Best Running Shoes For Flat Feet

Running and walking with flat feet can be excruciatingly painful, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, with the right type of footwear running shouldn’t be painful at all. In this buyers guide, we have listed the 10 best running shoes for flat feet, along with how to choose the right type of shoe for your foot type.

Top Rated Running Shoes For Flat Feet 2018

1. Brooks Adrenaline GTS17

Most Durable Running Shoe For Flat Feet

Editor Rating

2. Mizuno Wave Inspire 13

Most Durable Running Shoe For Flat Feet

Editor Rating

3. Saucony Omni 15

Most Durable Running Shoe For Flat Feet

Editor Rating

1. Brooks adrenaline GTS 17

Comfort
95%
Durability
100%
Arch Support
100%

The Brooks Adrenaline series is the most consistently performing stability running shoe on the market.

The Adrenaline GTS17 is Brooks’ 17th iteration of the shoe and it has only gotten better with time.

The segmented crash pads absorb shock nicely and are slightly extended to cover different impact areas.

While the diagonal roll bars guide the foot into its natural motion while running.

The shoe fits extremely well. Although the sole is a bit firm, but it breaks in nicely over time.

The out sole resists wear and tear extremely well making this is a great, time tested shoe for someone who puts in a lot of miles on the road.

Who is this running shoe for?

The Brooks Adrenaline series has been the go to shoe for those with moderate to severe over pronation.

This is  an excellent shoe for those of you who are looking to correct their running gait.

2. Mizuno Wave Inspire 13

Comfort
100%
Durability
95%
Arch Support
95%

The Mizuno Wave Inspire 13 is one of the most comfortable shoes on our list. These running shoes offer an extremely smooth ride.

The Mizuno Wave 17’s fall into the stability running shoe category.

Stability running shoes are usually built for those with mild to moderate flat feet. And this is true with the Wave Inspire’s as well.

Stability running shoes don’t usually offer a plush ride, but the raised U-shape of the sole of these shoes provide an excellent ride.

Mizuno’s shoe soles are designed to imitate the movement of a wave. This replicates the even transfer of energy from the heel to the toe, offering a plush and comfortable ride.

The upper mesh on this shoe is made of quality materials that breathe well. This ensures that you won’t be feeling sweaty after a long run.

The Mizumo Wave Inspire’s tend to take a while to break into, but that is a direct consequence of this shoe being built to last! Although, the trade off is the shoe being a bit bulky and slightly heavy.

Patience will pay off in the long run tough, as these shoes break-in comfortably to take the shape of your foot.

The fit on Wave Inspire is slightly on the snug side, so if you have issues with wide feet, make sure to buy a half size bigger.

Who is this running shoe for?

A good shoe to look into for those looking for both comfort and durability. This is also a great shoe for those of you with slimmer feet.

3. Saucony Omni 15

Comfort
100%
Durability
90%
Arch Support
100%

The Saucny Omni 15 is a great stability shoe if you are a moderate to high overpronator.

The dual density mid sole offers additional support to the arch of the foot, helping to control the pronating phase of your gait.

These shoes come with removable insoles in case you want to use custom orthotics, although, the insole does an excellent job with cushioning and arch support.

The Saucony Omni 15 provides for an extremely cushioned ride. The upper is built in a lightweight breathable mesh along with an external support frame at the heel.

The mid sole is built with Saucony’s Ever-Run technology which provides for an extremely comfortable ride once the shoe molds to your feet.

Who is this shoe for?

Across the running community you will hear about Saucony’s Ever-Run technology. It is one of the most comfortable materials ever put onto a pair of running shoes.

That is why the Saucony Omni 15’s are a great running shoe for those of you looking for an extremely comfortable ride.

4. Brooks Beast 16

Comfort
95%
Durability
90%
Arch Support
100%

The Brooks Beast 16 is a large heavily padded motion control shoe.

If you are a runner that has excessive overpronation, then this might be the shoe of choice for you.

Also, runners coming back from injury are mostly recommended this shoe by their doctors.

This is because the Brooks Beast features excellent stability, support and overall padding.

The out sole is incredibly durable, just as the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 17. By now we pretty much know that Brooks builds all their shoes like tanks.

And the Brooks Beast is no different. This shoe is truly a beast.

The out sole also comes with an skid resistant sole, offering excellent traction on slippery surfaces.

The shoe comes with a removable insole in case you want to switch it up with any other insole.

Who is this running shoe for?

The Brooks Beast 16 is an ultra supportive shoe for those of you who are excessive over pronators. It is also a great option to consider for those of you who are heavy runners.

5. Saucony Guide 10

Comfort
95%
Durability
95%
Arch Support
90%

The Saucony Guide 10 is a relatively lightweight stability shoe that is built for running on the road.

The upper has an extremely breathable mesh that will keep your feet cool and dry all day. While the front of the shoe comes with toe guards.

The upper is also seamless and that helps with comfort. While the overlay designs are welded on and help reduce weight.

This shoe looks and fits a lot sleeker than the other stability shoes mentioned above. We felt it from the moment we put it on to the moment we took it off.

The only gripe we have with this shoe is that the Guide 10 is not a shoe for those with wide feet. This is because the toe box is a little restricting. Although, this is a plus point for those who like shoes with precise fits.

We also noticed that The Guide 10’s take a while to break into, but once the break in is done, the shoe comes to life. The Saucony Guide 10 felt extremely responsive and solid.

This is a shoe that was built to last.

Who is this shoe for?

All in all the Saucony Guide 10 is a lightweight stability shoe that will give you great mileage and responsiveness.

This is a good stability shoe for those of you looking for a fast, durable and lightweight stability running shoe.

Also, depending on the color you choose, these shoes can also be used as your daily driver. 

6. New Balance 860 V7

Comfort
95%
Durability
90%
Arch Support
90%

The New Balance 860 V7 is a great running shoe for those with flat feet. This is due to its asymmetrical sole design.

It is one of the top performance driven running shoes in the stability category. You might feel a lot faster in this shoe when compared to the others on this list.

This New Balance 860’s are built in such a way that the rubber on the underfoot works like a spring. This releases the energy built up into toe lift off, adding energy return in every step.

The sole on the New Balance 860 is also larger on the inside of the heel. This straightens out your gait if you tend to overpronate all the time. This shoe is a lot firmer than other stability shoes and provides a much stiffer ride.

The upper material provides great breathability for those with sweaty feet. The mesh also prevents your foot from being over heated when running in warmer climates.

Who is this shoe for?

The New Balance 860 V7 is a great running shoe for flat footed runners looking for a performance shoe with ample stability.

7. Asics Gel Kayano – 24

Comfort
90%
Durability
90%
Arch Support
85%

The Saucny Omni 15 is a great stability shoe if you are a moderate to high overpronator.

The dual density mid sole offers additional support to the arch of the foot, helping to control the pronating phase of your gait.

These shoes come with removable insoles in case you want to use custom orthotics, although, the insole does an excellent job with cushioning and arch support.

The Saucony Omni 15 provides for an extremely cushioned ride. The upper is built in a lightweight breathable mesh along with an external support frame at the heel.

The mid sole is built with Saucony’s Ever-Run technology which provides for an extremely comfortable ride once the shoe molds to your feet.

Who is this shoe for?

Across the running community you will hear about Saucony’s Ever-Run technology. It is one of the most comfortable materials ever put onto a pair of running shoes.

That is why the Saucony Omni 15’s are a great running shoe for those of you looking for an extremely comfortable ride.

8. Nike Lunarglide 8

Comfort
95%
Durability
80%
Arch Support
80%

The Nike Lunarglide 8 is a moderate stability running shoe. This means that it is best suited for those of you with light to moderate flat feet.

The Lunarglide’s unique design makes it lightweight and extremely comfortable while still allowing for excellent arch.

This is one of the lightest weight shoes on this list.

Nike has used various methods to produce a plush comfortable sole on the outside of the foot. While diagonal supports make the arch a lot stiffer, the Flyknit upper makes this shoe extremely lightweight.

This is combination of comfort and stability is what make the Lunarglide 8’s a good medium stability running shoe.

The Flyknit wrapping on the upper of the shoe makes these shoes extremely breathable as well.

The bottom of the sole has grooves that are laser cut into it. These grooves not only help with excellent traction, but also give the shoe a unique look.

Who is this running shoe for?

The Nike Lunarglide 8 is must buy for those of you who are looking for a modern, lightweight and conformable running shoe.

However, this is a shoe that should not be used by those of you with severely flat feet.

If you have a severe case of flat footedness, we recommend looking at shoes with much more stability control.

9. Asics GT-2000 5

Comfort
90%
Durability
80%
Arch Support
80%

The 2000 range of shoes by Asics isn’t a throwback series and the GT-2000 5 is the update to the popular 200 series.

What we really like about Asics is that they usually don’t change their shoes completely, from one iteration to the next. This holds true for the GT-2000 5 as well.

The shoe was so good the last time, that Asics decided not to change too much on it.

The GT-2000 5 model has a completely seamless upper along with additional support to the heel, giving you a nice snug fit.

This ensures there is no slipping or irritation at the back of the heel.

The gender specific cushioning on these shoes makes sure that the shoes ride a little softer for the women than they do the men.

The additional gel system in the back of the sole provides excellent comfort while running.

The heel sports a heel counter and a layer of Gel cushioning for reduced slipping and excellent comfort. Add to that a SpEVA mid sole and the GT-2000 5 provides a comfortable ride.

The mid sole on the GT 2000’s are truly special. They are multilayered in so many areas, in order for Asics to provide the best tweaks for improved ride quality.

Who is this shoe for?

This shoe is for mild to moderate overpronators. It is lightweight and offers a plush comfortable ride.

10. Asics GT-1000 5

Comfort
80%
Durability
80%
Arch Support
80%

Let’s face it, stability and motion control running shoes can be an expensive bunch. It is hard to come by a solid budget model that will give you the support you need for the right price.

In comes the Asics GT1000-5, the entry level stability running shoe from Asics.

The only area the GT 1000’s differ from the GT 2000 and the Kayano series, is by providing a much firmer ride.

Although, it is softer than last years version, the GT 1000-5 offers a little less cushioning than other stability running shoes on this list.

The GT 1000-5 is your go to for an everyday stability running shoe that won’t break the bank.

This is well worth the money considering Asics’s base stability technology like its Impact Guidance System carries into its more expensive models listed above.

The gel cushioning system is proudly flaunted on the outside and has been re-positioned for better shock absorption upon impact.

Who is this shoe for?

All in all, the technology crammed into this shoe at this price is certainly worth every penny.

A great buy for those on a budget but want a high quality premium stability running shoe.

How we chose the best running shoes for flat feet?

While choosing the top 10 running shoes for flat feet we had to take a lot of factors into account. Although, we provided for every type of flat footed runner, the major criteria for choosing the top 10 flat footed running shoes were:

  1. Arch support – The most important aspect for flat footed runners is finding a shoe with the right amount of arch support. So we’ve looked into and chosen shoe for the mild, moderate and excessive overpronators.
  2. Fitment – Different people have different foot shapes and sizes and we have recommended shoes for people with both narrow as well as wide flat feet.
  3. Weight – Weight on a running shoe can make all the difference in the world to timing, speed and fatigue. It is no secret that stability running shoes aren’t the lightest in the running shoe world. But we have made sure to choose some great lightweight options for the serious runners out there as well.
  4. Durability – Durability is an important factor as well and this was kept in mind when selecting the best running shoes for flat feet.

Things you need to know before choosing the right running shoes for your flat feet

Understanding how running shoe manufacturers manufacture their footwear will go along way in helping you make an informed decision on which running shoe is right for you.

If you are a runner with flat feet, then you are most likely running slower and at an increased risk of injury.

But don’t worry, running with your natural gait significantly improves both your speed and reduces your rate of injury. Here at savingfeet.com we are going to show you how!

In this article we have not only reviewed the best running shoes for flat feet, but we will also show you how to to choose the right ones.

Here at SavingFeet.com we believe in educating you on how to buy the right type of footware for your feet. If you follow these few steps, you will be a pro at choosing the right type of footwear for flat feet.

Gait and Overpronation

During running, Gait is referred to the cycle your foot goes through from the moment your heel touches the ground, to the point the toe leaves the ground.

As you go through this gait cycle the foot naturally tends to pronate. Pronation is defined as the rolling inwards of the foot.

It is important to note that every runner goes through some degree of pronation. This happens as the foot behaves as a shock absorber during impact with the ground. It is a bio-mechanical necessity of propulsion.

If you have flat feet, you tend to overpronate and this is what puts you at a higher risk of injury while running. And controlling this rate of pronation, is where a good pair of technical running shoes comes into play.

Wet Test for flat feet

In order to figure out in which of the three footwear categories you fit in, you must first decide what type of arch you have.

This can be found quite easily, by standing barefoot on a flat surface, in front of a mirror. Standing sideways and looking at the inner portion of your mid-foot. The larger the gap you see between the floor surface and the middle upper portion of the inside of your foot, the higher the arches you have. The less gap you have, the lower the arches you have.

If your mid-foot lays flat on the surface of the ground, that is often referred to as flat feet.

Types of running shoes for different types of feet

The first category of shoes that manufactures make is the neutral category. This category is often referred to as the ”cushion” category and is meant for those people with normal to high arches.

How to identify shoes in the neutral category is by looking at the mid-sole section of the shoe wall. On the inner-side of the sole, you will see a single foam density. There will be no hard components to keep the foot from pronating.

Since runners with high to medium arches have less of a tendency to pronate, the material is softer and more emphasis is placed on the cushioning of the shoe. Therefore there is less emphasis on the support components of the shoe.

The second category is the stability category, often referred to as the structured cushioning category. This category actually benefits a larger portion of the population. This category, is geared to helping those who tend to pronate a little bit.

Identifying a shoe in this category can be done by looking at the inner portion of the mid foot of the shoe, where the arch of the foot lies. You will often see additional components in that shoe.

These components can be identified by discoloration of the mid sole or components with different densities. You will find that these components are more dense that the rest of the sole. These components in the shoe, slows down the rate of pronation, controlling it and trying to make the runner go from heel strike to toe off the ground in as neutral in a gait as possible. These are the type of shoes required for runners with flat feet.

Advantages of running shoes for flat feet:

1. Give ample support to fallen arches and reduces risk of injury and pain

2. Corrects overpronation commonly occuring in people with flat feet

Disadvantages of running shoes with flat feet:

1. Makes for a stiffer run as cushioning usually tends to increase over pronation

2. Extra components in the shoe add stiffness and weight to the ride.

 

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