Runners spend millions of dollars on insoles and orthotics every year. However many runners never wear those. Why? Because they can not find good running sneakers that can fit their foot and orthotics comfortably. I wrote this to help point out what to look for in an orthotic friendly running shoe. There are many brands and types that meet the criteria.
First, and by far the biggest requirement is a removable insole. If the shoe does not have a removable insole, that shoe is not orthotic friendly. The other trait you want is a shoe with the dept to fit both your foot and your orthotic. Below I have listed some examples of what I believe are orthotic friendly women’s running shoes:
ASICS Women’s GEL Scram Running Shoe– This shoe features a removable sock liner which was designed to be removed to accomodate a medical orthotic. Additionally, this shoe has a rearfoot gel cushioning system. So, if the reason for your orthotic is plantar fasciitis, this will reduce stress and strain on the heel and the plantar fascia.
Reebok Easytone Reenew Women’s Sneaker-This shoe features a removable antibacterial sockliner, which makes this running shoe very adaptive to orthotics.
AVIA Women’s A5781W– This shoe features a removable cushioned EVA insole as well as compression cushioning technology, which provides cushioning from heel strike to toe off. I would highly recommend this shoe if your biggest issue is flat feet and that is the reason you wear an orthotic.
Mizuno Women’s Wave Prophecy 2 Running Shoe-This is one of the few serious expensive running shoes that feature a removable insole. This shoe is probably a superior running shoe to the other shoes on the list but also retails for as much as three times as the others too.