Looking for budget-friendly running shoes is no joke. Sometimes, it seems way too much to ask for a pair of runners that aren’t, well, hideous. These are, after all, made for performance–not style. You may stumble across affordable and trendy runners with a glued-on sole and decorative zippers, and you think, how bad can they really be?
If you didn’t know any better, you might actually buy them–or worse, run in them. But obviously, you know better. If not, consider this your wake-up call.
Zara
We’re starting strong with Zara’s “long-distance running sneakers,” which are retailing for C$219.00. Their website goes into depth, describing the shoes as “running sneakers for long distances”–how insightful! The other details? Breathable knit fabric, TPE-A foam in the sole, a very significant stack of 39mm and, most shockingly, a carbon plate. Does Zara even know what a carbon plate is? It clearly isn’t messing around with these “running sneakers.” Sounds like Zara isn’t trying to just get into the running market–the brand is aiming to make waves in the road-racing world.
The most confusing thing is, if you wanted a more economical pair of carbon-plated shoes, this isn’t even the most affordable pair there is.
Steve Madden
Steve Madden is offering these funky, apparently casual sneakers, but they look like they could be real running shoes.
The Surge 1 and Elevate 2 shoe models (both serious performance-oriented names) are described as the “all-day walking style that can handle your busiest schedules” and the “hottest sneaker of the season,” respectively. The brand didn’t even try to trick people into getting them for athletic-wear, but if they had, they likely would’ve gotten away with it.
So, if you want some non-functional athletic shoes that look like running shoes (which is basically the opposite of what most people want), you can currently get these on sale for C$59.96 and C$39.96, respectively (typically going for $119.99).
Shein
Everyone knows that Shein is the place to go for the cheapest (both in quality and price) clothing–and it’s no different when it comes to running shoes. These “Unisex Running Shoes” are described as “breathable, wear-resistant road running sneakers” and “lightweight, shock-absorbing and rebound-competitive.” This particular pair is on sale for C$51.49, but Shein’s other running shoe models are available for as low as C$20. If you proceed with this purchase, good luck.
Balenciaga
If you want to make a statement, Balenciaga’s “runner sneakers” are the way to go. If you want to go for a run, it would be best to continue your hunt for new shoes. Evidently, these shoes are made for casual wear–so why they’re named the way their name is beyond me. Either way, with their C$1,525+ price tag, I can guarantee you’ll find a lot more affordable and much higher-performance options.
Amazon
Unless you need free, one-day delivery on your new running shoes, I’m not sure why you’d be shopping on Amazon. The site is known for its “dupes,” or cheaper versions of popular branded products. These shoes, for example, sell for around $30, but that steal of a price should be disregarded because of the product’s name: “Running shoes fashion sneakers tennis walking shoes lightweight athletic gym workout shoes.” Additionally, you can’t try these shoes on beforehand, and the sellers and their return policies can be sketchy.
Amazon does sell shoes from real running brands, so in that case, go for it. Otherwise, it’s a no from me.
Sorel
Sorel doesn’t seem like the first place that pops to mind when it comes to buying your running shoes–but nonetheless, you can get your hands on a pair of Kinetic Breakthru Tech Lace sneakers for just C$93. The shoes aren’t necessarily called running shoes, but are said to be “perfect for a variety of exercises and sports such as running, jogging and football.” At least they’ll be (mostly) waterproof.
