Best Women’s Running Shoes for High Arches – Redistribute the Stress on Your Feet and Prevent Foot Pain!

Do you have high arches and have been experiencing foot or leg pain when running? Are you wondering whether you should wear shoes with good arch support or neutral running shoes that don’t have any supportive elements? Women with high arches experience uneven pressure distribution in the feet, which might cause pain and balance issues, making them more susceptible to injuries. The good news is that there are certain running shoes that can help prevent foot pain and improve your balance. I have put together a list of the best women’s running shoes for high arches based on my 10 years of shoe fitting experience.

What Problems Are Caused By High Arches?

At the shoe store that I work for, I have seen several women with high arches, and these are the most common conditions that they experience:

• Ankle Instability: This can increase your risk for ankle sprains.

• Metatarsal Fractures: The repeated stress caused by high arches may lead to hairline fractures in the bones of the foot.

• Plantar Fasciitis: Women with high arches often experience sharp heel pain.

• Metatarsalgia: This condition is characterized by inflammation in the ball of the foot.

Thankfully, wearing the right type of running shoe can help you avoid these issues.

My Experience Helping Women with High Arches – Over a Decade of Shoe Fitting Experience

I have been working for a shoe store that focuses on helping women with complicated foot shapes as well as foot problems (flat feet, high, arches, rolled ankles, heel pain) find the correct pair of shoes for their feet. I have helped several women with high arches find the perfect pair of shoes for their feet, and I believe I will be able to help you too.

Keep in mind that simply because a friend, family member, or even your medical professional recommends a specific pair of running shoes for high arches, that doesn’t mean that it will work well for your feet. The running shoe that’s right for you might be different for everyone. Your foot shape and foot condition determine what specific running shoe will work best for you, that’s the reason why the running shoes that I recommend are available in different widths so they can fit different foot shapes (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide, high instep).

What Makes the Running Shoes that I Recommend Ideal for Women with High Arches?

I have noticed that most women with high arches tend to supinate (the foot roll outwards). To improve your foot posture and prevent your feet from rolling outwards, I suggest looking for running shoes that provide good cushioning and support.

1️⃣ High Levels of Cushion and Support

Your running shoes should provide supportive outsoles with extra padding and a rigid stricture to provide constant support for the whole foot. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes. Do you notice how the running shoe on the right has a more supportive outsole compared to the shoe on the left? I will provide you with a link to this shoe shortly.

2️⃣ Firm Heel Counter for Heel Stability

Running shoes that provide firm heel counters can help prevent some of the twisting motion if your ankles are supinated or pronated. Always press on the heel counter of the shoe and make sure that it feels firm. Do you notice how the shoe on the right has extra cushion and padding right below the heel area? I will also provide you with a link to this shoe shortly.

By the way, the heel counter is the back part of the shoe. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes:

Before and After Images of Women with High Arches Wearing Supportive Shoes

Let’s take a look at some images of a woman with high arches standing barefoot and then wearing one of the shoes I recommended.

Before Image

After Image

Do you notice how the woman’s feet are straighter? What a difference the correct pair of shoes can make!

Should Women with High Arches Wear Shoes with Good Arch Support?

Shoes with supportive outsoles can help to bridge the gap between your shoe and the bottom of your foot caused by high arches. If you have high arches, it’s highly likely that your shoes are not able to touch the highest part of your plantar fascia ligament, meaning the pressure on your entire body weight is resting on your plantar fascia ligament. This might lead to your plantar fascia becoming stretched and damaged, chronic pain in the bottom of your foot, as well as potential pain in your ankles, knees and lower back. 

Read This Before Ordering Your Running Shoes Shoes Online

Feet come in all shapes and sizes.  Some women have high arches and narrow feet, while some women have high arches and wide feet. Keep in mind that your running shoes must fit properly to get the full benefits that the shoes have to offer. The running shoes that I recommend can accommodate different foot shapes, so it’s important that you know whether you have narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet.

The Importance of Ordering Your Running Shoes in the Correct Size

Women with high arches are more prone to developing bunions and hammertoes. This can happen due to excess pressure on the front of the foot. When you buy your running shoes, make sure they have plenty of room in the toe box to accommodate the front of your foot. You want space for your toes to move naturally.

I created a free resource that helps women determine their exact foot length and shape from home:

How to Measure Your Foot Shoe Size – The Most Simple and Effective Way!

What is the Best Shoe Brand for Women with High Arches?

It’s hard to recommend a specific shoe brand as there are specific shoe styles among each shoe brand that work a lot better than others. You will notice that the running shoes that I recommend are made by different shoe brands.

Let’s now take a look at the best women’s running shoes for high arches. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

Best Women’s Running Shoes for High Arches – Redistribute the Stress on Your Feet and Prevent Foot Pain!

Take a look at the description below each running shoe to find out whether that specific style can fit your foot shape. Many of the running shoes featured below come in several color options, so if you want the shoes to be made of a specific color, please make sure to click through and see if they are available in that specific color.

Are Any Other Running Shoe Choices Available?

Keep in mind that everyone’s feet are different, and what might work well for some women might not work as well for others. Please remember that if the shoes don’t fit your foot shape properly, it doesn’t matter how good it is or how much support it provides!

Make Sure that You Tie Your Running Shoes Correctly

The only way to get the full benefits that the shoes have to offer is to tie them comfortably tight at all times. The tighter that you make your shoes, the more support and stability that you will get.

Should You Consider Physical Therapy?

If after wearing any of the shoes that I recommend you still experience foot pain,  you may be a candidate for physical therapy. A therapist can teach you exercises to strengthen your feet, ankles, and legs. They can also teach you stretches that might release your arch and make it more flexible. This may take pressure off your feet and improve symptoms.‌

Many thanks for reading! We hope you found helpful this post on the best women’s running shoes for high arches. Please feel free to share this post with your community on social media as well as your experiences in the comments section below. If you have any questions or need any further assistance, you can also contact us via e-mail and we will get back to you as soon as possible.