Editor’s Note: This post has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy on May 2022 and reflects an up-to-date selection of the best ankle support shoes for women.
Has your medical professional advised you to wear a pair of shoes that provide good ankle support? Have you tried several different shoes but none of them are helping reduce your foot pain? Finding a good pair of shoes with ankle support can make a big difference when it comes to treating your foot pain.
Foot pain is not normal. You shouldn’t have to struggle to perform your daily activities and do the things you love because of your foot pain. Before you try a more invasive treatment such as shock wave therapy, casting, surgery, or steroid injections to get rid of your pain I strongly suggest that you make sure that you are wearing the correct type of shoes for your feet.
Something so simple such as wearing the correct type of shoes in the correct size can make a huge difference and it might be all you need to treat and prevent your foot pain.
My Experience Helping Women Find Supportive Shoes
While I am not a doctor, I have been lucky to have helped several women with foot pain find the correct pair of shoes. It’s really important for women to be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their foot or leg pain. The more you wait to treat your foot condition the worst it can get.
How to Figure Out if Your Shoes Provide Good Ankle Support?
Start by pressing on the heel counter of your shoes. The heel counter is the back part of the shoes that provides ankle support, and the firmer it is, the better. In case you are not sure what the heel counter of the shoe is and where it is located, take a look at the image below:
When I press on the heel counter of the shoe on the left (Nike) it feels soft and flexes, but when I press on the heel counter of the shoe on the right (New Balance) it feels firm and sturdy. This doesn’t mean that all New Balance shoes are better than Nike. There are specific styles among these two shoe brands that are better than others.
Also, check whether your shoes provide additional features such as infused gel or Rollbar midsole technology as these can offer superior rearfoot motion control that supports and cushions your feet.
What is the Best Shoe or Shoe Brand for Ankle Support?
This is a common question women ask me. The thing is, there is no such thing as a universal shoe brand or shoe style that I can recommend for your foot pain, as it ultimately depends on your foot shape.
For example, the shoes I recommend for a woman with narrow feet are very different than the ones I recommend for a woman with wide feet. In addition, some women have narrow feet with a specific foot condition such as bunions that require the shoes to be wider at the front.
I have spoken to some women who always assumed they had wide feet when in fact they had extra wide feet. This leads me to this next question
When Was the Last Time You Checked Your Foot Size?
Your foot shape and size can change over time, and some of the factors that contribute to this change are pregnancy, aging and weight gain or loss. Over time and because of gravity, our feet might get longer and wider.
As we age, the body’s ligaments and tendons lose their strength and ability to spring back. This means that our arches decrease, which flattens and lengthens the foot and toes.
This often results in an increase in shoe size by a half-size or more. You might also experience a change in foot width, meaning that even though you always ordered medium width shoes now you might have to start ordering wider shoes.
Don’t insist on getting your shoes in a specific size simply because that has been the size that they always wore. I usually have to insist to them that they need to at least try the shoes in a different size to see how they feel.
Buying shoes online can be a challenge. If you are unsure of your current foot shape or foot length, I suggest that you take a look at a different resource I created where I help women determine their exact foot shape from home:
How to Measure Your Foot Shoe Size – The Most Simple and Effective Way!
Do High Top Shoes Provide Better Support than Regular Sneakers?
Most women are under the impression that they need to wear high top shoes to get better ankle support. In my experience, there are regular sneakers that actually provide better ankle support than high top shoes.
I am going to show you a selection of shoes that provide excellent ankle support but remember that you need to choose the styles that can accommodate your specific foot shape. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Ankle Support Shoes for Women ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Remember that which shoe style will work better for your feet directly depends on your foot shape. To figure out which shoe style will be best for your foot shape, look at the description below each image to find out which foot shape that specific shoe is capable of accommodating.
- Available in narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide widths and also accommodate high insteps
- An ENCAP midsole combines lightweight foam with a durable polyurethane rim to deliver all-day support
- Dual-density collar foam that offers support and comfort for your heels and ankles
- Suede and mesh upper
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide widths and also accommodates high insteps
- Cushioning outsole with a mild rocker adds spring to your step.
- Multiple cushioning layers provide pillow-like support that works wonders to enhance comfort and help ease pain on the foot and heel
- Soft, stretchable knit fabric uppers with extra foam padding ease pressure on the foot and provide superior comfort and protection for sensitive feet.
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Fits women with narrow or medium feet
- Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL Technology Cushioning System helps attenuate shock during impact and toe-off phases
- DuoMax system enhances stability and support
- Engineered mesh upper improves breathability
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your longest foot size
- Fits women with narrow or medium feet
- Durable full-length EVA midsole to absorb shock and offer stability
- Breathable open engineered textile mesh upper with seamless synthetic overlays
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths and also accommodates high insteps
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Medial post helps control pronation
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths and also accommodates high insteps
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Medial post helps control pronation
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Fits medium and wide feet and also accommodates high insteps
- VERSARUN cushioning absorbs impact and reduces pressure for comfortable strides at every level of walking and running
- Added heel support for a more comfortable, secure hold.
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in narrow, medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- DNA LOFT offers incredibly soft cushioning that now extends beyond the heel, allowing for an easy transition from landing to toe-off.
- Removable foam insole for excellent underfoot comfort and support.
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Fits women with narrow, medium, and wide feet
- Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL Technology Cushioning System helps attenuate shock during impact and toe-off phases
- DuoMax system enhances stability and support
- Order this shoe a whole size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths and also accommodates high insteps
- CMEVA (Compression Molded EVA) midsole delivers lightweight, durable, responsive cushioning
- Strategic high-abrasion rubber zones to reduce weight
- Soft, stretchable knit fabric uppers with extra foam padding ease pressure on the foot and provide superior comfort and protection for sensitive feet
- Order this shoe half a size larger than your longest foot size
What Shoe Size Should You Order?
Take a look at the description below the shoes that I recommended to find out what shoe size you should order.
I highly recommend that you apply a specific shoe lacing technique that will allow you to get the full benefits that the shoes have to offer. This shoe lacing technique will “hug” and lock your heels in place, protecting and securing them against the back part of the shoes:
The Best Way to Tie Shoes – The Proven Method to Make Your Shoes Feel Better!
Do not hesitate to contact me if you are looking for a different pair of shoes that provide good ankle support. Sneakers are always more effective than seasonal or dress shoes when it comes to treating foot pain. However, I will be happy to recommend a different pair of shoes for your feet:
comfortablewomenshoes@gmail.com
Final Thoughts on the Best Ankle Support Shoes for Women
If after trying any of the shoes I recommend for 5 to 6 months your foot pain is not significantly reduced or fully eliminated, I suggest fitting an orthotic or a heel cup inside the shoes for extra support.
Heel cups are a more affordable alternative and they can be as effective as orthotics. If you are unsure about which ones you should try don’t hesitate to reach out and I will guide you in the right direction.
Let me know in the comment section below if you have any further questions or have found a specific shoe style that has provided good ankle support.
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