REI vs Running Warehouse vs Amazon: Where Running Gear Is Actually Cheapest

Running Warehouse beats REI and Amazon on everyday running shoe prices by an average of 8% — but REI wins on GPS watches during its twice-yearly sales, and Amazon wins on accessories and nutrition when you factor in Prime shipping.

Why we price-checked 40 products over six months

Running gear pricing is dynamic — the same shoe can vary $30–50 between retailers on the same day, and the retailer that's cheapest on shoes is rarely cheapest on watches or nutrition. We tracked 40 SKUs across Running Warehouse, REI, and Amazon weekly for 26 weeks: 15 running shoes, 8 GPS watches, 10 apparel items, and 7 nutrition/accessory products. We recorded everyday prices, sale prices, and the frequency of discounts. The results clarify where to look first for each category. For specific shoe recommendations at any price point, see our guide on [why running shoes cost $160](/why-running-shoes-cost-160).

Running shoes: Running Warehouse wins on everyday price

Everyday price comparison across 15 shoe models: Running Warehouse averaged $4.80 cheaper than REI and $7.20 cheaper than Amazon on identical SKUs. Running Warehouse's free 2-day shipping on orders over $99 eliminates the Prime advantage for shoe orders. Running Warehouse also stocks wider size and width ranges than Amazon — critical for runners with D/2E width or sizes above men's 13. REI's shoe selection is broader for trail and hiking crossover models. Amazon's running shoe selection is largest in volume but includes third-party sellers with inconsistent authenticity on premium models — verify sold and fulfilled by Amazon before buying shoes above $100.

GPS watches: REI wins during its twice-yearly sales

Everyday GPS watch prices are within $5–10 across all three retailers for Garmin and Coros models. The difference: REI Anniversary Sale (May) and REI Black Friday Sale (November) discount GPS watches 20–25% — deeper than Running Warehouse's typical 10–15% watch discounts and Amazon's Prime Day discounts (typically 15–18%). REI members (free membership) get early sale access. If you're not in a rush, the REI Anniversary Sale is the best annual GPS watch buying window.

Nutrition and accessories: Amazon wins on convenience and price

Energy gels, electrolyte tablets, foam rollers, and resistance bands are consistently 10–18% cheaper on Amazon versus specialty running retailers. Prime delivery eliminates restocking urgency. Subscribe & Save adds an additional 5–15% on consumables (gels, electrolytes, protein). The trade-off: Amazon's running-specific expertise is zero — product recommendations are algorithm-driven, not editor-tested. Use specialty retailers for gear selection and Amazon for replenishment of products you've already chosen.

Is REI membership worth it for runners?

REI Co-op membership costs $30 one-time (lifetime). Benefits: 10% annual dividend on full-price purchases (paid in March), access to member-only sales, and the best gear return policy in retail (one year, no questions asked on most items). For a runner buying $500/year in gear, the 10% dividend alone returns $50 annually — 1.67x the membership cost. Add two annual sales with 20–25% discounts and the membership pays for itself within the first year for any active runner.

Does Amazon price-match running gear?

Amazon doesn't offer formal price matching, but prices fluctuate algorithmically — the same shoe can drop $20–30 within 48 hours based on competitor pricing and inventory levels. CamelCamelCamel tracks Amazon price history for free; set alerts for target products and buy when prices drop to historical lows. For running shoes specifically, Amazon's price floor (the lowest it typically goes) is usually $5–15 above Running Warehouse's sale price — Running Warehouse wins for committed buyers, Amazon wins for convenience purchases.

When is the best time of year to buy running gear?

Four buying windows: REI Anniversary Sale (late May — GPS watches, tents, trail gear), End-of-summer clearance (August — apparel, summer shoes), Black Friday/Cyber Monday (November — GPS watches, premium apparel, 15–25% across all categories), and January (post-holiday shoe clearance, previous-season model clearance at 30–50%). Running Warehouse runs quarterly site-wide sales without a fixed calendar — subscribe to their email list for notification.