Recommendations for “stability” sneakers (for walking and standing)
August 11, 2024 7:55 PM Subscribe
I (49M) am a longtime wearer of the Brooks Beast and those have been an enthusiastically supported choice by the relevant medical personnel in my life, but I’m looking for alternatives for an occasional change of pace.
I wear the Beast along with orthotics (one of many things prescribed to assist problems and pain due to tendonitis in both feet). I like the Beast but feel my feet, and perhaps my budget, could benefit from some alternative even if only occasionally. Due to the tendonitis the sneakers are worn inside the house, and on occasional very short walks and trips to the store etc. Never for running, that is not a thing that happens at the moment.
Thank you!
I wear the Beast along with orthotics (one of many things prescribed to assist problems and pain due to tendonitis in both feet). I like the Beast but feel my feet, and perhaps my budget, could benefit from some alternative even if only occasionally. Due to the tendonitis the sneakers are worn inside the house, and on occasional very short walks and trips to the store etc. Never for running, that is not a thing that happens at the moment.
Thank you!
I'm also unhappy to be on the Hoka train due to foot problems, as I think they are silly looking. But my teenage niece seemed genuinely jealous of the bold color I picked out and couldn't stop talking about my sick shoes last time we saw her. So, y'know, maybe lean into how strange they look if the style repels you, and go with something bright and eye catching.
posted by potrzebie at 9:59 PM on August 11 [1 favorite]
posted by potrzebie at 9:59 PM on August 11 [1 favorite]
I’m liking my Brooks Ghost Max but I don’t know if that’s a real change of pace!
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 10:34 PM on August 11 [3 favorites]
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 10:34 PM on August 11 [3 favorites]
Also, are you looking at women’s, men’s, both?
I am a woman and also wear orthotics with everything possible. That includes a pair of New Balance, some Merrill Moab shoes, and the aforementioned Brooks Ghost Max. I also wear Oofos around the house without orthotics and love them.
For dress I wear Vionics, although I am not sure how I’ll handle my daughter’s upcoming bat mitzvah shoe-wise.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 10:39 PM on August 11 [3 favorites]
I am a woman and also wear orthotics with everything possible. That includes a pair of New Balance, some Merrill Moab shoes, and the aforementioned Brooks Ghost Max. I also wear Oofos around the house without orthotics and love them.
For dress I wear Vionics, although I am not sure how I’ll handle my daughter’s upcoming bat mitzvah shoe-wise.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 10:39 PM on August 11 [3 favorites]
Hokas are kind of narrow if you like Brooks. New Balance are usually a better fit.
What kind of tendonitis do you have?
If it’s insertional Achilles tendonitis (closer to the heel than the calf), you would benefit from a large height differential between the heel and the toe (the so-called “drop” - like 12-13mm), and/or heel lifts, which you can stack.
If you go to runrepeat.com, you can search for shoes with those parameters and see reviews (which I like to read because they let you know if you should size up or down for that year’s model. Best source for that is the manufacturer’s webpage).
Offhand I know Brooks Ghost have a high drop like that and New Balance 1080s are usually good that way too. You can sometimes find a deal if you get the previous year’s model, might be able to find it on Amazon or another 3rd party site if you get lucky. Just make sure you check reviews for the version you’re getting.
If you want to try heel lifts, you don’t want the crap they usually sell at pharmacies. Nothing with gel or whatever soft thing - they need to be very firm. Usually you can find them where orthotics and compatible shoes are sold. Start with a few mm and see if they work before moving up. I put mine underneath my orthotics.
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:36 PM on August 11 [1 favorite]
What kind of tendonitis do you have?
If it’s insertional Achilles tendonitis (closer to the heel than the calf), you would benefit from a large height differential between the heel and the toe (the so-called “drop” - like 12-13mm), and/or heel lifts, which you can stack.
If you go to runrepeat.com, you can search for shoes with those parameters and see reviews (which I like to read because they let you know if you should size up or down for that year’s model. Best source for that is the manufacturer’s webpage).
Offhand I know Brooks Ghost have a high drop like that and New Balance 1080s are usually good that way too. You can sometimes find a deal if you get the previous year’s model, might be able to find it on Amazon or another 3rd party site if you get lucky. Just make sure you check reviews for the version you’re getting.
If you want to try heel lifts, you don’t want the crap they usually sell at pharmacies. Nothing with gel or whatever soft thing - they need to be very firm. Usually you can find them where orthotics and compatible shoes are sold. Start with a few mm and see if they work before moving up. I put mine underneath my orthotics.
posted by cotton dress sock at 11:36 PM on August 11 [1 favorite]
For stability and cushioning my podiatrist recommended: Hoka Gaviota, Altra Via Olympus, Asics gel kayano and GT200, Brooks Adrenaline GTS . There were a few others on the list but they were from manufacturers with narrow, symmetrical toe boxes (looking at you, New Balance) which I didn't look at. These are largely all the same incredibly expensive price ($280) in Australia.
For reference, I typically wear womens or mens shoes in a EU40 and have a narrow heel, high arch, wide forefoot with very straight big toe (hence needing asymmetric toe boxes), and low foot volume. I have orthotics to fix forefoot and arch pain, and need stability shoes with a high cushion and a high drop.
I went with the Hoka Gaviota after trying on them all. The Hokas are super comfy and have a more foot shaped toebox that didn't crowd my toes. They are not really sillier looking than anybody else's max cushion, stability shoe (which are all fairly ridiculous). The only issue is that the heel cup is not that deep, and my orthotics have a pretty built up heel so I find my heel slipping out a bit as I walk (doesn't seem to cause problems).
Contrary to some of the commenters above, I do not find Hokas narrow - in all the other shoes (except the Altras), I needed the wider width for the toebox (and that was often borderline), but the normal Hokas are plenty wide enough (and the wide width is ludicrously spacious). That may be because my main issue is needing a more asymmetric /foot shaped toebox, rather than having wide feet.
The Altra are a zero drop shoe, which may or may not be what you want. They are also surprisingly narrow through the heel and midfoot which makes them hard to seat my orthotics in.
The gel kayano 30 are a very stable, comfy shoe which I nearly bought, but the sole projects way back beyond the heel, which I found uncomfortable to walk with (although running is fine). The podiatrist did say that these are more long lasting than some of the others (Brooks, Hoka) - made of better materials, I think. My previous shoe was a Brooks ghost, which he said is definitely not suitable if you need stability.
The Brooks adrenaline is the most normal looking of these, which I also seriously considered, but it definitely had less cushioning than all the other options.
Obviously, if you are still in contact with your podiatrist, they will likely have a list they can send you of suitable shoes.
posted by neatsocks at 3:32 AM on August 12
For reference, I typically wear womens or mens shoes in a EU40 and have a narrow heel, high arch, wide forefoot with very straight big toe (hence needing asymmetric toe boxes), and low foot volume. I have orthotics to fix forefoot and arch pain, and need stability shoes with a high cushion and a high drop.
I went with the Hoka Gaviota after trying on them all. The Hokas are super comfy and have a more foot shaped toebox that didn't crowd my toes. They are not really sillier looking than anybody else's max cushion, stability shoe (which are all fairly ridiculous). The only issue is that the heel cup is not that deep, and my orthotics have a pretty built up heel so I find my heel slipping out a bit as I walk (doesn't seem to cause problems).
Contrary to some of the commenters above, I do not find Hokas narrow - in all the other shoes (except the Altras), I needed the wider width for the toebox (and that was often borderline), but the normal Hokas are plenty wide enough (and the wide width is ludicrously spacious). That may be because my main issue is needing a more asymmetric /foot shaped toebox, rather than having wide feet.
The Altra are a zero drop shoe, which may or may not be what you want. They are also surprisingly narrow through the heel and midfoot which makes them hard to seat my orthotics in.
The gel kayano 30 are a very stable, comfy shoe which I nearly bought, but the sole projects way back beyond the heel, which I found uncomfortable to walk with (although running is fine). The podiatrist did say that these are more long lasting than some of the others (Brooks, Hoka) - made of better materials, I think. My previous shoe was a Brooks ghost, which he said is definitely not suitable if you need stability.
The Brooks adrenaline is the most normal looking of these, which I also seriously considered, but it definitely had less cushioning than all the other options.
Obviously, if you are still in contact with your podiatrist, they will likely have a list they can send you of suitable shoes.
posted by neatsocks at 3:32 AM on August 12
New Balance 99x series--the 990v6 is the most cushioned, while the 991 and 993 are among the most supportive.
posted by box at 4:46 AM on August 12
posted by box at 4:46 AM on August 12
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posted by BlahLaLa at 8:41 PM on August 11 [2 favorites]