Best Stability Shoes

Your footwear forms the foundation for the way you walk, run and jump. When your shoes are too flimsy to support you or get worn out, this can alter your gait. Even small changes in the way you move can lead to instability or falls.

On top of that, when you start walking differently you create a ripple effect that can lead to joint or back pain and a host of common foot conditions. Shoes with stability can get you started off on the right foot by guiding you toward a natural gait, and giving you a stable foundation to work with.

Features & Fit

Find out what features to look out for in a shoe built for stability and motion control.

Base of Support: Shoes with a wider and bigger footprint tend to be more stable than narrow shoes or high heels, up to a certain point (obviously flippers come with their own stability setbacks!). This larger base gives your center of mass more space to balance over, which creates more stability.

Laces: Shoes with laces tend to offer more stability and motion control than slip-on shoes. Some shoes feature multiple eyelets so you can lace your shoes up different ways, to get more or less support around the ankle for example. Even with standard eyelets, different lacing patterns can give you better support for different situations or foot types.

Arch support: Over or underpronation can be a common cause of instability or foot pain. Shoes that guide your arch into a more natural posture can help reduce pronation, and thus increase stability!

Heel cup: Heel cups are popular for the extra cushion they offer, and because the deeper position of the heel helps seat your foot more securely for increased stability. Many people turn to aftermarket heel cups, but you can get unparalleled heel support with the technology built into every pair of KURUs.

Structure and materials: The shape of your shoe can affect stability, as can the materials. A simple canvas shoe may be lightweight and great for hot weather. But many of these styles do little to support your ankle and heel. Shoes with more structure around the ankle can help with stability, and you may find yourself walking with more confidence when you choose shoes made of firmer materials.

Outsole: The material of the outsole can play a factor in stability, but a large portion of shoes come with a rubber outsole. The specific blend of rubber can also matter, though. While you don’t need to learn about rubber ratios, you may notice that too much cushion in a shoe leaves you feeling like you’re being bounced around, while not enough cushion causes pain that can alter your gait.

Choosing Shoes For Maximum Stability

Finding the best shoes for stability depends on your body and your activity.

Finding the best stability shoes for men or the best stability shoes for women will depend on your body and the sorts of activities you plan to pursue. The type of terrain you plan to cover also matters. Let’s take a look at some of the factors that play into stable footwear, and when you might need certain features.

Traction: Keeping your footing can be more difficult depending on the terrain. Or if you plan to pivot and juke, you may want some extra traction even on regular grass and dirt. Cleats for athletes can have spikes around half an inch to support them. Hiking shoes feature more aggressive tread than sneakers, ensuring better grip on shifting surfaces like soil and sand.

Anti-slip: If you work on slippery surfaces or expect to encounter water underfoot, stability may be about anti-slip. Anti-slip shoes generally feature rubber outsoles, and the best anti-slip shoes use rubber compounds that “stick” better to the ground. The other factor in anti-slip is the groove patterns on the bottom of the shoe. These should be designed to move water out from beneath your foot. Anti-slip can be crucial in many workplaces, and there are specific standards shoes (like our KINETIC) must meet to be considered anti-slip.

Base of support: This concept is pretty simple but plays a big part in stability. Narrow shoes or shoes with high heels are less stable because there is less contact with the ground, and more opportunity for you to lose your footing by misstepping. Shoes with wider midsoles and lower heels, however, give you a broad and stable platform every time you step down. Generally speaking, the bigger your base of support the more stable you can be.

Gait: There are a variety of foot conditions that can alter the way you walk and cause pain or instability. The shape of your arch is one factor, and if you have flat feet or unusually high arches your foot may roll more as you walk. Pronation is a similar, related issue, and whether you under or overpronate you may want arch support or other guidance to correct your motion.