Do cheap trainers cause any harm or can they be as good as some of the expensive trainer brands?

[JellyBelly]

I'm just thinking about people who want to take up running but are on a low or tight budget, maybe picking up bargains as some of the sports stores like JD Sports or Sports Direct. Can some of the discounted / cheaper trainers and brands be just as good as some of the more expensive ones, or do you really get what you pay for?

 

[Nessie]

It depends a lot on your running style and biomechanics. If you are lucky, you can get away with something pretty basic, but if you have any problems such as (like me) fallen arches or leg length discrepancies, you could cause yourself some problems. I've found it's best to go for something at least mid-price range, and look for last season's ones. Sportshoes.com often have shoes at 50% off, and the only difference to the full price ones is that they are a different colour.

It is definitly worth getting a gait analysis done to check for any potential issues, and most of all, build up your mileage gradually. Most injuries are caused by overuse, doing too much too soon, regardless of the price of your shoes!

 

[WiltshireWonder]

I agree...you could get lucky but you could do some damage. Shoes are the one thing I'd really recommend spending some money on. If you're really strapped for cash, get a gait analysis at a running store and find out what kind of shoes you need (pronation/neutral/stability etc) and then see what you can find online. Sportshoes.com is good!

 

[John the Monkey]

Depends. I have a pal who can run in just about anything without any problems. I, on the other hand, get shrieking knees if I don't have a degree of stability control and fairly good heel padding.

 

[sandra6]

^^^^^ Same.
Although my trainers weren't "cheap" as such, just not the right ones for me.
My current adidas only cost £30, but they give a lot of support and cushioning which is working well for me.
I wouldn't go to JD sports for actual sports clothing/shoes, they're more aimed at the fashion market. You know "doing the shopping in my active wear"
And you can get decent trainers in sports direct for a fraction of the price of some specialist stores.

 

[John the Monkey]

^^^^^ Same.
Although my trainers weren't "cheap" as such, just not the right ones for me.
My current adidas only cost £30, but they give a lot of support and cushioning which is working well for me.
I wouldn't go to JD sports for actual sports clothing/shoes, they're more aimed at the fashion market. You know "doing the shopping in my active wear"
And you can get decent trainers in sports direct for a fraction of the price of some specialist stores.

TK Maxx can be a good bet too. My Brooks Ravenna are from there, £34 iirc.