If you’ve clicked on this article, you might already know that you need stability running shoes.
For the others reading this article and simply guessing that stability shoes would be the best option for their running, I suggest you figure out the type of pronation you exhibit.
This is covered in our buyers guide towards the bottom of the page. You can navigate with the table of the contents above. For now, we’ve curated a list of some of the best running shoes for stability as rated by other runners.
Best Stability Running Shoes Compared and Reviewed
For Overpronation
Mizuno Wave Inspire 17
Best Stability
Asics Gel-Kayano 28
Best For Wide Feet
Brooks Addiction 14
Best Cushioning
Brooks Transcend 7
Most Lightweight
HOKA ONE ONE Arahi
1. Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 Running Shoes
Key Features
- Rubber Sole
- Engineered mesh upper breathable and durable for high performance
- U4ic Midsole delivers shock reduction and a well cushioned response
Reasons to buy
- Midsole has shock absorption
- Added surface area for added stability
- Breathable
Reasons to avoid
- Some users have reported durability issues
The Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 is great for people with flat feet and who overpronate. Its technology easily helps you stabilize your steps even as your foot rolls inward.
Its midsole absorbs the impact of your feet hitting the ground. This shock absorption is helpful in preventing injuries since your joints won’t be taking the brunt of that.
Your feet will also like how cushioned the Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 is. Its Sockliner is designed to let your feet rest inside the shoe without any added pressure. I think that’s really important, especially because running usually puts a lot of pressure on your lower body. You don’t want to add to that.
The Wave Plate makes for a more durable shoe, and you can even feel it as you hold the shoe in your hands. It creates a bit of stiffness, sure, but it also gives a broader surface area for your feet to land on.
This added surface area, especially near the inside of your foot, is great for stability. This will help correct your foot posture so that your heel does not roll inwards excessively.
2. ASICS Gel-Kayano 28 Running Shoes
Key Features
- Engineered mesh upper improves breathability
- DuoMax support system enhances stability and support.
- Rear and front-foot gel technology cushioning system
Reasons to buy
- GEL Technology disperses impact evenly
Reasons to avoid
- Might be squishy for people with wide feet
The ASICS Gel-Kayano 28 has always shown up in lists for the best stability running shoes. Its design is very clearly made for overpronators with almost an extended outsole at the inside of your shoe.
This added surface area for your foot to land on helps create a more stable platform, especially since you would most probably need to push off through your big toe.
This particular style is eye-catching to me. Although its bulkiness is kind of a staple of these running shoes, the GEL features and the reflective materials added to the shoe make it look fun while still having a premium look to it.
Speaking of the GEL technology, this can assist in correcting your overpronation by making sure your joints don’t get the brunt of the impact. The shock, instead, is dispersed by the GEL throughout the midsole for an even impact. Since the GEL features are seen more near the heel, it’s definitely a great running shoe for heel-strikers out there.
The Dynamic DuoMax support system further enhances stability and support as it reduces weight while increasing platform support on the shoes.
Some people have found the shoes to be quite squishy and more suitable for runners with narrow feet, so you might want to reconsider them if you have very wide feet.
3. Brooks Addiction 14 Running Shoes
Key Features
- BioMoGo DNA offers super-soft cushioning
- Ideal for road running and for walking
- Suitable for orthotics use
Reasons to buy
- Cushioning adjusts to your gait
- Brooks technology helps correct form
- Spacious
Reasons to avoid
- Heavy weight
- Quite pricey
Honestly, the first time I saw Brooks Addiction 14, I did not think it was a running shoe. Its style is unlike any other running shoe that you see on the market; take ASICS which tends to look the same with each release (no offense, ASICS. We still like you.)
Typical with any Brooks shoe, it gives great focus to its cushioning. The BioMoGo DNA technology is what brings this almost pillow-like feel to life. Brooks also says it adapts to your stride, weight, and speed.
This is all in an attempt to absorb the shock of your feet hitting the ground which reduces the impact on your joints. This will help prevent injuries and improve your performance.
It has quite a high heel-to-toe drop of 12 mm, which may help cushion your heel great for those who strike with their heel first.
This also includes Brooks’ technology, the Extended Progressive Diagonal Rollbar, which is a tri-density midsole that helps overpronators stay stable. It provides arch support and can naturally guide your body in the way it’s supposed to, helping it correct your form.
However, this shoe is heavy! It has a lot of room to fit in extra orthotics, and it seems to be designed for extreme overpronators, meaning that it provides more stability than most. If that rings true for you, you might like this pair. These are great running shoes for people with wide feet.
4. Brooks Transcend 7 Running Shoes
Key Features
- DNA LOFT system from Brooks creates super-soft cushioning
- Guiderail Support System focuses on foot support to protect the knees from injury
- One of the best Brooks shoes for support and stability
Reasons to buy
- A lot of cushioning
- Shock absorption
- Hugs the feet well
Reasons to avoid
- Maybe a bit pricey
Brooks makes it twice on this list with the Transcend 7. It seems they have made several shoes that are great for overpronators like you, although admittedly this one isn’t as stylish as the Addiction 14.
However, its features are still great! It provides a lot of cushioning – a good Brooks shoe always does – which does not add any pressure to your feet as you run and instead helps you run more comfortably.
Even the interior liner wants your feet to stay comfortable as it hugs your foot using the OrthoLite sock liner.
The GuideRails support technology is right at the midsole, which helps keep your joints from taking the impact, particularly the knees. They feature almost slanted gaps in the shoe to keep your step bouncy. This also easily spreads the impact evenly.
This guide rail technology also provides stability along with the added platform near the insides of the shoe.
5. HOKA ONE ONE Arahi 5 Running Shoes
Key Features
- Rubber sole
- Open engineered mesh upper for breathability
- Suitable for those with knee and hip pain when running as reviewed by other runners
Reasons to buy
- Thick sole for shock absorption
- Wider platform for stability
- Meta-Rocker geometry to help running transition
Reasons to avoid
- Tight in some areas
This might be a shoe that you’ve heard less about than the other shoe brands, but the Hoka One One Arahi 5 is absolutely eye-catching when you catch a glimpse of it. Its bulkiness has a sort of style to it, especially with its crisp lines.
Don’t be fooled, though. This doesn’t only have the looks. Its bulkiness actually has a function. The thick sole is made of an EVA and rubber. These are materials that are very dense but still lightweight.
This makes for a shoe that is able to absorb the impact of your feet hitting the ground. You’ll see on the outsole how wide the shoe actually is, making for a shoe with moderate stability.
You’ll also find their Meta-Rocker geometry extended through the sides of the shoe, almost like it’s intended to make it easier to fold. That’s actually almost the function of it: to make transitions from heel to toe smooth.
It still is quite firm though, which is what you want for some longevity and durability. There really is nothing too bad to it aside from some tight fits in some areas. If you’re buying something this expensive, though, you probably should try them on in-store.
What To Consider When Buying Stability Running Shoes
I’m sure hearing the word stability is a plus for most runners, but sometimes that’s just not the shoe you need. In order to understand what running shoes you actually need — stability, neutral, or motion control? — you must know what your foot posture is. You can check out our guide on beginner running shoes as well if you’re just getting started.
You must also understand what exactly it is you need in a stability running shoe, or even just a running shoe in general.
What is Pronation?
Pronation is simply the way you step on the ground as you walk or run, and the way your feet rolls to meet the ground. Some roll their feet inwards just right. Some tend to roll their feet outwards.
Others, particularly those who need stability shoes, tend to roll their feet inwards a bit too much. To be specific, this would be rolling more than 15 degrees inward.
This is what we call overpronation. Overpronation makes for an unstable gait, not to mention how prone you’ll be to injuries if not corrected.
The most common way to find out what type of pronation you exhibit is to look at the arches of your foot. This is why shoe brands and runners usually specify if their shoes are for high or low arches.
For overpronation, you’ll want to look out for low arches.
One thing to note, though, is that those who exhibit normal pronation might also want stability running shoes if they feel their running is quite wobbly and want to improve their performance.
As I began running, I never really understood the importance of form, let alone foot posture. I realized very quickly that I had to do more research about my gait when I started feeling some unfortunate pains around my ankles and shins.
The importance of the right gear is often understated, especially with a sport like running. People seem to think that you can run with whatever shoe you have.
With the wrong shoe, though, you’re bound to get injured. If not that, you’ll definitely underperform. Matching your foot posture to your shoes will help immensely in the long run and might even correct your overpronation.
A better way to check your foot posture is with a shoe expert in a physical shoe store. They usually know what shoes are best for you.
Overpronation
When buying stability running shoes, it’s important to know that this is usually targeted to people who overpronate, although those who exhibit normal pronation might also need stability running shoes.
After you strike the ground with your heel, do you feel your ankles roll inward about 15 degrees? Okay, maybe you can’t estimate that angle, but do you usually push off the ground with your big toe and second big toe?
You might have also noticed that your arches are quite low. Flat feet tend to be a result of overpronation.
Still can’t tell? Check your shoes. Do you see the wear and tear on the soles near the inside of the forefoot?
Those who overpronate might experience some hip, knee, or back pain. Ankle pains are also familiar to you, and it’s really important that you correct this posture with the proper motion control or stability shoe, especially if you’re serious about running!
If you don’t have these symptoms of overpronation…
You might exhibit two other things: underpronation and normal pronation, which we’ll go through really quickly.
Underpronation is kind of like the opposite of overpronation in that you roll your ankles outward excessively. Instead of low arches, underpronators tend to have high arches, and the wear of their soles are around the outer edges.
Underpronators usually just need neutral running shoes with extra cushioning. You can find that in our other article!
Normal pronation is just your average, normal running stance! You roll your ankles only slightly inward to get your feet to meet the ground. Normal pronators usually just need neutral or stability running shoes.
Cushioning
You want to check the cushioning of your running shoe because this is what will protect your joints from feeling the full impact of your feet hitting the ground.
Cushioning is what tries to absorb this impact and spread it evenly, or at least delay its impact in order for it to disperse. This is especially important if you’re on long runs. The right shoe will be able to keep your legs feeling strong after a run instead of that wobbly, needing-to-sit-down feeling.
You might find that the cushioning is thickest at the heel and the midfoot. This is because runners usually strike the ground heel and midfoot-first!
Brooks, in particular, has always produced shoes with great cushioning. The Asics Gel-Kayano also has this shock-absorbing cushioning with their GEL technology, especially near the heel.
Check our list of the best cushioned running shoes.
Comfort
This isn’t something to overlook. Comfort is what will make or break a run. Do you remember the feeling of a little pebble sneaking its way into your shoe? How uncomfortable that feels, and how much longer do the miles feel after noticing that?
Comfort is essential in running shoes. Look for shoes with insoles, like the Brooks Transcend 7 Running Shoe. It adds a soft liner around the inside of the shoe along with a sock liner.
A sock liner can also be a source of comfort, especially since it provides arch support, something important for runners with flat arches. It is the pad at the bottom of the inside of your shoe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Aside from the tips given above, you can always go and see your doctor. A cheaper version is to go to a physical shoe store and have a shoe expert observe you. More often than not, they would know which kind of shoes they have that would be best for your foot posture.
A lot of things can cause overpronation, but usually the reason is simple: you’re born with it. All you have to do now is manage it. Some say there is no need to correct overpronation, but stability running shoes will help give you more control on your runs. Another cause of overpronation is overuse.
Shoe inserts will be very helpful for your overpronation. They are called arch supports or orthotics. You must make sure that these orthotics are firm and cannot easily bend in half. This is something you should check out with your doctor or podiatrist.
Conclusion
Whether you’re an overpronator or just someone who feels they need to feel more secure in their running, stability running shoes prove to be quite important for runners to feel their best as they run. The technology continues to look for the balance between comfort, flexibility, and durability.
Although shoes look good on paper, some shoes don’t work well for others, no matter how great the reviews are. It’s important to get to a physical store and try them on, or at least read a lot of reviews!
If you need more help, I always try to research the best running gear out there which you might want to check out. Have fun finding your new kicks!
Marko Rakic is a trail runner and fitness enthusiast from Sydney, Australia. He is the lead writer for The Ultimate Primate and believes the best way to live a happy life is through constantly challenging yourself.