20 Best Women’S Running Shoes For Knee Pain (2023 Updated)

As always with Nike, I size up a full size. I purchased Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35 in 2019 and they’ve been my daily shoes from the day I purchased them – immediately comfortable and supportive (and obviously held up REALLY well).

Fast forward to early 2022. I stuck with the same style since I loved them and got the 37’s (currently a nice savings over the new 38s). Super UNcomfortable! The tongue is uncomfortable, poking and rubbing on my ankle due to it’s sharp, narrow design and limited padding.

The heal is well padded but has a lot of movement and rubs (future blisters?). There is not much arch support like there is in my 35s. Finally, the worst of it is the toe box. It’s extremely tight across my toes (probably why they’re advertising increased room for the 38s).

I only made one loop around the house and then sat on the couch while wearing them and my toes were really hurting (picture constant pressure down on your big toe nail). Despite the sole feeling pretty cushioned when walking, I felt relief all around my foot when taking them off.

Super disappointing and definitely returning these. I’ll spend the extra on the new 38s and if that doesn’t work out I guess I’m done with the Air Zoom Pegasus line. :(.

Admittedly, I only got these, because I thought they were cute. I’m not a runner, am not doing anything athletic whatsoever in these shoes, but with that being said, the toebox on these shoes are HORRIBLE! It ruins the whole shoe.

There is no form to them at all, making them awkward and uncomfortable. I’m not doing a good job at explaining this, but take my word for it, and don’t waste your money. Like I said I’m not doing anything strenuous in these shoes, but I can imagine how uncomfortable it would be to do anything beyond basic walking in these.

Also, the shoelaces are wayyy too short, like why? I got the tie dye pair, and obviously the laces add to the overall aesthetic of the shoe, so I’m not going to replace them just to get them to be tied like I want, nor should I have to.

To summarize, don’t waste your money, not worth it, toebox ruins the shoe, shoelaces are way too short.

Great cushioning for long runs and supporting the knees. Have run many half marathons in these shoes and training for a full. Was recommended size 25. 5 cm with D-width based on my foot scan but found the fit better at 26 cm because of all the cushioning around the shoe.

Even with a wider size, the shoe was still a bit narrow in the front. Moulded/softened overtime though as the front of the shoe is a soft fabric design with no leathery frame. Have found that the shoes are extremely water absorbent.

If it’s raining or there are puddles on the ground, the shoes absorbs the water a fair bit and feels like a wet towel, so can weigh down your feet a bit. It also takes decent amount of time to dry afterwards.

Have also read online that glycerins are great walking shoes to stand in all day at work. However, personally found that it’s alright. It’s comfortable but my feet do still get sore and I’ve found memory foam shoes from sketchers to be more comfortable in that aspect.

Great pair of shoes for longer runs, but hoping to find something with a better fit. However, until then, these are my go to pairs.

These shoes are truly max cushion shoes. Unlike some other so called max cushion shoes, you can feel the plushness during the run. The ride is really comfortable, yet not so soft that it feels like you’re running on sand.

Although super comfortable, I wouldn’t say they are responsive. They actually feel slower, but that’s OK. I wanted these for recovery. The fit is completely different that the 19. In my normal size of 9 Wide, the 19 was snug, to the point of having to cut slits in the upper around both sides of the ball of my foot and wear super thin socks.

With these modifications, the shoe was comfortable and provided good support up to around 325 miles. After that they became very non responsive. The 20, is actually very wide, even for a wide width. Needed to go back to a cushion sock, custom insoles and a toe bandage on one big toe to eliminate rubbing.

Now that I have the fit issues resolved, the shoes provide a lot of cushion and my knees don’t hurt. If you run on hills, these are probably the best downhill shoes I have ever run in.

I was excited to get into these new Brooks! I bought them for myself at Christmas and was waiting to wear down my older running shoes before I got the joy of running in another pair of new Brooks- Glycerin! These are my favorite Brooks model and I’ve been wearing them for years.

Unfortunately, right from the moment I tied them on, I could tell they were uncomfortably different. The toebox is tighter which makes the shoe feel a half size smaller than normal and the footprint felt narrower.

I run trails and roads and as soon as I I hit the trail portion of my run, I could feel the breathable mess allowing trail dust and sand just fill up my shoes. And once I got into my second mile the narrow base allowed for me to easily roll my ankle on a tiny crack in the sidewalk.

These are terribly, TERRIBLY disappointing. They are not stable, squeesh your toes, and allow the trail to totally flood in with dirt and sand. If you’re looking for your favorite, reliable Glycerin’s, this model isn’t it.

When I started running I was a mizuno wearer. I tried out the levitates and have been wearing them since the Levitate 2’s. I don’t like the stealth fit so I was honestly so excited when the 5 came out with both options.

I am really able to adjust the fit and get to wear them the way I want. I have tried to put other shoes to the fit but they just don’t compare. I do wear lighter shoes for shorter or faster distances but always come back to the levitate for halfs.

It’s not the lightest shoe but don’t really notice once going. I am able to get a lot of wear out of them. I have worn them in cold (25-30ish) and the heat (80+) and have not notice any breaking or falling apart at seams or the soles.

They just naturally wear out with miles but don’t fall apart. I know color isn’t important but they always have cute and trendy colors. I also love how they usually match the clothes that brooks is putting out at the same time as when the shoe comes out.

Just really love the levitates.

These are the PERFECT running shoe. Don’t let the other reviews put you off, I read them and nearly didn’t make a purchase, but I’m so glad that I did. I was worried these wouldn’t be as good as my original Bedlams.

but my worry was misplaced as these are far superior!! Firstly, when I buy new running trainers it usually takes a few runs to break them in, I get a few blisters etc. But with these beauties I didn’t get any of that; from first run they were ultra comfortable and gave me no grief whatsoever.

they immediately felt spot on. Now I know some reviewers have said that these trainers are too narrow and I will admit, if you have a very wide foot these may not be the trainer for you. However I’ve found them to be just right for my standard feet; plenty of room for my feet to expand after a few miles, not so tight they numb my feet, don’t cause any pressure etc.

Also the sown in tongue is something I don’t mind but I can see why some people wouldn’t like it, it makes the shoes tight to get on. But once on, these shoes fit like a glove! What I also love about these trainers is that I’ve always struggled with knee issues when I run, but since wearing these I’ve noticed this problem becoming less and less.

They really do provide the support and stability that I need need running as I don’t have a standard gait and tend to run on the outside of my foot. Thesw trainers are springy without being overly springy, they provide the right amount of ‘bounce’ when running to make them feel comfortable but so I can also ‘feel’ the road too.

Also the sizing is spot on. I’m a UK 5 and decided to opt for a 5. 5 to allow for expansion. This was a good call as they’re very comfy when worn. The only thing thing would say is that these are very much road running trainers or for use on a treadmill.

They’re in no way ideal for trail running or even on slippy/muddy/wet surfaces. The grip is pretty shocking, but as long as you’re aware then you’ll be fine!.

Much tighter fit overall than any other Brooks shoes I’ve worn previously, including the Ravenna 7s and the Adrenaline GTS 17s. I usually wear a size 10 in Brooks, which was the same for these shoes, but the fit is really snug.

I ran after it rained and there’s no grip on the road — felt like I could slip at any moment so I had to be really, really careful (side note: I’d spray a waterproof solution on these before wearing them because they get soaked easily with their very thin material).

This was upsetting because they’re advertised as road-running shoes. The ankle GuideRails take time to break in and were not comfortable at all until my fourth or fifth wear. Even then, the ankle supports don’t really help with my overpronation, which is why I bought these shoes in the first place since I had prior success with Brooks’ support shoes.

The thin material continues right on the inner ankle, which is exactly where previous models of Brooks’ overpronation shoes had a thick material for targeted support. The cushion does feel pretty comfortable when my foot lands, but that’s about the only positive.

I’m not crazy about these at all, even though they are much better looking than all previous models and are definitely the lightest Brooks I’ve worn. Unfortunately I bought these at a DSW so I can’t return them, but I might opt for a different brand in the future, as it seems Brooks changed a LOT with its newest shoe models.

Brooks Beast Runner for over 25 years. I’ve put 50+ miles on the new 2020 and struggle with the fit, feel, support, and trying to rationalize the performance. Best way to convey my feedback is with the Cons and Pros below and a subjective analysis below.

CONS: 1) Mesh is super loose and roomy on top of foot allowing feet to slide between rails, especially when running on slopes. The lack of support from upper mesh is causing skin irritation on bottom of my right big toe area.

2) The laces are longer than needed, feel light in construction. 3) Feels like all the support has gone away as the rail system is more of a gate guide allowing more flexibility from heals through arch movement.

It is obvious that the arch supports from older models are gone as the new rails do nothing to make-up for the difference. I’ve had planter fasciitis in the past and my left foot has painful like cramps during a portion of each run in these new 20s.

4) I normally run in size 8. 5 and an 8 in soccer cleats. The Brooks site said the 20’s run tight so I got my usual 8. 5. The fit actually seems HUGE and I contribute this to the mesh and lack of arch support material.

The results feel as if there is no support over the entire foot with even pressure. I tried to compensate by tightening the laces and it causes uneven pressure distribution over the entire foot. 6) Price, seriously too much for a shoe that may not last as long (wear) and looks like it cost much less to make.

(Side note: Money is really tight and I usually buy older models and even slightly used online to save money. However, I’m 56 years old and run a pace of 7:30 miles while training and injuries are more likely to happen so I wanted to invest in a shoe to help.

Other than Solomon, I’ve always suffered injuries when switching away from the Beast. I don’t like the Roadrunner’s or Brooks gate analysis tools as they always say I need a “NEUTRAL” model. Each time I strayed away from the Beast I would get Shin splints, planters.

Bought these for the style, returned them for the horrible fit. Let me preface this review by saying I’ve been a Brooks fan for ~4 years and have cycled through the Dyad 10s, the Ghost 12s, and two (2) pairs of Launch 5s.

This is the first time I’ve ever had anythng negative to say about a pair of Brooks shoes, and it really comes down to the horrid lacing system (or lack thereof). Buyer beware, you CANNOT tighten this shoe.

The lacing structure is deisgned such that the sock-like upper and elastic laces are meant to secure your foot, and I found it didn’t even come close. I trialed them Day 1 on a 2-miler and noticed an overall slop as compared to my other shoes with traditional lacing systems and a heel-lock setup.

3 days later I took them on a 3-mile club run, and that was enough to bench them for almost 2 months. In late Sept I gave them one last chance on an 8-mile club run and had severe tightness in both calves for weeks afterward.

Given the inability to immobilize the foot inside the shoe, I felt there was way too much work being done by the foot itself to stabilize, which inevitably transferred up the leg creating just an overall discomfort.

Add to that a general lack of energy return (despite the website description) and these quickly fell out of rotation in favor of Hokas and Nikes with literally hundreds of miles on them. Overall disappointed with the shoe itself, but Brooks obliged me with a full return.

Win some lose some, but I will always have a pair of their shoes somewhere in my training cycle.

This is my thrid pair of these Nike tennis shoes. They fit me the absolute best. They are actually narrow enough so my heel does not slip and a nice wide toe box. Great cushioning as well. I have left knee and hip pain.

I now use these when I walk daily and the pain subsides. Otherwise, without these great shoes, it hurts worse! I know becuase I have worn others and they don’t help. I love the color. The last two were boring grey.

Plus these are water resistant and herer in PNW I need that! HIghly recommend these shoes.

I don’t know if it’s me but I feel these don’t provide the normal bouncy sole that my previous trainers had (which are also Nike pegasus) They look nice and smart but the laces are also a little strange and come undone easily.

I have worn nothing but Newton running shoes for the past 10 years. I wore Gravity until they changed the design to a more narrow toe box. Then, I switched to Fate and then to Women’s distance. I was excited to see this Catalyst model, because I love the all mesh design and the color.

I wore them for my first run a week ago as soon as they arrived in the mail and I fell quickly in love with them. They are very light weight, very comfortable, perfect for road running, and my feet never overheat or swell.

Highly recommend!.

I ordered 8. 5 size and it fit like a 8 without a sock. Thankfully my daughter is a size 8. So it worked out on her behalf. Otherwise the shoe is wonderful. Too bad the size was either labeled incorrectly or it was way to narrow in the forefoot.

I will be ordering a larger size. I absolutely love Newton Running. I don’t purchase anything else for Running and or working out.

I picked this one with the idea for travel. It does see-through and a bit too cold to walk around in this winter weather. The shoes is super comfortable for long walk, has the best spring than other of newton I owned, but as it light on top, it’s not so good as a solo pair of travel shoes (doesn’t have good toes protection and get wet easily.

) Waiting for newton to release walking/traveling shoes in all black and all white color, pleaseee.

This is Raidlight’s off-road racer with less aggressive tread, tighter fit, and firmer cushion than their other offerings. Warning, this shoe runs SMALL like the other Raidlight shoes, yet is even tighter.

Size up by. 5 to 1 size. Like my other reviews, I’ll say that this pair has impressively good build quality for the price. It does feel like a $120+ shoe, but the sale price is great bargain. I did not run in the Responsiv XP, but returned due to the overall small sizing and tight fit.

The lace-up versions of Raidlight shoes all have great heel lockdown, although the speedlaced versions are not my cup of tea with the neoprene sock liner. Maybe worth a shot for the price if you’re looking for a quick trail shoe.

Working in the medical field and being on my feet 12 hours a day, I read reviews and did research that suggested that these would do wonders. However, they are the complete opposite. After one shift, me feet were begging to have these shoes off! I could barely pick my feet up to walk after being home for just an hour.

I chalked it up to having new shoes and my feet needing to adjust. I was wrong, again. After 2 weeks of wearing only these shoes during work, I have come to the unfortunate conclusion that they need to be replaced.

It’s quite possible they are better for running or in a different profession; If you’re walking or on your feet for an extensive period of time, save yourself the aching feet, ankles and spend your money on something else.

This is my second pair of the Zoom Pegasus 38’s. In the Zoom Pegasus 37 I wear a 9, but I felt more comfortable in a 9. 5 in the 38’s. Since my foot was already accustomed to this shoe, I was able to wear it for a half marathon race after just 2 medium distance (~6mile) runs with no issues.

The shoe is relatively light with good rebound and good breathability. I have a few hundred miles on my first pair of Zoom 38’s and expect I can get another couple hundred. I’m glad to have this new pair added into my shoe rotation.

I’m an avid outdoor runner and my old Nike’s were killing me feet with no support. I purchased these around 6 months ago and I’m still obsessed! They are extremely comfortable, with a ton of cushion for the whole foot.

They are true to size and are very light; it barely feels like I’m wearing sneakers at all. For all you long distance, concrete/asphalt runners, these are the shoes you should get!.

I am 67 years old, 78 kg weight, 1. 74 meters height. I run for pleasure about 20k a week, 1 long run and 2 short ones. Externally, the shoe is beautiful and attracts attention. This shoe is supposed to replace my Hoka Bondi 7 shoe.

The sole and the shoe are slightly narrower than the Hoka. Because the shoe is narrower, the laces need to be spaced more, so that the foot feels comfortable in them. The laces are rough and didn’t open during my first run.

The tongue is padded and comfortable, although too short for my taste. The first impression of the footwear, is the softness and the soft return when stepping. I felt a little unstable, due to the narrower shoe.

During the run itself, I had to get used to the slightly different running which is different from a shoe with a wide and flat sole like the Bondi. I don’t know if it’s the shoe, or because of the improved weather, which was today at 6 am, less hot and less humid, but I finished a 9.

4 km run, in a good result, that I haven’t achieved for a long time. And I have no problem attributing the improvement to the shoe. In conclusion, a shoe that was easy for me to get used to relatively quickly.

My confidence will surely increase in the next runs. One thing you should pay attention to, I think the shoe is less resistant to wet surfaces.

I previously owned the React Infinity Run Flyknit V1, and I generally wear a size 11. 5 if the shoe has a reasonable toebox; but the toebox was much too narrow in that version for me, so I had to go up a half size for the V1.

This version has a very comfortable toebox for me, so I was able to go back to my regular size 11. 5. I don’t know all the fancy running shoe terminology that people use, but the shoe is very comfortable and felt wonderful except for a rub just below my outer right ankle.

I tried a pair for a couple of weeks, and the rub never broke in or got any less noticeable, so I thought it might be a defect, so I exchanged them for another pair of the exact same model, and the rub was the same and never got better.

I wanted so bad for these to work for me, and every run I kept hoping ‘maybe this time it will start hurting less,’ but it got to the point where I cringed when I took the first few steps. I finally exchanged them for another model.

On a related note, there is a review from another person who had a problem with the arch on the right shoe only, and he had it on two separate pairs; so maybe there’s something in the manufacture of the right shoe? I really don’t know what to say about the recommendation, except I’d recommend this shoe for everyone except anyone who it rubs wrong; it would have been a wonderful shoe if not for the rub.

I wore these for a 12 mile run right out of the box after purchasing them. This review is only a reflection of that run. Immediately I could tell the comfort was not like other shoes, they feel incredible.

I actually said “woah!” out loud after running my first steps! I have tried many comfort shoes from nike over the years and these are by far the best, no question. Unfortunately, I cannot wear these anymore because the shoe is very narrow, particularly around the pinky toe area.

My pinky toe is pressed tight against the side of the shoe. Towards the end of my run it was in pain due to this that lasted for days. This only happened on my right foot, so I assume this is a me problem.

I am a big Nike shoe person and I have never experienced this issue with any nike shoes in my lifetime. I am very bummed because I was excited to use these as my long/recovery run shoe. I am not giving up on them yet, will try and see if I can widen them somehow because that’s how good they are.

I also want to point out that after my single run, the fabric on the outsides of the ankle support were getting frayed and coming apart on both shoes. This is unacceptable in my opinion, I wore these for two hours!.

Ok, first off – I have NOT YET RUN IN THESE, so may need to update later, but I just laced them up and love them so much, I have to write a review. I’m a big runner (50-60 miles per week, mostly on-road) and I’ve purchased/worn out four pairs of React Infinity Run Flyknit (version 1.

0) kicks in the past year; this is my first pair of the 2. 0 model. I purchased the black/purple color scheme because I love a deal lol and I go through shoes quickly, so jump on any chance to not spend $160.

THESE ARE AWESOME. Love they that update includes a padded heel rim; my biggest issue with the older model was the flyknit fit on the upper, it resulted in some major rubbing/blisters last summer. I imagine these are going to be way more comfortable to break in.

I also love that there is a legit padded tongue on these. the flyknit lack of tongue wasn’t a huge deal on the earlier model, but it did make me feel a little goofy (like what’s the point of laces if you’re wearing a sock? and if I tied too tight, it was just rubbing directly against my foot?).

Also love that this color scheme has a gray/neon green speckled base. the white bases tend to show signs of wear very easy, which detracts from the beauty of this shoe (and truly, I do think these shoes are a gorgeous design.

They’re the first running shoe that I don’t feel too nerdy just wearing around). Would recommend!.