What are the best cheap trail running shoes? Trail running shoes are optimized for running on difficult terrain. Because these types of shoes are often used in harsh conditions, trail running shoes need to be durable and high-quality. This often results in pretty expensive shoes, this can be an issue for those of us who care about their budget. Therefore, I decided to create a list with the best cheap trail running shoes available today.
| Name | Grip | Weight | Protection | Price | Durability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASICS Men’s Gel-Venture 6
Great overall, protective |
4/5 | 11.2 oz | 4.5/5 | $$ | 4.5/5 |
| Adidas Runfalcon 2.0
Running shoe suitable for trails, very cheap |
5/5 | 9.4 oz | 2/5 | $ | 2.5/5 |
| Saucony Excursion
Great overall, protective |
3.5/5 | 10.9 oz | 4.5/5 | $$ | 3/5 |
| Adidas Terrex Trail Tracerocker
For combinding trail running and hiking |
5/5 | 10 oz | 3/5 | $$$$ | 5/5 |
| New Balance Fresh Foam Arishi
Ligthweight |
3.5/5 | 9.2 oz | 2.5/5 | $$ | 3/5 |
| Saucony Peregrine 8
Breathable and comfortable |
4/5 | 10 oz | 4/5 | $$$ | 4/5 |
| WHITIN Cross-Trainer
Minimalist, barefoot, very cheap |
3.5/5 | / | 2/5 | $ | 2.5/5 |
| Brooks divide
Mixing trails with roads |
3.5/5 | 10.3 oz | 3.5/5 | $$$ | 3.5/5 |
| Merrell Moab Flight
Very comfortable, poor grip |
2/5 | 19 oz | 3.5/5 | $$$ | 3.5/5 |
Price may vary over time, weight is based on a men’s size 9
The best cheap trail running shoes
Let me share a list with some of the best trail running shoes for running shoes on a tight -or very tight- budget.
However, before I start with my suggestions, I want to give you some important information.
Colors, size, location, timing, etc. can dramatically increase/decrease the pricing of trail running shoes.
Also, promotions can be a huge game changer. So you shouldn’t only consider the exact options on the list, but search around for good promotions. This way you will get the best value for money.
ASICS Gel-Venture 6
Great overall, protective
One of my favourite options for trail running are the ASICS Gel-Venture 6. It’s a protective and comfortable shoe that offers plenty of ankle support at a very reasonable price.
People have not only been using these shoes for running, but also for hiking and even cycling. Considering that you are looking for a budget shoe, it might be handy that you don’t have to buy separate shoes for all these activities.
They are slightly heavier than the alternatives and the traction is not as good. However, these shoes still score very good overall – and for a very affordable price tag.
As usual, a heavier boot will offer more protection and support, but there is the obvious downside of having a heavier shoe. If you are a competitive athlete, this might not be the right option for you. However, for most trail runners, these shoes will do exactly what you want them to do.
I can recommend these shoes to any trail runner who cares about their budget. However, I would especially recommend these to people who are looking for shoes for multiple activities. Whether you like trail running, hiking, cycling, scrambling… these shoes are a solid option. If you would have to buy a different pair for every activity, this would become a very expensive affair.
Note that the Gel-Venture is a series, there are already newer versions on the market. Those newer versions are pretty similar and also very solid. Before buying, I would recommend to check out other versions of the Gel-venture series, maybe you can spot a good promotion.
Pros
- Protective
- Good support
- Comfortable
Cons
- Slightly heavier than alternatives
- Not very breathable
These shoes are available for both men and women on amazon:
Men: ASICS Men’s Gel-Venture 6
Women: ASICS Women’s Gel-Venture 6
Adidas Runfalcon 2.0
Cheap running shoe suitable for trail running
The Adidas Runfalcons are running shoes that are suitable for trail running because of the good grip – also on wet surfaces or muddy terrain.
Even though they are not officially labeled as trail running shoes they do make great trail running shoes.
The combination of being really cheap and having a good grip is what earns these shoes a place on the list of best cheap trail running shoes.
The downside of these shoes is that they are less protective and less durable than many other trail running shoes.
Whether or not these shoes will be suitable for you depends on your personal running style and the type of trails you will be running.
Pros
- Good grip (for a regular running shoe)
- Usually cheaper than the alternatives
Cons
- Not very protective
- Less durable than some alternatives
The latest price can be found on amazon:
Men: Adidas Men’s Runfalcon 2.0
Women: Adidas WOmen’s Runfalcon 2.0
Saucony Excursion
Great overall, protective
Most runners are very happy with the fit of this shoe and they also claimed that these shoes are pretty comfortable.
The downsides on the other hand are that these shoes are not super lightweight and they might feel a little bit stiff.
Overall, these shoes are pretty amazing, especially when you can buy them for such a low price. If you truly care about breathability, these shoes might be worth considering!
Pros
- Protective
- Good support
- Comfortable
Cons
- Somewhat heavy
- A bit stiff
The latest price can be found on amazon:
Women: Saucony Women’s Excursion
Adidas Terrex Trail
Great overall, also good for hiking
The Adidas Terrex series are a range of different shoes from Adidas, specifically made for outdoor usage.
Within these range, there are many different options for trailrunning.
I used to recommend the adidas outdoor Men’s Terrex Tracerocker / adidas outdoor Women’s Terrex Tracerocker shoes. Which are still great options. However, they can be hard to find these days.
Also, when other models within the Terrex series can be bought when they are on sale, these other options are usually better.
Even though these are all actually different shoes, the Terrex series do have a certain quality that makes me believe in most of the models that are designed for trail running.
If you can’t find the tracerockers, the Adidas terrex soulstrides are also very good and buget-friendly trail running shoes. Make sure to check these out.
The soulstrides are very solid trail running shoes at a very affordable price. However, these less suitable for the really technical trails. The tracerockers would be the better option on this type of terrain. That said, even though they are not suitable on the most technical terrain, they still have great grip on different types of terrain, especially for the price.
Pros
- Solid overall quality
Cons
- Prices/availability is unpredictable
So, taking a look whether or not there are some good deals to be made is recommendable:
Adidas Terrex Trail running shoes
New Balance Fresh Foam Arishi
Lightweight
If you are looking for a budget-friendly lightweight trail runner, you might be interested in the New Balance Fresh Foam Arishi.
A lightweight high quality trail running shoe within this price range immediately caught my eye. These shoes are comfortable, have great cushioning and the sole works good on rocky and muddy terrain.
There are no “real issues” with these shoes. Sure, there are always people who complain about potential hot spots or about a damaged shoe. In comparison with the heavier alternatives on this list, the Arishi isn’t the most durable shoe out there, but it’s still pretty durable.
Also, it’s not going to be the most comfortable option on the list.
That said, the overall reactions are very positive.
I would highly recommend these shoes to runners who are looking for a cheap lightweight trail running shoes.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Goog grip (for a regular running shoe)
Cons
- Not very protective
- Less durable than some alternatives
These shoes are available on amazon:
Men: New Balance Men’s Fresh Foam Arishi
Women: New Balance Women’s Fresh Foam Arishi
Saucony Peregrine 8
Breathable and comfortable
Another awesome trail running shoe from Saucony, the Peregrine 8. Saucony made a very good impression when it comes to cheap trail running shoes.
The upper part of the shoe is very breathable while the lower part provides plenty of support. The combination of the upper part and the lower part is considered pretty comfortable.
The Peregrine 8 is a lightweight shoe for a hiking shoe, but it’s not as light as the lighter trail running shoes.
Once you start running, the sole seems to collect a lot of clay deposit, which results in heavier shoes once you start running. Also, they don’t dry as fast as some runners would like, once again, this will increase the weight of the shoe.
Depending on the sex/size/color these shoes aren’t always equally cheap. These are good shoes, no doubt, but I wouldn’t buy them for $80+. If you can buy them on discount, you will get very good value for money.
Other versions of the Saucony Peregrine are normally also very solid shoes. You might want to compare prices between versions before buying. Sauconay Peregrine 10 and 11 are pretty popular at the time of writing.
Pros
- Breathable
- Good support
Cons
- Don’t dry fast
- Not always as cheap as alternatives
The latest price can be found on amazon:
Men: Saucony Men’s Peregrine 10
Women: Saucony Women’s Peregrine 8
WHITIN Cross-Trainer
Best minimalist/barefoot
These shoes have 0 drop and are definitely within the category minimalist or barefoot.
If you are looking for a shoe that feels like a sock and where you can almost feel the trail, these are the ones to go for when on a budget.
They are considered very comfortable and have great traction.
Sadly, they are not extremely durable. If you go on very frequent runs, a more durable (and also more expensive) option might be the better choice. However, it is quite typical for minimal shoes to wear out quicker than a more firm alternative.
If you go on frequent runs, you can expect the shoes to lose their grip after a couple of months.
Pros
- Very flexible – you can almost feel the trail
- Comfortable
- Great traction
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not very durable
The latest price can be found on amazon:
Men: WHITIN Men’s Cross-Trainer
Women: WHITIN Women’s Cross-Trainer
Brooks divide
Best for mixing trails and roads
The Brooks divide is the perfect cheap trail running shoe for runners who mix trails with road miles.
The Brooks divide is a pretty allround and solid shoe. It has decent grip, is breathable, durable and comfortable.
It’s also a good option if you are looking for a shoe that doesn’t need a long breaking in period.
The drawback is that these shoes are not optimal for more technical trails. Therefore, I would recommend it for smooth trails, but not for serious and technical trail running.
Also, these shoes are one of the better options on paved roads when looking at trail running shoes.
Pros
- Good allround
- Good for mixing roads with trails
Cons
- Not for technical trails
The latest price can be found on amazon:
Men: Brooks divide 2 Men
Women: Brooks divide 2 women
You might also be interested in checking out the Brooks divide 3. Usually, these are a bit more expensive, but from time to time a nice discount might apply.
Merrell Moab Flight Shoe
Extremely comofrtable but poor grip
The merrell moab flight is an easy one to summarize.
This shoe is extremely comfortable, but it has a dissapointing grip considering it’s a trail runner.
The grip allows you to only run on easy trails, so this shoe is definitely not the right fit for everybody.
Easy forest trails, gravel roads, desert trails, these should all be good. However, The moab flight does not handle wet conditions or mountain trails very well.
However, if these are the trails and conditions you usually run on, and you value comfort, than these shoes might just be perfect for you.
Pros
- Extremely comfortable
Cons
- Poor grip
The latest price can be found on amazon:
Women: Merrell Moab Flight Women
Budget trail running shoes on technical terrain
I had to include a small section about budget trail running shoes and technical terrain. It’s simply not a great match.
Sure, there are different definitions of what technical terrain is. Some would call mountain footpaths with an occasional very light scramble technical, other would only speak of technical terrain in more extreme situations.
Anyway, the more technical and difficult the terrain becomes, the more it makes sense to spend a bit more on your shoes.
Especially when you are reaching more extreme terrain. Remember, if you are using the wrong type of shoes for that situations, you will not fully enjoy the experience. Also, it’s important to note that using shoes that are not suitable for technical terrain could damage them, which would mean that you would need to buy new shoes sooner.
Long story short, budget trail running shoes are completely fine for most situations, but not for more extreme environments.
Even though these more suitable shoes are more expensive, they don’t always have to be crazy expensive either. Especially if you can find a good discount.
One of the shoes I would recommend for the more technical terrain would be the Salomon speedcross.
What’s important in a trail running shoe
Before I continue, I would like to say that I wrote an entirely different article titled Best trail running shoes for hiking [Ultimate guide]. If you are looking for an in-depth guide to trail running shoes for hiking, I would recommend you take a look! Even if you will use your shoes only for running, this article has some good information for you as well!
Let’s continue with the important factors of a trail running shoe.
- Grip/Traction: This is important for running on tricky/rocky trails.
- Comfort/Cushioning: Since you are going to run a lot of miles in these shoes, you absolutely want these shoes to be comfortable.
- Breathability: Breathability is always important. Not only is it more comfortable, it could also prevent blisters.
- Protection: Some trail runners prefer the lightweight minimalist shoes that don’t offer a lot of protection. I would still opt to go for shoes that offer at least some protection, even if that means that they are slightly heavier. I guess this is personal preference.
- Weight: Always important for runners…
- Durability: Your shoes might suffer when you are running so many miles on difficult terrain. Therefore, durability is a must!
If you are on a tight budget, you should always try to find older version of very successful shoes. Quite often, the price of the older version will go down when a new model is released. At this point, you should also be able to find plenty of reviews (also long term reviews).
Best cheap trail running shoes – Conclusion
Generally, trail running shoes aren’t always that cheap. This shouldn’t really be a surprise since they are made for running in very harsh condition, the quality has to be top-notch. They need to be durable, lightweight, breathable, comfortable, have a good grip, and preferably they should also offer protection and support. Obviously, all this comes with a price tag.
That said, it’s not impossible to find cheap trail running shoes that are actually good, but you have to do your research. Now, don’t expect to find solid trail running shoes for $20, but there are plenty of options below $100, sometimes even below $50.
If you want to do your own research, always make sure to triple check your sources. After doing hours and hours of research myself, I know that a lot of information out there is very misleading. If you are going to use certain shoes for extreme trail running, only look at reviews from other runners that have been using them for the same kind of activities. You shouldn’t value the reviews of road runners too much. Oh, and amazon ratings? Not the best reference either.
No shoe is absolutely perfect for everybody, even in the higher price ranges this is practically impossible. I gave you some very solid affordable options, but only you can decide what fits your needs best.
The best runners are often highly regarded by trail running brands. These runners do pick some of the best trail running shoes out there. However, some even get amazing results with a budget trail runner, simply because they can also be really good.
On another note, if you are an organizer of trail running events, you should be looking at getting some custom race medals (these can be personalized exactly how you want it) as prices for the winners. It elevates your event to another level and the winners will have a memorable souvenir for life.
These where my picks for best cheap trail running shoes, if you have any other recommendations, feel free to let me know!
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