7 Best Running Shoes For Flat Feet in 2023

Make way for the undefeated champion for flat feet, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23. Its polyvalence is outstanding, with the rock-steady cushioning and guiding systems working behind the scenes to create the ultimate flat-footer dream.

Both our feet and heart were fully confident when hitting the road, with no hesitations from the shoe in sight. A massive platform shines underfoot, evenly dispersing the impact of each landing. Putting it into numbers, the GTS 23's midsole stretches 4.2 mm wider than the average at the forefoot and a noteworthy 6.8 mm at the heel. The guide rails surrounding the heel sweeten the stability game, effectively preventing our feet from excessively rolling inward.

Killing it in the support department, the Adrenaline 23 sits the feet above a thick foamy layer. There’s 34.1 mm of heel stack, which shyly tops the average of 33.4 mm. Now, that’s no ultra-cushioned trainer, but in the stability realm, it’s strikingly perfect for everyday training, even when the scorching sun is in full swing. We found sizable ventilation holes throughout the entire upper, earning the GTS a flawless 5 out of 5 for breathability. 

On the other hand, the GTS 23 might not be ideal for forefoot strikers in need of extra cushioning, as its 21.5 mm of forefoot stack falls 3.0 mm short of the average for running.

Our daily sessions reached new heights on the Arahi 6. Its underfoot feel is icily composed, cocooning flat feet in a gait-supportive embrace that weighs virtually nothing for a stability shoe.

A firm-ish midsole grabbed our attention from the very first step, confidently flowing against the super-plush trend of our days. In fact, the softest of its layers emerged as a noteworthy 71.5% firmer than average. The result is a fairly responsive ride, whose superb consistency doesn’t go unnoticed. And it’s utterly delightful too, with this Hoka’s 252 grams (8.89 oz) effortlessly outclassing the average of 303 grams (10.7 oz) for a stability shoe.

Epitomizing the Arahi’s appeal to flat-footers, our huge footprints can be found in the off-road trails we ventured into. Particularly at the heel, as our caliper found the midsole to be 7.4 mm wider than average at this part. With such a large midsole, no wonder it feels so torsonially secure when landing.

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows with the Arahi 6. Its traction game left a lot to be desired, so we recommend easing up on speed before those 180º turns.

Here comes the Saucony Tempus and its game-changer aura. High-paced stability comes in colors, sealing the ultimate recipe for speed sessions with its bouncy and breezy in-shoe experience.

Under the hood, the Tempus capsulizes a finely tuned engine and an insatiable gearbox, putting our chronometer in check. Such bounce has no match in the stability realm, with the Tempus’ midsole emerging as 23.0% softer than average from our durometer. It’s downy yet remarkably stable, with its width exceeding the average by 4.3 mm at the heel and 4.4 mm at the forefoot.

What else, it’s summer-ready too! Smoke pumped into the shoe ushed out through the upper with unparalleled ease, earning the Tempus an immaculate 5 out of 5 for breathability. The airflow was immense, coming through the tongue, the sides, the toebox. Not even our sweatiest toes stood in the way of achieving faster splits with each repetition.

Its class comes with a price, and at $160, it doesn’t go easy on the wallet. When the average flat-feet-oriented shoe comes at $140, runners seeking a budget-friendly option might want to look elsewhere.

Gel Kayano 30 ensures a smooth, comfortable, and steady ride. It boasts a mega-stack made of FF Blast+ and a 4D Guidance System. It redefines the traditional rigid stability shoe and our lab and actual run results show it offers the best cushioning for flat feet.

On our first slip-on, the FF Blast+ foam instantly feels like home. Our durometer confirms it’s 31.4% softer than average. Adding comfort further is the tall stack rising to 39.7/27.7 mm in the heel and forefoot. It provides more than enough foam to mute ground feel.

While max-cushioned shoes are usually wobbly, GK30 exceeds the standard with its 4D Guidance System. It makes use of a softer foam that adjusts to the shape of our foot to support the arch. The extensive landing platform enhances stability further — providing extra 11.2/15.3 mm space in the forefoot and heel.

This shoe won’t give any hotspots and blisters because of its super breezy upper that scored the highest rating on our breathability test.

All the extra padding added extra weight. While the average is only 9.5 oz (268g), Gel Kayano 30 weighs 10.7 oz (303g).

While stability shoes tend to hover around 10.6 oz (300g), the Saucony Guide 16 is a lean, mean running machine that weighs in at only 9.7 oz (275g). What’s more, the reactive midsole delivers a bouncy ride that makes the shoe feel even lighter underfoot than the scale suggests. This fun and supportive shoe can keep up with any pace or distance and easily tops the ranks as the best lightweight running shoe for flat feet. 

Surprisingly, Saucony didn’t even have to skimp on midsole foam to achieve this feathery frame; with a stack that’s on par with the average road shoe measuring 24.8 mm and 32,6 mm at the forefoot and heel respectively. What’s more, that foam is 15.6% softer than average with a durometer reading of 20 HA. This means that we enjoyed a balanced level of cushioning with an energetic rebound during our test runs. 

The heel counter is an oft-overlooked feature that can have a major effect on how supportive a shoe is, with the Ride 16’s highly structured heel receiving the most rigid score of 5 out of 5. As such, the shoe mitigates the effects of overpronation on our stride by controlling how much our foot is able to move laterally. This is excellent for those with flat feet as they tend to have an overpronating gait. 

One drawback is how narrow the midsole is at the heel. Measuring only 85.8 mm, it’s 4.3 mm shy of our current lab average. This means that heel strikers don’t have a robust enough platform to ensure stable landings.

Gaviota 5 delivers steady support and luxurious comfort for our LSDs. It offers stability features and relieving arch support. In our lab, we discovered it has a clever combination of two foams, a breathable upper, and an extremely wide base — making it the best long-distance shoe for flat feet.

We could run all day with its ultra-soft 12.9 HA midsole (vs. 24.1 HA average) and higher-than-average stack. The cushion absorbs much of the impact and protects our legs from fatigue. While softer foams tend to be wobbly, Hoka integrates a firmer 22.0 HA secondary foam in high-impact areas to keep us steady.

Further promoting stable landings is the extra, extra wide midsole. Our caliper measures 125.1/106.6 mm in the forefoot and heel, giving 11.9/16.5 mm additional space to accommodate wide feet. With its H-Frame, Gaviota 5 shines in the lateral stability test and keeps us centered.

Providing additional comfort is the well-ventilated upper — composed of a thin engineered mesh with lots of ventilation holes. It scored the highest 5/5 in our breathability test in the lab, confirming our own breezy experience. This helps avoid hotspots and blisters.

As expected from a cushioned stability shoe, it sits heavier at 10.6 oz (299g) vs. the average running shoe (9.5 oz / 268g).

With its $100 price tag, the ASICS GT 1000 12 delivers the best price for performance in the category of stability shoes which usually toe the line closer to $130 on average. As such, picking the GT 1000 12 as the best budget running shoe for flat feet was a no-brainer. 

Pressing our durometer against the midsole yields a reading of 12.8 HA. This is incredibly plush as far as midsoles go and makes the GT 1000 12 a whole 46% softer than our current lab average. While this may seem counterintuitive when it comes to stability, the inclusion of ASICS’ iconic GEL embedded in the shoe’s heel provides us with some balance by offsetting the squishiness of the midsole at the heel. 

While stability shoes are often quite rigid and uncomfortable, the GT 1000 12 manages to strike an excellent balance between pliability and support. This is exemplified in our torsional rigidity test where the shoe receives a score of 3 out of 5. This semi-rigid nature means that the shoe is able to twist and contort with our foot to a certain extent while still providing a sturdy and level base underfoot. 

Despite singing its praises earlier for its lovely cushioning, the midsole does fall short in the responsiveness department. As such, pushing the pace for tempo sessions or pushing the gas tank by going the distance feels like much more of a slog when compared to using some of ASICS’ more premium models.