Nike and Adidas don't discount often, and when they do, it's usually older models or limited collections. Here's how to get brand-new trainers without paying £120.
The Outlet Store Secret
Physical Outlets (If You're Near One)
Nike and Adidas outlet stores sell last season's stock at 30-50% off. The catch: they're usually in retail parks miles from city centres.
Best UK outlets:
- Cheshire Oaks (near Liverpool/Manchester)
- Bicester Village (Oxfordshire)
- Ashford Designer Outlet (Kent)
- Swindon Designer Outlet
Go on weekdays - weekends are rammed, and stock gets picked over.
Online Outlets
Both brands have online outlet sections:
- Nike Clearance - nike.com/gb/en/w/clearance (up to 50% off)
- Adidas Outlet - adidas.co.uk/outlet (similar discounts)
New items get added weekly. Sign up for emails - they send exclusive outlet codes (extra 20% off outlet prices).
Student Discounts: 10% Off Full Price
Both Nike and Adidas offer 10% student discount via UNiDAYS or Student Beans. It works on:
- Full-price items
- Some sale items (Nike is stricter, Adidas more flexible)
- New releases (sometimes excluded, but worth trying)
Stack student discount with outlet prices = 50-60% off retail.
The "End of Season" Sale Strategy
Nike and Adidas clear stock twice a year:
- January: Winter stock clearance
- July: Summer stock clearance
This is when you get the deepest discounts on current-season gear. If you can wait, wait for these windows.
Nike SNKRS App: For Hypebeasts
The SNKRS app is where Nike drops limited-edition trainers. These sell out in seconds and resell for 2-3x retail on StockX.
How to win drops:
- Enable notifications
- Have your payment saved
- Enter raffles for exclusive releases
- Be online at drop time (usually 9am UK time)
It's competitive, but if you win a raffle, you're getting £150 trainers at retail that resell for £400+.
Adidas Creators Club (Free Loyalty Program)
Join the Creators Club (free). You earn points on every purchase, which convert to discount vouchers. You also get:
- Early access to sales
- Birthday voucher (£10-15 off)
- Free returns (always free anyway, but still)
Higher tiers (unlocked by spending more) give bigger discounts and exclusive drops.
Nike Membership (Also Free)
Nike Membership gives you:
- Free delivery on all orders (no minimum)
- 30-day return window (vs 28 days for non-members)
- Early access to sales and new releases
- Member-only products
It's free. Sign up even if you only buy once a year.
Third-Party Retailers (Sometimes Cheaper)
Nike and Adidas sell through other retailers who run their own promotions:
- JD Sports: Frequent 20% off codes, plus student discount stacks
- Foot Locker: Similar to JD, sometimes has exclusives
- ASOS: Stocks Nike and Adidas, and their 10% student discount works on both brands
- Sports Direct: Lower-tier models, but very cheap
- Offspring / Size?: Streetwear-focused, good for limited editions
Check JD Sports and Foot Locker on CodeLand for live codes.
The Cashback Stack
Always click through TopCashback or Quidco before buying. You'll get 3-6% back on Nike and Adidas purchases. Stacks with student discount and sales.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Nike and Adidas both participate in Black Friday, but discounts are underwhelming compared to other brands (usually 20-30% off select items).
Better strategy: Buy from JD Sports or ASOS on Black Friday - they discount Nike/Adidas stock more aggressively than the brands themselves.
Refurbished and Returns (Risky But Cheap)
Check eBay for "returns" or "worn once" Nike and Adidas trainers. People buy the wrong size, wear them briefly, then resell at 30-40% off.
What to avoid: Fakes. If it's too cheap (£30 for Air Max), it's fake. Stick to sellers with 99%+ feedback.
Subscribe & Save on Basics
Both brands sell basics (socks, t-shirts, shorts) via subscription at a discount. If you're buying gym gear regularly anyway, it's worth it.
Best Time to Buy
- New Year sales (January): 30-50% off
- Mid-season sales (July): 30-50% off
- Black Friday: 20-30% off (meh)
- End of month: Sales reps trying to hit targets sometimes negotiate on outlet items
CodeLand Nike & Adidas Tracker
We track live codes for Nike, Adidas, JD Sports, and Foot Locker on our Nike and Adidas pages. When student discounts stack with sales, we flag it.