Supination is a very important part of natural running technique, it is where the foot rolls outwards slightly during impact. If you were standing perfectly still and rolled your foot until only the outside of your foot was touching the ground this would be supination. It is slightly different while moving, and also involves your toes pushing down into the ground.
While over supination is quite rare in runners, it still affects many people. Over supination involves the foot rolling further outwards than normal, and affects the foot’s ability to absorb shock while running. This can lead to a number of injuries – shin splints and plantar fasciitis in particular.
You can easily tell whether you over supinate (also known as under pronation or hyper supination) by performing the wet foot test. This sounds weird but basically all you need to do is get your foot wet and walk on a surface such as concrete, this will leave a foot print. When you look at the footprint you should be seeing an imprint that looks a little like a letter “P”.
If this is the case then you have a neutral foot and can purchase most running shoes easily. If your foot print looks like a really fat letter “I” then you are an over Pronator. Over supinators will see a really exaggerated version of the neutral foot, with barely any of the middle part of the foot visible.
If you find yourself staring at this footprint then you should prepare yourself for buying specific shoes. This review will be looking at the best running shoes for over supination, we will review comfort, durability, price, flex, and shock absorption. We will now take a look at each shoe individually so that you can decide for yourself which shoe is the best fit for your specific needs.
Best Running Shoes For Over Supination #1 Brooks Ghost 10
For many runners, the best running shoe for supination ends up being a shoe that’s best for runners of all kinds. For supinators (and back surfferers), the Ghost offers a soft heel and stability features in a neutral shoe, while quality of construction and reliable comfort make the Ghost a perennial favorite (and a Runner’s World Editor’s Choice). How attached can runners get to a standard daily trainer with a 12 mm heel-toe drop? (Fine, Runner’s World measures it at 11.2 mm.) As it turns out, levels of devotion to shoes that have seen you through 15-mile long runs for months at a time can be surprisingly intense, no matter what way your feet rotate on landing.
Best Running Shoes For Over Supination #2 On Cloudflyer
Maybe it takes a team of Swiss engineers to do the impossible: On, founded in Zurich in 2010, has created a stability trainer that’s also one of the best running shoes for supination. The goal of On’s designers was to create running shoes that provide comfortable cushioning on landing and a springy pop on toe-off. Considering how many runners praise the Cloudflyer for both stable comfort and for feeling light, quick, and effortless on the run, the design wizards of Zurich seem to have succeeded. (But someone should tell the On marketing department that the Cloudflyer’s heel-toe drop, supposedly a sporty 7 mm, was measured by Runner’s World as 13.0 mm.)
Best Running Shoes For Over Supination #3 Adidas UltraBoost
If extra cushioning is what you need for supination, running shoes can do more than just absorb energy. The UltraBoost provides not only the same dependable cushioning of other running shoes, but also the highest energy return of any shoe on this list. The secret to the UltraBoost’s responsive ride and luxurious cushioning is Adidas’s Boost rubber, which other shoe companies are only now starting to imitate.
Best Running Shoes For Over Supination #4 Nike Air Zoom Vomero 13
The stability features needed by pronating runners usually just compound the issues faced by supinators, so most of the best supination running shoes are neutral trainers that provide plenty of generous cushioning like the Vomero. With its soft padding and luxurious comfort, you can think of the Vomero as the premium version of Nike’s hugely popular Pegasus—except the Vomero runs $20 less than other premium models, even with Nike’s huge brand recognition.
Best Running Shoes For Over Supination #5 New Balance Fresh Foam Zante v4
Many runners find that with a flexible running shoe, supination doesn’t need to slow them down, and our list starts off with a couple of light, flexible shoes that will have you flying through interval workouts or road races. At only 8.5 ounces in a men’s size 9, the Zante from New Balance is both the lightest shoe on this list and the least expensive. Plus it’s a great shoe to be wearing when there’s 200 meters left in your race, your rival has a five-step lead, and you’ve got a wild grin on your face and a wicked gleam in your eye.
