4 running shoes I always recommend to beginners are under $100 in the Black Friday sales — save on the Nike Pegasus, Brooks Glycerin and more
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Nick has been a journalist since 2012 and has spent most of that time writing about health and fitness for a variety of publications. Nick spent nine years working on the Coach magazine and website before moving to the fitness team at Tom’s Guide in 2024. Nick is a keen runner and also the founder of YouTube channel The Run Testers , which specialises in reviewing running shoes, watches, headphones and other gear. Nick has covered all aspects of health and fitness throughout his career, interviewing experts and celebrities, trying fitness classes and running marathons, all in the name of providing readers with the information they need to get the most out of an active lifestyle. Nick ran his first marathon in 2016 after six weeks of training for a magazine feature and subsequently became obsessed with the sport. He now has PBs of 2hr 25min for the marathon and 15min 30sec for 5K, and has run 16 marathons in total, as well as a 50-mile ultramarathon. Nick runs 60-90 miles a week and races regularly with his club, which gives him a lot of opportunity to test out running gear: he has tested and reviewed hundreds of pairs of running shoes, as well as fitness trackers, running watches, sports headphones, treadmills, and all manner of other kit. Nick is also a qualified Run Leader in the UK. Nick is an established expert in the health and fitness area and along with writing for several publications, including Live Science , Expert Reviews , Wareable , Coach and Get Sweat Go , he has been quoted on The Guardian and The Independent . Nick graduated from the University of York in 2010 with a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics and worked in the NHS for three years, during which time he completed his NCTJ Diploma in Journalism at News Associates in London. Before starting on Coach and moving into health and fitness, Nick worked as a football journalist and lived in Kathmandu, Nepal for two years.
As a running shoe reviewer, I get asked what the best sneakers are for beginners a lot, and there are a handful of shoes I always recommend.
For me, a great beginner running shoe needs to be comfortable, good value, and suit a wide variety of people and running styles. Really, these picks will suit runners of all levels, but they’re perfect for new runners in particular.
I often recommend going for the previous versions of popular shoes, because they’re more likely to be in the sales and have already been tried and tested by thousands of runners along with myself.
Right now four shoes I recommend to beginners all the time are reduced to under $100 in the early Black Friday sales. The standout deal is 44% off the Nike Pegasus 42, which is now just $86 at Nike , but Amazon also has great discounts on top shoes like the Brooks Glycerin 22.
A frequent sight in sales, the Puma Velocity Nitro 4 is a great daily trainer with a lightweight, cushioned design and an impressive outsole that handles wet conditions well. The price varies with the color and size you opt for on Amazon, but many models are well under $100 right now. View Deal
The Hurricane 25 is the perfect option for new runners looking for stability as well as comfort. It's a very supportive shoe with a smooth rocker that means it doesn't feel clunky despite the tall stack of cushioning underfoot, and many colors and size are reduced to under $100 right now on Amazon. View Deal
The Pegasus 42 is the latest model of Nike's long-running daily trainer, so it's a pleasant surprise to see it reduced so heavily in the sales. It's a durable, stable shoe that's great for walking and gym workouts as well as running. The deal varies with color, with the cheapest option being just $86. View Deal
Glycerin 22: was $164 now $94 I've been recommending the Glycerin as an ultra-comfortable running and walking shoe ever since I tested the Glycerin 15 back in the day, and right now you can make a huge saving on last year's model of the shoe on Amazon. View Deal