10 Best Shoes for Heavier Runners 2025 (Wear Tested!)- RunToTheFinish

We get it, choosing the right running shoes can feel totally overwhelming with so many options out there. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back, or should we say feet? And yes the considerations do change for our heavier, taller, rock star runners because we need to look at stability, cushion and durability.
Our team has been testing out all kinds of shoes and sharing honest feedback along with the key details you need to make the best choice for your feet. And it’s point of pride around here that the majority of our testers aren’t sub 3 hour marathon runners, but everyday mid to even back of the pack athletes with a variety of body shapes.

Plus, having coached thousands of runners we have SO MANY people providing us feedback all the time that we feel really confident this list is going to help you find the right show.

A good friend of the site, Drew from Wear Testers, is a big ol’ basketball dude turned distance runner. And we love that he busts a lot of stereotypes by cranking out some speedy times, but he’s also told us that shoes are just different when you add weight.

It absolutely changes the longevity of many shoes, but also simply the feel as you put more pressure in to the cushion or look for that added stability.

Best Running Shoes for Heavier Runners

All right, now let’s get in to this list! As always, we try to share a variety of styles and brands because there is no 1 perfect brand that works for everyone. So you’ll find some are a little softer, some wider, etc, but all great options.

Best Stability Shoe- Saucony Hurricane 24

My first impression was HOLY STACK HEIGHT. Saucny isn’t messing around with max cushion in this stability shoe and the good news is you don’t sink into the shoe once you start running.

The Saucony Hurricane is going to have a wider base providing more ground contact and you will even see higher sidewalls helping to secure your foot in place. As you take each step, you’ll feel the slight rocker which will help with that roll through from heel to toe.

One thing to note is that this isn’t a speed shoe, though it’s not really much heavier than many max cushioned shoes I think the wider base and stack height can make it feel a bit clunky.

This shoe is ideal for runners and walkers needing stability (pronation control), on easy runs, long walks, or as a good option for standing all day.

Best Neutral Daily Run Shoe- Hoka Skyflow 

When I first heard about the Skyflow, I thought, why? But after a few runs, I could tell that it was a nice mashup of the Hoka technology that I love in other pairs like the good ol’Clifton.

The midsole packs a lot of EVA foam underfoot, which means more cushion for those long training miles. Sure, it’s a little heavier, but you’ll appreciate the comfort trade-off.

The heel-focused Active Foot Frame hugs your foot for a more stable ride, and the fit is perfect if you’re looking for a roomy toebox or need a little extra space when your feet swell during those longer miles.

This shoe is best for middle of the pack runners who are looking for a daily trainer with good cushion without feeling too soft or your foot sinking in.

Bonus points for the durable rubber outsole that holds up against wear, even if your stride isn’t perfectly even. The Hoka Skyflow should last you through your training and even a half or full marathon!

• Weight: 10 oz Men’s, 8.6 oz Women’s
• Heel Drop: 5 mm
• Neutral Shoe
• Moderate to Max Cushion
• 7 colors
• Wide in some colors
• Available on Hoka.com for $160
• Check out our full review of the Hoka Skyflow >>

Best Lightweight Trainer- Asics Superblast 2

The Asics Superblast 2 is a non-plated super trainer that’s incredibly light for the max cushion and for sure to be a great race day option for many runners.

While labeled a “super trainer”, the reality is these shoes are fantastic for long runs and race day for the middle to back of the pack runner.

Asics designed this shoe using 2 types of foam in the midsole, Flytefoam Turbo Plus on the top later and Flytefoam Blast Plus Eco bottom layer. This combo is going to provide a soft yet responsive feel, helping to absorb impact, which is going to be important if you’re a heavier runner.

Plus, the use of EVA based foam is going to ensure that these shoes are durable and going to last through ALL of the miles.

One of our big questions at 45mm stack height is always does it feel stable and the answer is absolutely. This is due to the flare you see along the midsole and the extended heel. The entire shoe is just wider, which controls that lateral movement without a rigid guide. That makes this really good for long runs and marathon runs.

This shoe hits the mark as one that can do a LOT of things for runners at a lot of paces.

Best Speedwork Shoe – Saucony Endorphin Pro 4

The Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 is a shift from previous versions as it now utilizes the PWRRUN HG midsole foam, which was previously only used for their top tier Endorphin Elite race shoe. This is known as their super foam with the most energy return.

What sets PWRRUN apart from other midsole foams is its construction. This foam will adapt to your unique stride and provide the support you need while helping to reduce the impact and protect your joints.

Our friend Herm.runs, had this pair of shoes on his list for being “big dude approved” so we had to include it.  Based on his experience, he said that the Saucony Endorphin Pro is a great entry-level carbon plate shoe. It’s not too aggressive, it’s comfortable and it’s soft. It’s not like what you may immediately think of when someone says a carbon plated shoe like a pair of Nike AlphaFly.

If you want a stellar speed workout shoe or carbon plated shoe that feels a bit more stable and like your daily running shoes, this is the winner. Some of the really bouncy plated shoes seem to be causing achilles and foot issues, so this shoe is unlikely to have that result.

AND these should last longer than shoes with just the HG foam which is going to breakdown faster.

Best Carbon Plated Long Run Shoe- Hoka Skyward X

HOKA really nailed stability with this shoe. It has a wider base and a snug fit so you’ll never feel like your foot is shifting or unstable, even with the extra stack height underfoot.

The midsole is made with PEBA foam so that is going to help give the shoe a more plush cushioning feel, helping absorb the impact and giving a smoother ride.

I think a lot of what makes this shoe feel stable is not only their standard wide base, but the unique shape used for the carbon plate.

The plate’s H-shaped design is going to help in multiple areas. On the wide medial side, it offers early landing support, while the narrower rail on the lateral side functions as a crash pad upon landing. PLUS, the rising carbon lip helps to keep your heel secure and prevents any sinking or outward movement.

From running easy pace down to half marathon pace miles, this shoe is going to be a great pick!

Best Max Cushioning for Long Runs – Brooks Glycerin Max

The Glycerin Max takes the original Glycerin to a whole new level, it’s an incredibly different shoe but in all the right ways.

Numerous team members have tested it and so far it seems like a truly durable shoe that even some runners have said they feel faster in than other big cushioned shoes.

The Glycerin Max has a GlideRoll rocker system helping the roll of the heel to toe feel smoother. That’s a huge deal especially with the 45mm stack height, giving you extra support with every step.

However, keep in mind that due to the weight of this shoe, it is not a pair that you’re going to want to take out for a speed workout or to hit faster paces during a race.

Everything about this shoe screams durability, with a more comfy feeling kicking in after you break them in for a bit.

Best Recovery Run Shoe- Puma MagMax Nitro

Puma running has taken off the last few years, particularly with some speedy shoes with carbon plates. But the Puma MagMax Nitro is finally speaking to the middle and back of the pack that wants some cushion for long hours on their feet.

Even though the MagMax Nitro has a super high stack height of 46mm, don’t worry this shoe will help you feel supported every step of the way. To help with stability, Puma designed the MagMax Nitro with a wider base, similar to what you may have seen with a pair of Hokas.

This definitely is not a lightweight shoe, so you probably shouldn’t expect to get too much speed, but it could still be a really great shoe to hit those longer distances!

Best Trail Shoe-Brooks Cascadia 18

If you are a trail runner searching for a pair of shoes that offer stability and a wider fit, Cascadia is a top pick!

This shoe is built to go the distance while on the trails. You’ll see protective overlays on the upper mesh of the shoe in those areas where you’re more likely to kick rocks or other obstacles on the trails. Brooks’s thoughtful design of the Cascadia will protect your feet from getting banged up on the rough terrain while remaining light and agile!

Unlike other trail running shoes, this is going to have a slightly roomier toe box! Not quite as roomy as a pair of Altras but it’ll do the job.

The outsole of the Cascadia uses TrailTack rubber alongside the super colorful lugs to help provide extra grip while on uneven surfaces. This durable outsole is also going to help with prolonging the life of your shoe!

• Weight: 11.1 oz Men’s, 9.9 oz Women’s
• Heel Drop: 8mm
• Stability shoe
• Moderate cushion
• 4 colors
• Available in wide in some colors
•  Available from Brooks.com for $140

Best Walking Shoe- Brooks Ghost Max 2

The Brooks Ghost has been a fan favorite for years, and it’s easy to see why. Rather than trying to recreate the shoe, they decided to expand the lineup to meet the new growing demand for max shoes.

Max generally means we’re getting a bigger stack height so they can shove in a lot more cushion and it will feel softer underfoot. Brooks upped the cushioning here and used nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3 foam in the midsole to help provide a softer landing.

While this is not a stability shoe, it’s going to offer a naturally stable ride with moderate cushioning, making it a good choice for runners who already love the fit and feel of a Brooks shoe.

Like with the Glycerin Max, the Ghost Max 2 is also going to feature the GlideRoll Rocker to help that heel to toe transition feel more natural.

This is going to be an especially great shoe if you follow run/walk intervals!

Picking the Right Shoes for Heavier Runners

There are absolutely considerations that come in to play for how a shoe is going to fit regardless of your size, which have to do with your foot shape, wide, narrow, high arch, flat feet AND your stride.

The shoes we’ve vetted hit on a lot of key points, but there are two things that go beyond any shoe:

1. Strength Work.

You have to be doing strength to keep the knees, hips and back feeling good. A lack hip/glute strength is super common in runners and no shoe is going to fix that. The result is with each step your knee falls inward and puts pressure on the ankle, knee and hip joint.

Example of knee drift!

2. You have to like the shoe!!!

There are a lot of studies looking at what is a good shoe and while it’s important to account for a wide foot or flat feet running shoes, the shoe that you like is what works best.

Don’t be afraid to try a few shoes in your rotation, that’s how most of us find what we really like long term.

Durability For Heavier Runners

Finding a pair of running shoes that you can wear for lots of miles without breaking down too quickly is especially important for heavier runners. You want a pair of shoes that is going to get you through at least a training cycle while keeping your feet happy every step of the way.

No one has time to replace their shoes every few weeks and we don’t want you to either!

So, what makes a shoe more durable? It’s all about how and what’s it made from! Here’s what you should look for:

• Midsole the type and blend of cushion does make a difference. So the racing PEBA shoes or a cheaper shoe with EVA foam is going to breakdown much faster than those with a TPU foam. We know that’s a lot of words, so we tried to do that research for you and are working on a foam article that makes it simpel.
• Outsoles that are durable to help avoid quick wear and tear on areas like the heel and forefoot. This is especially important if you tend to overpronate or underpronate. Meaning that your foot is likely going to land more on one part of the shoe than another. You’ll notice the shoe below has less coverage, so while we recommend it as a speed shoe that could also mean it’s not going to last you as long and shouldn’t be your daily trainer.

Extra Cushioning

Who doesn’t love feeling like you’re running on a cloud? But remember that too much cushion in a long run shoe can actually backfire, as you start to sink in the shoe, creating lower back pain while running.

• Old running shoes breakdown and that can lead to stress fractures, so it’s not just about the cushion but the whole structure of the shoe
• A shoe that fits should feel good under the ball of your foot in the store doing your test run, if you’re trying to convince yourself the shoe isn’t too hard and you like it…walk away.
• Each runner has a different level of cushion that feels good, just like buying a mattress
• You will have different levels of cushion for different runs (i.e. speed work days vs marathon long runs)

Like we said above, there are so many options out there for running shoes for heavier runners that we hope you can use this as a guide when looking for your next pair of shoes.

Hopefully, one of these stands out and gets you excited to lace up and go out for a run!

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