Gone are the days of a simple white sole with darker greys marking the area of pronation control, making it easy for someone to judge how much support a sneaker holds. Now soles are a wide variety of colors, much stiffer, and flatter overall from toe to heel- mainly in response to the Minimalist trend that has overwhelmed the sneaker market. But while the consumer may feel on trend, it’s gotten harder to pick out a sneaker if they need more support than a minimalist shoe can provide. If you have flat feet, frequent shin pain or frequent ankle sprains & are looking for a sneaker that gives you more support, here are a few tips to help you navigate through the pronation control sneaker section: . 1-Look for a sneaker with a bit more heel height. This puts the calf & balance muscles in an easier position, and reduces the likelihood that a tight calf will flatten your arch as a compensation.
2- Check how stiff the heel is. Both the stiffness of the sole & the sneaker fabric around heel helps stabilize your ankle & arch to prevent flattening. Go ahead, squeeze both the heel counter and the sole to see how stiff the support is. This can vary widely from shoe to shoe.
3- Check out the different materials in the sole. Different colors in the sole still show different levels of pronation control, with darker colors usually signaling more support. Plastic is there for lightweight shock absorption &/or ankle stabilization. And plastic around the edge of the sole can give you more side to side support which works if you do a gym workout in the same sneakers you run in. — Of course, the most important part is that your feet feel comfortable- both during and AFTER your activity. While tips are there to guide you, you shouldn’t base your ultimate decision on a marketing campaign nor a prescription- be smart, but let your own comfort be your guide. It’s amazing how many people forget about this part... — Flip through the pics to see simpler days of anti-pronation sneakers, and current tricks of plastic, heel height and cushion stiffness. Happy browsing!