Are you an overweight woman who needs to lose weight by running? But somehow, none of the shoes that you try on fits perfectly? Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. In this guide, we will be covering the best running shoes for overweight women.
Just a head start though, not all running shoes are perfect for overweight women. And although you will find some lightweight shoes here, which we will make sure to highlight, a lot of these shoes will be having some amount of weight.
The reason is that overweight women need not only good support and cushioning but also a tough, durable outsole with great traction to let the shoes last more. That out of the way, let us start with our 5 favorite best running shoes for overweight women
1. Brooks Ghost 12
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Features
Support
Support is one of the main things runners look for in shoes. The support is essentially important for overweight runners. Almost all of the best running shoes for overweight women feature some sort of support. You need support because, without proper support, your weight can strain the tendons in your feet and cause serious, painful injuries.
Ghost 12 features neutral support for the arches of the feet. And this is even better since feet come with all kinds of arches, high and low, and the neutral support makes sure it doesn’t strain your muscles, arches, or tendons.
Cushioning
Overweight runners need as much cushioning as they can get since the crushing weight of the upper body will compress the insoles of the foot by quite a lot. This causes the foot to be compressed to an extent that you will feel the insides of the outsole under your feet. And let us tell you; it’s not the nicest thing to experience.
The built-in BioMoGo DNA and DNA Loft technology make sure just the right amount of cushioning is provided to your feet, without making the shoes too light to turn less durable.
Shock absorption
An overweight body, upon striking the ground can give the worst shocks to the body. And without good shock absorption, you will likely fatigue your muscles and tendons a lot quicker than you’d expect, if not injure them seriously.
Thankfully though, the Ghost 12 comes with a segmented crash pad; an integrated system of shock absorbers that will not only enhance your heel-to-toe transitions but also make sure your muscles are not strained beyond their limits.
Pros
- Crashpad technology
- Neutral support
- Responsive and comfy at the same time
Cons
- A little snug around the toe box
- Stability needs improvement
2. Nike Women’s Downshifter 9 Sneaker
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Features
Traction
Let’s be honest. As an overweight runner, you need as much traction and slip resistance as possible. Falling with all that weight on the ground is not going to be the most pleasant experience of your life. You need a shoe with the perfect traction and Nike is here for you.
With flex grooves on the outsole and a unique, traction-enhancing pattern, the shoe makes sure that you do not lose traction in even the most technical of all the tracks. Also, the outsole is quite durable as well. This is a plus since a shoe with good traction needs to be as durable as possible to withstand all the stress.
Breathability
You’re already experiencing enough exertion trying to burn all that extra weight off your body. No need to let your feet suffer from it. As an overweight runner, you might want to consider breathability an important aspect of your shoes.
The forefoot open mesh of these shoes is designed to make Downshifter 9 as breathable as possible. Also, closed mesh through the midfoot and heel provides maximum structured support for a lady’s feet as well. It’s a plus, plus situation.
Cushioning
Again, cushioning is something you must always have in your shoes, especially if you’re an overweight runner. The best running shoes for overweight women provide maximum cushioning and that is exactly what Nike’s Downshifter 9 is doing.
With a full-length phylon midsole, the shoe makes sure you have as much flexible cushioning as possible. Not only that, but it also acts as a mild shock absorber. But then again, a cushioned shoe will most likely be good in absorbing shocks as well.
Pros
- Great traction
- Open mesh forefoot
- Flexible cushioning
Cons
- Would’ve been nicer with a heel drop
- Stiff laces
3. Adidas Women’s Puremotion Adapt Running Shoe
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Features
Insole
If you want comfort for your underfoot while running then this shoe is made just for you. With the removal cloudfoam comfort insole and cushioning midsole, the shoe can give you one of the most comfortable runs of all time.
Being an overweight runner, you must be aware of how the extra upper weight of your body can strain your foot tendons and arches. For some runners, this is a really painful experience, and if you’re one of those runners, then make sure your shoes are well cushioned just like this one.
Breathable and durable
You can guess just by looking at this shoe that it is going to be breathable and lightweight. And though it might not look very durable, the outsole of this shoe is quite sturdy by itself. So even if you feel like your weight will crush the shoes under your feet, think again. These are built to last.
Secure fit
Another thing that disturbs most runners is the painful injuries due to friction of the foot against the insides of the shoes. Many running shoes have this problem of being too wide or too long, allowing the foot to slip inside and making things uncomfortable and painful.
However, Adidas Puremotion adapts features a slip-on design along with the elastic cross strap making sure the fit of the shoes on your feet is just perfect. It makes sure the shoes hug your feet like an embrace of an old friend.
Pros
- Good fit with a slip-on design
- Highly breathable
- Overall comfortable
Cons
- Arch support could be improved
- Make sure it doesn’t get wet
4. Mizuno Women’s Wave Rider 23 Running Shoe
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Features
Responsiveness
This shoe is one of the best running shoes for overweight women when it comes to responsiveness. With a dual compound midsole using U4ic and U4icx technologies, the shoe makes sure it gives you maximum energy returns.
This feature makes it one of the best running shoes for exhilarating runs when you want to run extra miles but your muscles are just too fatigued to carry on. The responsiveness makes sure you don’t waste your muscular energy resisting compressions and put the energy to good use by burning fat the way it is supposed to.
Pronation support
So this shoe right here is one of the best running shoes for overweight women when it comes to pronation problems. Not a lot of shoes offer this at such prices and for the ones that do, we make sure you don’t miss them.
Wave rider 23 features support for under pronation and slight overpronation as well. Hence if you are someone who under pronates, then make sure you get your hands on these beauties. They won’t disappoint.
Energy return
The overall responsiveness of these shoes is quite exceptional as well. The built-in cloud wave technology makes sure the shock absorption of the shoes is maximum. Plus, the technology is quite durable as well. You can run all you want, take as heavy steps as you can, and the technology will never disappoint you.
Pros
- Lightweight and breathable upper
- Good cushioning and responsiveness
- Durable
Cons
- A little snug around the sides
- Slightly stiff
5. New Balance Women’s Made in US 1540 V2 Running Shoe
Features
Cushioning
The shoe features an EVA cushioning. And for those of you who didn’t know, EVA cushioning is one of the best cushioning materials out there. Not only is it extremely lightweight but also great at resisting compression sets and forms easily.
Plus, the ENCAP midsole makes sure your midsole gets the comfort it requires. Not too soft, because it can be hurtful in the long term, and not too stiff to make things comfortable just the minute you put them on. Just the right amount of cushioning every foot desires.
Heel drop
The heel drop on these shoes is very nice, which is a must for almost every runner out there, overweight or not.
The shoe features the standard 10mm drop which might not look so much, considering the heavyweight will drop the heel drop from 10mm down to some 7mm or something. But the assumption could be no more false. The shoe is cushioned, but sturdy enough to resist compressions that can affect its heel drop. And this feature is always a plus.
Rollbar
Now for those of you with severe overpronation, this technology is for you. Designed to reduce rearfoot movement, the rollbar technology with medial and lateral TPU posts is all you need for ultimate motion control.
Pros
- Best for overpronators
- Nice heel drop
- Good cushioning
Cons
- A little too shallow
- Short toe bed
Comparison Chart
| Product | Price | Rating | Dimensions | Weight |
|
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$68.19 – $1,024.59 | 4.7 / 5 | 10 x 15 x 6 inches | 1.2 lbs |
|
2. Nike Women’s Downshifter 9 Sneaker Amazon affiliate link. |
$49.99 – $199.95 | 4.6 / 5 | 11.8 x 7.2 x 4.1 inches | 0.5 lbs |
|
3. Adidas Women’s Puremotion Adapt Running Shoe Amazon affiliate link. |
$39.99 – $144.00 | 4.6 / 5 | 11.18 x 7.72 x 4.41 inches | 1.25 lbs |
|
4. Mizuno Women’s Wave Rider 23 Running Shoe Amazon affiliate link. |
$56.25 – $139.99 | 4.5 / 5 | 11.6 x 6.4 x 4.3 inches | 1.2 lbs |
|
5. New Balance Women’s Made in US 1540 V2 Running Shoe Amazon affiliate link. |
$80.34 – $183.51 | 4.4 / 5 | 12.6 x 7.3 x 5 inches | 1 lb |
Buying Guide On Best Running Shoes For Overweight Women
Heel drop
Regardless of whether you’re an overweight woman or not, a Heel drop is something you ought to look for in any running shoe whatsoever.
The standard heel drop is 10mm. And most brands will boast about their built-in heel drops. But don’t be fooled. Here’s how:
If you are especially an overweight woman, the weight of your body will compress the shoe. Also, keep in mind that heel drop varies quite a lot in the shoe under different conditions. The dynamics of running put the shoe under the kinds of stresses that will lessen its heel drop. Hence a heel drop measured in static conditions will not be the same when measured under dynamic conditions.
Keeping this in mind, the weight of your upper body, combined with the dynamics of running will reduce the heel drop from its standard 10mm to about 5-7mm. This is a lot of reduction if you ask us.
How to prevent this? Easy. just make sure you do not buy excessively soft shoes in the hopes of having a more comfortable experience, which brings us to our next point;
Sturdiness
A lot of runners will go for soft and comfortable shoes. They will even suggest you go for soft shoes. But don’t take their advice fully, do some research. Like reading our blogs.
Imagine what a soft shoe will look like under a heavy, overweight body. Squished? Stressed? Looking like it can burst any second. That is exactly what will happen.
Plus, the soft shoes will also allow for the severe reduction of heel drop. This means more stress on your cal muscles during running and more chances of having tendon or ligament injuries.
So what’s the right thing to do? Easy. go for shoes that are not soft. Still, want comfort? Make sure your shoes offer good padding in the areas you need and are cushioned to some extent. Note that a lot of people use cushioned shoes and soft shoes interchangeably. That’s wrong. A cushioned shoe is not likely a soft shoe.
Conclusion
And that’s it for our guide on the best running shoes for overweight women. We hope you crush your running sessions and we are eager to hear from you about your improvements in the fitness domain.
Here’s an article that will provide you with in-depth information on how running shoes are important and which ones you should buy.