A €100 budget can buy a running shoe without waiting for an unlikely clearance deal. The harder part is finding a pair that fits your feet and your routine, rather than buying the biggest discount badge.
Our shortlist starts with three accessible road-running models. We then explain how to compare them with sale shoes, what to prioritise and when to leave an apparent bargain behind.
Research and price check: 19 September 2026. This is a research-based editorial guide, not a CHOOS hands-on test or an exhaustive market ranking. Prices below are examples from official Irish stores, in euros, before any delivery charge. Colours, sizes, countries and offers can change the total. Check the linked listing before buying. The AI-generated cover shows generic illustrative shoes, not the models reviewed.
Three shoes to put on your shortlist
| Model | Price observed | Why compare it? |
|---|---|---|
| Nike Revolution 8 | €64.99 | A straightforward starting point |
| adidas Duramo SL 2 | €65 on selected listings | An alternative at a similar budget |
| adidas Duramo Speed 2 | €69.30 for the linked colour; €90 original price | Lightstrike cushioning below the ceiling |
These are shopping candidates, not a promise that one pair will suit every runner. We selected models with official euro listings below €100 and a stated running purpose. Fit and the final basket price should decide what stays on your list.
1. Nike Revolution 8: a simple place to start
The Revolution 8 listing combines a mesh upper, foam midsole and forefoot flex grooves. Nike lists a 10mm heel-to-toe drop and an approximate weight of 292g in the stated men’s reference size. At €64.99 for the linked colour, it leaves room below the ceiling for delivery or running socks.
Our take: put it on your try-on list if you want an uncomplicated first road shoe. Do not mistake its lower price for a guarantee that the fit will be right, or assume it offers the same ride as Nike’s more expensive trainers.
Check the Revolution 8 listing and current price ↗
2. adidas Duramo SL 2: compare fit at a similar price
Selected official Irish Duramo SL 2 listings showed €65 when researched. The model sits in adidas’s Lightmotion range. It is worth comparing with the Revolution when you want a budget option and have the opportunity to try both.
Our take: focus on the actual fit and delivered price rather than choosing by logo. Check the precise product name: Duramo SL 2, Duramo Speed 2 and older Duramo models are different shoes. A search result showing a low price for one is not evidence that another costs the same.
View the Duramo SL 2 ↗ · Compare current Duramo prices ↗
3. adidas Duramo Speed 2: a candidate nearer the top of the budget
The Speed 2 uses Lightstrike cushioning, an engineered mesh upper and a TPU-and-rubber outsole. The linked listing gives a 6.5mm drop and a weight of 270g in UK size 8.5. It showed €69.30 for the off-white colour against a €90 original price.
Our take: shortlist it if you want to compare a different midsole and geometry without crossing €100. The word “Speed” does not prove that you will run faster. Compare it on comfort and your planned runs. Its quoted weight also uses a different reference size from Nike’s, so the numbers are not a controlled comparison.
Check the Duramo Speed 2 specifications and price ↗
Budget model or discounted premium model?
Both can make sense. A current budget shoe gives you a clear starting price and may offer a useful choice of sizes. A discounted previous-season shoe may give you a different midsole or upper at the same cost. Neither route automatically wins.
Compare the exact version, your size and the return conditions. A discontinued colour is an easy compromise if you like the fit. A shoe that is half a size wrong is a much less useful saving.
We have not counted a premium model as an under-€100 recommendation without a verified qualifying offer. If you find one locally, compare it using the same checklist rather than assuming the old full price proves its value.
Where to save
- Colour: choose a less popular colour if the construction and fit are otherwise the same.
- Release date: consider an older version when it meets your needs and comes from a retailer with clear returns.
- Extra features: start with the shoe’s intended use, not a desire to collect every new material or technology.
- Basket total: compare delivery costs before adding items solely to unlock free shipping.
What to skip
Skip a poor fit. Try both shoes with the socks you intend to use. Check for pressure at the sides, an insecure heel and toes meeting the front when moving. Use the retailer’s size guide as a starting point and follow its try-on and return rules.
Skip the wrong surface. This is a road-running shortlist. If your usual route is muddy or technical, reconsider the shoe category instead of buying a road shoe purely because it is discounted.
Skip unsupported promises. An inexpensive shoe is not automatically unsuitable, and an expensive shoe is not a guarantee of comfort, durability or faster times. Those outcomes cannot be established from price alone.
Keep the €100 ceiling honest
As a hypothetical example, a €94 shoe with €8 delivery costs €102. A €75 pair with €5 delivery totals €80 and leaves €20 unspent. Write down the total you will actually pay, including any unavoidable fees.
Check whether a discount needs membership, a code, a particular colour or a limited size. Read return conditions before taking the shoes outdoors; a trial policy and an ordinary unused-item return policy are not interchangeable.
Which would we compare first?
Start with the Revolution 8 and Duramo SL 2 if keeping the purchase simple and inexpensive is your priority. Add the Duramo Speed 2 if its fit and feel justify the difference in your basket. Buy the pair you would still choose after removing the discount label.
For a wider comparison across budgets, see our 10 best running shoes in 2026. Before ordering, use our foot measurement guide.
Editorial note: Links lead to official manufacturer pages and are not affiliate tracking links. Prices are dated research examples, not a live price feed. No hands-on testing or durability testing is claimed.