Typically, stability running shoes are worn to combat excessive pronation, which is the inward rolling of your feet after impact. We all pronate to some degree, but some do so more than others which can lead to injury. At one point, stability shoes took their jobs incredibly seriously.

Stability and structured running shoes are ideal for anyone who overpronates when they run. A stability shoe is designed to provide better support to the inside of the foot, which helps to stop the ankle collapsing inwards.

Stability: Stability shoes are those that are designed for a runner who pronates past the point of neutral. This is known as overpronation, and these shoes are designed with supportive features in the midsole (specifically under the arch area) of the shoe for people who mildly or moderately overpronate.

Stability shoes are designed to keep your feet from rolling inward to better align them with your legs, so your body doesn’t overcorrect itself. Over a period of time, that overcorrection can lead to Achilles tendinitis, shin splints, and runner’s knee.

Bottom line: Stability shoes are useful for endurance runners whose foot muscles lack the necessary strength to provide constant stability, but it would be more effective to increase muscle strength instead of leaving this job to the shoes.

Neutral runners and those who supinate may be comfortable in nearly any kind of shoe, but overpronators can benefit greatly from wearing a shoe with added stability. Stability running shoes contain special features that prevent the arch and ankle from rolling excessively inward, thus avoiding potential pain and injury.

$130. With another year under its laces, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 remains one of the best stability running shoes on the road today. Brooks creates stability with its unique GuideRails technology.

Asics is a very well-known shoe brand and it is respected among runners for their commitment to quality. They are known for making a variety of stability shoes and the Asics Gel-Kayano 19 is just another great example of superior design and craftsmanship for runner shoes.

Most of the top brands have running shoes with heel support, including New Balance, ASICS, Brooks Pure Cadence and Nike. Alternatively, choose an orthotic heel cup made from silicone or leather that you can insert in your favorite running shoes.

Stability shoes are more bad than good. The pronation/foot type model is flawed; a new approach to footwear is needed. Scientifically, there’s no more evidence supporting shoes than there is supporting minimalist/barefoot running. Bulky, “motion control” shoes make you inefficient at the very least. Shoes have not altered injury rates over time.

Running shoes are durable and can last from a couple of months to several years depending on the usage, the brand you are purchasing and the materials that are being used for the construction of the shoe. However, if you buy something in the range of $50 to $150, they will last the longest, whereas anything below $40 may not be as durable.