Perhaps the best thing about running is how extremely low maintenance it is. All you need is the open road, working legs, and a pair of trusty running shoes.
But if you’ve suffered from injuries, slower speeds, and timings, or unexplained aches post-runs, you may have wondered: do I have the wrong running shoes?
Don’t worry, finding the perfect running shoes is not that difficult. But that’s when you’re hit with the most asked question of all: should I just buy the most expensive pair there is?
After all, expensive must mean better. Right?
Wrong. The truth is, expensive running shoes aren’t objectively better than cheaper ones.
Sure, if you look it up online, you’re probably going to end up looking at fancy footwear being touted by even fancier celebrities, and with price tags that don’t go below $200.
Paid ads, celebrities, and even well-known Olympic distance runners may try to convince you that you need to drop some serious cash on the latest pair of Nike or Adidas to protect your precious ligaments and achieve your best speeds. However, research and consumer experience tell us otherwise.
So what exactly do these expensive, “high performance”, and trendy shoes offer? Why are they so expensive? Are they truly worth it?
Let’s take a look.
What exactly do expensive running shoes offer?
If you’ve ever walked into a high-end running shoe store, they may have offered to test your gait and analyze your pronation. In simpler terms, you may have been filmed while you ran for a little bit on a treadmill.
Running experts and doctors alike use this to look at a runner’s pronation. Both overpronators (people with flat feet that roll inwards) and under pronators (people with high arched feet that roll outwards), are likely to end up with injuries like shin splints and plantar fasciitis.
Most expensive running shoes include features such as pronation control, which are theoretically supposed to help your feet move naturally and land in a neutral position. This way, you are less likely to injure yourself by striking your foot at the “wrong” angle.
Similarly, numerous expensive shoes also offer custom-molding to fit your foot shape perfectly.
And of course, expensive running shoes offer greater comfort. A persuasive – though sometimes indecipherable – a feature that differs widely from runner to runner.
For example, the Adidas AlphaEdge women’s running shoe, which is retailed at well over $300, promises a “primeknit sockliner with zoned forge fiber” for improved “breathability”. Similarly, Mizuno’s Wave Prophecy 8 shoes boast “anatomically placed overlays for an enhanced fit”, and “Infinity wave” cushioning that never wears out (though we all know that can’t possibly be true).
Are expensive running shoes worth it – what the research says
While expensive running shoes may boast a lot of fancy, technical-sounding features, not many of them have any substantial grounded facts backing up their injury prevention, speed increasing, or comfort maximizing theories.
Find out more about running shoe features in our complete guide!
In fact, according to corrective exercise specialist Erika Sperl, higher cost rarely equates to increased comfort, performance, or even quality. Instead, consumers only buy more expensive shoes for brand recognition and style.
And she’s not the only one saying this. A number of scientific studies have also proven that not many expensive shoes deliver the improved performance or injury avoidance.
In 2009, a study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that elevated cushioned heels, and pronation control systems in running shoes were not research or evidence-backed. Two years later, further research appeared in the same journal, proving that pronation control systems were “overly simplistic”, and “potentially injurious”.
More recently, a market research study from October 2019 that analyzed more than 300,000 consumers of 336 different shoe brands found that bizarrely, cheaper-priced shoes had higher ratings and customer satisfaction.
So what makes a good running shoe?
Most running shoes today have the same anatomy with minute changes in design and shape. And while you may just feel overwhelmed by the number of choices available at your local sports store, choosing a shoe becomes quite easy once you know what you want.
At the end of the day, the most important feature that you should look for is comfort. If a certain brand or design doesn’t feel natural or comfortable, then that shoe is probably not for you. Hey, if they don’t feel good now, they won’t suddenly start feeling good once you start running.
10 affordable running shoes
Believe us, not all running shoes are expensive. In fact, there is a wide range of great affordable running shoes available in the market for less than $100. Here are our top ten picks for affordable running shoes in 2021.
1. Brooks Trace
Great for new runners and veterans alike, the lightweight Brooks Trace will help you beat your PB.
2. Skechers GOrun Pure 2
Soft, comfy, and with plenty of bounce, the Skechers GOrun Pure 2 is perhaps the most comfortable shoe under $100.
3. Nike Renew Run
If you’re looking for something inexpensive to get you over those long miles, the new Nike Renew Run is what you need.
4. Brooks Launch 8 GTS
Looking for stability features to support your long runs, the new Brooks Launch 8 GTS is here for you.
5. Reebok Floatride Energy 3
Lightweight, comfortable, and packing tons of foam without seeming too “chunky”, the Reebok Floatride Energy 3 is the perfect everyday trainer.
6. Topo Athletic ST-3
Roomy, comfortable, and offering zero toe-drop to runners, the Topo Athletic ST-3 is a favorite of many forefoot strikers.
7. Asics GT-1000 10
If you’re looking for comfort and durability for that rougher terrain, then Asics GT-1000 10 is the shoe you want.
8. Adidas Supernova
Lightweight, comfortable, and with a snug midfoot and spacious toebox, the Adidas Supernova is perfect for a wide range of runners
9. New Balance FuelCell Propel v2
The New Balance FuelCell Propel v2 is perfect for people looking to up their game and beat their PBs.
10. Brooks Revel 4
With the Brooks Revel 4, it doesn’t matter if you’re running a 10k, or a marathon. It was designed for versatility, and will stick by you no matter what.