THE BEST RUNNING SHOES TO SUPPORT HIGH ARCHES

Everyone from professional athletes to everyday runners understands that the key to success partly lies in having the right equipment. Although choosing a shoe may be influenced by styling and durability, there may be times when you might be wearing the wrong type of shoe, especially if you haven’t considered your foot type and conditioning.

In this article, we discuss specific remedies for athletes with high arched feet and the best running shoes for this condition. A high arched foot, sometimes referred to as a “cavus foot”, is simply a condition where the foot has a very highly defined arch between the heel and the toes. The effects of this is that an overbearing amount of load rests on the ball and heel of the foot when walking, running or standing which can lead to injuries.

Injuries caused by this condition can lead to a variety of painful experiences, imbalance and instability during exercise.  As a consequence, any runner with this condition should seriously consider purchasing a shoe specifically designed for the cavus foot condition. So, on that note, here are our top picks:

Hoka One One Clifton 3 Men’s Running Shoe – from £89.99
Hoka One One Clifton 3 Women’s Running Shoe – from £89.99

Weighing in at just 8.06 Oz with a 5mm heel to toe drop, the Clifton 3 is best suited for road terrain, providing balanced cushioning and neutral stability.

It is designed to be ultra-lightweight, with a full length moulded EVA midsole. The strategic rubber placement helps absorb ground shock and provides durability. The shoe also provides the much needed support for the heel, preventing any pain on the balls of the feet that may arise due to the cavus foot condition.

Adidas UltraBoost Men’s Running Shoe – from £129.99
Adidas UltraBoost Women’s Running Shoe – from £129.99

The Adidas UltraBoost is the perfect blend of design and functionality. These highly popular shoes are built with the boost cushioning system – Adidas’ most responsive cushioning system ever. Adidas UltraBoost is also equipped with a StretchWeb rubber outsole for an energized and shock absorbing feel. Using shoes such as the UltraBoost can help prevent other foot conditions and injuries such as plantar fasciitis and ankle sprains.

Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33 Men’s Running Shoe – from £89.99
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33 Women’s Running Shoe – from £89.99

Weighing just 306g, the Nike’s Air Zoom Pegasus gives a perfect fit feeling and provides responsive cushioning for both male and female runners. Its air units are made to provide comfort and spring, therefore acting as an excellent shock absorber for the cavus foot. There is assured comfort and a smooth foot-strike as the heel motion and outer sole provides cushioning on impact.

These shoes will provide maximum comfort and help you rack up mile after mile, whilst minimise any pain previously experienced on the ball and heel of the feet.

Brooks Ghost 9 Men’s Running Shoe – from £103.49
Brooks Ghost 9 Women’s Running Shoe – from £103.49

Brooks’ Ghost running shoe is an ideal choice for the medium to high arch footed runner on roads and track surfaces. The Ghost weighs approximately 292g, with a 12mm midsole drop and neutral support level.

Designed with the BioMogo DNA midsole, the shoes adapt to every step you take in an aim to provide a comfortable cushioned run. The Ghost is one of our top picks for athletes suffering with cavus foot, as they successfully reduce pressure on the ball and heels of the feet.

New Balance 1080v7 Men’s Running Shoe – from £103.49
New Balance 1080v7 Women’s Running Shoe – from £103.49

The New Balance 1080v7 is specially designed for runners requiring super cushioning. The shoe boasts soft fresh foam midsoles that enables a plush and stable ride with roomy toe space allowing for more freedom, preventing sore toes.

The 1080v7 is essential for runners with high arches as its outsole flex grooves aid free movement and unrivalled balance on impact with the ground.

Finally, the “bootie” construction system secures the foot, making runs wearing the New Balance 1080v more secure from stress fractures, ankle injuries, shin splits and so much more.

Saucony Ride 9 Men’s Running Shoe – from £103.49
Saucony Ride 9 Women’s Running Shoe – from £103.49

Fresh out the box, these are the most recent update to the highly rated Saucony Ride 8.

Ride 9’s still come with the traditional neutral support system and the new EverRun top-sole construction gives smooth landing, cushioning and shock absorption. The Ride 9 is one to surely make you feel like you are running on soft foam with their tri-flex system that impressively distributes pressure over a larger surface area. This is precisely what high arched runners need to keep as much weight off their heels and balls of their feet as possible.

Saucony Swerve Men’s Running Shoe – from £80.99
Saucony Swerve Women’s Running Shoe – from £80.99

There is much to be excited about with the Saucony Swerve, especially for those with high arched feet. The Swerve is one of the best-cushioned shoes on the market with its lightweight plush cushioning and upper fit design.

The 8mm cushioning means balance is distributed all round the shoes making every landing as comfortable as ever. Saucony’s Tri-Flex technology is also included, providing much needed shock distribution.

Asics Gel Nimbus 19 Men’s Running Shoe – from £130.49
Asics Gel Nimbus 19 Women’s Running Shoe – from £130.49

When looking to rack up some long runs, you need shoes that will really take care of your feet. If this applies to you, the Asics Gel Nimbus could be your go-to shoe.

There is more than enough support and cushioning for your feet, thanks to the Supreme combination of the FluidRide, Flytefoam and SpeVA systems which reduce midsole breakdowns while increasing bounce back.

A highly popular shoe that provides superb comfort and arch support.

Nike Air Zoom Free RN Distance 2 Men’s Running Shoe – from £69.99
Nike Air Zoom Free RN Distance 2 Women’s Running Shoe – from £69.99

Last on our list but certainly not least is Nike’s Air Zoom Free RN Distance running shoe. A truly beautifully designed shoe that offers comfort for long distance running. The ultra flexible outsole gives a tuned and natural feeling while still providing the best cushioning possible. There’s also the Lunarlon cushioning system that boasts soft and natural support for either high or medium arches.

Final Thoughts

There you have it, in no specific order, our top recommendations for high arched runners. Any runner with high arches should be aware that prolonged exercise without the right support and comfort can lead to injuries, so prevention is certainly better than cure.

Any one of the above shoes should provide excellent cushioning and suitable support for high arches, and by choosing the correct shoe you’ll reduce the risk of common injuries like plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains, shin splits, hammer toes and stress fractures and enjoy longer pain free running.