whether you need a soft recovery cruiser, a stable daily trainer, or a firm tempo weapon, this sale window is a good time to buy.