> Do you guys think the big box stores like Finish Line will still have those crazy 50% off racks by then or is everything shifting to these limited membership drops? Unfortunately, those massive wall-to-wall sales are pretty much dead. I’ve been burned way too many times lately expecting those old-school deals. I remember back in 2021 I could walk into any mall and find a whole back wall of clearance, but my experience lately has been depressing. Last year I stood in line for an hour just to find out the store only had three pairs of anything decent. It was not as good as expected, and I honestly think 2026 will be even more restricted to those annoying membership apps. I had issues with the SNKRS app during the last big anniversary event where it just glitched out during checkout. Total waste of time. If you want your $600 to actually last, my advice is to stay away from the main brand sites. They’ve become way too unreliable for people on a budget. I usually have much better luck checking the "unfashionable" spots.

• Nordstrom Rack
• Kohl's clearance
• Local outlet malls You can still find reliable stuff like Nike Air Force 1 Low or even Adidas Ultraboost Light for decent prices if you aren't chasing the specific hype drops. I managed to get some New Balance 574 Core for nearly 40% off by just being patient and avoiding the main crowds. Its way safer for your wallet to avoid the hype and stick to the stores that actually need to move inventory... just my two cents tho.

ngl, id be real careful trusting those sitewide rumors. Nike loves to pivot last minute. If you wanna stretch that 600, make sure to check out clearance sections of places like JD Sports instead. I would suggest looking at Puma Suede Classic XXI Sneakers or maybe some older Reebok Club C 85 Vintage pairs. They usually stay cheap and look clean. Better than fighting the bots for limited drops.

Just catching up on this thread. Re: "ngl, id be real careful trusting those sitewide..." - that is a very valid warning. I have spent the last few years tracking these holiday shifts and the direct-to-consumer model has made it much harder to find genuine deals on hype releases. I used to rely on those massive department store coupons but they almost always exclude the brands you actually want now. Based on my experience, I would suggest looking at performance brands that rotate their stock more frequently. If you want to maximize that budget, focus on these:

• Asics Gel-Kayano 30 Running Shoes usually hit deep clearance right before the next version drops.
• Saucony Shadow 6000 Retro Sneakers often see steep discounts on boutique sites like Feature or Bodega.
• Brooks Ghost 15 Neutral Running Shoes are incredibly reliable and get marked down significantly when the newer iterations come out. I would strongly recommend setting up price alerts on independent tracker sites at least three months early. Dont wait for the official Black Friday email because the best sizes are often gone by then. Be careful with the anniversary hype because it usually means higher prices, not lower ones.