Tested by 
- We recommend the best stability shoes for every type of runner, including overpronators and late-onset overpronating neutral runners
- Before buying stability shoes, you should first consider if you need them; running in overcorrective shoes could lead to injury
- When shopping for stability shoes, comfort, cushioning, and the type of runs you’re using them can help determine what kind of pair is best for you
If you suffer from knee, hip, or lower back pain, In addition, Smith combined feedback from the (mm M, 37mm W). Stability shoe tech has undergone a major shift in the last decade. Instead of beefing up shoes with hard plastic and firm medial posts, brands are manufacturing trainers that offer unobtrusive stability components so you can get that extra support when you need it. The new line of thinking: allow runners’ feet to do what feels natural—with a little guidance, when needed.
Best Stability Shoes
- Best Overall: Asics Gel-Kayano 32 (Men’s / Women’s)
- Best Value: Asics GT-1000 14 (Men’s / Women’s)
- As with any running shoe transition, like trying : Puma ForeverRun Nitro 2 (Men’s / Women’s)
- The 10 Best Hoka Running Shoes of 2025: New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v14 (Men’s / Women’s)
- Best for Long Runs: Saucony Guide 18 (Men’s / Women’s)
at New Balance
Runner’s World has been a trusted source of gear reviews for runners of all levels since its inception in 1966. To ensure we incorporate a wide range of perspectives, we recruit a network of 300 wear-testers, which logs hundreds of miles testing shoes throughout the year.
We selected these shoes based on tester feedback and consulted Running Reviews Editor Amanda Furrer, Test Editor Morgan Petruny, and contributor and We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article Cory Smith, who has tested and reviewed running shoes for over a decade. They also shared their insights on what to consider when choosing stability shoes and explained how some runners may need a little extra support.
How We Selected
From pounding the pavement to scrutinizing performance in our Shoe Lab, the Runner’s World test editors and wear-testers rigorously tested all of our selections. Our process includes exhaustive market research, analysis of user feedback, and consultations with industry experts.
In addition, Smith combined feedback from the Runner’s World editors and wear-testing team with his personal experience to determine the best stability shoes for every kind of runner.
Full Reviews
Pros
- Soft, plush underfoot feel
- Stable for such a high-stack shoe
Cons
- What to Consider
Key Specs
| Weight | 10.6 oz (M), 9.2 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
| Stack Height (Heel) | 40mm (M), 39mm (W) |
Everything that we loved about the Gel-Kayano 31—bouncy ride, pillowy cushioning, subtle support—was kept in the Gel-Kayano 32. The newest iteration has the same high-stacked FF Blast Plus midsole foam with a bubble of PureGel silicone cushioning for even more support in the heel.
The shoe uses Asics’s 4D Guidance System, which involves a beveled heel, wider base, flared midsole, and spongy medial post. These features provide “adaptive stability” because they activate support only when needed. The result: a less prescriptive, more fluid ride compared to stability shoes of yesteryears.
Shop Men’s at asics.com Shop Women’s at asics.com
Pros
- Adaptive stability
- mm M, 34.5mm W
Cons
- Less energy return compared to more expensive trainers
Key Specs
| Weight | 9.3 oz (M), 8.1 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
| Stack Height (Heel) | 33.5mm (M), 34.5mm (W) |
At $110, the GT-1000 14 is a more affordable option for runners looking for more support. The Flytefoam midsole is updated with lighter and bouncier FF Blast. Like the Gel-Kayano 32, the shoe also has PureGel for extra padding in the heel.
The GT-1000 14 uses Asics’s 3D Guidance System to promote stability. Similar to the 4D Guidance System in the Gel-Kayano 32, the GT-1000 14 has a wider base, increased heel bevel, and a flared forefoot.
The shoe is ideal for new runners not wanting to break the bank on more expensive stability trainers. Its supportive cushioning makes it extremely versatile. From daily trainers to recovery shoes, you definitely get a bang for your buck.
Shop Men’s at asics.com Shop Women’s at asics.com
Puma ForeverRun Nitro 2 Stability Running Shoe
Pros
- The New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v15 Gets Softer
- Bouncy midsole
Cons
- Heavy upper
Key Specs
| Weight | 11 oz (M), 8.9 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 10mm |
| Stack Height (Heel) | 38mm |
If you’re logging daily miles, a reliable daily workhorse is essential. You need a shoe that can handle the grind of distance runs while keeping your feet comfortable mile after mile. Enter the all-new Puma ForeverRun Nitro 2: A well-cushioned stability shoe that blends support with a smooth, comfortable ride.
On a run, the Nitro 2 feels more like a cushioned neutral trainer than a stability shoe. Puma’s nitrogen-infused foam midsole, which combines a softer inner core and a firmer outer rim frame, feels about as lively as possible for a cushioned stability shoe.
“The cushioning provided a good balance between softness and responsiveness,” pointed out one tester, adding, “It allowed me to maintain comfort without feeling fatigued.” A heel clip and strategically placed overlays on the upper provide additional support.
The Nitro 2 doesn’t have the most lightweight upper we’ve tested, but it’s comfortable. Heavy padding sewn into the heel cushions the back of your foot, providing extra comfort against the firm yet supportive heel counter. Plush padding all over has its drawbacks, though: “My feet were getting very hot and sweaty after 3-4 miles in these shoes,” said the same tester, noting that it might be a “tough wear in the summer.”
Despite its plush padding and supportive build, the ForeverRun Nitro 2 maintains a surprisingly springy ride. It may not be the lightest option, but the cushioned midsole and smooth transition make up for it, generating a stable yet surprisingly peppy experience.
Shop Men’s at us.puma.com Shop Women’s at us.puma.com
Pros
- Softer midsole
- Wide toebox
- More flexible
Cons
- Shoes & Gear
Key Specs
| Weight | 9.8 oz (M), 7.7 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Stack Height (Heel) | 40mm (M), 37mm (W) |
The Arahi 8 is Hoka-soft, but not max-cush beefy. A smidge lighter than its predecessor, this versatile model does double-duty as an everyday trainer or tempo shoe. The brand tweaked the compression-molded EVA foam, making it softer without becoming mushy. The outcome: a supportive ride for daily miles or high rebound fartlek workout.
You forget the Arahi 8 is a stability shoe because of how streamlined the design looks: it’s sleek and a compliment magnet. (I wore it at a housewarming party and runners—and nonrunners—asked what I was wearing!) Hoka modified the midfoot and toebox, making the shoe feel not as tight, resolving an issue testers had with the Arahi 7. Still, some narrow-footed felt the fit was a little too wide. But wide-footed runners, including yours truly, appreciated the accommodating new width.
New and invisible to the eye is the H-Frame system replacing the Arahi 7’s J-Frame. Hoka’s J-frame is featured in some of its stability shoes; dense foam in the midsole wraps around the heel and runs along the medial side, like the letter J, to lend support for light overpronation. The H-Frame, on the other hand, is a dense piece of foam in the midsole that’s H-shaped. The result is surprising; you’d think the H-Frame would make the Arahi rigid and heavy, but instead the shoe is lightweight and the ride is smooth. Running in it, I felt like I was gliding.
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Pros
- Too wide for some testers
- Smooth ride
- Shock-absorbing cushioning
Cons
- Too wide for some testers
Key Specs
| Weight | 9.7 oz (M), 8 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 6mm |
| Stack Height (Heel) | 35mm |
The Guide 18 has Saucony’s original Pwrrun foam, which translates to a soft, comfy ride that buffers the impact from constant pounding. The tooling is the same as the previous Guide: a wider last that’s straighter on the medial side. Saucony increased the foam around the heel for a more secure fit. The brand’s CenterPath tech provides stability with higher sidewalls and a broader base. “I loved the high wall upper design that literally holds your foot in the center of the cushioning, creating a comfortable ride,” said tester and overpronator Helen Capparell.
Tester Dave Block also praised the comfort of the Guide 18. “The first time I tried on the shoe, I cracked a big smile,” he said. “I loved the feel. It’s just so darn soft and comfortable inside! It put me in a positive frame of mind before I went out the door. If memory serves, this shoe has the most comfortable interior among all those I’ve wear-tested.”
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Brooks Glycerin GTS 22
Pros
- DNA Tuned midsole provides smooth ride
- Prime Day 2025 Running Shoe Deals
Cons
- Tongue could be more secure
Key Specs
| Weight | 10.6 oz (M), 9 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 10mm |
| Stack Height (Heel) | 38mm |
The Glycerin GTS 22 has that step-in feel we expect from Brooks: a slipper-like fit with a soft midsole that buffers miles of pounding. The shoe is updated with the brand’s new DNA Tuned foam, which first rolled out in the Glycerin Max. The dual-cell, nitrogen-infused foam provides a softer landing on your run but feels lighter than other max-cushioned shoes.
If the Glycerin Max is a mammoth, the Glycerin GTS 22 is a mastodon. The midsole is not as thick as its cushier counterpart, hitting 38mm in the heel (the Glycerin Max stack height is 42.25mm). But that lower height—and less squish—makes the Glycerin GTS 22 more versatile, positioning it as both recovery shoe and daily trainer.
The shoe blends everything you need when running short or long: lightweight cushioning with stability tech for late-onset pronation. The shoe absorbs shock while ensuring you’ll be taken care of when your form becomes sloppy, all thanks to Brooks’s bumper-like guide rails system.
Shop Men’s at brooksrunning.com Shop Women’s at brooksrunning.com
New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v14 Stability Running Shoe
Pros
- Extremely durable
- More cushioned than its predecessor
Cons
- Firm underfoot feeling
Key Specs
| Weight | 10.8 oz (M), 8.6 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
| Stack Height (Heel) | 35.5mm |
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article New Balance Fresh Foam X Vongo v6, the Fresh Foam X 860v14 ditches its rigid medial post for an EVA stability plate, which allows for more flexibility without sacrificing support. That creates a balanced and stable ride that serves as a perfect everyday workhorse for runners who need a lot of support. “It doesn’t drastically affect the support of the shoe, but it helps make the midsole feel softer,” says Petruny.
New for version 14, the 860’s dual-density Fresh Foam midsole now boasts another 4mm of padding in the forefoot and slightly less drop. The two layers–soft on top for comfort and firmer below for stability—provide a balance of cushioning and support that Petruny describes as “a touch more forgiving” without feeling “squishy-soft.”
Rounding out the stable base is a structured engineered mesh upper that further adds to the 860v14’s supportive nature. While our testers mostly liked it, one tester found the ankle collar rubbed slightly, while another felt the midsole was firm.
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Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 Stability Running Shoe
Pros
- Very stable for a super shoe
- Midsole provides a lot of energy return
- One of the cheaper super shoes
Cons
- Races - Places
Key Specs
| Weight | 7.5 oz (M), 6.5 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
| Stack Height (Heel) | 39.5mm (M), 31.5mm (W) |
Super shoes have fundamentally changed running. The combination of high-energy-return foam and a carbon fiber plate can make running fast easier and less damaging to your legs. While technically not a stability running shoe, the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 delivers the most stable ride of any race-day super shoe, and we feel confident recommending it to runners with mild stability needs.
Made from a blend of Saucony’s two high-performance foams, Pwrrun HG and Pwrrun PB, the Endorphin Pro 4 delivers a “snappy and responsive ride,” said one tester. A full-length carbon fiber plate embedded in the midsole lends stiffness and assists in a more powerful toe-off. That, combined with extended midsole "flaring" that extends outward from the upper, creates a wider base of support. That stable foundation centers you in the shoe and creates a stable platform for the foot. Faster paces just seem to come naturally in this shoe.
As with most race shoes, the upper is fairly minimalistic to reduce weight. The lightweight, breathable mesh and gusseted tongue provide excellent ventilation. If you generally wear stability shoes and you’re preparing for a competitive event, these are the ones to try.
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Brooks Cascadia 19
Pros
- Comfortable, true-to-size fit
- Tacky outsole rubber good for traction on most terrain
Cons
- Bulky; feels heavier compared to other trail shoes
Key Specs
| Weight | 10.7 oz (M), 8.9 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 6mm |
| Stack Height (Heel) | 34.5mm |
The do-it-all workhorse Cascadia 19 is the Brooks Ghost of the trail. Like the Brooks 17, which received an increase in midsole foam, the Cascadia got a major midsole update as well. Brooks added 2mm of DNA Loft v3 nitrogen-injected foam into the heel, and pumped 4mm of foam into the forefoot. This changed the offset from 8mm to 6mm, which gives the wearer “a lower center of gravity,” in the words of a Brooks rep to RW.
What makes the Cascadia 19 an excellent stability pick for the trail is Brooks Trail Adapt System. The support system involves a flexible ballistic rock shield in the midsole, TrailTack rubber outsole, and new DNA Loft v3 foam. All work in tandem to keep you on your toes when running long through treacherous terrain.
“This is by far one of the favorite trail shoes I have ever tested,” said tester Ryan Werling, an overpronator and extreme heel striker. “I’m 100-percent loyal to the Brooks Ghost road shoes but this is the first time I have ever tested (or worn) a Brooks trail-specific shoe. This shoe is so comfortable and by far the most upper padding (tongue/surrounding area) that I have ever felt in a shoe. I could wear this shoe on a 10-mile trail run or 20 mile hike without worrying about how my feet would feel.”
A small nitpick Werling shared, along with other testers, is the weight of the Cascadia. The shoe is quite hefty, but that comes with the territory in a cushioned trainer built for rugged trails.
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Stability Running Shoe Q&A
What to Consider
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
Cory Smith is a running coach and journalist specializing in running and fitness-related content and gear reviews. He is the founder of How We Selected, an online running coaching business that has helped hundreds of runners achieve personal bests in distances ranging from 800 meters to 100 miles. Cory holds a USA Track & Field Level 1 and 2 Endurance Certification and was the former Head Cross Country/Track Coach at Penn State Brandywine. Over his running career, Cory has held three Maryland state records, was a two-time National Championship qualifier while at Villanova University, and holds personal bests of 4:03 in the mile and an 8:05 in the 3K.
Heavy and sluggish Runner’s World The 10 Best Hoka Running Shoes of 2025 The Warmup, at Brooks Running RW newsletter. Now, she tests and reviews anything you might find on runners’ feet-from crew socks and compression boots to carbon-plated super shoes.
A lifelong runner and shoe geek, Morgan has been chasing the perfect pair of kicks since she joined her grade school cross-country team. Since then, she ran as a Division I walk-on for the cross-country and track & field teams at the University of Delaware, where she studied English and Biology. She has one full marathon under her belt, and has raced more halfs and 5Ks than she can count.
