04 January 2009

You Get What You Pay For

I am not one to spend a lot of money on things. I can do with the minimum, and I usually go for off brand stuff since it is cheaper. Life is not all about the most expensive things for me.

However, when it comes to running gear, you get what you pay for. This is true in other sports and areas of life, but obviously I focus on running.

When I first started running, it was strictly Wal-Mart and Target for all my running gear. There was no need to spend $50 on shorts or a shirt. Plus, I am not one to stick with something very long. I try new hobbies and activities and quickly abandon them. So I did not what to invest hundreds of dollars into a wardrobe I would only wear for a month.

One place I did splurge was on my shoes, but I still did not want to go to the local running store and spend $100 or more. I went to Kohl's and bought a pair of New Balance. The shoes were a whopping $45.

For Christmas my wife got me two Under Armour cold gear shirts. I immediately felt the difference when I put them on. We were having unusually warm weather so I did not have the chance to use them, but as soon as the temperature dipped I was putting them on faster than you can say cold.

Those shirts are fantastic and keep me warmer better than some of my normal cold weather clothes. I can not believe that I was getting along without them.

I also got fitted for a new pair of running shoes on Friday. I was eager to go to the running store and get a specific shoe that I needed. I need stability. I got a pair of Brooks Axiom 3, in case you were wondering.

The old New Balance shoes were all wrong for my feet, which may have been causing my leg pain. The new pair of Brooks feel great and fit better. Just walking in the store I could tell the difference. I will be trying them on a short run tomorrow.

I still do not need the most expensive, or the newest gear... but you definitely get what you pay for and high quality stuff costs more money.

But, I can always look for sales!

6 comments:

Pat said...

great post. I agree. Especially about the techincal fabrics and running shoes.

I still buy at Target, but it's usually tech fabrics. C9 stuff.

billdowis said...

Yeah... I still love the C9 stuff...

so far, from my experience, you need to spend a little extra on cold gear than you do on warm weather clothes.. especially if you do not want to freeze.

You can also get INCREDIBLE deals at runners expos before big races!

joyRuN said...

Yep - I'm with you. I go to Target for my running gear, unless Dicks or Sports Authority is having a sale.

I splurge on my shoes. Once you find a pair that works & keeps you injury free, it's worth the $$$.

Felice Devine said...

Thanks for stopping at my blog and for the kind words!

I'm a Brooks gal and LOVE them. About six years ago, I was also wearing the complete wrong shoes and switched to Brooks. I swear by them.

As for Target, all of my favorite running shorts are from there.

SuperDave said...

Shoes is one place that you nedd to spend a bit more. Especially if you are trying to avoid injuries.
I still haven't got any of the cold gear yet, but Boy do i want some...

Lindsay said...

i'm with everyone else. i really check price tags on clothes and i'm a little more open with the wallet when it comes to shoes. not worth an injury! luckily i have a great local store for those, although the price tag still hurts a little. stores like ross/tj maxx often have good deals on men's workout clothes if you have those nearby?