High arches, also known as Cavus Foot is a condition where your foot effectively curves upwards, creating a larger than the standard gap between your arch and the ground. It can be caused by neurological defects, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, stroke, or even be a result of inherent structural abnormality.
It’s important to note that high arches that are a result of a neurological condition are likely to get worse throughout your life. In other cases, the arch will usually stay the same.
The problem with high arches is that the weight of your body is forced onto your heel and toe. In some cases, your toes can even start to bend inwards permanently, an issue known as hammertoes.
As high arches need additional support, it’s important that you choose the best running shoes for high arches, it won’t just improve your comfort as you run, it can prevent you from developing other issues
8 Best Running Shoes For High Arches 2020
Fortunately, it’s easy to get the best running shoes for high arches, take a look at the 8 choices below, read our buying guide, and then pick your new running shoes. It’s that simple!
1. Mizuno Wave Creation 20 Men’s & Women’s
The Mizuno wave creation range has been developed using wave technology to spread the impact across your foot, immediately reducing the pressure on your heel and toes.
This shoe is designed for road runners and those who have a neutral foot. The Wave Creation 20 is designed to be light but remains comfortable, even if you’re looking to run a marathon.
It benefits from a mesh upper to aid ventilation, heel inserts to add comfort and reduce strike impact, and has sewn overlays, helping your foot to feel locked in.
But, the Creation 20 also has a double-layered TPU system. This is located in the middle of the shoe and disperses the shock of impact. Alongside this, it gives additional support to your heel.
The outer sole of the shoe is made with blown rubber, giving it a great level of grip and a little extra cushioning for your foot. It’s also surprisingly light considering the technology included in this running shoe.
PROS
- Excellent ventilation
- Infinity wave plate for shock transference
- Heel insert for support & comfort
- Rubber outsole for grip
CONS
- At the higher end of the price bracket
- Width choices are limited
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2. Brooks Ghost 12 Men’s & Women’s
The Ghost 12 is a lightweight shoe with a surprisingly good level of cushioning and comfort. It’s also very light, making it an excellent choice if you’re worried about the finish time.
It should be noted this is best suited to those with high arches and a neutral gait. It uses BioMoGo DNA and DNA loft cushioning which gives the perfect level of cushioning under your feet.
You’ll also appreciate the segmented crash pad integrated into the shoe, this provides a smooth surface that also absorbs any shock related by the repetitive pounding of your streets.
The top of this running shoe is engineered mess, increasing ventilation and improving the fit of the shoe on your foot. In the mesh are several stretch sections, ensuring you get the best possible fit.
It should be noted that the cushioning is effectively boosting your efficiency while running, a factor that is especially important if you’re running long-distance.
PROS
- Engineered mesh provides excellent ventilation
- Blow rubber outer for grip and durability
- Decoupled heel
- 3D print overlays
- BioMoGo DNA Cushioning
CONS
- Neutral foot holders only
- The toe area is n the small side
- Laces break easily
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3. Nike Air Zoom Pegasus Men’s & Women’s
Nike is one name that needs no introduction, they are established as one of the best sports gear manufacturers on the planet, and with good reason.
The Pegasus is a great offering if you have high arches. It uses a full-length air Air Zoom unit inside a Cushlon midsole. This makes it potentially the lightest running shoe for high arches and very effective at distributing impact, reducing the impact on your heels and toes. But, feedback has been retained, allowing you to get just the right amount of push-off.
The upper part of the Pegasus is made from engineered mesh, allowing maximum ventilation for your foot. The tongue has also been redesigned, it’s slier to encourage greater comfort. In fact, the collar is also slimmer and the heel has been rebuilt to improve protection, particularly against Achilles injuries.
There is a range of eye-catching colors to choose from, ensuring you the perfect shoe is just waiting for you.
It’s worth noting that the shoe is also available in a trail version if you prefer to run off-road.
PROS
- Breathable, potentially the best Nike has ever offered
- Full-length Air Zoom sole for maximum comfort
- Cushioned midsole and combined outsole for support and stability
- Flywire Cable tracking to ensure shoe stay securely in position
CONS
- Favors narrow feet
- Durability may not be as good as it could be
- Pricier option
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4. Salomon X-Mission 3 Men’s & Women’s
Salomon has made a name for themselves as builders of great trail runners, and the X-Mission 3 certainly falls into that category. If you have high arches and love trail running then these are probably the best running shoes for high arches you’ll find.
The shoes have a neutral stance with a fairly standard heel to toe drop of 10mm. They are durable and built to maintain comfort even on muddy terrain and wet running days.
The sole of this shoe incorporates EnergyCell, this is an EVA foam product that is excellent at absorbing and redistributing shocks, protecting your foot in the process.
But, as good as that is, the best feature is the Kevlar cords that don’t need to be tied in the conventional sense, you can effortlessly and quickly adjust them to give you the best possible feedback before or even during a run.
You’ll also be impressed by the multi-directional lugs on the bottom that ensure you have grip no matter what surface you’re running over.
PROS
- Quicklace system for secure and speedy lacing
- EnergyCell in the midsole to improve running efficiency
- MD Outsole for maximum grip
CONS
- Sizing on the small side you’ll need to go up a size to get a good fit
- Shoe generally narrow, not an option for anyone with wide feet
- Limited color choices
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5. Acics Gel-Venture 7 Men’s & Women’s
This is another option if you prefer to run on the trail. It is worth noting that trails tend to be softer than roads, reducing the impact on your body which is a good thing if you’re dealing with high arches.
This running shoe comes in a wide array of colors, is made from fabric and has a rubber sole that maximizes the potential grip. It also incorporates the Ortholite X-40 sock liner which has improved moisture wicking abilities and better rebound properties. Effectively you’ll find it easy to get a spring in your step.
There’s plenty of padding in the tongue and collar to help ensure your foot stays in position and remains comfortable. But, it’s the gel cushioning that really helps your high arches. It absorbs the impact, protecting your heel and helping you move through your stride, onto your toes, and push off again.
PROS
- Great ventilation thanks to engineered mesh upper
- AHAR outsole for outstanding grip
- Gel Cushioning and Ortholite Insole for comfort and support
- Synthetic leather overlays to reduce potential irritation
- Affordable price
CONS
- Shoelaces tend to be poor quality and break easily
- The shoe is narrow, not a good option if you have wide feet
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6. Saucony Ride 10 Men’s & Women’s
With a good array of color choices, you shouldn’t have an issue finding a Ride 10 that matches your style.
The upper part of this running shoe is mesh, giving great ventilation. On the bottom, you’ll find a rubber sole that’s perfect for getting grip on virtually any terrain. Alongside this the Everun top sole is effectively cushioning that runs the length of the shoe, ensuring your foot is well supported.
This cushioning also helps to spread the force of impact, reduces the pressure on your heels and toes. The Ride 10 also incorporates Tri-Flex soles, these provide impressive levels of flexibility while maintaining protection of your feet.
PROS
- Best for neutral runners
- Good selection of colors
- Incredibly flexible to ensure comfort while running
- No seams to prevent irritation
- Can be worn on short or long runs
CONS
- Good level of cushioning but it’s not as effective as some of the competition
- Grip levels could be better
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7. Altra Torin 3.5 Men’s & Women’s
This is a stylish looking road running shoe, although it is only available in a choice of three colors, black, grey, or orange.
The shoe is made with a synthetic mesh upper, ensuring maximum breathability while protecting your foot from the elements.
It should be noted that there are two types of uppers for these shoes. The mesh style is for speed, while the knit style is for comfort. Having said that both variants are surprisingly comfortable with plenty of wriggle room in the toe box and an abundance of support for your arches.
The outsole of this shoe is actually designed to copy the tendons and bones in your feet, this enables the shoe to flex in unison with your feet, providing better cushioning, flexibility, and responsiveness.
The midsole also incorporates ‘A bound’ technology which lowers the force at which your foot hits the ground, reduces potential injuries.
It’s also worth noting that this is one of the lightest shoes on the market, you’ll barely notice you’re wearing it.
PROS
- Designed for high arches
- Zero drop
- Excellent breathability
- Light and extremely comfortable
- Plenty of room in the toe box
CONS
- Shoe tends to be on the small side, you’ll need a size up from normal
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8. Hoka One One Clifton 5 Men’s & Women’s
Hoka One has produced a variety of running shoes, many of which have become popular with athletes. The Clifton 5 is designed for runners with high arches. To this end, it has extensive cushioning inside, particularly in the arch section to support your foot. This is also a good option if you have high arches and a wider than standard foot.
You’ll also appreciate the rounded toe box that encourages comfort and confidence when running. Combining this with the solid rubber sole ensures you have plenty of grip when you need it.
In fact, this running shoe performs well on the road, trail, or even the treadmill.
It s worth noting that this level of durability and cushioning comes at a price, the shoe is substantially heavier than many of the competitors. But, it does give some of the best support you’ll find for high arches and the high level of ventilation should stop your feet from becoming tired as you run.
PROS
- Excellent breathability
- Durable Speedframe construction
- Great grip from the rubber sole
- Attractive pricing
CONS
- The Clifton 5 is generally on the small side, you’ll need a size larger than normal
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How To Choose The Best Running Shoes For High Arches
It’s important to get the right shoes, using the wrong ones when running regularly can seriously damage your feet.
That’s why you should check this buying guide and take a look at the 8 best running shoes for high arches listed above. It’s worth taking a few moments to ensure you get the very best running shoe possible.
Budget First
You want the best running shoes for high arches but that doesn’t mean blowing all your available funds. Consider how much you run and how much you can really afford to spend on a new pair of running shoes.
Getting the right pair is important but it’s not worth borrowing funds, there are great pairs at all price ranges.
Once you’ve established a budget you’ll find it much easier to choose the best running shoes for high arches, because you’ll have a specific range to choose from.
Reputation
It’s always worth checking the reputation of the manufacturer, especially f you’re not choosing one of the best running shoes for high arches on this list.
But, as well as considering the reputation of the manufacturer, you should check social media and online forums to confirm your chosen running shoe performs as well as you would expect in the real world.
You’ll find an array of reviews, some of which will be negative. But, as long as the majority of reviews are positive then you’re on the right trail.
Arch Support
Wide feet need plenty of support in the center, but high arched feet place much more stress on the toes and heel, these are the areas you need to protect most to prevent injuries while running.
It’s important when looking for the best running shoes, to select pairs that offer plenty of support for your toes and heels. This means cushioning to stop the foot from rolling and absorption to prevent impacts from being too concentrated.
But, you also need to make sure the mid support comes up under your arch. This will help to reduce the stress on your foot and help you to run more efficiently and effectively.
Running with shoes that don’t offer enough support will quickly become painful.
Consider The Toe Box
It’s worth paying extra attention to the toe box when you have high arches. Giving your toes enough room to maneuver will help to alleviate any pain from impact, pinching; or even bunions.
Of course, this will also help you to remove your feet quickly and easily, which is an important consideration when you’ve got hot, sweaty, and painful feet after a run. The moisture from this heat and seat can cause bacterial issues which will make it even harder to look after your feet as you run.
That’s why it’s worth looking at the toe box and the ventilation levels.
Conclusion
The best running shoes for high arches should be a snug fit without placing pressure on your foot from above or below. In fact, it’s particularly important that the upper part of your shoe fits snugly around your foot without constricting it.
Each of the best running shoes for high arches listed should provide enough support without placing pressure on your foot, ensuring you’re comfortable and can focus on your run. Now all you need to do is decide your preferred budget and style.
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