Best Running Shoe Bargains for August 2022: 10 Discounted Picks Worth a Look

Introduction

Every so often the discount shelves line up with the shoes people actually want. This month there are ten running shoe bargains worth checking, covering everything from carbon-plated race shoes to cushioned cruisers and a trail option with graphene in the outsole. Prices noted below were live at the time of writing, so sizing and stock will vary. Start hunting early, because the best deals never last the week.

Nike Vaporfly Next% 2

Resale marketplaces are a surprisingly good place to find the Vaporfly Next% 2 discounted, since pairs bought up during hype cycles often end up surplus to their owners’ requirements. Some pairs were spotted for around £110 in the UK, which is a serious saving on a shoe of this calibre. There is also a black, white and metallic gold version at £145 in the UK, but only in very small sizes (UK 3 and 4), so that one is strictly for small-footed bargain hunters.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 2

The Endorphin Speed 2 is discounted from £155, and that makes it one of the most versatile buys of the bunch. It is fast enough for tempo work yet not so rigid that you can’t use it for recovery runs, so it genuinely spans a wide range of use cases. Multiple colorways, including Vizi Gold, Vizi Red, Blue Razz and Acid, are available in most sizes, in both men’s and women’s fits. It remains a brilliant model, still holding up well now that a third iteration has been released.

Saucony Endorphin Pro 2

Recently superseded in Saucony’s lineup, the Endorphin Pro 2 has dropped from £190 to £133. That is £57 off retail, a much more satisfying price for a shoe that works as a smashing race-day option and a brilliant choice for longer runs too. Loads of colorways and sizes were available at the time of writing, but sizing is patchy on the Pro 2, so move quickly if your size is in.

Reebok Floatride Energy Symmetros

Start Fitness still has a few pairs of the Floatride Energy Symmetros reduced to £62, a £40 saving on this cushioned cruiser. Think of it as a maxed-out Floatride Energy 3 or 4: if you enjoyed those shoes, the Symmetros adds a little more impact protection underfoot, and your feet will thank you for it. It is a natural fit for long, easy Sunday miles.

Adidas Adizero Adios 6 and Adios 7

The Adios 6 and 7 are killer running shoes, and the 7 edges out the 6 for sheer nimbleness. A few leftover pairs of the Adios 7 were spotted at £68, which is great value for such a versatile shoe from Adidas. The blue-and-white and black-and-white colorways are available, but only in limited sizing. Some women may be able to pick up one of the smaller men’s sizes for a real bargain.

Adidas Adizero Takumi Sen 8

The Takumi Sen 8 is one of the best shoes tested over the past year, and the outsole is pure dynamite: grip and traction on a level that inspires real confidence. At Start Fitness it is down to £119, a £30 saving, and it could be a superb 5K or 10K race shoe, one I would happily take up to a half marathon as well.

One caveat: it has a very narrow feel, particularly through the arch. Runners with narrow or normal-width feet should be fine, but it is one to approach with caution if you have wider feet. The fresh citrus lemon and clear colorway really pops, and it is a tremendous shoe to slot into a rotation if you want something super nimble for racing soon.

Hoka Mach 4

The Mach 4 did not bowl anyone over at first impression, but plenty of runners get on very well with it, which matters more. At £69, a £44 discount, it becomes a genuinely appealing buy: a light and nimble shoe that works fine for daily use, and at this price a more attractive option for lighter-built runners in particular. Almost all sizes are on offer right now.

Inov-8 G 270

Trail enthusiasts can grab a bargain here too: the G 270 is discounted by £40 down to £87. This is a zero-drop shoe that proved supremely stable on the trails, yet controlled, nimble and still forgiving enough. The Boomerang insole really adds something other trail shoes do not have, while the Powerflow midsole runs a touch firmer than many runners may be accustomed to.

The outsole is extremely protective, with graphene infused into the rubber, and plenty of sizes are available. If your trail routes include loose or rocky ground, that outsole is a genuine reason to consider this one.

New Balance FuelCell SC Pacer

Last up, from Wiggle, is the New Balance FuelCell SC Pacer, reviewed not long ago and already discounted by about a third, from around £160 down to roughly £104. It is super nimble, feather light, and a responsive dagger with an old-school race flat feel, while the FuelCell foam keeps it ferociously forgiving. This is one for the speed demons only, though: nobody will want to take it past 10K, and it is best thought of as a 5K race shoe or a track workout tool. Loads of sizes are available, so a 5K or 10K runner after a dedicated race shoe has a clear path here.

Overall Buying Advice

A few patterns are worth keeping in mind while these deals are live. First, sizing is patchy across almost every bargain here, from the Vaporfly Next% 2 gold colorway to the Endorphin Pro 2 and the Adios 7, so check your size before falling in love with a colorway. Second, match the shoe to the job: the SC Pacer and Takumi Sen 8 are race-day tools, the Endorphin Speed 2 and Mach 4 are versatile daily options, and the Symmetros leans toward long, cushioned miles. Finally, discount stock on marketplace and retailer sites moves fast, so if a price and size combo looks right, it usually pays not to wait.

Conclusion

August’s discount shelf is unusually strong, with real savings on race shoes, versatile trainers and a grip-focused trail option. If a single pick had to be highlighted, the Endorphin Pro 2 at £133 off retail and the Takumi Sen 8 at £119 stand out for racing, while the Mach 4 and Symmetros cover everyday and long-run duty at prices that are hard to argue with. Whatever you choose, buy for the running you actually do, not the price tag alone.