Running

With the $150 budget you mention in the comments you are honestly not really on a budget that restricts anything. It really depends on what specifically you are looking for.

But in general if you are looking at good value running shoes: the puma velocity nitro and Reebok floatride energy are two good daily trainer options that are usually on the cheaper side. Beyond that you can honestly find most shoes, especially last years models on discount if you wait a bit and loom for deals. Saucony for example has quite regular discounts in the US. The difference between the ride 15 and 16 is minimal, so that could also be a good daily trainer option on discount

What others have already suggested--going to a store that specializes in running--and taking a few mins to figure out what you need is the best option. From there, the previous generation or two of shoes that fit your needs can offer great cost savings.

All that being said, if you are just looking for a quick answer / run of the mill shoe, that is a good value I'll throw out:

• Nike Pegasus 39; A workhorse of a shoe that will take a lot of miles before you have to replace
• Saucony Triumph or Saucony Kinvara which are, for me, a bit more comfortable but not quite as hard wearing

I was in the same boat not too long ago and I'm very much a beginner. The little research I did led me to believe the best option was to go to a store specializing in running equipment and talk to one of the knowledgeable salespeople there. They were able to tell me about what types of shoes would work well for me and help prevent injuries. They didn't have anything in my price range at the time so I went looking for the previous years' models of the same shoes and was able to get a good deal. Happily running ever since.

Everyone's feet are different, so trying a bunch and picking your favorite from a store is probably the best way to go. I wouldnt buy shoes for running unless i had tried them on first.

Bonus shill: love my vibram five fingers

Ones that work.

It sounds dismissive, but there's no point in buying shoes that turn out to be a poor fit for your feet or gait then having to buy more pairs. I paid a bit more up front for my first pair of serious shoes because I had them fitted in a shop, but since then I know I can buy the end of last season's stock on discount because they do fit.

Probably easiest to start with your price range. Also if you know anything about your feet or shoes preference (like pronation, heel drop, toe box size, etc) it’ll go a loooong way, since what might be comfy for one person might be a pain for someone else

When I go to a running shop, when we start talking about actual shoes, I say, "I'm on a budget.". The sales people respect what my budget is, and if we can't get into the price range I need, they have always been courteous in telling me that. They want customers to feel welcome coming back.

BTW, in the US, Brooks online has a liberal return policy.