I have flat feet. Not completely flat, but my arch is less than most people, so I need extra support in my running shoes.
I face a challenge every 6 months or so when I have to go get new running shoes, and am looking for some help.
Does anyone else have flat feet?
Any suggestion for shoes with good support?
PS:
I do Sprints triathlons, Olympics, Half irons, Duathlons, Aquathlons, Half mary’s, 10K’s etc. No Iron’s yet if that matters.
Also, I would buy the same model (Brooks-Adrenaline GTX), but i feel like I outgrew it and need to move on to something lighter, better to improve my running.
I have found that shoes with support are worse for me. I’ve been training in Nike Frees and racing in Nike Mayflys.
Ultimately shoes are very personal, best bet is find a store where you can try lots of them on, run around in them, see how they feel, and don’t assume you need support. Maybe you don’t!
If the Brooks works for you, personally I wouldn’t change, especially for training.
Sounds like you’re ready to take the next step.
there are others- but two of my favorties in the “performance stability” category are the ASICS DS Trainer or a Mizuno Wave Elixer. If you wanna’ go low drop, then perhaps the Brooks Pure Cadence.
there’s a youtube video out there of Gebreselassie (who ran a sub 2:04 marathon in Munich) running in slo mo, that shows how much of a horrible flat footed pronator he is. Perhaps, all that shoe correction- isn’t really a good thing.
perhaps
my theory:- don’t use any more shoe than you absolutely need.
I have pretty flat feet. I really like the Brooks Ravenna line. I just got a pair of the Ravenna 4s, and they seem to work really well. It’s still a stability shoe (like the adrenaline), you can get a lot of miles out of it (like the adrenaline), but unlike the adrenaline it runs a little more like a lightweight trainer in my opinion.
Every time I buy shoes, I plan on getting DS Trainers. Then I run in the DS trainers and Ravennas, and like the ravennas more. I’ve never timed a run with both shoes, but the ravennas feel better to me.
So it is possible that I may not need that much support in the first place? Is there any way to kind of check this?
There is an expert at the store that tells me that I need support as soon as he sees me barefoot, that’s mainly why “I need extra support”.
Also after the last 4 pairs (Asics and the last two were Brooks) with support I bought I have not had any knee issues. I had issues when I ran on Nike Free Run before.
It sucks a little because I know exactly what goggles I want, what suit, what bike setup, but when it comes to shoes I find it really hard.
How do you really test a shoe, if it feels different after 10K. (and they cost like 100 bucks a pair)
I will check out those models. But it looks like I will need to buy and try some and just buy another pair if that first pair wasn’t good.
I’ve never thought my feet were really that flat, but doctor said to get some shoes with structured support. I wear brooks adrenaline. I got shin splints once. I took a week off and bought some adrenalines. The shin splints went away. I can’t say if i like or love them though. They are just good shoes.
It will vary from person to person - but I would suggest a neutral shoe with plenty of cushion and a softer ride. Something like the Nike Frees is a good idea. The new Assics GTs are probably a good choice too (if you can handle the low drop).
Most people with flat feet, who over pronate do really well in something like the Asics GT2000 or the Brooks Adrenaline.
I have weird feet, one arch is normal and the other one is lower. I do well in Asics DS Trainers and orthotics. Weekly training mileage is between 50-60.
“Flat feet” doesn’t mean any particular type of shoe will work for you. Your stride, weight, training history and ability, along with a ton of other things will play into what shoes work best for you.
Some flat footed people need high stability shoes. Some need minimal shoes. Most are inbetween.
I’ve got completely flat feet and run in Muzino Riders, Asics DS Racer.
Just because you have flat feet it doesn’t mean you need support, that should be analyzed with video or experience.
When I first started the shoe store put me in Brooks Beasts. A great shoe but so very wrong for me. I migrated to stability and then was analyzed in 2007 and went to neutral.
You may very well need support but not because you have flat feet.
Are you sure you need support or are you going by what you’ve been told.
For me any type of support at all is a no go for me. No pronation control and especially no arch support.
I think each person is different. I’ve been slowly moving from more supportive to less supportive shoes for the past few years. I’ve also been battling many running injuries along the way. My old supportive shoes now feel like bricks on my feet; what I used to love, I now hate. But, when I try on a neutral shoe- it just feels so wrong. So, right now I’m in the ‘performance stability’ category. lightweight, flexible shoes with some level of support. Seems to feel good to me. Would I like to go lighter? sure- but my achilles say otherwise.
my theory, as stated above, is to go with the least amount of shoe you can. It’s generally (injury wise) better to err on a little too little support than a little too much. But- that doesn’t mean that some people don’t do better with support. What bothers me is when the shoe shop people try to correct 100% of everyone’s pronation.
As an add-on. I have flat feet. Started overweight a few years ago in the Adrenalines. Then went to Ravenna and quickly went to the Racer ST5s. A couple years ago I was running a decent amount and had a couple of bigger weeks for peak training in the ST5s for an Ironman and then marathon in the fall. Ended up with about 2000 miles for the year. I’ve worn them ever since for all my runs. They are light with a hint of support and they work for me. The Adrenalines were just too clunky for me after awhile. I remember going to a store and getting video taped. They said I overpronate a lot and need a lot of support…bla bla bla. Try the shoes you want, if they feel good use them. I’m not a mega mileage or hard core runner, but if I can do it and I like them I bet I’m not the only one. I’m not a little runner either. I’m 180-190 range depending. Maybe high 170s if I decide to care but haven’t seen that in a year or two. I was 225 when I started. It may depend on your stride too. If you’ve had knee issue and now you don’t, why change? I’d stick with what works and not change because you think you need to.
I also just picked up the pure grit 2 for the trails and like them.
I have flat feet. Not completely flat, but my arch is less than most people, so I need extra support in my running shoes.
I face a challenge every 6 months or so when I have to go get new running shoes, and am looking for some help.
Does anyone else have flat feet?
Any suggestion for shoes with good support?
PS:
I do Sprints triathlons, Olympics, Half irons, Duathlons, Aquathlons, Half mary’s, 10K’s etc. No Iron’s yet if that matters.
Also, I would buy the same model (Brooks-Adrenaline GTX), but i feel like I outgrew it and need to move on to something lighter, better to improve my running.
Thanks in advance.
I have flat feet, I train in Gel Lyte 33’s and DS Trainers, and race in Nike Mayflies/Piranha SP4’s.
another of my favorite shoes. I was going to suggest those for the OP as well, but they’re a little less support than something like a DS Trainer. figured that might be too big of a step down for him.
I’ll also add that there is a whole “you weigh this much, you need support shoes - you’re light, you need less shoe” thing that seems to be commonplace in a lot of running stores and running employees and I don’t buy into that AT ALL.
I race in mostly low profile, very lightweight racers (anything from the Zoot Ultra Race 4.0 to the Mizuno Wave Universe) and am 165(ish). However, I’ve also raced in the Zoot Ultra Kane and the Zoot Ultra Tempo (both considered support shoes) and have had good results and success with those as well.
The point I’m trying to make is that if someone takes a look at you, gets a weight, and then recommends a shoe with confidence - I’d go elsewhere. There’s just too many factors to recommend a shoe via the “eyeball test.” There is no be all/end all answer that applies across the board. What works for me may not work for someone else and what works for other people may not work for me - even if we have the exact same feet.
I would find a running store where they will analyze your gait and talk about past performances and buy from them (be prepared to pay for the service - either directly or by buying a shoe at full retail). It’s well worth it.
The other option would be trying out a variety of shoes and hoping you manage to get lucky and have a shot in the dark eventually hit.
Either way, you’ll eventually find something that works for you.
I have found that shoes with support are worse for me. I’ve been training in Nike Frees and racing in Nike Mayflys.
Ultimately shoes are very personal, best bet is find a store where you can try lots of them on, run around in them, see how they feel, and don’t assume you need support. Maybe you don’t!
If the Brooks works for you, personally I wouldn’t change, especially for training.
+1
I used to wear the supportive shoes, but now I mainly train and race in Saucony Kinvara 4s - definitely a light, neutral shoe, but they feel great to me. Both of my feet are flat, but my right foot is disgustingly flat, as in it leaves absolutely no indentation on the inside of the foot on the water/footprint test. I feel I get ankle problems if I wear a shoe with “stability control.”