Running Shoe Bargains Worth Grabbing: 9 Discounted Picks for August 2023

Introduction

August 2023 brought an unusually rich crop of running shoe discounts, largely because new versions of several flagship models arrived with little warning and retailers moved quickly to clear existing stock. The result is genuine value on shoes that were expensive at retail just weeks earlier, including carbon-plated racers, a versatile cushioned trainer, a capable trail shoe, and a daily trainer priced at almost pocket change. Here are the deals that stand out, all accurate at the start of the month, so it pays to move quickly.

Adidas Prime X Strung

With the Prime X Strung 2 now appearing overseas at around £250, the original Prime X Strung has dropped to £161 at Sportsshoes, down from a £230 retail price. That is a 30% saving on one of the most engaging high-stack shoes of recent years, and the Strung version is reportedly a touch lighter than the new model. The high heel stack makes it a shoe to respect: neutral strikers will get the most from it, while heel strikers may find it slightly unstable.

For fans of the original, buying a second or third pair at this price is a legitimate strategy.

Adidas Adios Pro 3

Sportsshoes also has the Pulse mint Adios Pro 3 down to £154, another 30% cut, again likely triggered by surprise successor releases. Compared with paying full price for heavier and more expensive competitors in the same bracket, this is the stronger buy on both performance and price. A top-tier racing shoe at a mid-tier price is hard to argue with.

Asics Metaspeed Sky Plus

The Metaspeed Sky Plus is down to £149 at Sportsshoes from a £225 retail, a saving of about £75. At that price it undercuts several rivals at their own retail and becomes arguably better value than comparable pace shoes. It is a genuinely quick shoe, well suited to 10K racing, and the lower drop works particularly well for runners who favour a faster cadence.

Simply put, at this discount you cannot really lose.

Puma Forever Run Nitro

Over at Start Fitness, the Puma Forever Run Nitro is down to £109 in a wide range of colorways and sizes. Often mistaken for a stability-only shoe, it is actually a very versatile cushioned trainer thanks to a dual-density midsole: a softer core surrounded by a more durable Nitro foam. The outsole grip is excellent, which is typical of Puma. At this price it sits level with mainstream daily trainers that offer less shoe for the money.

Saucony Exodus Ultra 2

Start Fitness has a smaller discount on the Saucony Exodus Ultra 2, around £15 off retail to bring it to roughly £130, but that still makes it far better value than pricier rivals in the trail category, coming in much lighter too. PWRRUN PB PEBA foam in the midsole core keeps the ride forgiving, something not always found in trail shoes.

For UK trails it covers most needs; only very technical rocky terrain would call for something more aggressive.

Adidas Takumi Sen 9

The red Takumi Sen 9 is down to £119 at Start Fitness from about £169 retail, another 30% saving, with no successor expected imminently. It is one of the best 10K shoes available, works for both training and racing, and offers enough cushioning that lighter runners could extend it to half marathon distance. The lower stack responsive ride tends to improve with mileage, as the midsole beds in and the outsole rubber gets grippier. The original retail always felt steep; at £119 it finally makes sense.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2

Cotswold Outdoor, a newcomer to the deals round, has the women’s Deviate Nitro Elite 2 in a fizzy lime and royal sapphire colorway at £122, down from £175. It is a remarkably versatile carbon-plated shoe: durable Nitro Elite foam resists creasing and tearing, the ride feels natural rather than controlling, and it works across a wide range of paces, so it can handle regular use in a way many super shoes cannot.

View more details for Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 2

Puma Velocity Nitro 2

Start Fitness has the women’s Puma Velocity Nitro 2 from as little as £40, with men’s sizes around £50, across roughly four colorways. How Puma sells this level of quality at that price is difficult to explain. It works as a daily trainer, an easy recovery shoe, and can even handle moderate pace work, with a consistent, well-damped midsole feel from heel to toe. Select sizes and colorways are already running low, so hesitation is the main risk here.

Puma Deviate Nitro Elite

The original Deviate Nitro Elite rounds things out at £99 at Start Fitness, a £70 saving on retail. It rides slightly softer than the Elite 2, stays under 230 grams in some sizes, and feels nimble rather than clunky. The thin outsole rubber grips well for road racing, and durability is a real strength: unlike some super shoes that fade after 100 miles, this one keeps performing. A genuinely overlooked carbon race option at a bargain price.

Buying Advice

If you want one carbon racer at the lowest risk, the Deviate Nitro Elite at £99 is the standout. For 10K-focused speed, the Takumi Sen 9 and Metaspeed Sky Plus are excellent at their discounted prices. For daily mileage, the Velocity Nitro 2 at £40 is almost unbeatable value, and the Forever Run Nitro covers versatile cushioning duties. Trail runners should consider the Exodus Ultra 2 if their routes are not too technical. Sizes and colorways are limited on several of these, so early action matters.

Conclusion

This round of discounts rewards runners who were priced out of super shoes at retail, with 30% or more off several flagship models and a daily trainer at an almost throwaway price. Match the shoe to your strike pattern and terrain, check sizing quickly, and there is serious value to be had this month.