How do I know if I need stability shoes?

How do you know if you need stability shoes or neutral shoes? We recommend bringing an old pair of shoes in-store so we can check for you, but if you're an online customer, here's how to check.

STABILITY OR NEUTRAL? It's the first question you should ask yourself when looking for a new pair of running shoes.

Here's how to identify your foot type
Stand in front of a mirror with bare feet shoulder-width apart and bend your knees, keeping your heels on the ground. Watch the bones on the inside of your ankle as you bend and straighten your knees.

• If your ankle bones do not significantly move inward or outward, you have a neutral gait.
• If your ankle bones move inward more than 1/3 inch, you likely are an overpronator. This means the inner sole of your foot is bearing the body's weight.
• If your ankle bones move outward, you may be a supinator. This means the outer sole of your foot is bearing the body's weight. It's quite rare!

You're also more likely to overpronate if...

• ...an old pair of running shoes lean noticeably inward (to check this, place the shoes side by side on an elevated surface like a table, with the toes pointing towards you, an look at the shoes from eye level)
• ...the foam of your sockliner in an old pair of running shoes is specifically compressed under the ball of your big toe
• ...your big toe is shorter than your second toe (the common Morton’s foot type).

Remember to perform these checks using running shoes - not walking shoes, which show your walking gait.

If your feet pronate, look for our Stability shoe models.

If your feet supinate or you have a neutral gait, look for our Neutral shoe models.