Best Running Shoes For Bad Knees 2019 (Buyer’s Guide Included)

If you have bad knees, ankles, or other leg issues, then a pair of good running shoes can make a huge difference in your quality of life.

To help with bad knees, you need a pair of running shoes that absorbs more of the impact than the shoe normally would.

To help you find these shoes, we are going to be taking a look at the best running shoes for bad knees in this list. Each shoe that we review will have a men’s and a women’s version available. If you want to know what the best shoe is, we recommend the Hoka One One Bondi 5 Running Shoe.

 

A Spotlight On Some of The Best Running Shoes For Bad Knees 2019

 

Best Running Shoes For Bad Knees Reviews:

New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v7 Running Shoe

New Balance is a relatively well-known brand; while it may not be on par with something like Nike or Adidas, it is still a very respected brand. So, we decided that the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v7 Running Shoe was the best way to kick off our search for the best running shoes for bad knees.

This is a high-quality, comfortable running shoe. Before getting too far into the review, we should say that this shoe comes in basically every sort of size that you could want, and it also comes in models for both genders; men and women.

As we said in the introduction, this is a very high-quality, well-made shoe. New Balance uses a 100% synthetic mesh on the exterior of the shoe. What does that do? Well, the mesh not only provides stability for the shoe, but it also helps to keep air flowing throughout the shoe. This keeps your feet nice and temperate while running, which can protect against things like fungus and rashes; it also just makes you a lot more comfortable.

The rest of the exterior is made using imported fabric. Overall, the fabric is strong, comfortable, and durable. It makes for an extremely comfortable, good shoe. This shoe not only protects your foot, but it also will last for a while as well, so you won’t have to replace it for years.

But let’s talk about the main thing that we all want to know about, which is how well-padded the shoe is. The interior of this shoe is extremely comfortable. The sole is made of a comfortable material that also does a great job of absorbing impact (which would otherwise be transferred to your knees and ankles). Likewise, the interior is surprisingly spacious. Even those of you with bigger feet and bigger toes who are used to discomfort are going to be amazed at how spacious and comfortable this shoe is.

Does it have some issues? Yes, it does, but they are relatively minor. First up, it only comes in one color and pattern. This isn’t a huge issue, but it is still worth noting (especially because almost every other entry on our best running shoes for bad knees list has multiple color options). Secondly, it does seem to require a bit longer to “break-in” when compared to some other shoes.

Mizuno Wave Rider 20 Running Shoe

The next running shoe that we think deserves to be reviewed on our best running shoes for bad knees list is the Mizuno Wave Rider 20 Running Shoe. This is a high-quality shoe that is a great option for either men or women who have had knee injuries or who are just worried about general wear-and-tear on their knees.

In terms of how the shoe is designed and made, the Mizuno Wave Rider 20 Running Shoe is quite similar to the New Balance shoe that we just finished reviewing. Both the Mizuno and the New Balance shoe use synthetic mesh on the outside to help to keep your feet comfortable when using the shoe. As with the New Balance shoe, the mesh on the Mizuno really does a great job of letting some air circulate and keep your feet at a reasonable temperature when running.

Overall, the shoe is very well-constructed. It uses some high-quality fabrics to construct a really strong, flexible exterior. This makes the shoe durable and also capable of giving your feet some extra support.

They are a bit of a tight fit, but that is good for a specific reason. Some shoes give your feet a bit too much room, especially near the top, which can result in your feet moving a bit when you run. This can cause issues and put more strain on your knees and ankles.

But, the actual best part of this shoe is how well-made the interior is. The Mizuno uses U4IC midsole foam and a high-quality rubber sole to give your feet a lot of cushion and to help absorb impact when moving. The shoes are also designed to be very lightweight, which makes them even easier on your knees and feet.

The only thing missing from these shoes is a bit of extra support in the heel area. For this reason alone, we don’t think it’s the overall best entry on this list, but these are still some good shoes and they deserve to be mentioned alongside the other best running shoes for bad knees.

ASICS Gel-Kayano 24 Running Shoes

If you want a budget shoe that still delivers the same sort of quality that you have come to expect from other shoes on this best running shoes for bad knees list, then we have the shoe for you.

The ASICS Gel-Kayano 24 Running Shoes is the cheapest pair of shoes that we have reviewed so far on this list. But, don’t let the price fool you into thinking that this isn’t a solid shoe overall. It is very well-made and worthy of being put alongside the other pairs of shoes that we have reviewed.

Probably the best thing about this shoe is how intelligently it is designed. For example, the shoe uses what is called an “IGS” (impact guidance system).

This is a fancy way of describing the design of the shoe, which is meant to help provide extra support at each stage of the walking or running motion. It also has extra attention paid to the heel, to provide even more support to an area that is usually ignored. Furthermore, the shoe is designed to slowly accommodate to the overall shape of your foot, which results in a more comfortable experience overall.

It comes in lots of different sizes and colors, so if you are buying these shoes for multiple people, you can get different colors to make differentiating easier.

Obviously, this isn’t a perfect pair of shoes. If it was, they probably wouldn’t be so cheap. They aren’t as long-lasting as some of these other shoes that we have reviewed on this best running shoes for bad knees.

If you run a lot or even just walk a lot in them, they will likely be worn out in a year or so. Still, if you want a budget pair of running shoes that also provide a lot of good support for your knees, then the ASICS Gel-Kayano 24 Running Shoes are a good option.

Hoka One One Bondi 5 Running Shoe

For this next review, we have a real treat in the form of the Hoka One One Bondi 5 Running Shoe. Now, we have reviewed some pretty good shoes for our best running shoes for bad knees list, but the Hoka One One Bondi 5 Running Shoe are probably the best ones yet. In terms of pure quality, these running shoes from Hoka are great and they really help to take the pressure off your knees when walking or running.

The interior of this shoe is great for a variety of reasons. For starters, it uses what is called ortholite insole. This is a special kind of insole that provides a lot of comfort, support, and most importantly, impact absorption.

Whenever you walk or run with these shoes, the ortholite insole absorbs the impact that is created when your foot hits the ground. As we have mentioned many times before on this list of the best running shoes for bad knees, impact absorption is important because otherwise, the impact would go straight to your knees.

Another important feature of the Hoka One One shoe that makes it so good is what the manufacturers call the “meta-rocker.”

Basically, this refers to the way that the shoe is designed. The shoe is designed to help provide extra support through what is called the “gait cycle,” which is a fancy term for the way that we move forward. The shoe helps to provide support at each stage of the cycle to help keep pressure off your legs and knees.

Of course, there are other things to like about this shoe as well. For starters, the outside is covered in a strong, yet very breathable mesh coating. As we have said in previous reviews, the mesh helps to keep your feet comfortable, so it is always good to look for a running shoe with a mesh exterior.

The shoe is also very light and easy to wear. It doesn’t take long to break-in and once you are used to it, it is so light that you will barely notice that you are wearing anything at all.

ASICS Gel Nimbus 18 Running Shoe

For the last entry on this list, we are going to be looking at the ASICS Gel Nimbus 18 Running Shoe. This is not the first entry from ASICS to appear on our best running shoes for bad knees list; earlier we reviewed the ASICS Gel-Kayano 24 Running Shoes. However, despite having the same manufacturer, this pair of shoes do deserve separate entries.

The reason that these shoes have “gel” in the name is that they use what is called a “gel cushioning system.” As you might guess from the name, this is a cushioning system that helps to absorb impact and keep your feet comfortable while walking. It should also be noted that much like the previous shoe from ASICS that we reviewed, this shoe also has great heel support, for an extra-comfortable experience.

Overall, the ASICS Gel Nimbus 18 Running Shoe is designed to be both lightweight and durable. The materials used to make the shoe aren’t too heavy, but they are still pretty strong. You should be able to get a few years of heavy use out of these shoes before needing to replace them, which is very good. Plus, because they are light, they put a lot less strain on your knees, especially when running.

The main issue with these shoes is the price. They are the priciest shoe on our best running shoes for bad knees list. Only those who don’t mind a pricey shoe should take a look at these.

How To Pick Out The Best Running Shoes For Bad Knees

Alright, so let’s say you read through our selections for the best running shoes for bad knees list. One thing that may be on your mind is how we picked out the shoes that we decided to end up featuring.

In other words, what makes a pair of running shoes good for bad knees and what doesn’t? That is a good question and it is one that we intend to answer in this second part of our article. We are going to tell you what makes a pair of running shoes good for bad knees. This isn’t as hard as you would think, as there are only a few key features to keep an eye out for.

Impact Absorption

 

The number one thing to look out for is impact absorption. See, whenever you walk or run in shoes, impact is created. This impact is transferred up through your feet, to your ankles, and then to your knees.

Now, all shoes have some impact absorption, but most don’t have that much. If you have bad knees and use a regular pair of running shoes, then you are likely going to end up having a lot of pressure transferred to your knees, which obviously causes issues. So, when shopping for the best running shoes for bad knees, you need to find a pair of shoes that will absorb the impact created by walking or running.

How do you know if a shoe absorbs impact well? The easiest way to find out is to look at the inside of the shoe. If the shoe has a lot of good padding, then you know that it will absorb a lot of the impact. Likewise, the bottom of the shoe is also important. You want a shoe with a thick bottom that also has something like gel cushioning.

Weight

 

Another key aspect to consider when it comes to finding the best running shoes for bad knees is weight. When dealing with bad knees, the last thing that you want is a pair of heavy shoes.

The reason is pretty obvious, you don’t want to make it harder for yourself to lift the shoes off the ground because it puts more strain on your knees. This is why you need to find a very lightweight pair of shoes. Thankfully, this isn’t that difficult because we featured a lot of pretty light running shoes on our best running shoes for bad knees list.

Tight Fit

 

Finally, you want your shoes to have a tight fit. Why? Well, sometimes when you wear shoes that aren’t quite tight enough, your feet roll a bit when walking or running. On its own, this movement isn’t too dangerous. However, it does more strain on your feet and knees. So, if you already have bad knees, they might not react well to this added strain.

Conclusion

 

This brings us to the end of our best running shoes for bad knees list. If you have any comments, feel free to leave them for us down below.