Best running shoes $100 and below
Price or performance? You don't have to choose with these value kicks.
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But when you're shelling out more than a Benjamin for a proper pair of shoes, it starts to look, well, a little elite. But you don't have to break your budget to break your personal record. The barefoot/minimalism craze of recent years helped refocus R&D efforts by shoe manufacturers, who've bought into the "less is more" ethos by creating sleek, stripped-down shoes that deliver better performance with fewer materials. The result is that low-priced shoes aren't necessarily entry-level clunkers.
Witness a foot-shaped shoe that encourages "natural" running ($75), a blazing fast racing flat that checks in at 7 ounces (and $90) and the rugged toe-shoe from Vibram ($85) that protects you from the trail.
To find these shoes, we rooted around our gear closet to find high performers that don't break the bank. We selected them from a combination of personal tests, consumer review sites and reviews by other leading running media, and included them based on price (obviously), quality of materials and consumer reviews.
As always, this list doesn't substitute for personal trial. Before buying your next pair of kicks, head to your local running store and take a few for a spin.
It's great to get a deal on running shoes, but it's a bad deal if they hurt your feet. Not sure if a shoe is right for you? Check out our guide to shoe categories.
#7 Merrell Trail Glove 2
With a close-to-the ground fit and zero drop from heel to toe, the Trail Glove stays true to the natural running ethos. Meanwhile, a Vibram outsole and TrailProtect pad still offer good protection from rough patches and rocky spots on the trail. Merrell’s unique Omni-Fit Lacing System insures this shoe lives up to its name by giving your foot a truly sock-like fit.
Terrain: Trail
Style: Barefoot/Minimalist
Weight: 7 oz
$100; Yahoo! Shopping
—Mackenzie Lobby
Since the heady early days of the minimalist craze, this well-cushioned, lightweight model has been the go-to shoe for many a runner making the less-is-more transition. Saucony hasn’t changed much—just transferred some excess rubber from the heel to reinforce the forefoot and made the upper lighter and tighter. This is a smooth-riding, comfortable lightweight trainer shoe that’s suited to asphalt, non-technical trails and, for those who spurn (sometimes bone-jarring) racing flats, races. For an even better deal, you can get its predecessor, Kinvara 3, for $75.
Terrain: Road
Style: Neutral
Weight: 7.7 oz
$100; Yahoo! Shopping
—Peter Koch
Here is a rare and wonderful thing—a zero-drop minimalist shoe (the heel and forefoot are the same height)—with ample cushioning. It’s a great shoe for transitioning to the more “natural” running style encouraged by minimal shoes, and even comes with removable footbeds in two separate thicknesses to help you work your foot closer to the ground. The Instinct is foot-shaped with a very wide forefoot that offers the toes plenty of space to splay out on contact, offering greater-than-average stability and support. Looking for a sharper-looking update with a more breathable upper? Check out the brand-new Instinct 1.5 (Starting at $82 on Yahoo! Shopping).
Terrain: Road
Style: Neutral Minimalist
Weight: 8.8 oz
Starting at $82; Yahoo! Shopping
—Peter Koch
What sets this shoe—engineered to help runners improve their form—apart is its “FluidAxis” sole. Basically, deep flex grooves cross the heel diagonally rather than on a grid, which is supposed to make the shoe move better with the joints in your feet. The jury’s out on whether it works, but most testers still agree that the Gel-Lyte33 is a well-cushioned, super flexible, fairly lightweight trainer that boasts Asics’ trademark plush ride.
Terrain: Road
Style: Lightweight Cushioning
Weight: 8.4 oz
$70; Yahoo! Shopping
—Peter Koch
Now in its third year, the 1400 is a lightweight racing flat that’s about as fast as it looks. It strikes a good balance between barefoot shoes and the cushioning and support of more traditional models, all while encouraging a quick, efficient stride. As such, it’s firm enough for tempo runs and forgiving enough for very long runs, an unusual quality in a shoe marketed for competition.
Terrain: Road
Style: Racing Flat
Weight: 7.1 oz
$90; Yahoo! Shopping
—Peter Koch
This versatile lightweight neutral trainer is fast, very flexible and offers plenty of cushion for such a slight shoe without feeling mushy. It conforms to a wide variety of feet—from flat to high arches—and isn’t overbuilt with medial posts, wedges or other features that tell the foot what to do. In other words, it stays out of your way just enough on tempo runs, medium- to long-distance days and, for some, even serves as a standby race shoe.
Terrain: Road
Style: Neutral
Weight: 9.1 oz
$90; brooksrunning.com
—Peter Koch
#1 Altra Samson
Altra is another zero-drop shoe company, and the Samson is its middle-of-the-line model. Like the rest, it’s designed to strengthen feet and promote natural running technique. The upper is a quick-dry mesh that ventilates feet effectively while keeping grit away from toes, and the sole is grippy enough for easy trail runs. Inside, you have the option of using an included 3mm insole, or running directly on the BareSole footbed, which brings your feet within 7mm of bare ground. Think you might need a bit more cushioning? Try Altra's ever-so-slightly beefier, much lauded Instinct ($75).
Terrain: Trail
Style: Minimalist
Weight: 6.5 oz
$100; altrazerodrop.com
—Peter Koch
Click to see More of the Best Running Shoes for Under $100
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*Yahoo! Shopping was not compensated by the brands listed within this article.