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The best running shoes under $100
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Quality running shoes can easily run north of $100, but they don’t have to. If you’re a parent or student, your finances were likely thrashed recently with back-to-school essentials like backpacks, dorm room furniture, and other supplies. If your running shoes are on their last legs, you may be wondering how to find a new, high-quality pair without depleting the rest of your funds.
“While you do not need a lot of gear to enjoy the sport we love, the one essential piece of equipment, running shoes, are (unfortunately) not cheap,” says Bill Reifsnyder, a former professional runner and the CMO of athletic laundry detergent company Nonaste.
Thankfully, you can still find good deals on fitness essentials like a good pair of running shoes — you just need to know where to look (hint: read below).
“A quality pair of running shoes [can] cost anywhere from $110 to almost $300,” Reifsnyder says. “But rest assured, if you are shopping on a budget, there are recommendations to keep you happy and healthy.”
Reifsnyder and more running experts share their best men’s and women’s running shoe recommendations under $100 ahead, plus, we found even more reviewer-loved options.
The best running shoes under $100
We know that when it comes to running shoes, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all (pun intended) sneaker for everyone. Between expert recommendations and our research into the most popular and reliable shoes out there, we built a list with a good bit of variety. Here’s a quick look at the best running shoes under $100.
From specific needs like lightweight builds and extra shock absorption to sneakers that are all about traction, there’s likely something for everybody on our list. Best of all, the running shoes ahead are from trusted brands like Nike, Asics, Brooks and more, but won’t break the bank.
Most recommended: Brooks Trace 3
Brooks
Reifsnyder, Dr. Gregory Alvarez (a podiatrist at the Ankle and Foot Centers of America) and Dr. Marc Matarazzo (an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine) recommend these Brooks shoes.
“They’re said to be a good shoe for beginners,” says Matarazzo. “They offer good support, cushioning and flexibility.”
“These come with BioMoGo DNA cushioning to provide extra shock absorption,” Alvarez says. “The internal fit system ensures that the shoe fits securely and comfortably on your foot. They also feature a segmented crash pad for responsive heel-to-toe transitions.”
The result is a cushy yet responsive ride in a shoe that manages to be both flexible and supportive at the same time. So, it’ll handle everything from quick morning runs to longer endurance training sessions. Find them in men’s and women’s sizes. There are also options for standard or wide widths, depending on your foot type.
Shop men’s sizes:
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Most supportive running shoes under $100: Asics Gel Contend 9
Asics
Runners on a budget will appreciate the Asics Gel Contend 9s. They’re no-frills, high-quality running shoes with a surprisingly supportive and lightweight design. For those who struggle with over- or under-pronation, the guidance line technology gently corrects your stride. At the same time, the plush, gel-infused foam and ortholite sock liner cradles your foot and protects it from the shock of each foot strike.
“They’re made by a quality running shoe company that combines durability with shock absorption to allow you to run in multiple different types of conditions,” says Andrew Blakey, a certified personal trainer and director of Your Future Fitness. Find them in men’s and women’s sizes.
This is probably the most advanced support technology you’ll find in an under-$100 running shoe.
Shop men’s sizes:
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Best low-drop running shoes: Saucony Axon 3
Amazon
“Saucony is known for making quality shoes for runners, and they don’t disappoint with this running shoe that can be a great shoe for both running and casual wear,” Blakey says. If you want a solid go-to choice that can hold up during jogs and errand runs alike, these might be the shoes for you.
With a tall stack (35mm) of PWRRUN foam in the midsole, each step feels cushy and comfortable. Best of all, the low 4mm heel-toe drop means you get thick cushioning under your entire foot, not just your heel. That’s great news for midfoot or forefoot strikers. It’s also a great design for people who tend to struggle with foot pain or plantar fasciitis.
Already a great deal at full price, these Saucony Axon 3 running shoes are on sale right now. Get a pair for $80, instead of $100.
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Cushiest running shoes: New Balance Fresh Foam Arishi v4
New Balance
“This shoe features a lightweight mesh upper with a seamless construction to provide breathability,” Alvarez says. “The Fresh Foam midsole cushioning provides exceptional comfort and responsiveness, while the rubber outsole provides excellent traction.”
Built as a daily trainer, it’s both soft and lightweight. The 6mm heel-toe drop is also on the low side, making this a good pick for runners who tend to strike with their midfoot or forefoot first.
Right now, you can get them while they’re on sale at New Balance for just $60 (reduced from $75).
Shop men’s sizes:
Shop women’s sizes:
Best trail running shoes on a budget: Merrell Morphlite
Merrell
If you want to start trail running, your regular daily running shoes won’t do. You need traction and grip you can rely on along with a bit of extra support to stabilize your feet on uneven terrain. A great shoe to start with is the Merrell Morphlite. It’s a mixed terrain shoe with a sticky rubber outsole that bites nicely into gravel or dirt and sticks firmly to slippery surfaces like boulders.
While it won’t hold up to super technical terrain, it’s a comfortable and dependable mixed-terrain trail running shoe that’s great for beginners or casual trail runners.
Shop men’s sizes:
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More top-rated running shoes under $100
Is $100 enough to spend on a good pair of running shoes?
“There are many high-quality running shoes that you can pick up for $100 that can provide you with all the things you require in a good solid shoe,” Blakey says. So long as you know what you’re looking for (and at), there are some solid choices out there that are also budget-friendly.
If you’re new to running, simply aren’t interested in all the bells and whistles that come with some expensive shoes, or don’t have any injuries that need tending to, $100 should suffice for running shoes you’ll be happy with.
One easy way to get quality at a lower price point is to shop clearance shoes. Whenever a new model launches, the previous year’s version typically drops in price. So that’s the perfect opportunity for budget-conscious runners to snag a premium running shoe with a sub-$100 price tag.
Running shoes need to be swapped out regularly (every 300 to 500 miles, according to REI), so their cost can easily add up if you’re always opting for expensive pairs.
How we chose these running shoes
- Customer reviews: We combed through verified customer reviews – in other words, real buyers – to ensure they were consistently pleased with these brands and models.
- Expert recommendations: We spoke with former professional runner and Nonaste CMO Bill Reifsnyder; certified personal trainer and Your Future Fitness director Andrew Blakey; podiatrist at the Ankle and Foot Centers of America Dr. Gregory Alvarez; and orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine Dr. Marc Matarazzo for product recommendations and advice.
- Star rating: All of these products have a four-star rating or higher, so you know you’re getting high-quality running shoes all throughout our list.
- Your needs: We considered your needs for different widths, colors and more when choosing these running shoes.
Washington — House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing a conservative revolt over a last-minute measure to keep the government funded into the spring and avoid a shutdown, with some Republicans strongly objecting to billions of dollars in spending that has been added to the bill.
Congressional leaders unveiled the stopgap funding measure late Tuesday after days of negotiations, facing a Friday deadline to approve new spending. The bill would extend government funding through March 14, but it also includes disaster aid, health care policy extenders and a pay raise for members of Congress, among other provisions. The disaster relief portion of the bill alone carries a price tag of $110 billion.
The legislation immediately sparked anger from multiple members of the House Republican conference, mostly targeted at Johnson. While the speaker had pledged to avoid the kind of massive, end-of-year spending bills that conservatives loathe, the final product resembled a scaled-down version of what the party’s right flank has railed against for years now.
But the Republicans’ slim majority in the House means Johnson will need Democratic votes to pass the bill, a dynamic that gave the minority more leverage to extract concessions during negotiations.
Johnson acknowledged that the bill was intended to be “very skinny” before a “couple of intervening things” occurred, citing the devastation left by hurricanes earlier this year.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Before the text of the bill was released, Johnson dismissed Republican concerns that the continuing resolution was equivalent to an “omnibus” bill, a term used when Congress packages the annual appropriations bills that fund many federal government agencies into one large piece of legislation.
“This is not an omnibus, OK?” Johnson said at his weekly news conference on Tuesday. “This is a small [continuing resolution] that we had to add things to that were out of our control. These are not man-made disasters. These are things that the federal government has an appropriate role to do.”
Further angering conservatives was Johnson’s vow to give members 72 hours to read the bill before a vote. But a vote could come as soon as Wednesday, giving lawmakers less than 24 hours to get through the nearly 1,550-page text.
Rep. Eric Burlison, a Missouri Republican, on Tuesday called the process “a total dumpster fire.” He said he was “disappointed” in Johnson and called on him to “communicate better.” Other members, like Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, have dubbed the bill the “Cramnibus.”
The fight could prompt a challenge to Johnson’s speakership when the new Congress convenes on Jan. 3. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, said Wednesday that he won’t support Johnson in the speaker’s election.
“I’m not voting for him,” Massie said. “This solidifies it.”
Massie said he’s spoken with other members who have a similar stance.
Johnson has run into a buzzsaw of opposition outside the House as well. Elon Musk, the co-head of President-elect Donald Trump’s advisory Department of Government Efficiency, said in a post on X that any lawmaker “who votes for this outrageous spending bill deserves to be voted out in 2 years.” Musk posted dozens of times throughout the day calling for lawmakers to oppose the bill, which he called “criminal.”
The speaker told Fox News earlier in the day that he had discussed the situation with Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the other DOGE co-head, on Tuesday evening. Johnson said he emphasized to them that passing a continuing resolution now would be “clearing the decks” and allow the incoming GOP majorities to “put our fingerprints on the spending” in March. Both Musk and Ramaswamy came out strongly against the bill anyway.
Trump himself has not indicated publicly how he thinks lawmakers should vote, leaving Republicans in Congress to fight amongst themselves.
While Johnson said he and GOP leaders had hoped to move forward with the legislation under the regular process, including bringing the bill through the House Rules Committee, pushback from committee members on the party’s right flank threatened to prolong the path to passage. The legislation is expected to instead be brought up under suspension of the rules, meaning a two-thirds majority will be required for passage.
The stopgap measure will lapse about two months into Trump’s second term, setting up another budget fight as Republicans try to pass Trump’s top priorities during his first 100 days. Though they’ll have control of both chambers of Congress, House Republicans will be operating with a thinner majority until vacant seats held by members joining the Trump administration are filled.
contributed to this report.
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Paris Hilton’s bill to protect minors at residential treatment facilities heads to president’s desk
Heiress, model and actor Paris Hilton is the force behind a bill headed to President Biden’s desk that’s aimed at preventing the abuse of minors at rehab and other residential facilities.
The House passed the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act in a bipartisan 373-33 vote Wednesday, after the Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent earlier in the week. It’s a cause that’s personal to Hilton, who says she was abused at residential treatment facilities as a teen. Hilton lived in a series of residential treatment facilities from the age of 16, testifying before Congress in June that she had been violently restrained, stripped of clothing and tossed into solitary confinement, among other experiences.
“Today is a day I will never forget,” Hilton wrote on Instagram. “After years of sharing my story and advocating on Capitol Hill, the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act has officially passed the U.S Congress. This moment is proof that our voices matter, that speaking out can spark change, and that no child should ever endure the horrors of abuse in silence. I did this for the younger version of myself and the youth who were senselessly taken from us by the Troubled Teen Industry.”
Now 43, Hilton has championed child protection legislation on Capitol Hill for years, encouraging lawmakers to pass regulations to help protect troubled teens from abuse at treatment centers. Hilton met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week, urging them to take up the legislation before the 118th Congress ends.
Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna introduced the legislation in the House and Senate, and they were joined by Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Tommy Tuberville and Republican Rep. Buddy Carter.
“Children across the country are at risk of abuse and neglect due to a lack of transparency in institutional youth treatment programs,” Khanna said in a statement. “The industry has gone unchecked for too long. Paris Hilton and other survivors of abuse in this broken system have bravely shared their stories and inspired change. I’m proud to lead this legislation with my colleagues to protect the safety and well-being of kids.”
The legislation creates a federal work group on youth residential programs to oversee the health, safety, care, treatment and placement of minors in rehab and other facilities. It also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to make contact with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to make recommendations about state oversight of such programs.
Hilton is the great-grandaughter of Conrad Hilton, who founded Hilton Hotels.
