A properly fitting shoe will feel good right from the start when you put it on, so there is no break-in period,” Dr. Torres-Hodges says. After that, we wore each pair for test walks on and off a treadmill. We assessed how the cushioning and support features felt underfoot. Were our feet overheating, or did the upper circulate air to cool our feet? Did we feel stable, or did our feet move around inside the shoe? While stiffness isn’t traditionally a quality you look for in a walking shoe, it’s actually a good thing when you’re walking on uneven surfaces. The rigidness and strong arch support of this shoe earned it a perfect score for lateral stability and support. Another aspect of these shoes that stood out to us was how supportive they felt, enabling us to walk with confidence. These shoes feature Brooks’ signature BioMoGO DNA midsole and GuideRails technology, which are designed specifically for overpronators who need extra support.

The Brooks Addiction 13 is a shoe that stands the test of time. It is a motion control stability shoe designed for those with severe overpronation. The Addiction 13 excels in keeping your feet in line without sacrificing comfort.

Maximum Support

We selected which motion control shoes to test by reviewing dozens of top-rated shoes for overpronators from the best walking shoe brands on the market. To find out what to look for in these shoes, we interviewed five podiatrists including: The shoe should feel slightly snug at the heel and around the sides of the foot so that your foot doesn’t slide around, which could cause blisters. But the toe box should be roomy enough for your feet to swell a little, which can happen when walking for longer distances or in warmer weather.

During test walks, we felt the support from the shoe’s Active Motion System technology, which includes a removable orthotic, molded midsole, and thermoplastic heel. The higher heel cuff provided additional ankle support, which is ideal for those with sensitive ankles or previous ankle injuries. We then took some sneakers home to test them in the real world. To thoroughly test each pair, we wore them as part of our regular routines and walked in them on various types of ground, like roads, sidewalks, and a flat dirt trail. In total, we walked for over 100 miles in these sneakers to choose our favorites. Orthofeet Coral Strech Knit shoes come in standard, wide, and extra-wide widths in sizes 5-12. They come with an adjustable arch insert, three insoles, and room for a custom orthotic, making them the most customizable shoes we tested. New Balance's 1540v3 is not only great for walking, but transitions well to running errands, playing with your kids, or even for a long day on your feet at work. They’re comfortable, supportive, well-cushioned, and made of durable materials. The ENCAP midsole paired with the Rollbar system gives them one of the best lateral supports out of all the shoes we tested—earning them a perfect score for this feature—which is incredibly important for overpronators. You can also try this wet test. “Wet the bottom of your feet, then step onto colored paper. An oval-like image on the paper indicates a flat foot or an overpronator. A skinny question mark-like image indicates supination (under pronation) and something in between these two images is what is considered a normal arch,” Dr. Pinker says.We also love that Ariel 20 is approved by the APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association)—a seal of approval given by podiatrists to shoes that meet specific criteria and are deemed to promote good foot health. If you're searching for sneakers with superior stability for overpronation, these are our favorites. When walking or running, it's normal for the arch of your foot to flatten slightly and for your foot and ankle to roll in a bit as your foot strikes the ground. “This is known as pronation and is a normal part of gait,” Loretta Logan, DPM, MPH, professor and chairman of the Department of Orthopedics and Pediatrics at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine & Food Center of New York, says. However, overpronation—or excessive rolling of the foot and ankle, along with arch flattening—can lead to foot fatigue, pain, and injury over time. If you’re looking for a supportive shoe that can be worn for miles, Brooks' Addiction Walker 2 is our top choice. When we tried them on in the Lab, we noticed how well they fit right away. They contoured our feet, with a snug upper and heel cup that prevented our feet from sliding around as we walked. We love Sketchers’ Arch Fit Comfy Wave shoes for their superior support, comfort, and style, all at a budget-friendly price point. During test walks, we found them to be light, comfortable, and flexible—earning them a nearly perfect score for upper comfort—while still supporting our feet for several miles. As soon as we laced up Vionic’s Classic Walking Shoe, we felt the benefits of the all-over cushioning. The cushioning extends to the toebox, providing extra comfort, and earning this pair a perfect score for our comfort attribute. However, the extra padding and use of leather material do come at a cost—it makes the shoes a little warm and a little stiff at first. This, combined with the fact that the shoes feature a significant number of seams, means that walking in them could lead to blisters if worn on a warmer day or for a longer walk, which is why they lost some points for blister protection.

We love that they come in six widths, so even runners with narrow or wide feet can find a pair that fits. However, they're one of the heaviest shoes on our list, so we don't recommend them for walking very long distances. And while they're on the more expensive side, we think their thoughtful design and stellar support are well worth the extra money. Pain in your heel and arch may also be a sign of overpronation, especially when combined with one of the above tests, though not all foot pain is related to overpronation. These sneakers are great for someone who needs maximum support and prioritizes that over flexibility and responsiveness. On longer walks, it took a little extra effort to propel ourselves forward, but that’s a tradeoff a walker needs to make for the max level of cushioning and support a shoe can provide. Extended Progressive Diagonal Rollbar (PDRB) extending from the heel through forefoot is made of tri-density BioMoGo foam to reduce excess pronation.We like that the shoes are machine washable, come in four attractive colors, and are available in sizes 5-11 in both medium and wide widths. We tried the medium width, and thought it ran a little narrow. We also found that these shoes have a relatively snug and shallow toe box. If you have a wider foot or like a little extra room for your toes, you may want to try the wide version.

We recommend these to someone with mild to moderate overpronation. They are comfortable, responsive, budget-friendly, and stylish. However, not as supportive as some others we tested, so they work better for someone with some pronation, but not a significant amount. Brooks' Ariel 20 are technically considered running shoes, but they give walkers who overpronate everything they’d want in a shoe and more. While these shoes run a tad narrow, they offer a snug, comfortable fit and don’t rub or chafe in any spots due to the upper's seamless mesh design. Caterpillar Crash Pad is a segmented crash pad that flexes with the foot, offering customized cushioning and stability for a smooth heel-to-toe transition. When testing, we liked that these shoes provided ample support and became quite comfortable after the first walk. They felt a little stiff at first, but after a few miles, the pair loosened up without losing their support.BioMoGo full-length midsole offers resilient cushioning and is made of environment-friendly, biodegradable materials.