Stability shoes are an often misunderstood category in the running world. Typically, they will have some kind of posting in the midfoot or rearfoot meant to provide structure to the shoe and guide you through your stride while preventing overpronation. There are lots of other features that can contribute to the stability of a shoe though, such as a wider platform or firmer foam.
Stability shoes sometimes get a bad rap as “boring” or “heavy”. We don’t think they should because there’s a lot of great stability shoes that feel great on foot and perform just as well as similar neutral models.
We’ve put together our list of favorite stability shoes so you can get the support you need without sacrificing on performance.
Best upper
Asics Gel Kayano 31
Supportive and balanced stability shoe for recovery runs and long runs
All of the comfort Asics’ FF Blast™ Plus Eco cushioning in a more stable package with the addition of their 4D guidance system. This shoe features 40mm of stack height in the heel and a 10mm drop, perfect for offloading the calf and ankle.
We love how perfectly the engineered mesh upper conforms to your foot. This shoe is meant to give an energetic and cushioned run and delivers.
The best max cushion stability shoe
Saucony Hurricane 24
Well-cushioned stability shoe with a wide base of dual-density foam
The Saucony Hurricane 24 is your friend if you like lots of cushion. It comes with 38mm of cushioning in the heel but feels like even more thanks to the wide platform in the midsole. This includes dual-density foams combining Saucony’s energy-returning PWRRUN PB foam with a supportive PWRRUN foam frame.
The main stability component comes from posting in the CenterPath technology. The overall geometry with broader base and higher sidewalls will provide comfort to runners with different strides.
The best balance of softness and support
Brooks Glycerin GTS 22
Nitrogen-infused stability shoe with softness and cushion
The Brooks Glycerin 22 GTS is the perfect reliable shoe for daily training. It’s a no frills shoe with Brooks’ GuideRails™ technology designed to support your body’s natural motion. The nitrogen-infused DNA foam is responsive and the engineered double jacquard knit upper will work for most foot shapes.
This shoe has a great combination of softness and stability to keep you healthy and enjoying your runs.
Best shoe for runners that want stability and softness
New Balance Fresh Foam X Vongo v6
Plush stability shoe for easy runs or picking up the pace
This shoe bucks the trend of boring firm stability shoes with ultra soft Fresh Foam X midsole. You still get an underfoot stability plane for support and a medial zone for correcting overpronation. The Fresh Foam Vongo manages to feel fun and supportive at the same time.
The midsole is the star here, but the mesh upper is structured without feeling constraining or too hot for the summertime. This is a stability shoe you’ll actually want to run in.
The best top-to-bottom support with great lockdown
Hoka Arahi 7
Protective and responsive stability trainer from Hoka
Hoka has strong reputation for comfy max cushion shoes, including the Hoka Arahi 7. The J-Frame™ midsole provides support while the addition of zonally engineered, flat knit upper improve midfoot lockdown. This support system is intended to prevent excessive inward roll, or overpronation, without overcorrecting your gait.
There’s a plush upper to cushion the top of your foot and we love the extended heel pull to easily slide this shoe on before your run. Despite all this cushioning, it’s one of the lighter shoes on this list coming in at less than 10 oz in a men’s size 9.
Best stability trail shoe
Salomon Genesis Trail Shoe
Durable and grippy trail shoe with added stability elements
The Genesis is built to help tackle any terrain and keep you feeling secure and stable doing it. The Matryx® upper is durable and remains breathable while keeping out dirt and debris. The midsole uses 4.5mm lugs that will be more than enough for most rocky or uneven trails without feeling unstable on firmer surfaces.
This isn’t specifically marketed as a stability shoe but has enough support for most runners that want a little extra guidance through their stride.
