Save Big Without Sacrificing Comfort With These Editor-Tested Running Shoes Under $130
Editor’s Note, September 16, 2026: Our Best Affordable Trail Shoe pick, the Saucony Excursion TR17, is now on sale at Amazon for 27% off.
“All you need is a pair of shoes to start running” isn’t exactly truthful. If you hate your toenails and heels, by all means, wear Converse high-tops. A good pair of running shoes will spare your digits and the skin on your feet—but that doesn’t mean you have to drop cash on expensive trainers.
Cheap running shoes, models less than $130, are a respectable choice for beginners and vets wanting to save. From plush to moderately cushioned, we’ve listed affordable running shoes on this list that’ll help you save up for more run gear, like a fancy GPS watch or that next destination race.
Quick Glance: Best Running Shoes Under $130
- Best Overall: New Balance Fresh Foam 680v9 (Men’s/Women’s)
- Best for Speedwork: Brooks Launch 12 (Men’s/Women’s)
- Best for Overpronators: Asics GT-1000 15 (Men’s/Women’s)
- Best for Supinators: Reebok FloatZig 2 (Men’s/Women’s)
- Best for Long Runs: Anta PG7 3 (Men’s/Women’s)
- Best Race-Day Shoe: Anta C202 7 (Unisex)
- Best Trail Running Shoe: Saucony Excursion TR17 (Men’s/Women’s)
How We Selected
To find the best shoes under $130, we performed comprehensive research on top-rated trainers by well-known brands, and called in shoes for our shoe program testers and staff to evaluate. These shoes were vetted by scrutinizing fit, ride, and comfort. To give you both options, we included our premium recommendation for each shoe from our Best Running Shoes buying guide, just in case you want to spend some extra cash.
🏃 For even more choices, head to The Best Running Shoes of 2026
We also spoke with Footwear Buyer Jon Notary, who works at the local running store Aardvark Sports Shop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Notary provides insight on what you’re compromising on when buying cheap shoes, and gives advice on what to look for when you’re out shopping for your next pair.
Budget vs. Premium
Buying an affordable trainer doesn’t necessarily mean subpar features. Brands will sometimes incorporate “old” technology into these shoes, like midsole foams, to mitigate a high price. But you are sacrificing some premium specs, like plush cushioning and more durable materials.
Below is a comparison chart of our Best Overall budget trainer, the New Balance Fresh Foam 680v9, versus the brand’s premium daily trainer, the Fresh Foam X 880v15. The latter has the next generation of Fresh Foam, Fresh Foam X, and more cushioning. You save almost half the money with the 680v9, but you get what you paid for with the 880v15.
| Specs | New Balance Fresh Foam 680v9 | New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v15 |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Beginner runners, everyday training, short runs, walking | Everyday training, long runs, recovery runs |
| Cushion | Moderate | High |
| Midsole foam | Fresh Foam (EVA) | Fresh Foam X (EVA-based) |
| Weight (Men's) | 9.7 oz (M), 7.6 oz (W) | 10.5 oz (M), 8.3 oz (W) |
| Drop | 8 mm | 6 mm |
| Stack height | 29 mm | 40 mm |
| Price | $85 | $150 |
| Shop | 680v9 | 880v15 |
The 680v9 is still a reliable shoe for everyday runs and light workouts. If you’re an efficient runner (you don’t wear down your shoes’ soles faster than the average runner), you may even get more mileage out of the 680v9s. It comes down to what you’re willing to give up and what you’re willing to spend.
Full Reviews
New Balance Fresh Foam 680v9
Pros
- Comfy, cushioned feel
- Lightweight
- Available in multiple widths
Cons
- Toebox small for some
All the trainers on this list are Best Value material, but the 680v9 deserves the title for its consistency with each update. Though not as plush or responsive as, say, the more expensive 1080 or 880, the 680 still encapsulates New Balance’s soft-cushioned feel, absorbing shock and promoting comfort on every run.
Its Fresh Foam midsole provides a supportive, plush, lightweight ride, making the 680v9 an excellent choice as an everyday trainer that can handle base-building mileage. A breathable, cozy upper makes this a comfy running shoe and great for casual wear, as well.
👟 Want to go premium? Try our Best Value Shoe → New Balance Ellipse
Shop Men’s at newbalance.com | Shop Women’s at newbalance.com
Brooks Launch 12
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Good traction
- Responsive DNA Flash v2 foam
Cons
- Very narrow in the midfoot
You can’t go wrong with the Launch 12 for a speed shoe, especially when it has DNA Flash v2, the foam featured in the Hyperion Elite 4. The nitrogen-infused supercritical foam is lightweight and responsive; it provides plenty of pop for fast workouts on the road and track.
One drawback, at least for runners with wide feet, is that the midfoot area is quite narrow.
“No matter how many times I loosened and re-laced my shoes, it always felt too tight through the midfoot area, causing some noticeable discomfort,” said RW editor Ashley Tysiac. “While I can appreciate its secure fit, I think this system could have been reimagined to be a bit more forgiving in that area to provide more comfort.”
Despite her distaste for the Launch 12’s tightness, she praised the shoe’s lightweight and responsiveness. Tysiac found the shoe’s simplicity refreshing in our max-cushioned era of trainers.
“I think the weight of the shoe is the best part, as it’s very light yet provides a pretty stable ride,” she said. “That made it the perfect shoe for runs where I wanted to pick up the pace a bit without being dragged down by heavy shoes, and even a good option for those recovery days when I still wanted to feel light on my feet while running at a slower pace.”
👟 Want to go premium? Try our Best Overall Shoe → Adidas Adizero Evo SL
Shop Men’s at brooksrunning.com | Shop Women’s at brooksrunning.com
Pros
- Stability support system
- High-abrasion rubber outsole
- Soft cushioning
Cons
- Narrower than previous versions
The GT-1000 15 provides stability without overbearing, rigid foam pieces, or a high price tag. The shoe has Asics’s 3D Guidance System, which uses a broader platform and reshaping in the heel and forefoot to help with inward foot rolling.
The shoe has high-abrasion Ahar rubber that can withstand aggressive gait patterns and provide reliable traction on slippery surfaces and sharp corners. The fit is slightly narrower than past models, so you may want to size up.
The shoe is also great for long runs thanks to its PureGel tech and FF Blast midsole; you’ll have a soft ride that absorbs impact.
👟 Want to go premium? Try our Best Stability Shoe → Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25
Shop Men’s at amazon.com | Shop Women’s at amazon.com
Pros
- Comfortable and durable
- Feels surprising lightweight despite appearance
Cons
- Rated low in heat management by testers
The FloatZig 2 looks bulky with its unconventional, zigzag midsole rim around the shoe. But we found it surprisingly lightweight during testing. Its soft cushioning—that midsole isn’t just for looks—provided a supportive bed for testers’ feet.
“What I found most enjoyable about this shoe was how lightweight and balanced it is,” said tester Mike Parmer. “The fit and comfort allowed longer training runs and no sore feet or toes. This shoe is one of the better shoes I have tested recently and would compare equally to Hoka.”
The Superfloat+ midsole promotes high energy return, giving a much-needed boost when the road feels long.
👟 Want to go premium? Try our Best for Shock Absorption Shoe → New Balance 1080v15
Shop Men’s at reebok.com | Shop Women’s at reebok.com
Pros
- Soft cushioning
- Breathable upper
- High energy return
Cons
- Some instability issues with quick turns, uneven surfaces
Anta proves you can have premium cushioning on a budget. The PG7 3 has an incredibly plush feel, making the shoe versatile for easy runs, long runs, and casual wear. The cushioning stays soft and also supportive, allowing you to run hard and fast.
In my runs in the PG7 3, I’ve found the ride and feel comparable to the Saucony Triumph and Brooks Glycerin.
“Budget shoes always feel cheap,” said Runner-in-Chief Jeff Dengate. “There’s an undeniable compromise you have to make to pay less. And that stinks. In this case, the PG7 doesn’t really feel like it’s holding anything back. It’s comfortable, cushioned, and supportive. It’s going to work as a daily driver for a lot of runners.”
👟 Want to go premium? Try our Best for Long Runs Shoe → Nike Structure Plus
Shop Men’s at amazon.com | Shop Women’s at amazon.com
Pros
- Full-length carbon plate provides snappy, propulsive ride
- DAN cushioning boosts energy return
- Breathable, lightweight upper
Cons
- Firm compared to other racers
Though the C202 7 costs the most on this list, it’s more than worth the $130 price. Compared to racing shoes that are upward of $200, the C202 7 has a full-length carbon-fiber plate sandwiched in its midsole of DAN cushioning, a TPU supercritical foam.
The shoe feels snappy and responsive. And it has good traction too. Furrer tested the shoe during a rainy 5K in San Antonio, Texas. While other competitors wiped out on slick turns, Furrer stayed vertical cutting corners and accelerating on waterlogged sidewalks and muddy dividers.
👟 Want to go premium? Try our Best for Racing Marathons Shoe → Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
Pros
- 4.5mm lugs for grippy traction on the trail
- Available in wide
- Durable upper for technical trail (also available in GTX)
Cons
- Little arch support
- Heavy
- Narrow, runs small
Trail running demands a lot from your shoes. Between the hard-charging descents and scraping against rough rocks, the last thing you want is a cheap, flimsy shoe that won’t hold up. The Saucony Excursion TR17 has Versarun, which absorbs impact and provides comfy cushioning over trail debris.
One knock is the shoe is quite heavy, and it runs a little small and narrow, so consider sizing up and trying on the wide version.
All models of the Excursion TR17 have 4.5mm lugs to keep you on your toes when things get dicey.
👟 Want to go premium? Try our Best for Trails Shoe → Hoka Speedgoat 7
Shop Men’s at amazon.com | Shop Women’s at amazon.com
What to Consider
Affordable Running Shoes Q&A
With Sports Shop Footwear Buyer Jon Notary
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.