Like many holiday weekends, Labor Day has become yet another sales opportunity. As runners, we can take advantage of this as we enter fall marathon season and, after that, treadmill season. Several top brands, like Nike, Adidas, Brooks and Saucony, have put popular running shoes on sale for the long weekend.
Many of the discounted shoes I’ve found are popular models from the last few years, so most (if not all) of my picks have been tested, reviewed, and written about by our team. They span several major categories with discounts up to and above 50 percent on road and trail pairs alike. I’ve linked to full reviews where we have them so you can get a deeper look at any specific pairs that pique your interest before you buy. Keep in mind that, as we often see with running shoe sales, the level of discount can vary by color and size, and stock can fluctuate quickly as retailers try to clear out inventory.
Regardless of if you’re looking for a new daily trainer or just a speedy option for weekend hikes, check out the best Labor Day running shoe deals below, as vetted by Runner's World.
Jump to:
- Labor Day Men’s Road Running Shoe Deals
- Labor Day Women’s Road Running Shoe Deals
- Labor Day Men’s Trail Running Shoe Deals
- Labor Day Women’s Trail Running Shoe Deals
Labor Day Men’s Road Running Shoe Deals
Road running shoes from the last few years are on sale throughout Labor Day weekend for close to half off. I've found several pairs that our team has extensively tested and reviewed, such as the Lululemon Beyondfeel, which is nearly 60 dollars off.
Very few shoes are better equipped for long runs than the Paradigm 7. With a wide toe box and no drop to speak of, it promotes a natural gait and provides stability while giving your toes room to splay. The zero-drop design is also great for subtly pushing your form back into place if you tend to overpronate. The Paradigm 7 also has a relatively high stack, which offers support on hard surfaces.
“Many of our testers lauded the shoe’s comfort during long runs thanks to Altra’s stabilizing GuideRails, which keep your foot stable by nudging it back into neutral alignment when you overpronate,” wrote reviewer Dan Roe. “The Paradigm 7’s flat profile and extra support, combined with a comfortable upper and roomy toe box, inspired confidence in our testers as they ran over uneven terrain.”
Lululemon’s first venture into men’s running shoes (after its foray into women’s shoes with the Gear of the Year-winning Blissfeel) is the Beyondfeel. With a dense, durable foam, it provides a solid base for daily runs. Our testers found the shoe lacks propulsion, but makes up for it with consistent support.
Tester Jim Warrenfeltz, who runs an average of 42 miles per week at 7:30 pace, said: “It feels like a plussed-up Nike Pegasus. It’s comfortable, plush but not a marshmallow, and seems well-built. It works really well as a daily jogger. For speedwork, it’s a little sluggish—the cushioning makes it less snappy and responsive, but it eats up the miles and softens impact on long runs.”
The Guide 15 from Saucony stands out as a great stability shoe that has enough cushioning to keep you comfortable for miles on end. As the name suggests, there are subtle guide rails on the sides of the heel working along the midsole, keeping your foot and gait in line.
The shoe is particularly good for post-race recovery runs. Because of the soft and neutral design, toss them on and work out the kinks in comfort. Just know that the rockered sole and flexible midfoot, as test editor Amanda Furrer noted in her review, may inspire you to pick up the pace: “I laced up the shoes for an easy-paced six-miler in Central Park. That postmarathon “recovery run” became an unbidden surge fest up and down the park’s infamous hills... (Not the smartest postmarathon recovery run, but it was without a doubt rejuvenating.)”
With a springy return and a high energy feel, the Revel 6 from Brooks is a daily trainer with a bit of extra zip. This quick return makes for great speed on your short daily runs. That said, the foam may be a bit thin for longer, more arduous training.
The Revel fits tightly to your foot and has a comfortable, breathable upper as well, which can help cut down on chafing and friction. “The upper feels as good as—if not better than—some of my $150 running shoes,” one tester reported.
The Fresh Foam midsole from New Balance has made a name for itself as a lightweight and responsive material that many runners love. It also comes in a supportive and comfortable frame in the case of the More V4 shoe. The rocker design also helps you keep momentum in your stride as it propels you forward.
Labor Day Women’s Road Running Shoe Deals
There are just as many great deals on women’s road running shoes this weekend, with multiple pairs discounted by more than 60 dollars. The highlight deal, however, comes from Adidas, which is offering its 4DFWD 4 Running Shoes for 90 bucks off.
The second iteration of lululemon’s introduction to the running world, the Blissfeel 2 is a marked improvement on the debut model in nearly every way. “It’s thickset, but there’s plenty of pop to the 2’s ride,” wrote Furrer. “The toe room and cushioning felt like a reprieve after testing narrower, less-supportive trainers.
The shoe has a solid, supportive base that offers comfort on the days where even putting on your sneakers is a challenge. And it’s quite comfortable, a go-to option for long runs on hard, flat surfaces.
The Paradigm 7 remains a great long-distance running shoe that powers through the miles with a high stack, a zero-drop design, and a wide toe box. The shoe has a noticeable squish and spring as you run, which is helpful both for being easy on your joints as well as energy return. The women’s version of this shoe are more than 60 dollars off the original price.
This modern looking running shoe from Adidas come with a 3D-printed midsole that offers great shock absorption, which transitions into a great responsive push as you move through your stride. What’s more, it’s made with a mix of recyclable and renewable materials for a more sustainable sneaker choice. Turn to this for short, quick runs along city streets or around your neighborhood.
Best Daily Trainer
Saucony Triumph 20 Running Shoe
Now 44% Off
If you want a new pair of shoes to throw on every day, few options match the dependable Triumph 20, which Furrer describes as a “versatile everyday trainer” that’s “even lighter and more responsive than its predecessors.” The shoe comes with a comfortable yet responsive midsole in a rocker-style design. So, the materials and shoe shape work in tandem to propel you forward as you run. The heel of the Triumph also juts out for improved shock absorption.
The Brooks Glycerin 20 is our pick for the most comfortable of the brand’s offerings, and it has the high stack cushioning to prove it. “On top, a mesh upper creates good breathability and a comfy wrap around the foot, and a nearly full-coverage rubber outsole gives this shoe great grip and durability, so it’ll hold up through the rigors of daily training,” wrote shoe reviewer Michael Charboneau.
This generation of the running shoe has a wider base than previous iterations and comes with the latest proprietary midsole technology, the DNA Loft v3 foam. Despite all the cushioning, the shoe is relatively lightweight at 9 ounces (or less, depending on the size).
Labor Day Men’s Trail Running Shoe Deals
All the off-road options this weekend come with similarly great savings. Multiple pairs are over 30 percent down from their average price, while the Peregrine 13 from Saucony sits at nearly 50 percent off.
“This is the fourth consecutive year we’ve put a Spring Shoe Award in the Lone Peak’s trophy case,” wrote test editor Morgan Petruny when she reviewed the shoe last year. “It’s simply because few shoes can do what the Altra Lone Peak 7 can.” So, it’s proven itself a popular and worthy addition on any list, even before the $50 discount.
The Lone Peak 7 is a grippy and stable trail runner that comes with deep lugs that grant solid footing on sketchy terrain. A tacky rubber outsole helps you keep that grip on wet surfaces. Enjoy this sturdiness while the zer0-drop design provides comfort and a more natural feel as you run.
As the weather cools down, you may still endeavor to hit up the trails in winter. Swap to a pair of Speedgoat 5 GTX trail running shoes, and the only part of your routine that ends up different is your footwear. The shoe has the classic high stack that Hoka is known for as well as a tacky Vibram sole for better grip in all conditions. The shoe also has a waterproof internal bootie so rain and snow can’t get to your feet as you run.
This trail running shoe from Brooks has a solid, sturdy stack of cushioning as well as a textured, but less aggressive, set of lugs across its outsole. This makes the Cascadia 17 a bit more similar to traditional road running shoes in the way it feels. That said, there is still enough grip for it to be great on uneven dirt trails and inclines. The rock shield in the toe also makes for great protection against gravel.
Yes, it’s the most durable option here, but the Peregrine 13 also happens to be one of the lighter trail runners on this list. The shoe comes with an embedded rock plate for protecting your toes, as well as toothy lugs made out of tacky rubber. This makes for a solid outdoor shoe that’s also comfortable, supportive, and fast.
Labor Day Women’s Trail Running Shoe Deals
Women’s trail running shoes offer some of the best deals of the entire weekend with huge discounts virtually across the board. Similar to the men’s side, the best deal is the Saucony Peregrine 13, which is over 50 percent off. However, the nearly $80 discount on the Adidas Terrex Soulstride Ultra is also well worth considering.
Another great option from lululemon, the Blissfeel Trail is great for short runs and long hikes. The solid supportive base that lululemon is known for now comes with a lugged outsole. While the shoe won’t be your everyday choice for quick footwork and technical off-road runs, it’s a perfect companion for a few miles of jogging and a few more of walking.
These Brooks Cascadia 17 is a comfortable and adaptable trail running shoe. The sporty design lends itself well to running fast on hard dirt. The shoe also come with outsole pods that flex and adapt to uneven terrain as you move, keeping your feet steady as you run.
Much like the men’s iteration, this trail running shoe mixes durability and comfort seamlessly to create a well-rounded option that works on all types of surfaces. In an improvement over the men’s version, this shoe is on sale for over 50 percent off the original price, making it one of the best sales going all weekend long.
This trail shoe from Adidas comes with a high, thick stack built to take the shock and discomfort out of rocky, uneven trails. Despite that ample cushioning, the shoe is relatively lightweight thanks to the airy, responsive foam. Combine that with the rockered sole, and you’ll be able to speed over the trails.
Tom Price
Associate Reviews Editor
Tom Price is an Associate Editor of Reviews for Popular Mechanics, and also contributes to Runner's World, and Bicycling. He has previously covered product reviews, startup news, and even professional wrestling. In his free time, he enjoys watching pretentious TV, low-brow movies, and exercising for beauty, not health. If you are interested in exploring more of his work, check out his website.
