The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 is a perfect shoe for runners with high arches, with its cushioned forefoot and excellent fit. But its outstanding performance and versatility take it over the top as our best overall shoe for high-arched runners.

There are no issues in the fit department for the Deviate Nitro 2. It delivered a great fit with no rubbing or blistering as its padded upper gently hugged our feet in place.

Furthermore, we appreciated the ample amount of forefoot cushioning in this shoe. We measured the Deviate Nitro 2's forefoot stack height to be 1.9 mm taller and 32.7% softer than the average road running shoe, which certainly helped absorb the impact on our landings.

The generous cushioning and comfort of its midsole make the Deviate Nitro 2 a capable easy-run shoe, but it can also pick up the pace quite easily thanks to its carbon plate. That plate is less aggressive than other carbon-plated shoes, but it helps deliver a smooth and responsive ride that is a real joy to take on easy runs all the way up to speed sessions.

However, the Deviate Nitro 2 is a bit on the narrow side. We measured its toebox width at the widest part and at the big toe to be 1.6 mm and 1.3 mm narrower than average, respectively, so wide-footed runners should consider other options.

After intensive lab and run trials, we chose the third version of ASICS’ Novablast as the best daily trainer among high-arch running shoes. It’s a well-rounded shoe that is all about comfort while providing us with a great combination of support and energy to face whatever run training we have for the day.

With soaring stack heights reaching 37.2 mm in the heel and 30.4 mm in the forefoot (vs. 33.2/24.3 mm average), the maximum cushion gave us immense comfort and just the right amount of spring to bounce forward. This carried us through easy paces and even tempo workouts when we wanted to pick up the pace.

Our feet felt great at any point in the run since we felt like we were running on clouds! We had to test its midsole softness in the lab and our durometer confirmed it to be 44.9% softer than average. 

With an outsole that’s 3.9% denser than average (as measured by our durometer), long miles wouldn’t leave a scratch or dent in the rubber - perfect for a no-fuss daily running companion.

We tested its breathability in the lab and got a score of 3, below the average of 3.7. Best to check other daily trainers for runners who prefer breezier shoes in the summer.

With outstanding lab and trial run ratings, we claim Metaspeed Sky+ is the best for racing among high-arch running shoes. We blazed through the streets without the burning feeling - a perfect harmony of blissful comfort and insane responsiveness.

With a 33.5 mm heel stack and a 30.8 mm forefoot stack (both above 33.2/24.3 mm average), this pair is in the max-cushioned range and we definitely felt the extra comfort in our runs. It felt easy on our legs even when we pushed our paces to the limit since the cushion absorbed much of the impact.

The heavenly comfort was balanced with energy that kept us lighting fast! Its pronounced rocker design promoted smooth forward strides and its stiff carbon plate launched us with ease. Backed up by our 90° bend test, it’s an astonishing 118% stiffer than average. This stiffness translated to a snappier ride - perfect for breaking PRs!

Wearing this pair felt like a breeze (literally!), scoring the highest rating of 5/5 on our breathability test in the lab. Every step felt light, carrying only 7.2 oz (205.0 g) vs. the average of 9.4 oz (267.0 g).

All these come at a cost of $250 - even more expensive than other carbon-plated shoes (averaging $204). We recommend looking elsewhere if budget is a priority.

The Endorphin Speed 3 is a featherlight shoe that has a highly cushioned forefoot and an amazing fit, which is why we've made it our top lightweight trainer for high arches.

The Endorphin Speed 3 is built for speed. With a weight of just 7.94 oz (225g), it is comfortably lighter than other speed shoes, which weigh 8.9 oz (251.7g) on average. And the Speed 3 certainly has the performance to back up its name. We felt a good amount of bounce and snap thanks to its nylon plate, which made it easy to pick up the pace.

And whether it's easy days or speed sessions, there's more than enough cushioning to keep our feet protected. We measured the heel stack to have 0.9 mm more than the average road running shoe, while the forefoot stack was a good 2.5 mm taller.

Meanwhile, the fit of the Speed 3 is fantastic. It follows the natural shape and size of the foot, while the stretchy upper and semi-gusseted tongue help provide a secure lockdown.

But the big drawback of the Speed 3 is the heel. We experienced some uncomfortable heel rub due to its minimal padding, so those with sensitive heels should look elsewhere.

We found the Hoka Speedgoat 5 to be the best trail shoe for high-arched runners. As our lab and run tests have shown, this shoe is comfortably cushioned, with a fantastic fit, and a ton of traction on the trails.

The Speedgoat 5 doesn't have a massive midsole. Its heel and forefoot stack heights are 4.2 mm and 0.4 mm shorter, respectively, than the average trail shoe. But we felt that it still offered more than enough cushioning. Its midsole is an impressive 60% softer than usual, and it did a fantastic job of absorbing the impact from our test runs while providing immense comfort.

The Speedgoat 5 also has a flexible upper that offers an excellent locked-in fit. Thanks to its gusseted tongue with a butterfly design and its padded heel, our feet were kept securely in place during our runs.

Its outsole has a tacky grip, in large part due to the lugs not being spaced too far apart. That impressive grip kept us stuck to all kinds of terrain, from frozen surfaces to moderately muddy roads and loose off-trail ground.

However, the Speedgoat 5 does get significantly stiffer in the cold. After 20 minutes in the freezer, it became 85.8% more rigid than at room temperature and 6.5% stiffer than the average trail shoe in the cold. Those who need a more flexible trail shoe in frosty temperatures should look elsewhere.

With its terrific cushioning, stellar upper, and capable stability, the Saucony Axon 2 is a seriously good shoe for people with high arches. Add the fact that it only costs $100 and it's the clear value pick for high-arched runners.

With the average cost of road stability shoes at $138, the Axon 2 is decidedly a below-average shoe in terms of price. But it is easily above average in terms of midsole cushioning, with 2.1 mm more stack height in the heel and 3.3 mm more in the forefoot. That ample cushioning certainly aided us by reducing the harsh impact of the road on our runs.

The shoe's simple upper quality also far exceeds its price point. It's soft and plushly padded in the tongue and heel collar, giving the shoe a great fit. And it got a 4 out of 5 on our breathability test, where 5 is the most breathable, as the smoke that we pumped into the shoe easily escaped the mesh upper.

Stability is also a surprisingly strong attribute of this budget shoe. It got a 4 out of 5, with 5 being the stiffest, on both our torsional and lateral rigidity tests. And indeed, our feet remained nice and secure as the shoe ably resisted any unnecessary movements.

However, that stability comes at the expense of pliability. The Axon 2 is 31% stiffer than the average road running shoe based on our 90 degree bend test. So those looking for a shoe with a more fun and natural-feeling ride should look elsewhere.

The Gel Nimbus 25 is a great shoe for runners with high arches due to its massive midsole stack height. But aside from that, its comfortable upper and stable base makes it by far our top pick for running shoes with plush cushioning for high-arched feet.

The ASICS Gel Nimbus 25's cloud-like cushioning is out of this world. Its 38 mm heel stack and 30.2 mm forefoot stack are 4.8 mm and 4.6 mm taller than average, and its midsole is 24% softer, so there is amazing impact protection for long runs.

Not to be outdone by the plush underfoot cushioning, the upper is also immensely comfortable. There is a ton of padding around the ankle, while the revamped upper material is stretchy and supportive with a secure lockdown.

The Nimbus 25 is also quite stable for a shoe with such a high stack height. That's in part due to a wide base, where the midsole width in the forefoot and heel are 6.6 mm and 9 mm wider than average, respectively.

However, the Nimbus 25 can run a bit hot. We gave it a breathability score of 3 out of 5 as most of the smoke we pumped into it escaped through its tongue, which is 3.9 mm thinner than average. Those looking for a shoe that won't get too warm, consider other options.