The price of trainers has gone up massively in the past few years, with price tags way over £100 becoming almost the norm. A staple at this price point has been Nike’s Air Force One, which has become one of the most popular trainers in the world.
However, there are many other options for summer shoes that should be explored. Here are just three trainers that come in under the £100 mark, and provide an alternative to the Air Force One monopoly.
New Balance 530
New Balance are one of the hottest trainer brands on the market this summer. Challenging Nike’s dominance in the summer trainer market, the 530s are one of the best options for a cheaper trainer.
The 550s are the most famous of New Balance’s collection, but their popularity has led to a huge jump in price. This makes the 530s even more of a solid option on a budget.
With a throwback silhouette to the running trainers of the early 2000s, the 530 is a classic shoe that will stay in fashion for many years to come. Coming in at around £80, they are also reasonably priced.
With numerous colourways at the same price point, they are definitely a summer trainer to look at getting this summer.
Nike Waffle One
With the Air Force One being the go-to Nike shoe, it can be difficult to find affordable alternatives that are more below the radar. The Waffle One is one of these alternatives, and I even prefer them to the classic Air Force One.
Easy to style with shorts or lighter trousers, the Waffle One is a versatile and incredibly comfortable shoe. With an all-white colourway, as well as a tan, there are multiple options to suit your own style. These shoes also have some more experimental colourways, meaning they can also suit more expressive styles as well.
Coming in at around £90 out of sales, they are around the same price as an Air Force One. However, there are some of the more colourful colourways in multiple sales online, meaning that picking up these trainers can be even cheaper.
Combining a unique silhouette with great colourway options, the Waffle One is a great shoe to look at picking up this summer.
Nike Court vintage
The Nike Court Vintage is a more direct replacement to the Air Force One. With only one colourway in these, they have less potential to be unique, but are nevertheless a great looking shoe.
To people who do not look at trainers in much detail, these can be mistaken for an Air Force One or a Dunk, but I believe that their beauty is in their simplicity. With just a small logo on the side, they are less showy than some other options. Their silhouette is also close enough to other classic Nike trainers that they are not as much of a statement as the Waffle One.
With white being the only colourway, the Court Vintages go with absolutely everything, and are great to style with shorts or trousers. Their slightly lower profile than some other options makes them understated, while still being appreciated by trainer-lovers who recognise them.
Coming in at around £70, they are at a great price point to add to any collection of trainers. Overall, they are a simple yet effective shoe that is one of my personal favourites for this summer.