Where to Buy Cheap Running Clothes and Gear

After you’ve established a little running habit, you may start to realize that your cotton T-shirts and sweatpants just aren’t going to cut it anymore. If you’re ready to invest in some good quality, technical fabric running clothes, you don’t have to break the bank by shopping at higher-end athletic wear stores like Lululemon or Athleta.  Here are eight places you can find some bargains: 

The Old Navy Active line offers a great selection of tops, shorts, capris, and pants for running.  (For running shoes, you’re better off getting fitted at a running specialty store.) Old Navy's performance fleece line also has some great pieces, such as jackets and vests, for outdoor winter running.

Target's C9 by Champion line of technical fitness wear is very reasonably priced but still very high in quality and performance. And the inexpensive price tag doesn’t mean that they’re not stylish - the line includes some fun, trendy colors, and styles.

The choices for running gear on Amazon.com can be overwhelming, and you can waste a lot of time wading through the options.  And then there’s the whole problem of not being able to try anything on.  I find the best way to use Amazon when looking for running gear deals is when I need new running shoes. 

I’ve been wearing Mizuno Wave Rider shoes for about 14 years now and I never buy the most “current” model.  When a new model is introduced, I’ll buy a couple pairs of the previous model, which I can always find discounted on Amazon.  The price is often 50% off the new model’s price.

Kohl’s has some name-brand running gear — such as Nike and Champion — at discounted prices, and also has their own line of quality workout apparel, Tek Gear. And there are even bigger deals to be found: Kohl’s is one of those stores that I would never buy anything without a coupon.  Even if you don’t have a Kohl’s card, you can usually find online codes or coupons to use.

My mom found a pair of running pants at Costco for $15 and she swore they were “the most comfortable running pants ever” (and she has a lot of comfy workout clothes).  She loved them so much, she went back and bought two more pairs.  Shopping for running clothes at Costco can be hit or miss, but it’s worth a look when you’re there shopping for other stuff. If there’s no Costco in your area, you may be able to find similar deals at other warehouse stores.

Sierra Trading Post's​ website ​has great deals on running clothes and gear and often has discount codes for additional discounts.  Sign up for their email alerts so you can keep track of sales and coupon codes.

TJ Maxx or Marshall's have racks of discounted name-brand fitness apparel, sometimes as much as 50% off the "department store" price. If you shop at the end of a season, you can find even bigger deals.

Here’s another​ website that offers apparel and shoes at prices way under the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.  Check out their Closeout section for the biggest discounts on high-quality, name-brand gear.