The Complete Shoe Buying Guide: How to Find the Best Deals on Footwear

Finding the perfect pair of shoes at the right price takes more than just luck. Whether you’re hunting for everyday sneakers, dress shoes for a special occasion, or durable hiking boots, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to score the best deals on footwear.

Know Your Sizing Before You Shop

One of the biggest mistakes online shoe shoppers make is assuming their size is universal. Sizing varies significantly between brands and even between styles within the same brand.

• Measure your feet at least once a year — feet change with age, weight fluctuations, and activity level.
• Check each brand’s size chart individually. European sizing (like on ASOS or Zara) differs from US sizing, and athletic brands like Nike and Adidas often recommend sizing up or down depending on the shoe.
• Read customer reviews specifically for fit notes. Search for phrases like “runs small” or “true to size” to get a real-world consensus.
• Look for free returns — stores like Zappos, Nordstrom, and Amazon offer free two-way shipping on shoes, making it risk-free to order multiple sizes.

The Best Times to Buy Shoes

Timing your shoe purchases can save you 30–70% off retail prices. Here are the key sale windows:

End-of-Season Clearance

Retailers mark down footwear aggressively to clear inventory at the end of each season. The best windows are:

• Late January–February: Winter boots, cold-weather styles
• Late July–August: Summer sandals, canvas sneakers

Holiday Weekend Sales

• Black Friday & Cyber Monday: The single biggest footwear sale event of the year. Most major retailers offer 30–50% sitewide.
• Labor Day: Especially good for athletic and back-to-school styles
• Memorial Day & July 4th: Mid-year sitewide sales from Nike, Adidas, DSW, and others

Brand-Specific Anniversary Sales

• Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (mid-July): New season styles discounted before they’re widely available
• Nike Member Days (several times per year): Exclusive discounts for Nike members (free to join)
• DSW VIP Events: Extra savings stacked on top of clearance for loyalty members

Stacking Savings: Coupons, Cashback, and Rewards

The smartest shoe shoppers never pay with a single discount alone — they stack multiple savings methods:

1. Start with a sitewide coupon code from Love Those Deals. We verify every code before posting.
2. Activate a cashback portal like Rakuten or TopCashback before clicking through to the retailer.
3. Use a rewards credit card that earns extra points on shopping purchases.
4. Apply loyalty points — DSW Rewards, Nordstrom Nordy Club, and Nike Membership all offer point-based discounts.

A real example: A $120 pair of running shoes at New Balance could cost $72 with a 30% off coupon, plus $5.40 cashback (5% via cashback portal), plus $1.44 in credit card rewards — a final out-of-pocket cost of just $65.16.

Best Stores for Shoe Deals by Category

Athletic & Sneakers

• Nike, Adidas, New Balance — check their official outlet sections
• Foot Locker — frequent buy-one-get-one-50%-off events
• Eastbay — often has exclusive clearance not found elsewhere

Women’s Fashion Footwear

• Steve Madden — regular 30–40% off sitewide codes
• Nine West — frequent flash sales and loyalty rewards
• Anthropologie — sale section refreshes weekly

Men’s Dress & Casual

• Cole Haan — seasonal outlet events with up to 60% off
• Allen Edmonds — annual factory sale with significant markdowns
• Banana Republic — regular 50% off sale styles

Boots & Outdoor

• Timberland — annual spring and fall sale events
• Columbia — frequent promo codes on waterproof and hiking styles
• Merrell — direct-to-consumer discounts not available at department stores

Kids Shoes

• Stride Rite — buy-one-get-one events perfect for fast-growing feet
• Old Navy — children’s footwear frequently 40–50% off
• Target — seasonal clearance drives prices under $10

How to Evaluate Quality Before You Buy

A low price means nothing if the shoes fall apart in three months. Look for these quality indicators:

• Upper material: Full-grain leather and suede outlast bonded leather or faux leather by years.
• Sole construction: Goodyear welt construction (common in dress shoes) allows resoling. Cemented soles cannot be repaired.
• Stitching: Double or triple stitching at stress points (toe box, heel counter) signals durability.
• Brand reputation for longevity: Brands like Red Wing, Alden, and Dansko are known for multi-decade durability. Fast fashion brands typically aren’t.

Returning Shoes: What You Need to Know

Even with careful sizing research, sometimes shoes don’t work out. Before buying, always check:

• Return window: Most retailers give 30–60 days, but some (Zappos, Nordstrom) offer year-long returns.
• Condition requirements: Many stores require unworn shoes with original tags and box. Wear them indoors on carpet first if you’re unsure.
• Restocking fees: Most major retailers don’t charge them for shoes, but always confirm.
• Free vs. paid return shipping: Factor this into your cost calculation, especially for international purchases.

Final Tips from Our Editorial Team

• Bookmark this page and check back — we update shoe deals daily across 200+ retailers.
• Set deal alerts on Love Those Deals for your favorite shoe brands so you never miss a flash sale.
• Follow shoe brands on social media — many announce exclusive discount codes to followers first.
• Check the outlet section first — most major brands maintain a permanent outlet subdomain with 30–70% off.

Happy hunting — and happy feet.