Plus, why they’re all worth including in your workout.
Hot take: One of the best perks of being a runner is the built-in excuse to treat your feet to fresh kicks on the regular. (Seriously—experts recommend swapping out running shoes every 300 to 500 miles or about every six months, whichever comes first.) But if you have flat feet, style takes a backseat to comfort and support when choosing your next pair. Flat feet often lead to overpronation (when your feet roll inward too much while walking or running), which can cause aches, pains, and even injuries in your feet, knees, hips, and lower back. So the right sneakers can make a world of difference for flat feet in providing support and stability for your arches.
“It’s important to identify whether you have a flat, normal, or high arch because shoes designed to compensate for the impact of your feet can help prevent injuries and improve structural alignment and performance,” says Miguel Cunha, DPM, podiatrist and founder of Gotham Footcare in New York City.
With respect to flat feet, specifically, Dr. Cunha says “wearing the wrong shoes may lead to problems such as lowered performance, discomfort such as in plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee, injuries, and even early-onset arthritis.” But how do you know if you have flat feet at all? And if you do, what kind of running shoes should you buy? Great questions—keep scrolling, we’ve got you covered.
Best overall: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24, $140
Best for overpronation: Asics Gel Kayano 31, $165
Best for general stability: Rykä Utopia Run, $120
Best breathable: Hoka Arahi 7, $145
Best lightweight: Saucony Guide 17, $140
What are flat feet?
Essentially, flat feet are exactly what they sound like: when feet have little—if any—arch. This can, in turn, put more pressure on the foot and lead to or exacerbate those aforementioned issues of injury, plantar fasciitis, arthritis, and more. Flat feet can develop during childhood or later on during adulthood as a result of factors like age, overuse, injury, and more.
To illustrate what flat feet may feel like, board-certified podiatrist Mark Mendeszoon, DPM, a spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association