8Rank 08 of 8 · Best Running Shoes for Beginners
Kiprun (Decathlon) Decathlon Kiprun KS500 2
€39.99 with 365-day returns on a free loyalty account. No independent lab has ever tested it, and the outsole is 70% EVA — but it removes the financial risk of finding out whether you like running.
6.8BPR score
- €40Price
- 280 g in EU 42 — manufacturer figure, no lab test existsLab-measured weight
- 8 of 8in Best Running Shoes for Beginners
- 6.8BPR score 0–10
Review
What this product is
Written after the analysis, from the same sources the score is built on: the manufacturer's documentation, available studies and verified owner feedback.
The honest budget answer, and we are ranking it on its purpose rather than its specification.
At €39.99 — reduced from a €59.99 RRP — it removes the financial risk from the single biggest question a new runner faces: will I still be doing this in three months? Combined with Decathlon's 365-day returns and exchanges on a free Fidélité loyalty account and the two-year statutory legal guarantee, this is the lowest-risk entry point available in Europe.
What you do not get is data. No independent lab has tested this shoe. The 280 g weight in EU 42 and the 6 mm drop are Decathlon's own figures, stack heights are not published at all, and there is no measured midsole softness, energy return, breathability or durability figure in existence. Every other shoe in this ranking has been cut in half and measured; this one has not.
The specification detail that matters most is the outsole: 30% synthetic rubber and 70% EVA. That means partial rubber coverage only, with foam exposed elsewhere — and exposed foam wears considerably faster than rubber. Compare the Asics Gel-Cumulus 28, whose foam outsole measured 2.4 mm of wear against 0.8 mm for the rubber-soled Brooks. Expect this shoe to have a shorter usable life than anything else here.
The midsole is "Kalensole", Decathlon's proprietary EVA-family foam — not a supercritical or PEBA compound. Upper is 80% polyester and 20% TPU stretch mesh. Neutral, with a heel counter for stability. No plate. Standard width only.
Who this is for: someone starting a couch-to-5k who is not yet sure running is for them. If you are still running after three months, the shoe will be worn and you will have learned what you want from the next pair — which is a far better basis for spending €150 than a treadmill video in a shop.
Technical data
Specification
Figures from the manufacturer's documentation, verified against available outside sources. Values we could not confirm are marked as declared.
- Weight
- 280 g in EU 42 - manufacturer figure
- Drop
- 6 mm - manufacturer figure
- Stack heights
- Not published
- Midsole
- Kalensole - Decathlon proprietary EVA-family foam
- Outsole
- 30% synthetic rubber / 70% EVA
- Upper
- 80% polyester / 20% TPU stretch mesh
- Stability
- Neutral, with heel counter
- Plate
- None
- Widths
- Standard only
- Independent lab testing
- None
- Returns
- 365 days with free Fidelite account
- Price
- EUR 59.99 RRP; EUR 39.99 current
Component scores
Where the score
comes from.
Four components, equal weight, each on a 0–10 scale and each resting on a named source. The overall score is their mean — the full procedure is in the methodology.
What we liked
- €39.99 reduced from €59.99 — removes the financial risk of starting
- 365-day returns and exchanges with a free Fidélité account
- Two-year statutory legal guarantee
- 6 mm drop and neutral construction, no unnecessary features
- Available across Decathlon stores throughout Europe for in-person fitting
Worth knowing
- No independent lab test exists — every figure is Decathlon's own
- Outsole is 70% EVA and only 30% rubber, so it will wear faster
- Stack heights not published
- No measured softness, energy return, breathability or durability data
- Standard width only
- Kalensole is a conventional EVA-family foam
Comparison
How it compares
within the category
All values come from the same analysis and are comparable only within the category Best Running Shoes for Beginners.
| Product | Score | Lab-measured weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puma Velocity Nitro 5Top score | 8.9 | 242 g (RTINGS lab) | €130 |
| Decathlon Kiprun KS500 2This product | 6.8 | 280 g in EU 42 — manufacturer figure, no lab test exists | €40 |
| Category average8 products analysed | 8.2 | — | — |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is a €40 running shoe good enough to start?
For learning whether you enjoy running, yes. The evidence base gives no support to the idea that a specific shoe category prevents injury — Cochrane's review of 12 trials and 11,240 participants found most comparisons showed no reduction in injuries. What matters is that the shoe fits and feels comfortable, and you can establish that in a Decathlon store. What you sacrifice is durability, because a 70% EVA outsole wears considerably faster than rubber.
Why is there no lab data on it?
Because independent testing labs like RunRepeat focus on the brands their readers search for, and Decathlon's own-brand shoes attract less coverage. That is a genuine information gap, and we have scored it accordingly rather than assuming quality. It does not mean the shoe is bad; it means nobody has measured it.
From the same ranking
Other products in Best Running Shoes for Beginners.
The same protocol, the same key parameter, the same set of sources.
-
No. 018.9/ 10
Puma Velocity Nitro 5
The lightest shoe here at 242 g, on nitrogen-injected TPU with PUMAGRIP — widely regarded as…
-
No. 028.8/ 10
Brooks Ghost 18
The most outsole rubber here at 3.5 mm with excellent durability, a rigid heel counter that…
-
No. 038.7/ 10
adidas Supernova Rise 3
The softest midsole here at 28.6 AC on PEBA foam, the highest energy return, and the most…
-
No. 048.4/ 10
Hoka Clifton 11
The best breathability here at 93/100 and the only shoe with narrow through extra-wide…