[Nantucket]

Hi ladies!!

I need new shoes BADLY. The ones I have now are about 1 year old and are just Walmart super cheapies..and they have holes in the bottom, lol-oh well you can't say I didn't wear them enough, lol.

Problem is we are on a very tight budget. I'd like to find some fairly good shoes in the $40-$50 range.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

[motivated chickie]

Running shoes are very expensive, so I suggest that you look around for shoe stores that sell shoes wholesale. I've gone to a local wholesaler who sold shoes at a 50% discount at the $40-$50 range.

[thesame7lbs]

Runner's World did this story on affordable gear. They don't have a lot of good things to say about inexpensive shoes, but they did find a pair for $45 that made the grade.

Good shoes, properly fitted, are really important for avoiding injury. I hear you on the budget, but consider at least checking a specialty running store in your area (if you have one) to learn about how shoes can help with pronation, etc. At a good store they will watch you walk/run, examine your old shoes, and be knowledgeable about what shoes fit different types of feet (wide, high arches, etc). They might have a deal or at least help you find a brand that fits you well, so you can search for a deal online.

Good luck!

[Med School Mom]

Bravo for running. I'm at 280 and just the idea of running makes my knees hurt. You should look at the eastbay website. On the right hand side there is a tab that says 'outlet' and they seem to have pretty good prices. There are about 20 pairs under $50. I can't say how good any of them are but if you see something you like you can probably find a review of the shoe on the internet. You can also try the athletic shoe stores at the mall. They usually have a section of clearance shoes. You can also try final-score.com (I think its part of eastbay but the selection doesn't seem as good). If you ever decide to splurge on a running shoe I LOVE my Nike Air Max + 2009-my feet have never felt so good (they took some of the air out of this model so they are softer than older models).

[JustBeckyV]

Also you can check like nike.com - they have clearance shoes. Or just check for sales!

[Nantucket]

Ty everyone for the suggestions.

I have to stick with what I have for another week until my husband gets paid but then will head out to look.

[Cherry in STL]

I am a New Balance devotee and haven't tried any of these, but I have seen:

Walmart is carrying Danskin brand athletic shoes. They all run about $25.

Woman Within website (not sure if I can post links yet) has Avia brand running shoes on clearance for $19.10.

Overstock website has a lot of good name athletic shoes starting at $35.

[ange82much]

Agree with TS7lbs - decent shoes are important. They might seem expensive, but they're a heap cheaper than visits to physios, chiros, orthos, etc etc if you get injured!

Ideally you should go to a running shop and get advice based on your gait - eg whether your foot rolls over or if you have a high arch (i.e. if you need a support shoe or a cushioning shoe). It's normally more expensive to buy shoes in those places, but you're not obliged to buy there. If you find out that info first then you know what sort of shoe to look for elsewhere.

Happy shopping!

[oodlesofnoodles]

Try like, Marshalls or TJMaxx. Even Ross. I see pretty good brand name stuff there for decent prices all the time. I saw some Asics and Brooks at TJMaxx for like, 35 I think.

[PinkHoodie]

I love New Balance too. They are the only shoe I have worn so far that I can afford and don't hurt my feet. What I did last time I bought them was went to Famous Footwear during their buy one get one half off and bought 2 pairs of them. They have lasted quite awhile. I will need to buy some more in another few months, but that is an option.

[AnnieCH]

I LOVE my saucony running shoes. I get them at DSW (not sure if there's one in your area) and they are very inexpensive compared to buying them at a running store. I routinely see pairs for $40 - $65 and sometimes you can find something even cheaper in clearance. Good luck!