What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects them on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £70 (~$93) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £60 (~$79) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £46 (~$61) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £32 (~$42) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £18 (~$23) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Sizing again, made worse because it varies between a brand’s own lines. Beyond that it is the midsole: polyurethane crumbles with age even on shoes that were never worn.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether running shoes is worth what is being asked:
- Compressed midsole foam, which ends the shoe’s useful life
- Worn outsole tread, especially at the heel strike
- Odour, which is very difficult to remove
- Older models superseded several generations ago
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Low mileage with visible tread remaining
- Recent models still in the maker’s current range
- Midsole foam that still compresses and rebounds
- Original box and any spare laces or insoles
Common faults and fakes
Fakes usually show in the stitching regularity, the finish on the branded hardware, and a box label whose style code does not match the shoe inside.
Ask for the insole length in centimetres rather than the size, plus photographs of the sole, the heel counter and the inside of the shoe.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about running shoes, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Give an honest estimate. Runners judge remaining life from mileage and a credible figure sells the shoe better than claiming they are barely used.
Press along the foam and compare heel to forefoot. Midsole compression is what actually ends a running shoe’s life, more than outsole wear.
Check the model specification. Runners buy for their gait and a support shoe is unusable for someone who needs neutral.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Estimate the mileage honestly and state it in the listing
- Press the midsole to check it still rebounds
- Photograph the outsole tread, especially the heel
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- Both shoes side on, laces tied
- The outsoles side by side, showing tread wear pattern
- The midsole from the side, showing any compression or creasing
- The inside size tag, plus any hole in the upper or worn heel counter
Details to confirm before you commit
- Brand, exact model and version number
- Size with the sizing system, and any width fitting
- Estimated mileage run
- Midsole compression, outsole wear pattern, and any upper damage
Live running shoes listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse shoes & footwear for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Steady with a spring lift and a January bump. Popular models in common sizes sell within days when mileage is stated.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have running shoes sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell running shoes for what to photograph and how to price, or what running shoes are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used running shoes?
Around £10 to £46 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check running shoes before buying?
Ask for the insole length in centimetres rather than the size, plus photographs of the sole, the heel counter and the inside of the shoe.
Is buying running shoes second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Sizing again, made worse because it varies between a brand’s own lines. Beyond that it is the midsole: polyurethane crumbles with age even on shoes that were never worn.
See also: all buying guides · running shoes value guide · selling running shoes · Shoes & Footwear · condition grades.