Eight Running Shoe Deals Worth a Second Look

Introduction

Running shoes do not need to cost full retail to perform. Several strong models, from lightweight trainers to full supershoes, have dropped well below their original prices recently, with savings ranging from modest discounts to more than a third off. Here are eight deals that stand out, what each shoe does well, and who should be tempted.

Adidas Ultraboost Light

The Adidas Ultraboost Light in a black and green colorway has been discounted from £170 to £119, a very good saving on a shoe with a lighter touch than the standard Ultraboost. Adidas has been moving away from traditional boost, which is soft and forgiving but heavier than most modern foams. This version keeps the cushioning while trimming the weight, and plenty of sizes and colors are available.

Asics Metaspeed Sky Plus

The Asics Metaspeed Sky Plus is down from £225 to £158, roughly £65 off retail, and remains a superb race or training shoe if you prefer a firmer, more rebound-driven ride. The Flight Foam Turbo midsole has a bouncy feel, and the outsole grip is exceptional, almost tire-like on road and pavement, especially useful as temperatures rise. It even works well on the track. This version runs more true to size than the original Metaspeed Sky, which felt snug. It really comes into its own at 10K to half marathon distances, and sizes and colorways remain widely available.

Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature

The Nike Pegasus Turbo Next Nature is available at roughly a third off, down to around £100. It is a very light and nimble shoe with ZoomX in a crushed-up form and an upper that looks unconventional, almost like a circuit board rather than a running shoe. The colorway may divide opinion, but the shoe has plenty of fans, and with almost all sizes available it represents better value at this price for anyone who wants a lightweight, responsive trainer.

Adidas Takumi Sen 9

The Adidas Takumi Sen 9 has been reduced further to £102 from £170, the lowest price seen so far. Only two colorways are discounted: Pulse Mint with Lucid Fuchsia and Lucid Blue, and the Core Black with Knight Metallic and Silver Dawn. This is a superbly light and nimble shoe with good durability in the midsole and outsole combination. The fit is a little more true to size than the previous version, with more room in the toe box, a common improvement across the recent Adizero line. Ideal for speed training or shorter-distance racing, though some runners even race marathons in it. Notably, the older Takumi Sen 8 still sells for £118 on the Adidas site, which makes this deal even more attractive.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2

The Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2, a long-time favorite, is down from £175 to £140 in two colorways at Start Fitness: a launch green and blue version, and a half white, half black version released more recently. The saving is small but worthwhile for a shoe that has rarely been discounted. It is arguably the most versatile supershoe of its generation, and it fits true to size with no need to size up or down.

Reebok Floatride Energy X

The Reebok Floatride Energy X is available at Start Fitness for £115. It is an often-overlooked shoe with a part-plated construction built mostly on Reebok’s Floatride Energy foam, which is soft, compressive, light and airy. A Pebax-spaced puck under the forefoot adds response and push-off at the ball of the foot. This is the steady cruiser of the group: cushioned, comfortable, and well suited to longer, slower runs, with foam that leaves the legs feeling fresh. The outsole durability and the upper, which fits nicely and holds the foot with good control, both performed well.

Nike Vomero 16

The Nike Vomero 16, in white with either red or blue accents, is discounted by close to a third on Nike’s website, down to around £100. It is simply the best Nike daily running shoe if you are not into React or the slightly firmer feel of the Pegasus. This is the best implementation of ZoomX in a Nike shoe outside the race lineup, and it deserves far more attention than it gets. It is durable, well fitting, generously cushioned for longer runs or easy daily efforts, and offers strong traction underfoot. If the Pegasus 40 and its React foam are not working out for you, this plush cruiser is the answer.

Adidas Prime X Strung

The deal of the bunch, though only in smaller sizes: the Adidas Prime X Strung in red is down from £230 to £161 at SportsShoes, roughly £70 off, and it is one of the best running shoes of its generation. It is fun, exciting, and a bit out there, with a Strung upper that is strong, stable, and likely to appear in more Adidas shoes in the coming years. After 130 miles the shoe still feels as good as, if not better than, it did out of the box, and this version is a big update on the original, feeling far more stable thanks to that upper. Most runners will be fine going true to size, though you could go down a half size for a slightly lighter fit; sizing up may suit longer runs where feet swell.

Buying Advice

If you want a supershoe bargain, the Metaspeed Sky Plus and Takumi Sen 9 offer the biggest discounts relative to their race-day pedigree. For daily mileage, the Vomero 16 is the standout, and the Ultraboost Light suits runners who value plush cushioning at a lighter weight. The Deviate Nitro Elite 2 remains the most versatile race option, while the Floatride Energy X is the comfort pick for long, steady miles. The Prime X Strung is the wildcard: expensive at full retail, but genuinely exciting at this discounted price, as long as smaller sizes fit your needs.

Conclusion

Deals like these reward runners who act quickly, since discounted colorways and sizes tend to sell through fast. Match the shoe to the miles you actually run, check the fit notes above, and these eight options all offer serious value at their current prices.