Are you looking for a pair of running shoes to support your flat feet and prevent foot and leg pain? Did your friend or medical professional advise you to get a pair of supportive running shoes but didn’t specify which styles? I have helped several women with flat feet find the perfect pair of running shoes for their feet, and I believe I will be able to help you as well. At the shoe store that I work for, I help women with foot conditions such as flat feet, weak ankles, heel pain, etc. on a daily basis, and over the years I became familiar with the best running shoes for women with flat feet.
What Makes the Running Shoes that I Recommend Ideal for Women with Flat Feet?
1️⃣ Supportive Outsoles for a Stable Base of Support
The running shoes that I recommend provide Innovative supportive outsoles with arch support that provide stability. In addition, shoes that provide shock absorbent outsoles can help reduce the impact that your feet take every time they come in contact with the ground, and relieve the stress on your feet and legs.
2️⃣ Firm Heel Counters with Good Ankle and Heel Support
The running shoes that I recommend provide firm heel counters to prevent your feet from collapsing and support your heels and ankles at the same time. Do your current running shoes provide firm heel counters with good ankle and heel support? You can check this by pressing on the heel counter of your current running shoes to make sure that area feels firm:
You will also notice that the running shoes that I recommend provide extra cushion and padding right below the heel area:
3️⃣ Correct Amount of Flexibility
Do your current running shoes provide the correct amount of flexibility? Your running shoes should bend at the ball of the foot but no further. If you can flex your running shoes as a spiral then I suggest moving onto the next shoe.
4️⃣ Straight Lasts
Straight last shoes are also referred to as motion control shoes, and they usually provide better material maintaining support beneath the medial column of the foot. Basically, your shoes might have a straight or curved last.
Forget About All the Bells and Whistles – Proper Fit Should Be Your Top Priority!
None of the bells and whistles will matter if the shoe doesn’t fit your foot shape correctly. Before I show you a list of the best running shoes for women with flat feet, I want to make sure that you know your exact foot length and shape. A lot of medical professionals agree that the most important thing for a runner with flat feet to consider when choosing a running shoe is the fit.
I want to start by saying that women need to stop buying their shoes based on the assumption that their feet have always been a certain size. A lot of women feel they are married to their shoe size, and that’s problematic.
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.
Find Out Your Foot Shape Before Ordering Your Shoes Online – In 2 Simple Steps!
I strongly suggest that you visit your local shoe store to retrieve your exact foot length and shape. However, if you don’t have a specialized shoe store in your area you can use this free resource that I created:
How to Measure Your Foot Shoe Size – The Most Simple and Effective Way!
The proper amount of support and cushioning will go a long way toward protecting you from injury and keeping you pain-free, so make sure that you wear the correct type of shoe while running.
Let’s now take a look at a list of the best running shoes for women with flat feet. Disclosure: We may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Running Shoes for Women with Flat Feet – The Top 10 Choices
Make sure that you take a look at the description below each shoe to find out if it can accommodate your foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide), the additional features the shoe provides, and the size that you should order to prevent your longest toe from rubbing against the front part of the shoes.
- Fits women with narrow, medium, or wide 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
- 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 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
- Order this shoe a whole 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 women with narrow or medium feet
- AmpliFoam midsole is engineered to maintain durability at softer densities, providing better flexibility, comfort, and platform adaptability ideal for natural running
- Engineered mesh upper improves breathability
- 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
- Fits women with medium and wide feet and also accommodates high insteps
- Fresh Foam midsole cushioning is precision engineered to deliver an ultra-cushioned, lightweight ride
- Accommodates orthotics
- 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 or medium feet
- Seamless upper design helps reduce the likelihood of irritation
- Plush tongue and collar for added comfort
- DUOMAX® Support System is a dual-density midsole positioned to enhance support and stability
- 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
Please note that these shoes have worked really well for several women with flat feet, but that doesn’t mean that they will be effective for your feet. I have noticed that what works really well for some women might not work as well for others. With that said, the models I recommended above have proven to be the most effective ones in helping treat and prevent foot pain.
Are You Unsure About Which Running Shoe Style Will Work Best for Your Flat Feet?
You can ask any question you might have in the comments section below or you can also contact me via email:
comfortablewomenshoes@gmail.com
Can You Fit Your orthotics Inside the Running Shoes I Recommended?
All of the running shoes recommended above have removable insoles in case you need to fit an orthotic inside the shoes for extra support. Some running shoes work better with orthotics than others, so don’t forget to look below the description of each shoe or contact me directly if you are unsure about what shoe will work best for your orthotics.
Make Sure that You Tie Your Running Properly Shoes!
Once the shoes arrive I suggest that you apply a specific shoe lacing technique that will allow you to get the full support and stability that the shoes have to offer. I learned this shoe lacing technique from a coworker who has 30 plus years of shoe fitting experience. You can learn how to apply this shoe lacing technique to your own shoes by reading a different article called:
The Best Way to Tie Shoes – The Proven Method to Make Your Shoes Feel Better!
Additional Resources for Women Who Like to Run
Throughout the years I have created several resources that describe the best running shoes for women, and you can select the resource based on your foot shape:
The Best Narrow Width Running Shoes for Women – Supportive, Lightweight, Flexible, and Comfortable!
Best Running Shoes for Women with Wide Feet and Narrow Heels
Best Running Shoes for Women with Wide Feet and High Insteps
Extra Wide Running Shoes for Women – Available in Extra Wide Widths!
Do You Happen to Have a Child Who Has Flat Feet? – Be Proactive!
Flat feet is believed to be hereditary. If you have a child who has flat feet I suggest that you take a look at the following resource:
The Best Shoes for Kids with Flat Feet – STOP Your Kids Foot Pain!
Let me know if you have found a specific pair of running shoes that worked well for your flat feet! I am sure other women with flat feet will benefit from reading about your experiences.
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