The Best Mild Stability and Stable Neutral Shoes

While stability shoes used to be heavy clunkers with aggressive plastic orthotic-like pieces, things have evolved in the past few years. Gone are the days where your choice is between a three pound stability shoe or a dart-like trainer that makes you feel like you'll roll an ankle on every stride. There's a new middle ground rising up, a category of shoes for runners who can get away with running in neutral shoes without traditional stability elements but who can benefit from support. Here, we've rounded up the best shoes with mild stability.

The Best Mild Stability Shoes for Neutral Runners

Not everyone needs a stability shoe all the time, but most runners can benefit from more support on some days. Whether you need more stability for your recovery days, out on the trails or for your everyday running, we've got options for you.

1. Saucony Tempus ($160): Best Overall Mild Stability Shoe

The Saucony Tempus is a mild stability shoe that uses a dual-foam midsole to create a supportive platform. The outer ring of foam is Saucony's EVA-based PWRRUN compound, which is firm and durable, while the inner core is PWRRUN PB, a PEBA-based foam that adds pop and responsiveness. The Tempus can handle faster paces with ease because of the soft and bouncy PEBA midsole, while it provides a planted and stable at everyday training paces due to the structured outer later of PWRRUN. 

2. Hoka Clifton 9 ($145): Best Stable Daily Trainer for Neutral Runners

The Hoka Clifton is the brand's legendary daily trainer that helped pioneer the max cushion movement. Today, it's one of the brand's best selling models and retains the comfortable underfoot feel of the previous eight versions. The Clifton has a wide base that helps with stability, plus a crash pad under the heel and midsole walls that extend up the upper to hold the foot in place. The EVA foam in the midsole gives a comfortable and planted feel on the ride that's not the most exciting but which will keep you rolling along with ease through the miles.

3. ASICS Gel-Nimbus 25 ($160): Best Max Cushioned Stable Neutral Shoe

Aside from being one of the most comfortable running shoes on the market today, the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 25 provides a balanced and supportive ride. The Nimbus has a thick stack of ASICS' FF Blast Plus Eco foam, an EVA blend that's soft without being overly squishy. The heel is wide and flared, which helps provide a flat and planted platform for landing, while the forefoot rocker helps make the max cushion shoe navigable enough for all the needs of everyday running. A gel unit in the heel provides some shock absorption as well that should be appreciated by runners looking for a pampered, smooth and supportive ride.

4. Saucony Endorphin Shift 3 ($150): Best for Bigger Runners

The Saucony Endorphin Shift 3 is a max cushioned daily trainer with a thick stack of EVA-based PWRRUN PB and a rockered platform. It provides stability through a plastic heel clip added around the back of the shoe, sidewalls of foam that extend to the upper to hold the foot in place and wide heel platform for stable landings. It has a firmer feel than other max cushion shoes, but it's responsive and snappy when you pick up the pace and put some force into it. Because of its structured cushionining and ability to go fast while keeping the feet comfortable, it's a great option for bigger and taller runners looking for mild stability. 

5. Brooks Hyperion Max ($170): Best Stable Neutral Uptempo Shoe

Most uptempo shoes prioritize speed over support, but the Brooks Hyperion Max does a bit of both. It has a wider base around the heel and midfoot for stable landings, and a rockered platform for speedy transitions from foot strike to toe-off. The midsole is Brooks' DNA Flash compound, which is a supercritical EVA that gives a bouncy, responsive and cushioned ride. While it doesn't have as many prescriptive stability elements as shoes like the Tempus and Shift from Saucony, it's a lot lighter than those, coming in at 7.8 ounces for US mens size 9 vs 9.4 ounces for the Shift and 8.9 for the Tempus.

6. Hoka Speedgoat 5 ($155): Best Stable Neutal Trail Shoe

While most trail shoes have some degree of support for navigating rough terrain, some can feel squirelly and unstable at speed. The Hoka Speedgoat addresses those concerns with an outsole that helps you feel the ground, a wide base and support throughout the upper. The Speedgoat is a versatile option that can be used for everything from a backyard trail 5k to an ultramarathon.

7. Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 ($225): Best Mildly Stable Super Shoe

The Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 is a great race day option for neutral runners who need support due to its wide base of foam in the heel. The Pro 3 has a full-length carbon plate in the Peba-based PWRRUN PB midsole. In addition to providing propulsion, carbon plates in super shoes also stabilize the platform—most super foams by themselves are unstable due to the softness and squishiness of the compounds. The Pro 3 also has an accommodating upper that should fit a variety of foot shapes.

Final Thoughts

Not everyone is a problematic pronator, but most of us can benefit from support. Whether you're looking for a daily trainer with mild stability or race day shoe that's friendly for mild overpronation, there are tons of creative options on the market today. And unlike the shoes of yesteryear, they're sleek, lightweight and can pick up the pace.

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