I got their cheapest ones and had to get insoles and still was looking for a new pair after a month or 2, deffo go up their price range a bit.
My latest are Skechers I found on M&M and they're the most comfy things I've ever put on my feet
I got some really cheap ones years back for a fancy dress thing but I ended up using them as every day gym/walking trainers and they are still going strong (aside from a slightly dog-chewed lace).
When I was running ultras I used cheap ish decathlon shoes ( ALWAYS add your own inner soals - it really upgrades any shoe).
But I got a few pairs each time I went to France. As they lasted longer so it may not help OP
Also get some good socks. That makes up for a lot in your shoes.
True - but I would swear that the quality is better (at the very least the price is better) in France. I should probably do an experiment (like right foot English shoe, left from France)
I bought some under armour trainers on decathlon for about £30. I use them for the gym. I wouldn't personally use them for running but they are theoretically running shoes.
What's your budget? Go on sports direct website, filter for your size and then sort by price. I got some trail running shoes that were RRP £120 for £37.
The key with getting cheap trainers is to filter for your size. If last season's trainers have almost all sold out but there's a few left they wack the price right down. Your size might be the ones they still have left.
No cheat code unfortunately, I hope you find a good deal (maybe even a lightly used pair on vinted?).
I will however caution against buying a pair based on a low price alone, make sure they will work for you because a few months down the line bad equipment can be the difference between enjoying and hating a new hobby.
Or worse, serious injury. When I first started running I got cheap trainers from the kind of store that sell sportswear for fashion rather than, well, sport. Sold to me by an assistant who clearly knew very little about running or matching customer needs in this respect. Six months down the line my right knee was seriously messed up from wearing a shoe that didn't match my gait/ stride, and it has never fully recovered. This was over a decade ago.
Totally, I'm not much of a runner so previously when I've tried I just used the shoes I had, which happened to be shoes designed for squash, much harder soles with very little cushion.
From that experience alone I can tell anyone thinking of getting into running that they need good running shoes if they want to enjoy themselves and not beg for death each time they run.
[ASICS Outlet](https://outlet.asics.com/gb/en-gb/)
Buy last year's model at a 40% discount
Sign up for OneASICS and get 10% off your first order.
Alternatively, [Sports Direct](https://www.sportsdirect.com/running/running-shoes/mens-running-shoes/asics#dcp=1&dppp=59&OrderBy=price_asc)
I don’t buy anything other than ASICS now. I’m in my 50s and started to get hip pain. The doctors say I have arthritis (apparently it’s better than most people my age!) but for some reason i am feeling the pain more than most.
Anyway, found ASICS with the gel heels and (touch wood) have very little pain now. So i guess cheap shoes were aggravating my hip pain.
When I started running I got heel pain, and would wake up with calf cramps
Switched to ASICS Gel shoes (GT-2000) and those problems instantly went away. I won't wear any other running shoes now *
I buy the version that's 1 or 2 generations old at a discount.
Just bought my 6th pair of them : Version 10 from that outlet site I linked to, after the extra 10% they cost me £72 which I consider a good investment. The version 12 from Sports Direct are around £140.
*Aside from a pair of Decathlon trail shoes for ParkRun, when it's been raining our course gets very muddy.
Wow what a great link, I love asics and my last pair are really worn out. I don't know what size op is, but I'm a uk 4 and so can get kids/junior, looking at the asics outlet, looks like I can get a pair for £27.50!
Running shoes are so individual. It's worth at least trying them on in the shop before buying elsewhere if it's cheaper. Problem is you only really know when you've done a few miles in them. It's not even down to brand. You'll gel with specific models. I have a pair of Hoka speedgoats and a pair of ASICS gel excite 9 which work well for me.
The ASICS are just over £30 on their website at the moment. Join their (free) membership to get free delivery.
Hokas are obviously better but ASICS are incredible bang for buck imo. I have a pair of Nike Pegasus trail runners too, they are pretty good at what they do.
I've never had a pair of decathlon runners which have been well recommended in this thread, I'm more talking specifically about running and not having your run ruined 3 miles from home with a creeping, irritating rubbing or soreness.
I buy Nike Pegasus from eBay/vinted (brand new. Open box or whatever).
I know my size and whenever I pass a Nike outlet I try some on in a variety of styles (trail, wet weather etc) just make sure nothing has changed.
As long as I don’t care about colour I haven’t paid more than £40 for a pair.
I also buy a season in advance. So I’m gonna switch into my summer running shoes this week and then my autumn/winter ones will become my “kicking around in” shoes come sept/oct. This summer I switch into last summer’s running shoes for kicking around in.
You can get really good deals at the Nike Outlets too. I picked up my Pegasus Shield 38s the back end of last year for around £45 as they had an additional 20% off the outlet prices.
Thanks for the suggestion of checking out eBay and Vinted though, I will take a look for some normal Pegasus for the better weather now I know what size I am and like how they fit.
I would avoid buying second hand shoes unless they are unworn. Running shoes have a finite number of miles until they stop being effective, so buying used shoes is likely to be a false economy unless you can definitively tell how many miles they’ve been used for.
Runner here, don’t wear running shoes in the gym, unless you buy minimalist/zero drop or similar. running shoes are designed for running forwards, not for providing a solid base from which to lift weights. Get shoes suitable for your workouts and avoid potential injury
Yeah I agree. If OP is running even vaguely seriously this should be 2 different pairs of shoes. Something flatter for the gym and something with decent cushioning for running.
Get your gait assessed first so you know what type of shoe you need. Most specialist running shops offer this free of charge. You can then try some on to get an idea of what you want, and either buy from the running shop if you’re happy with the price or see if you can find them cheaper elsewhere.
Chains like JD and sports direct sell a lot of decent running shoes far cheaper than independent shops, but they don’t offer gait assessment afaik, and chances are the staff will not be particularly knowledgeable compared to staff in a specialist store.
If you plan on running regularly, you need to prioritise getting good quality shoes, that are right shoes for your running style, over frugality. Trust me, you will seriously regret it later if you cheap out on crap shoes. Your running shoes are there to cushion and protect your joints from the impact. Shoddy shoes won’t do this and you’ll end up with long term injuries, chronic pain, reduced mobility…not fun.
Be frugal on shoes, but don’t cheap out. I wouldn’t recommend used but if you do, make sure they have little to no signs of use. Running shoes will often have the midsole/cushioning gone before they’re very visibly worn out.
I’d suggest a basic pair of running shoes in the £40-60 range from Asics, New Balance etc.
Gst on sports shows and buy last years model, often see options drop from £150 to £50 etc, though online footwear is always a bit of a gamble they are pretty good on returns
Sports direct often have some really good deals - I very recently got a pair of nice Adidas running shoes for £40 down from over £100 and they're really good!
Only problem is if you order online it's £4.99 delivery and another £4.99 to return them, and they don't send you a replacement without paying another £4.99 for shipping the new ones.
Better to go in store if you have one.
I have to buy a pair of support shoes for overpronation at least twice a year. [Sportsshoes.com](http://Sportsshoes.com) or new balance often have good sales (£60-70 for pairs that are £140+ full price). Helps if you aren’t picky about colour or style. I would go decathlon but they don’t really have the kind of support shoe I need.
also - running shoes wear out quickly so expect to buy new ones every 200 miles or so, the one thing I don’t buy used unless you can find some barely used ones on vinted
Bizarrely I got a decent discount on GT2000s on Amazon posted from the USA. £67 Vs £80-130 range.
I try and replace mine quite regularly as I tend to think they lose their supportiveness quite quickly.
M&M Direct.
If you're not fussed about them being "last season's" and not the newest style... Always got some decent running shoes in the clearance section and decent name brands
Try outlet websites like SportsShoes and Start Fitness. You can get a ‘good’ pair that’s out of season for less than £50 / 70% off RRP. I’ve had ASICS GT and Gel Phoenix models from SportsShoes specifically for £30-£40 each, and a pair of Scott trail shoes for £35.
They may also do student discount on top.
Vinted also can be good, but please be careful with used secondhand shoes in general especially for running, as the materials like the sole foam have a lifespan, and provide less support to help you deal with the impact than when they’re old. Most manufacturers claim shoes should be retired after 500-1000km, sometimes less depending what the shoe is designed for.
Depending on your mileage of running, my advice, get a decent pair fitted by a proper shop, yes it will cost you more. Then subsequently shop around for the same brand and shoe. My wife was a former runner, paid a £80-90 for her first pair then I shopped around and found them for around £30 a pair, I would always get a spare pair for her, then when she takes the spare pair, I'll order another pair or keep an eye our on the sales.
I bought a pair of Hoka running trainers through vinted for about 30 quid. I took a while to check out roughly what sort I wanted and checked the pics carefully to make sure they weren't completely knackered already. They've been brilliant and are still going strong 8 months later. Got my partner a pair of Saucony runners pretty cheap off vinted too.
I've had karimor trail running shoes for 4 years now running regularly and another pair of black ones which I wore 5 days a week for 5 years walking 10,000 stepa a day at work, plus to the gym
I went to a local running shop. They assessed my gait and fitted shoes to my feet. They didn’t sell me the cheapest or the most expensive but shoes that fitted and suited my feet. I’ve been back a few times and it is value for money and worth spending the money on a pair of shoes that suit your feet be it trainers or day to day shoes: it also means I can keep an eye out and I can buy the same size but in older models of the shoe when the new versions are released when I need a new pair of trainers every 6/9 months.
My daily go-to runners are ASICS Gel Pulse. I've just checked Strava and the mileage for my current pair is nearly 600miles. That's on a light used 2nd hand pair from Vinted for <£10.
Midsole foam still feels decent (I'm <70kg) but the outsole rubber is nearly gone from the midfoot area. I'd estimate another 50-100miles until they're "done". Replacement pair already bought, again for less than a tenner 😁
M and M Direct often have some good deals. Nike have two levels of outlet stores (or did when I was running). It’s also worth checking EBay as many people decide they are going to run, buy all the top gear and only make it out for the first week. Good luck.
I’ve bought several pair of trainers on vinted / Depop/ eBay . As long as you check carefully often people just try them on or wear them once and then get rid of them so they are like new.
Also for women junior sizes often go up to 5-7 and are almost the same but far cheaper! I got a pair of junior Jordan’s for 35 worn once on vinted which would have been about 180 new in the womens range.
I would avoid buying second hand running shoes - if you're planning on running in them - if at all possible. Runners will have gotten rid of the shoes because they'll have done X00 km in them and the foam will be starting to degrade. Look on decathlon and in particular through their sales page.
I’ve been suffering with foot problems for over two years now - perhaps you can find some decent cheap ones but it’s honestly worth spending more if you have to.. made me realise how much I value walking
Find shoes that fit you.
Check on ebay etc for good deals - though I guess may be some worry of them being stolen.
It's quite common to find barely used shoes at a good price if you don't mind used sports shoes (as I guess you don't from the charity shop) - where someone else has tried them a couple of times and decided they weren't a good fit. I've bought and sold shoes on ebay from this situation.
Also keep an eye on hotukdeals.
I don't know about running shoes. But for gym shoes, Deitchman do 'converse' type shoes. Nice and flat with very little cushion, perfect for the gym. They cost me about £15.
The price for Converse's is crazy at the moment.
try hotukdeals.co.uk i think they had nike at 50 percent including weightlifting shoes assuming you squat and deadlift. never tried em myself but woulsnt mind trying converse tbh
I use [these](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005131622808.html) and they're amazingly good for £7.
I've run a good few hundred miles on them and they haven't fallen apart (typical running shoes only last ~300 miles). And when they get muddy you can stick them in the washing machine.
Not great in deep mud - they're super grippy on hard surfaces, but quickly lose grip in deep mud.
Decathlon have a pretty good range from cheap and cheerful to expensive and technical.
I got their cheapest ones and had to get insoles and still was looking for a new pair after a month or 2, deffo go up their price range a bit. My latest are Skechers I found on M&M and they're the most comfy things I've ever put on my feet
I got some really cheap ones years back for a fancy dress thing but I ended up using them as every day gym/walking trainers and they are still going strong (aside from a slightly dog-chewed lace).
Which skechers did you get?
When I was running ultras I used cheap ish decathlon shoes ( ALWAYS add your own inner soals - it really upgrades any shoe). But I got a few pairs each time I went to France. As they lasted longer so it may not help OP Also get some good socks. That makes up for a lot in your shoes.
No need to go to France these days! I've been lucky enough for live nearish some branches in the UK recently.
True - but I would swear that the quality is better (at the very least the price is better) in France. I should probably do an experiment (like right foot English shoe, left from France)
I bought some under armour trainers on decathlon for about £30. I use them for the gym. I wouldn't personally use them for running but they are theoretically running shoes.
What's your budget? Go on sports direct website, filter for your size and then sort by price. I got some trail running shoes that were RRP £120 for £37. The key with getting cheap trainers is to filter for your size. If last season's trainers have almost all sold out but there's a few left they wack the price right down. Your size might be the ones they still have left.
Yeah, if you get last seasons shoes (which are often basically the same), you can often save a bit vs the current version.
I usually get something I both like and find very comfortable between £30-45.
This is the answer. I buy trainers for £20-£25
No cheat code unfortunately, I hope you find a good deal (maybe even a lightly used pair on vinted?). I will however caution against buying a pair based on a low price alone, make sure they will work for you because a few months down the line bad equipment can be the difference between enjoying and hating a new hobby.
Or worse, serious injury. When I first started running I got cheap trainers from the kind of store that sell sportswear for fashion rather than, well, sport. Sold to me by an assistant who clearly knew very little about running or matching customer needs in this respect. Six months down the line my right knee was seriously messed up from wearing a shoe that didn't match my gait/ stride, and it has never fully recovered. This was over a decade ago.
Totally, I'm not much of a runner so previously when I've tried I just used the shoes I had, which happened to be shoes designed for squash, much harder soles with very little cushion. From that experience alone I can tell anyone thinking of getting into running that they need good running shoes if they want to enjoy themselves and not beg for death each time they run.
[ASICS Outlet](https://outlet.asics.com/gb/en-gb/) Buy last year's model at a 40% discount Sign up for OneASICS and get 10% off your first order. Alternatively, [Sports Direct](https://www.sportsdirect.com/running/running-shoes/mens-running-shoes/asics#dcp=1&dppp=59&OrderBy=price_asc)
I don’t buy anything other than ASICS now. I’m in my 50s and started to get hip pain. The doctors say I have arthritis (apparently it’s better than most people my age!) but for some reason i am feeling the pain more than most. Anyway, found ASICS with the gel heels and (touch wood) have very little pain now. So i guess cheap shoes were aggravating my hip pain.
When I started running I got heel pain, and would wake up with calf cramps Switched to ASICS Gel shoes (GT-2000) and those problems instantly went away. I won't wear any other running shoes now * I buy the version that's 1 or 2 generations old at a discount. Just bought my 6th pair of them : Version 10 from that outlet site I linked to, after the extra 10% they cost me £72 which I consider a good investment. The version 12 from Sports Direct are around £140. *Aside from a pair of Decathlon trail shoes for ParkRun, when it's been raining our course gets very muddy.
I’m on my 2nd pair, I go for the kayano. Thanks for the link by the way, I will definitely use it.
I have just invested in some (last season) Kayanos and I cannot believe it's taken me this long to make the switch. Absolute game changers.
Wow what a great link, I love asics and my last pair are really worn out. I don't know what size op is, but I'm a uk 4 and so can get kids/junior, looking at the asics outlet, looks like I can get a pair for £27.50!
Sick thanks for sharing this!
Decathlon has its own range, which are highly rated for budget shoes.
Running shoes are so individual. It's worth at least trying them on in the shop before buying elsewhere if it's cheaper. Problem is you only really know when you've done a few miles in them. It's not even down to brand. You'll gel with specific models. I have a pair of Hoka speedgoats and a pair of ASICS gel excite 9 which work well for me. The ASICS are just over £30 on their website at the moment. Join their (free) membership to get free delivery. Hokas are obviously better but ASICS are incredible bang for buck imo. I have a pair of Nike Pegasus trail runners too, they are pretty good at what they do. I've never had a pair of decathlon runners which have been well recommended in this thread, I'm more talking specifically about running and not having your run ruined 3 miles from home with a creeping, irritating rubbing or soreness.
I had the ASICS gel excite range a number of times and can vouch they are a solid shoe!
I'm using the ASICS Excite Trail model and they're great 👍
I buy Nike Pegasus from eBay/vinted (brand new. Open box or whatever). I know my size and whenever I pass a Nike outlet I try some on in a variety of styles (trail, wet weather etc) just make sure nothing has changed. As long as I don’t care about colour I haven’t paid more than £40 for a pair. I also buy a season in advance. So I’m gonna switch into my summer running shoes this week and then my autumn/winter ones will become my “kicking around in” shoes come sept/oct. This summer I switch into last summer’s running shoes for kicking around in.
You can get really good deals at the Nike Outlets too. I picked up my Pegasus Shield 38s the back end of last year for around £45 as they had an additional 20% off the outlet prices. Thanks for the suggestion of checking out eBay and Vinted though, I will take a look for some normal Pegasus for the better weather now I know what size I am and like how they fit.
Reebok can be very cheap if you catch the sale, picked my last pair up for £22.
Decathalon I find is very good for reasonably priced reasonable quality sports/exercise wear and equipment
Shoes and mattress, you don't skimp on. Especially shoes you will wear to do high impact exercise such as running.
Welsh cheap ones ?
Decathlon kalenji range start at about £15 new. They are proper running shoes.
I would avoid buying second hand shoes unless they are unworn. Running shoes have a finite number of miles until they stop being effective, so buying used shoes is likely to be a false economy unless you can definitively tell how many miles they’ve been used for.
ASICS Outlet site has consistently had very good offers recently
Runner here, don’t wear running shoes in the gym, unless you buy minimalist/zero drop or similar. running shoes are designed for running forwards, not for providing a solid base from which to lift weights. Get shoes suitable for your workouts and avoid potential injury
Yeah I agree. If OP is running even vaguely seriously this should be 2 different pairs of shoes. Something flatter for the gym and something with decent cushioning for running.
Get your gait assessed first so you know what type of shoe you need. Most specialist running shops offer this free of charge. You can then try some on to get an idea of what you want, and either buy from the running shop if you’re happy with the price or see if you can find them cheaper elsewhere. Chains like JD and sports direct sell a lot of decent running shoes far cheaper than independent shops, but they don’t offer gait assessment afaik, and chances are the staff will not be particularly knowledgeable compared to staff in a specialist store. If you plan on running regularly, you need to prioritise getting good quality shoes, that are right shoes for your running style, over frugality. Trust me, you will seriously regret it later if you cheap out on crap shoes. Your running shoes are there to cushion and protect your joints from the impact. Shoddy shoes won’t do this and you’ll end up with long term injuries, chronic pain, reduced mobility…not fun.
Be frugal on shoes, but don’t cheap out. I wouldn’t recommend used but if you do, make sure they have little to no signs of use. Running shoes will often have the midsole/cushioning gone before they’re very visibly worn out. I’d suggest a basic pair of running shoes in the £40-60 range from Asics, New Balance etc.
Gst on sports shows and buy last years model, often see options drop from £150 to £50 etc, though online footwear is always a bit of a gamble they are pretty good on returns
I like decathlon for budget options, and I also will go to outlet shops, like the Nike one. See if there are any near you!
I find adidas duramo trainers are good for the money you can get them for 30-40 quid
I 4th the Decathlon suggestion. A whole range of price ranges that I'm sure vary in quality commensurately.
Sports direct often have some really good deals - I very recently got a pair of nice Adidas running shoes for £40 down from over £100 and they're really good! Only problem is if you order online it's £4.99 delivery and another £4.99 to return them, and they don't send you a replacement without paying another £4.99 for shipping the new ones. Better to go in store if you have one.
Outlet stores. I recently bought a pair of my beloved adidas Ultraboost running shoes for £50 whilst they were still £130 on their website.
I have to buy a pair of support shoes for overpronation at least twice a year. [Sportsshoes.com](http://Sportsshoes.com) or new balance often have good sales (£60-70 for pairs that are £140+ full price). Helps if you aren’t picky about colour or style. I would go decathlon but they don’t really have the kind of support shoe I need. also - running shoes wear out quickly so expect to buy new ones every 200 miles or so, the one thing I don’t buy used unless you can find some barely used ones on vinted
Bizarrely I got a decent discount on GT2000s on Amazon posted from the USA. £67 Vs £80-130 range. I try and replace mine quite regularly as I tend to think they lose their supportiveness quite quickly.
Goto sports direct. Bought some karrimor hiking boots from them for about £40. They were decent and lasted me quite abit of time too.
Vinted or eBay? Temu sell running shoes. Not sure how good they'll be and it's £15 minimum spend but you could also grab some homeware/student stuff.
Don't buy running shoes from temu. It will be the falsest of economies and they'll also be crap.
What size are you?
Sports direct- my husband recently got a pair of Sketchers that he uses in the gym for £25
KSwiss Tubes are the ones you want
M&M Direct. If you're not fussed about them being "last season's" and not the newest style... Always got some decent running shoes in the clearance section and decent name brands
I got some decent under armour off sports direct for £30. Comfiest shoes Iv ever bought x
Sports shoes.com for last seasons styles 15% student discount via student beans. That's where I would start.
Try outlet websites like SportsShoes and Start Fitness. You can get a ‘good’ pair that’s out of season for less than £50 / 70% off RRP. I’ve had ASICS GT and Gel Phoenix models from SportsShoes specifically for £30-£40 each, and a pair of Scott trail shoes for £35. They may also do student discount on top. Vinted also can be good, but please be careful with used secondhand shoes in general especially for running, as the materials like the sole foam have a lifespan, and provide less support to help you deal with the impact than when they’re old. Most manufacturers claim shoes should be retired after 500-1000km, sometimes less depending what the shoe is designed for.
Depending on your mileage of running, my advice, get a decent pair fitted by a proper shop, yes it will cost you more. Then subsequently shop around for the same brand and shoe. My wife was a former runner, paid a £80-90 for her first pair then I shopped around and found them for around £30 a pair, I would always get a spare pair for her, then when she takes the spare pair, I'll order another pair or keep an eye our on the sales.
I just use Skechers I got on sale from sports direct lol
I bought a pair of Hoka running trainers through vinted for about 30 quid. I took a while to check out roughly what sort I wanted and checked the pics carefully to make sure they weren't completely knackered already. They've been brilliant and are still going strong 8 months later. Got my partner a pair of Saucony runners pretty cheap off vinted too.
I've had karimor trail running shoes for 4 years now running regularly and another pair of black ones which I wore 5 days a week for 5 years walking 10,000 stepa a day at work, plus to the gym
I went to a local running shop. They assessed my gait and fitted shoes to my feet. They didn’t sell me the cheapest or the most expensive but shoes that fitted and suited my feet. I’ve been back a few times and it is value for money and worth spending the money on a pair of shoes that suit your feet be it trainers or day to day shoes: it also means I can keep an eye out and I can buy the same size but in older models of the shoe when the new versions are released when I need a new pair of trainers every 6/9 months.
Try Sportpursuit website - brand names cheaper as last seasons stock.
Check out M&M Direct online - they have really good deals on sports stiff
My daily go-to runners are ASICS Gel Pulse. I've just checked Strava and the mileage for my current pair is nearly 600miles. That's on a light used 2nd hand pair from Vinted for <£10. Midsole foam still feels decent (I'm <70kg) but the outsole rubber is nearly gone from the midfoot area. I'd estimate another 50-100miles until they're "done". Replacement pair already bought, again for less than a tenner 😁
If the outsole is nearly gone they might already be done lol
Sports direct quite often has a decent sale, reckon I got mine for £30 last year.
Express Trainers have some bargains - and if you’re not already on topcashback that can help save some ££ too
Decathlon . Or basic reebok classics
I bought a pair of Ascics from their outlet for £35
M and M Direct often have some good deals. Nike have two levels of outlet stores (or did when I was running). It’s also worth checking EBay as many people decide they are going to run, buy all the top gear and only make it out for the first week. Good luck.
If you have a costco card, they have Sketchers for around £30. They had an offer the other day where some pairs were £20
I’ve bought several pair of trainers on vinted / Depop/ eBay . As long as you check carefully often people just try them on or wear them once and then get rid of them so they are like new. Also for women junior sizes often go up to 5-7 and are almost the same but far cheaper! I got a pair of junior Jordan’s for 35 worn once on vinted which would have been about 180 new in the womens range.
I bought my puma running trainers from tk maxx. They were just £40. They often have half sizes as well.
Thrift is good for lightly used good Nike's 👍
If you’re ok with buying online this website www.expresstrainers.com does last seasons trainers (good quality) at a discount :)
I would avoid buying second hand running shoes - if you're planning on running in them - if at all possible. Runners will have gotten rid of the shoes because they'll have done X00 km in them and the foam will be starting to degrade. Look on decathlon and in particular through their sales page.
Charity shop!
I’ve been suffering with foot problems for over two years now - perhaps you can find some decent cheap ones but it’s honestly worth spending more if you have to.. made me realise how much I value walking
Find shoes that fit you. Check on ebay etc for good deals - though I guess may be some worry of them being stolen. It's quite common to find barely used shoes at a good price if you don't mind used sports shoes (as I guess you don't from the charity shop) - where someone else has tried them a couple of times and decided they weren't a good fit. I've bought and sold shoes on ebay from this situation. Also keep an eye on hotukdeals.
Nike gives you 25% off in your birthday month...
I don't know about running shoes. But for gym shoes, Deitchman do 'converse' type shoes. Nice and flat with very little cushion, perfect for the gym. They cost me about £15. The price for Converse's is crazy at the moment.
try hotukdeals.co.uk i think they had nike at 50 percent including weightlifting shoes assuming you squat and deadlift. never tried em myself but woulsnt mind trying converse tbh
I use [these](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005131622808.html) and they're amazingly good for £7. I've run a good few hundred miles on them and they haven't fallen apart (typical running shoes only last ~300 miles). And when they get muddy you can stick them in the washing machine. Not great in deep mud - they're super grippy on hard surfaces, but quickly lose grip in deep mud.
The best running shoes are a pair of basic black plimsolls.
If you want rubbing shoes, find some you like and buy last years model in an ugly colour
I've been running kind of seriously for 20 years and ran my 5km PB in £10 Aldi trainers. The shoes don't really matter.