Running Brands Have Launched Insane Black Friday Sales 

Pssst! Hey! Want to get a new pair of Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2 marathon racing shoes for an $85 discount? Yes, for real! Welcome to the vortex of Black Friday 2022, which is a weeklong extravaganza where everything is on sale at significant discounts and shipping is free.

Not so long ago, Black Friday used to be a phenomenon that sent people scurrying to malls and big box retailers at 4 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving. This year’s Black Friday sales madness will last for at least a week and retail experts expect it to be bigger than ever, partially because inflation has crimped consumer spending habits. Whether you’re actually shopping for gifts for people on your list or just looking for bargains on stuff you want for yourself, there are plenty of sweet deals to be found.

What does that mean for you as a runner? It means you can get a jump on your holiday shopping, but it also means you can point your browser to Nike.com and get a pair of those carbon-plated Vaporfly shoes ($179.99) for yourself well before anyone starts cooking turkey. Certainly, Black Friday still means you have to hunt and pick for your size or your preferred color, but that’s what makes it exciting, right?

Shop Local, Too!

OK, let’s take a deep breath for a moment. While online sales are amazing, we’d also recommend you stop by your local running store, which is also likely offering great deals as it tries to close out inventory to make room for next year’s gear that will start arriving in January. Small Business Saturday might be as much of a marketing gimmick as Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, but it’s a real thing for local businesses in your area.

The roughly 900 running specialty shops around the U.S. have been the lifeblood of the running industry and the sport since the original running boom of the 1970s and ‘80s, providing a sense of community and spreading the knowledge and passion to all levels of runners. Local shops are less about selling gear and more about serving up an inspirational vibe that’s tied to the local running community.

Not only does shopping locally contribute to your local economy, but in-person shopping allows you to try things on, see colors, understand styles and get a tactile feel for the shoes, apparel and accessories you’re hunting for. And, let’s face it, expert shoe-fitting advice is priceless.

RELATED: Why Your Local Running Store Matters

Gift Ideas for Runners

Need gift ideas? Both Fleet Feet and Running Warehouse have assembled online gift guides, as have Hoka, Smartwool, Patagonia, Saucony, Altra and Darn Tough. Running Warehouse has also launched an online holiday sale and is hyping 30 percent off deals on shoes and many other discounts. Some brands will be launching their Black Friday sales on Friday and Cyber Monday sales on November 28, so if there’s something you’re really after, keep checking back at running brand sites.

Nike’s Black Friday sale, which extends through November 26, includes deals up to 60 percent off. In addition to the ZoomX Vaporfly Next% 2 shoes, you can get a pair of React Infinity Run Flyknit 3 ($152.97), Air Zoom Vomero 16 ($104.97), Nike Pegasus 39 ($123.97) and Nike Zoom Rival XC 5 cross country spikes ($50.97). You can also get a Nike High-Support Non-Padded Sports Bra ($45.97) or Nike Pro Dri-Fit tights ($30.97) at huge discounts.

Adidas is promoting a Black Friday Sale with deals up to 70 percent off for its club members, but registration to the club is free. The regular price for Ultraboost 22 shoes is $190, but the Black Friday price is $133 and $114 for club members. The super-maximal Adizero PrimeX Strung lightweight training shoes are normally listed for $300 but are available for members for 50 percent off at $150.

Brooks is offering significant markdowns on some of its best-selling shoes at its Black Friday Sale—including $30 off the Ghost 14 ($109.95), $50 off the Levitate GTS 5 ($99.95) and $30 off the Launch 8 ($70) — plus, up to 50 percent off running bras and 30 to 50 percent off most men’s and women’s apparel items. Over at asics.com, you can pick up a pair of ASICS GEL-Kayano 28 or GEL-Nimbus 23 for $99.95 or a women’s CrossBack Bra for $42.00 or men’s 7” Road Shorts for $40.

At Salomon’s Black Friday Sale, many items are marked down 40 percent, including the Bonatti Waterproof Shell Jacket ($108) and Adv Skin 12 trail running pack. Craft’s Cyber Week Sale means you can get 30 percent off any order over $100, as well as free shipping. The could be a pair of women’s Adv Subz Warm Running Tights ($119.99), men’s Adv Hybrid Thermal Midlayer ($124.99) or a combination of a pair of Hybrid Weather Gloves ($39.99), a Team Rivs Rage T-Shirt ($29.99) and a Pro Hypervent Cap ($29.99). La Sportiva and Scarpa have also launched big sales with 20 to 25 percent discounts.

Although it is low-key in its approach, New Balance has had two concurrent sales going on with numerous markdowns on midrange running and lifestyle shoes — including the New Balance FuelCell Trainer ($79.99) — available through November 23. That means you can get a lot of your holiday shopping done before Thanksgiving. (But you should also expect a new Black Friday sale to launch by November 24.)

Treadmills and Running Tech on Sale

Need more ideas? How about a Garmin Forerunner 735XT ($129.99) at a $220 discount? A Suunto 9 Peak GPS watch ($399) for $70 off? Want to get a treadmill for your significant other? ProForm has slashed $300 off of its Pro 9000 model ($1,999), while NordicTrack has dropped its Commercial 2450 model ($2,599) by $400.

Hyperice is offering $100 off its top-of-the-line Hypervolt 2 Pro ($299) and $70 off its Hypervolt Go ($129) massage devices and $70 to $250 off its Normatec recovery systems. Feetures is having an unnamed 25 percent off sale this week, while 2XU is offering early access to its Black Friday Sale that gives 30 percent off on almost everything while supplies last.

There are seemingly an endless amount of deals out there. Just remember to give thanks, run in you local turkey trot and remember it’s not about the gear, it’s about the experience you get from running.