Running shoes in the test: How good are cheap jogging shoes?

In January it gets crowded in parks and on promenades after work: in accordance with the good resolution to want to run more, beginners drag themselves forward. Running is a cheap sport without an expensive membership in a gym or complex equipment. A pair of decent running shoes, you don't need much more. But the range of manufacturers is huge, the prices vary greatly. But is an expensive shoe also a good one at the same time? And are cheap ones generally bad?

The NDR consumer magazine "Markt" did the test. Three experienced joggers tested Decathlon running shoes for EUR 12.99, Lidl jogging shoes for EUR 19.99 and Deichman shoes for EUR 24.90. Before the shoes are used, the testers check the look: is the shoe flexible? Is it rather light or heavy? Does the sole have a profile or is it rather smooth? An expert assesses the shoes before the practical test: the testers are not enthusiastic.

Cross-section of running shoes: how good is cheap?

In order to be able to better assess the sole and the cushioning when running, the shoes are sawed open in the middle. In this way, the materials used can be better assessed. "It's built very simply, I'd say it can't do anything," says expert Jens Gauger about the Decathlon shoe. Deichmann's model is "light, but inelastic". "I think the shoe will be quite uncomfortable." Even the Lidl shoe is not convincing in cross section. "If you press into the sole, the material is relatively the same," says Gauger. A cosmetic coloring of the sole, says the expert. For comparison, more expensive branded shoes are also cut open. There, the expert will find many different materials used to ensure good suspension. Gel cushions are embedded in the heel area.

Practical test: This is the verdict of the running shoe testers

In the practical test, the shoes are tested for almost an hour on asphalt and gravel paths. The Decathlon shoe - designed by the manufacturer primarily for beginners - is not particularly convincing for beginners. The sole is too thin, you can feel every stone. The tester would recommend it more for experienced runners who like the barefoot feeling when running. The manufacturer, on the other hand, writes when asked by NDR: "The shoe is designed for the first runs of short distances of up to 30 minutes to get a taste of the sport."

The testers are also not convinced by the Deichmann model. "Rather uncomfortable for walking," was the verdict. The sole is very hard. As a casual shoe, the shoe is definitely fine. Deichmann lets the NDR know that "it's not a functional running shoe, it's a casual shoe, and there is a packaging error." And the Lidl model? "Very stiff, very firm, inflexible," says the tester. "I have a bit of numb toes." When asked by NDR, Lidl wrote that it was "a trail running shoe that was specially developed for running off the beaten track".

Conclusion of the testers: When buying the shoes, there is a lack of advice and professional classification. Especially beginners should pay attention to good jogging shoes in order to develop fun in the sport.