Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet

In a Hurry? Editors choice:
New Balance 990V4
Test Winner: New Balance 990V4
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Running with flat feet can cause serious impact issues for your feet and legs, and often results in pain and fatigue. Some people are just born with it, while others wind up experiencing the problem because of injury, poor form, or from using incorrect footwear. In some cases, flat feet lead to another issue called overpronation, which makes your feet start turning inward. If you suffer from flat feet, you know just how uncomfortable running shoes with high arches can be. As a person who loves running, there is no reason to put off the activity you love any longer. There are many excellent flat feet running shoes available on the market today that can help you straighten out your flat feet as you run so that you can keep going with far less soreness.

Standout Picks

New Balance 990V4
New Balance is a well-known manufacturer of high-quality running shoes, and they’ve designed running shoes to help with a wide variety of foot problems. Their 990V4 Running Shoes are another great shoe that helps assist people with flat feet that still want to accomplish their daily runs. You’ll get nice sneakers with a leather upper that features breathable mesh, so you’ll get great ventilation. Also, the appearance of this shoe is very stylish, which is a nice bonus. You’ll get a nice, comfortable lining with a padded collar and tongue, and all the cushioning and support you need.
Amazon Link
$220.00
Nike Lunarglide 8
Nike has been developing fantastic sporting good products for decades, and their shoes have always been known for its high-quality comfort. Nike’s Lunarglide 8 Running Shoes fits this description and gives you a unique, fashionable shoe that comes in many colors and also offers a design that will help your flat feet feel much better as you run. You’ll get some lightweight shoes that are also flexible, and a great cushioning system that can help you with your flat feet. You’ll get the support you need combined with a nice, breathable shoe.
Amazon Link
Mizuno Wave Inspire 13
Mizuno is a great manufacturer of running shoes that feature a lot of versatility and innovation in their shoe designs. Their Wave Inspire 13 Running Shoes offers a lot of versatility and can be used for running, daily wear, or training. These shoes offer a lot of fashionable styles and color options and are also very functional for runners with flat feet. They feature nice arch support to help improve your stride and do a great job with cutting back on pain and fatigue. Plus, these shoes come with an affordable price tag, which is another nice bonus.
Amazon Link
New Balance 870V4
New Balance’s 870V4 Running Shoes offer you a nice, moderately priced shoe that can help you out with your flat feet and keep you running in comfort. These shoes have a lot of fashion and style that come with them, but they also offer a lot of great functionality. They are designed to provide a lot of stability and support for runners that have flat feet, and they also come with a nice ventilation system to add more comfort to the design. These shoes are lightweight and also do a great job of providing the cushioning and support you’ll need to keep going.
Amazon Link
Merrell Vapor Glove 3
Merrell's core values when designing a shoe are comfort, design, durability, and versatility. For over three decades, Merrell has been producing quality hiking, running, and everyday-wear shoes. The Vapor Glove 3 fits the bill perfecting by combining flexibility with support and comfort. These are a barefoot style shoe, but also have many included features to protect your feet.
Saucony Guide 10
Saucony’s Guide 10 Running Shoes offer you an affordable option in great running shoes if you are shopping on a budget. These shoes still come with high-quality design and offer decent support to help you with your flat feet. You’ll get lightweight shoes that help straighten out your feet and also come in a lot of color and style options for some fun fashion choices. Plus, these shoes have a lot of comfortable cushioning and a nice ventilation system with their breathable mesh uppers. You’ll get a lot of comfort and stability with these well-designed shoes.
Saucony Omni 15
Saucony’s Omni 15 Running Shoes offer an affordable choice in running shoes for flat feet for people shopping on a budget. You get a lot of support packed into this lightweight shoe that will give you all the stability you need to help correct your stride and make your feet and legs feel great each time you run. You also get a lot of style and color options with these shoes, so you’ll get fashion as well as functionality. These shoes offer a lot of cushioning and support and also have a nice ventilation system that will make you feel comfortable even on long runs.
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18
As a manufacturer of great fitness products, Brooks has a renowned name. Most runners love their products, and they continue to create very popular running shoes. Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 Running Shoes are another popular option among runners and provide a lot of cushioning and support for flat feet while also staying fashionable. These shoes look stylish but still have enough stability and support to help out runners with flat feet. Plus, these shoes are very lightweight and come with a nice ventilation system.
Asics GT-1000 6
ASICS made the GT-1000 6 Running Shoes to be a daily running shoe that works well for flat feet and also offers an affordable option for runners shopping on a budget. You’ll get a lot of color and style options with these shoes, so you’ll get fashion combined with functionality. These shoes provide a lot of stability and comfort, and also have effective breathable mesh uppers for great ventilation. With these shoes, you’ll get a padded tongue and collar and a sock liner to help keep it comfortable.
New Balance 1260V6
New Balance’s 1260V6 Running Shoes offer a fashionable, stylish design and an affordable price tag for those of you shopping for running shoes on a budget. These shoes look great but are also designed to be highly functional. You’ll get a lot of great ventilation built into these shoes, and a lot of cushioning. These shoes are a bit heavier because of all the cushioning and support they offer, but they still make a nice, comfortable shoe choice if you have flat feet and want support. Also, they come in both narrow and wide widths, so you should find the size that fits you.
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Criteria Used for Evaluation

Comfort

Comfort is probably the most important thing you’ll want to analyze when you are trying to prevent soreness and pain from flat feet. Chances are, you've experienced enough discomfort and we are here to break down each shoe and let you know exactly what each can offer you. We’ve provided an analysis of the comfort designed into each one of the product on our list. Everyone's feet are different and require a different level of support. For people with flat feet, you'll want to focus on stability, shock absorption, and cushioning.

Depending on how much cushioning and support you need, make sure you review the comfort level of each shoe to help figure out exactly what you need. The midsole of a running shoe is one of the most important areas and as a person with flat feet, you'll need to keep an eye on this. A great midsole will offer you protection and shock absorption while running.

Features

We listed features for all of the products on our list, and different styles and brands tend to offer different concepts with their shoes. What we find that is similar about many of the features is that you’ll usually find cushioning and shock absorption, good traction, and a feature that will help keep your stride straight so that you don’t experience as much pain. All of these factors work together to help make these running shoes more comfortable for people with flat feet.

Additionally, the stability offered in running shoes, especially for those with flat feet, is very important. A good stability system can help you avoid overpronation. If you are feeling off balance in your shoes, you will not be running with the correct form and will only make things worse.

Other useful features that we looked at included breathability, removable insoles, how the shoe holds your foot, and traction. Each individual feature works together to keep you comfortable, confident, and safe from overpronating.

Durability

We discussed the durability of each one of the products on our list. Durability has a lot to do with the materials that are designed into the shoe, as well as the design of the rubber soles on the shoes. For the upper of the shoe, a lot of manufacturers use mesh combined with another strong material, such as leather or textile (denier). Combining this strong material with mesh helps to make the shoe not only just breathable but more durable as well.

A lot of lightweight shoes use EVA foam as the sole of the shoe. This is great for keeping the weight of the shoe down, but not all foams are created equally. Still, the strongest sole you can find for a running shoe is made from rubber. Running shoes are something that are likely to be worn every day, and not always on soft, clean terrain. Every aspect of the running shoe materials is an important factor in how long you'll have the shoes before needing to replace them.

Buying Guide

1. New Balance 990V4

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$220.00
New Balance 990V4
Amazon Link

New Balance is a well-known manufacturer of high-quality running shoes, and they’ve designed running shoes to help with a wide variety of foot problems. Their 990V4 Running Shoes are another great shoe that helps assist people with flat feet that still want to accomplish their daily runs. You’ll get nice sneakers with a leather upper that features breathable mesh, so you’ll get great ventilation. Also, the appearance of this shoe is very stylish, which is a nice bonus. You’ll get a nice, comfortable lining with a padded collar and tongue, and all the cushioning and support you need.

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Comfort
New Balance’s 990V4 Running Shoes feature an ABZORB midsole that has very solid cushioning in it, which should keep your feet comfortable and also help to absorb impact while you are on the go. These shoes are very lightweight as well, which adds to the comfort level since they are extremely easy to run in. You also get blown rubber at the forefoot area of these shoes, which helps to absorb impact and also provides extra cushioning and support. These shoes also feature reflective cushioning to make you more visible in low light conditions. The mesh upper is also very breathable, so you’ll get great ventilation and you’ll never need to worry about your feet overheating.

Features
The leather outsole on these shoes is designed to be 40% lighter than other rubber outsoles and uses Encap material with the rubber to create a lightweight shoe that is also very durable. Plus, these shoes come with a soft lining and a padded collar and tongue. They also feature a nice ABZORB midsole for extra comfort, and reflective uppers to help you maintain visibility.

Durability
The leather outsoles on these shoes help make these shoes lightweight and also adds to their impact absorption. However, it also makes the shoes very durable since it boosts traction while you run and also protects the rest of the shoe from excessive wear and tear. Plus, the uppers are comprised out of leather which helps to add to the lifespan of the shoe. You’ll have these shoes for some time before you’ll need to worry about replacing them.

Amazon Link
$220.00

2. Nike Lunarglide 8

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Nike Lunarglide 8
Amazon Link

Nike has been developing fantastic sporting good products for decades, and their shoes have always been known for its high-quality comfort. Nike’s Lunarglide 8 Running Shoes fits this description and gives you a unique, fashionable shoe that comes in many colors and also offers a design that will help your flat feet feel much better as you run. You’ll get some lightweight shoes that are also flexible, and a great cushioning system that can help you with your flat feet. You’ll get the support you need combined with a nice, breathable shoe.

Read more

Comfort
Nike’s Lunarglide 8 Running Shoes feature a lightweight design that adds to their comfort and makes them very easy to run in. You’ll also get a padded collar and tongue and a foam insole that will help pad your foot. You can remove this insole if you have your own orthotics. Also, these shoes are made to help you get a great fit while you are on the go. They are also very breathable and have a nice ventilation system that will help your feet stay dry and comfortable.

Features
You get a bevy of great features with these Nike shoes. First, you can pick from a variety of styles and colors to create your own fashion statement. You also get a shoe that offers Dynamic Fit Technology which makes the shoe fit just right. These shoes also come with a Dynamic Support platform in the heel so that you get all the balance and stability you need as you run. There is plenty of support designed into these shoes to make your flat feet feel great as you run.

Durability
These shoes are lightweight, but they still provide you with ample amounts of durability. The rubber outsole on these shoes helps protect the rest of the shoes from any excessive wear and tear issues. Also, these shoes feature a lot of high-quality materials that means they will last for a very long time.

Amazon Link

3. Mizuno Wave Inspire 13

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Mizuno Wave Inspire 13
Amazon Link

Mizuno is a great manufacturer of running shoes that feature a lot of versatility and innovation in their shoe designs. Their Wave Inspire 13 Running Shoes offers a lot of versatility and can be used for running, daily wear, or training. These shoes offer a lot of fashionable styles and color options and are also very functional for runners with flat feet. They feature nice arch support to help improve your stride and do a great job with cutting back on pain and fatigue. Plus, these shoes come with an affordable price tag, which is another nice bonus.

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Comfort
Mizuno’s Wave Inspire 13 Running Shoes come with a lot of features that make them very comfortable. First, the lining on the interior of these shoes feels very soft to the touch, and also works to wick moisture away. The breathable mesh lining offers a lot of ventilation to keep your feet dry and comfortable. You also get a removable foam insert you can use for extra arch support, or take out and replace with a different insole.

Features
These shoes provide a lot of effective features most runners will love. First, you get Mizuno’s traditional internal straps that help hold your feet in place to create the perfect fit. Also, these shoes feature SmoothRide technology that helps provide extra support to your feet and absorb shock as well. The outsole on these shoes comes with carbon rubber materials and gives you a lot of traction and support while also absorbing impact.

Durability
The carbon rubber outsoles on these shoes help absorb shock and provide great traction while you run. They also add to the durability of the shoe because they help to protect the outer area of the shoe from wearing out. That means these shoes are very long-lasting, and you should be able to get a lot of use out of them.

Amazon Link

4. New Balance 870V4

Where to buy
Amazon Link
New Balance 870V4
Amazon Link

New Balance’s 870V4 Running Shoes offer you a nice, moderately priced shoe that can help you out with your flat feet and keep you running in comfort. These shoes have a lot of fashion and style that come with them, but they also offer a lot of great functionality. They are designed to provide a lot of stability and support for runners that have flat feet, and they also come with a nice ventilation system to add more comfort to the design. These shoes are lightweight and also do a great job of providing the cushioning and support you’ll need to keep going.

Read more

Comfort
New Balance’s 870V4 Running Shoes are designed with a lot of comfort in mind. You get a soft fabric lining and a padded tongue and collar that help add some cushioning for comfort. Plus, these shoes also feature ABZORB midsole cushioning, which helps absorb shock and also wraps the feet in padded comfort. These shoes are also designed to be lightweight for extra comfort and feature breathable mesh uppers for extra ventilation so that you’ll never feel like your feet are overheating.

Features
These shoes offer many nice features that make them a nice option for flat feet. You get a lightweight shoe with an ABZORB midsole cushioning feature to help absorb impact and also give your feet the padding they need to stay comfortable. Plus, these shoes come in several fashion and style options, which is a nice bonus. They are very breathable, and they have the stability and support you’ll need to feel great when you run.

Durability
These shoes have an ABZORB midsole cushioning which helps to absorb shock but also adds some durability to the shoe. Also, the Ndurance outsoles on these shoes are designed to be lightweight, but still are very durable. They help to protect the shoes to extend their lifespan and prevent wear and tear, and they also do a great job of absorbing shock.

Amazon Link

5. Merrell Vapor Glove 3

Where to buy
Merrell Vapor Glove 3
Amazon Link

Merrell's core values when designing a shoe are comfort, design, durability, and versatility. For over three decades, Merrell has been producing quality hiking, running, and everyday-wear shoes. The Vapor Glove 3 fits the bill perfecting by combining flexibility with support and comfort. These are a barefoot style shoe, but also have many included features to protect your feet.

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Comfort
The Vapor Glove 3 is a great lightweight barefoot running shoe. The construction of the shoe hugs your foot perfectly and has a sock-like fit. The toe box is quite roomy, allowing your toes to splay each time you hit the ground. Having a roomy toe box like this also prevents rubbing or blisters and reinforces the feeling of running barefoot. Also around the toe box, the sole of the shoe rises a bit to provide even more protection.

Features
One of the most loved features of this shoe is the Vibram TC5+ sole. It is slightly sticky, provides a stable grip, and can help to improve your gait. Another great feature on the sole of the shoe is the Trail Protect Pad. This little pad is located in the middle of the sole and provides extra protection to the softest part of your foot.

Durability
On average, these shoes have lived through about 300-miles of running. While other, more expensive and durable shoes last about 500-miles, you could even purchase two pairs of these for the same price and run an extra 100-miles. The Vibram sole of these shoes is very flexible and may be part of the reason that the glue between the shoe and the sole has been known to give out.

6. Saucony Guide 10

Where to buy
Saucony Guide 10
Amazon Link

Saucony’s Guide 10 Running Shoes offer you an affordable option in great running shoes if you are shopping on a budget. These shoes still come with high-quality design and offer decent support to help you with your flat feet. You’ll get lightweight shoes that help straighten out your feet and also come in a lot of color and style options for some fun fashion choices. Plus, these shoes have a lot of comfortable cushioning and a nice ventilation system with their breathable mesh uppers. You’ll get a lot of comfort and stability with these well-designed shoes.

Read more

Comfort
Saucony’s Guide 10 Running Shoes offer a lot of features that help amplify their comfort and support. You get a lot of arch support which helps people with flat feet create a more natural stride, and cuts back on both pain and fatigue. You also get a Powergrid midsole with these shoes that are made to bounce back, giving you cushioning and absorbing shock. There is also a lot of stability and support in these shoes, and a durable rubber sole that absorbs impact. These shoes also have a great ventilation system that breathes well and will keep your feet dry.

Features
These shoes come with a lot of features that make them a great option for runners that have issues with flat feet. You get an SRC Impact Zone which helps absorb shock, provides control and stability and also helps to straighten out your stride. There is also a lot of traction designed into the soles of these shoes, which help give you the grip and balance you need. The outsoles are designed out of a durable rubber material and do a great job of absorbing shock.

Durability
These shoes are designed with a lot of durabilities, which is nice given their affordable price. The rubber outsoles on these shoes help absorb shock, but also repel damage and wear and tear. So, the shoes last for some time and have a lot of durabilities designed into them. With their excellent comfort and support, they make a great choice for runners.

7. Saucony Omni 15

Where to buy
Saucony Omni 15
Amazon Link

Saucony’s Omni 15 Running Shoes offer an affordable choice in running shoes for flat feet for people shopping on a budget. You get a lot of support packed into this lightweight shoe that will give you all the stability you need to help correct your stride and make your feet and legs feel great each time you run. You also get a lot of style and color options with these shoes, so you’ll get fashion as well as functionality. These shoes offer a lot of cushioning and support and also have a nice ventilation system that will make you feel comfortable even on long runs.

Read more

Comfort
Saucony’s Omni 15 Running Shoes offer a lot of comfortable features that make this shoe a great option for runners. First, you get a lot of upper foot support with a moisture wicking sock liner and a padded tongue and collar. All of that makes these shoes comfortable while also helping to give them a solid fit. You’ll get POWERGRID technology to help absorb shock and correct your stride. Also, these shoes have a nice ventilation system so you’ll never need to worry about your feet overheating.

Features
These shoes have a lot of nice features packed into them that provide a lot of support. You’ll get ARCH-LOCK technology with these shoes, which helps support your feet, keep them in place, and also helps you get a more natural stride as you run so you won’t feel as much pain. The uppers in these shoes have light stitching to prevent rubbing or skin irritation. Also, these shoes come with an outsole that features XT-900 carbon rubber which helps absorb shock.

Durability
These shoes come with several high-quality materials designed into them, which boosts their durability. They also come with the amazing XT-900 carbon rubber outsole which helps absorb shock, but also protects the shoe from wear and tear and extends the lifespan of the shoe. You’ll get a lot of use out of these shoes before you need to worry about replacing them.

8. Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18

Where to buy
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18
Amazon Link

As a manufacturer of great fitness products, Brooks has a renowned name. Most runners love their products, and they continue to create very popular running shoes. Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 Running Shoes are another popular option among runners and provide a lot of cushioning and support for flat feet while also staying fashionable. These shoes look stylish but still have enough stability and support to help out runners with flat feet. Plus, these shoes are very lightweight and come with a nice ventilation system.

Read more

Comfort
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 Running Shoes are made with comfort in mind and have a lightweight design that makes them feel great when you run. You get a collar with padding and a plush tongue designed with suede for extra comfort and support. The lining on the interior of the shoe feels very soft, and these shoes have a nice foam insole if you want the extra padding. The BioMoGo DNA provides gender equal cushioning that will be comfortable for everyone. If you don’t want this feature, you can remove the foam insole. Also, the mesh uppers are very breathable and bring you a nice ventilation system so you don’t need to worry about your feet overheating.

Features
These shoes come with several great features that make them very popular among runners. First, the shoe is very stylish, which is a nice bonus. Next, the shoe features an adjustable foot saddle, as well as a tri-density midsole which helps with pronation. You’ll get a removable foam insole and a nice toe flex design for extra support and flexibility. Also, you get a well-ventilated shoe that will feel great on your runs.

Durability
The synthetic and rubber outsoles on these shoes do a great job of absorbing impact while you run. However, they also add to the durability of the shoe since they prevent the shoe from wearing out too quickly. The Flextra rubber outsole offers a great amount of support while still being flexible enough that your feet won’t feel confined. So, you get a long-lasting shoe that you’ll be able to use for some time while you enjoy more comfortable runs.

9. Asics GT-1000 6

Where to buy
Asics GT-1000 6
Amazon Link

ASICS made the GT-1000 6 Running Shoes to be a daily running shoe that works well for flat feet and also offers an affordable option for runners shopping on a budget. You’ll get a lot of color and style options with these shoes, so you’ll get fashion combined with functionality. These shoes provide a lot of stability and comfort, and also have effective breathable mesh uppers for great ventilation. With these shoes, you’ll get a padded tongue and collar and a sock liner to help keep it comfortable.

Read more

Comfort
ASICS GT-1000 6 Running Shoes are designed with a bevy of comfortable features that you’ll love. First, you get shoes that have both a padded collar and tongue for extra comfort. These shoes also come with a sock liner that absorbs moisture and adds extra padding. There is also a padded, removable insole that comes with these shoes that you can use or replace if you have different insoles. The insoles help to protect your arches well. The breathable mesh uppers offer a lot of great ventilation and extra comfort as well.

Features
These shoes come with heel and forefoot GEL pads that help to absorb shock and make your landing more smooth. Also, there is a built-in guidance system with these shoes that helps to keep your gait in the right position so that you don’t have further problems from flat feet. You also get SpEVA midsoles that boost comfort, and nice rubber traction on the soles to help absorb more impact and shock.

Durability
The rubber outsoles on these shoes help absorb impact and add comfort, but they also make these shoes very durable. The outsoles help protect the shoes from excessive wear and tear, meaning they are a long-lasting pair of shoes. You won’t need to replace them for a while, and you’ll have them with you for some time.

10. New Balance 1260V6

Where to buy
Amazon Link
New Balance 1260V6
Amazon Link

New Balance’s 1260V6 Running Shoes offer a fashionable, stylish design and an affordable price tag for those of you shopping for running shoes on a budget. These shoes look great but are also designed to be highly functional. You’ll get a lot of great ventilation built into these shoes, and a lot of cushioning. These shoes are a bit heavier because of all the cushioning and support they offer, but they still make a nice, comfortable shoe choice if you have flat feet and want support. Also, they come in both narrow and wide widths, so you should find the size that fits you.

Read more

Comfort
New Balance’s 1260V6 Running Shoes come with a very breathable mesh upper that offers a lot of ventilation and comfort. Your feet will always stay dry, and you’ll never need to feel like your feet are overheating. Also, these shoes have a lot of cushioning packed into them and maximized support features to help you straighten out your stride as you run. You also get plenty of protection from impact, and a removable footbed so you can adjust the amount of cushioning and comfort you need.

Features
These shoes offer a fashionable and functional option with a lot of great features. First, you get a lot of great ventilation and a removable footbed so you can adjust the cushioning you want and need. You also get a lot of foam padding with these shoes that bounce back as you run for the protection you’ll need. You get a lot of support in both the heel and toe areas of these shoes, as well. Also, you get a blown rubber outsole that helps to absorb shock and also provides great traction.

Durability
The blown rubber outsole on these shoes gives a lot of traction and shock absorption. However, it also helps to make these shoes very durable since it protects them against wear and tear. You’ll get a nice, durable long lasting shoe with these that won’t break your bank.

Amazon Link

Sources

  1. Find My Footwear, 12 Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet 2018, Informational Running Website
  2. Ruggero Loda, The Best Running Shoes for Flat Feet 2018, Informational Running Website
  3. Brian Price, 10 Running Shoes For Flat Feet Runners, Informational Running Website