The Best Stability Running Shoes that Lend the Support We Crave
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Not so long ago, stability in a running shoe meant a maximalist construction that corrected an overpronator’s stride and often unnaturally muscled around the runner’s form. Now stability shoes take a less aggressive approach, thanks to some fine-tuning, new technology, and evolving biomechanical research. Instead of “fixing” your gait, shoes these days are designed to improve your comfort on runs and reduce injury risk, whatever your unique running style may be.
Take a look below at quick info on five of the top-performing stability shoes from our testing, then scroll down for buying advice and more in-depth reviews of these and other models.
Stabilizing Midsole Tech
Overpronation occurs when you push off from the big toe and second toe, which causes the foot to roll inward. This is perfectly normal; however, ankle or shin pain are common ailments when your gait exaggerates these mechanics—which is where stability shoes can help. “Bars,” “rails,” and “medial posts” are buzzwords for the tech brands build into shoes’ midsoles to aid in alignment and relieve your feet from that constant rolling-inward motion. Brooks, for example, uses Diagonal Rollbars and GuideRails that act like bumpers to help curb sideways motion and encourage a smoother heel-to-toe transition. Altra also uses a Guide Rail to help steer your feet, as well as StabiliPods—three sections of firmer midsole material spread between the heel and forefoot. Like a medial post, the denser foam pods provide extra support where pronation forces are strongest but can feel less rigid.
How We Test
You don’t need to be familiar with all the technical ins and outs of how brands build stability and support into a shoe. All you need to know is that a stable experience feels as though the shoe perfectly braces your foot, while guarding against extra motion that can cause injury. Runner’s World editors or our team of wear testers have run in every shoe here, and we’ve also evaluated them all in our Shoe Lab. We research the market, survey user reviews, speak with product managers and engineers, and use our own experience to determine the best options. Based on value, our test impressions, and how the shoes meet overpronators’ motion control and support needs, the 10 stability running shoes below are our top picks for feeling secure.
—BEST UPDATE—
Asics Gel-Kayano Lite
The Kayano is a titan, lasting through 27 iterations. So you don’t mess with that name (or shoe) without some serious forethought. It delivers boatloads of cushioning and stability, but not every runner needs that level of protection. For those who want something lighter, there’s the “Lite.” Unlike its namesake, the Lite uses just a single piece of midsole foam to provide cushioning and stability; the standard model has a dual-density post on the medial side plus a hard plastic Trusstic bridge in the midfoot. To help guide a pronating foot, Asics scallops the Lite’s lateral (outer) edge while bolstering the foam’s medial side. The design helps the sole compress on landing, and then provides extra resistance as you roll to midstance. Our wear-testers, including longtime Kayano wearers, thought the shoe delivered in both areas and felt faster underfoot. “Even neutral runners like myself found the shoe less intrusive than a traditional post—I could feel a little extra pressure under my arch, but nothing that was irritating,” said runner-in-chief Jeff Dengate. “And the shoe retains some of the Kayano’s premium qualities like a soft tongue and collar, which dial up comfort for long runs.”
—BEST FOR LONG RUNS—
Saucony Guide 14
A more stable version of Saucony’s Ride, the Guide pairs a lightweight TPU medial post and sturdy heel counter that lend extra support to a new Pwrrun midsole. In the 14, Saucony reformulated Pwrrun—making the lion’s share of the cushioning even softer and more responsive—while a thinner layer of Pwrrun+ sits on top for additional shock absorption. “It’s a shoe meant for long distances because it doesn’t give in or give up,” one tester said. “This model feels like it has a little more cushioning than prior models. It’s a solid choice for runners that want support, but not so much that it feels limiting to the stride.” The revamped upper holds the arch in an internal gusset beneath a new closed non-stretch mesh—a switch that our testers said provided a more locked-in fit around the midfoot. Last but not least, the cozy details for comfort are evident in this update; we especially appreciated tying the thick, soft laces and sliding our heels over the plush ankle padding.
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—BEST FOR SPEEDWORK—
Brooks Launch GTS 8
You’re not wrong if you thought “GTS” stood for “Go-To Shoe.” This year, Brooks is simplifying its naming convention by pairing stability shoes to its neutral siblings and tacking on GTS—now redefined as “Go-To Support.” The next Transcend and Bedlam, for example, have been named the Glycerin GTS and Levitate GTS. And, in the case of the Ravenna, it’s now being called the Launch GTS—a light stability shoe that’s speedy like the neutral Launch. Testers appreciated the comfortably firm cushioning and found Brooks’s holistic guide-rail system (firm foam along the medial and lateral sides of the heel serve as bumpers to align the knee and ankle) supportive. The most noticeable revamp—besides the name—is the new air mesh upper. It’s lighter and more breathable, but wear your tall socks; some testers found that the collar sat higher up on the ankle, which could cause rubbing on the lateral side.
—BEST FOR MILD OVERPRONATION—
Nike React Infinity Run Flyknit 2
The Infinity Run isn’t explicitly a “stability shoe” in the classic sense, given its stability features that feel a bit more intuitive than the traditional approach. Eschewing a medial post, Nike went with a high arch and installed a horseshoe-shape guide rail on the rear of the shoe. The rails, similar to what we’ve seen on models like the Brooks Launch GTS above, are designed to stymy overpronation while not encumbering neutral runners. That, combined with the flared-out forefoot and wide base, led our testers to say that the Infinity Run had a very secure and planted feeling. Bouncy React foam underfoot still provides plush cushioning and shock absorption, while more soft collar padding boosts comfort around the ankle, where some testers experienced rubbing in the previous version. The lone trade-off? More outsole rubber improved grip and durability, but tacked on some weight. (Though you may not even notice; the gains are less than half of an ounce.)
—MAXIMUM CUSHIONING—
Brooks Glycerin GTS 19
At just a few tenths of an ounce heavier than the standard Glycerin, the Glycerin GTS 19 provides stability with Brooks’s holistic guide rails system. (Denser foam on the lateral and medial sides of the shoe act as bumpers to lessen erratic knee movement brought on by overpronation.) This extra foam makes the shoe slightly stiffer than its neutral counterpart, but there’s still plenty of “give” that allows your foot to flex during push off. Like the Glycerin 19, the GTS has a DNA Loft midsole, which provides responsive cushioning and makes the shoe easy on the joints for recovery runs and dependable when you go farther than that turnaround point on your usual trek—though it isn’t our first choice for speed sessions. “I’ve been running in Brooks Adrenaline GTS for 10 years,” one tester said. “This new Glycerin GTS has all the support and stability I love in the Adrenaline, but with more heel cushioning and a slightly softer feel.”
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—BEST FOR SEVERE OVERPRONATION—
New Balance Fresh Foam 860 v11
With this update, the 860 officially joins New Balance’s Fresh Foam ranks. A new top layer of softer material gives the v11 a plusher step-in feel, but the remainder of the midsole and sturdy medial post still afford a stable ride. The shoe also upgrades to NB’s flared ankle collar, which more closely cradles the heel and also prevents any rubbing around the Achilles tendon. Testers agreed that though the 860 v10 felt surprisingly light and responsive, it would likely feel overbuilt for neutral runners. The v11 is no different. Said one tester: “I ran anywhere from 5:30-pace intervals to 8:30-pace easy runs in these shoes, and the phrase that kept coming to mind was ‘smooth ride!’”
—BEST FOR RECOVERY RUNS—
Hoka One One Arahi 5
The Arahi lends overpronators support with a dense EVA J-Frame, so called because it wraps around the heel and medial side of the shoe in a J shape. A padded tongue and heel collar lock in your ankle without causing friction, and a new pull-tab (reminiscent of the spoiler on a sports car) allows you to slide into the trainer without creasing the back. The shoe’s slightly curved rocker sole transitions quickly and rides light and smooth, which let test editor Amanda Furrer cruise comfortably at easy pace with enough get-up for the unplanned fartlek. “I used to save cushioned stability trainers for recovery runs following a marathon,” Furrer said. “Lately, however, I’ve been reaching for Hoka’s Arahi as an everyday trainer, even on fast days, now that the 5 has a more textured tread for tackier grip on slick surfaces.”
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—BEST DAILY TRAINER—
Mizuno Wave Inspire 17
The Inspire continues to be Mizuno’s trusted stability model, providing a soft experience much like the popular Wave Rider but with a more supportive midsole for overpronators. This 17th version uses a reshaped zig-zagging TPU wave plate to stabilize the underarch; it won’t stop your foot from rolling inward, but it helps curb those pronation forces to keep you steady. That plate sits between a fresh wedge of Mizuno’s new Enerzy foam in the heel and a full-length top layer of U4ic. (Both foams are EVA-based, but Enerzy is the more premium of the two materials and feels significantly softer underfoot.) “The heel cushioning is plush but not spongy so that it feels unresponsive or like your foot is completely sinking in,” one tester said. “While this shoe compares to the Brooks Glycerin GTS in terms of stability, the toe spring is flatter, which made toe-off feel less smooth.”
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—BEST FOR TRAILS—
Asics GT-2000 9 Trail
The GT-2000 makes a good pick for runners who don’t need a ton of support but still want something with a bit more stability than a neutral shoe for days on the trail. FlyteFoam and Gel units at the heel and forefoot deliver reliable cushioning (and a more forgiving ride than earlier versions we’ve tested), while a dual-density midsole and guidance truss help control excessive pronation. The ninth trail-ready version comes with a redesigned one-piece mesh that’s reinforced around the arches for extra support and a more aggressive lugged outsole. “The best features of this shoe are the fit and comfort of the engineered mesh upper—particularly in the toe box—and the shoe’s overall ride,” said one tester. “I’ve run in several iterations of the GT-2000, and I truly believe that it continues to improve. Transitions from heel strike through toe-off are seamless, with a springy feel as you leave the ground.”
—BEST LOW-DROP OPTION—
Altra Provision 5
The Provision’s upper underwent some major changes in its fourth iteration. Altra has implemented its new InnovArch: a thin layer of mesh material under the footbed that wraps around the medial side of your foot, where it splits into three “fingers” to meet the tongue and become a part of the lacing system. The purpose of this technology is to ensure a more secure fit, which our testers verified, stating it gave the Provision a “customized” appeal. The fifth iteration simplifies the InnovArch system (with two fingers instead of three), but everything from the footbed down remains the same as the Provision 4. Ultra-light EVA midsole foam creates a fast, bouncy, lightweight ride with extra support from a non-intrusive GuideRail that counters overpronation without overcorrecting your gait.
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