Today, we’re going to be reviewing some of the best running shoes for bad ankles.
Not every running shoe is designed to really protect your ankles especially if they’re weak or prone to injury.
Luckily for you, the shoes below have good ankle support and will certainly help you concentrate more on the miles ahead rather than your ankles.
Let’s get right into it…
Related:
Best Running Shoes for Bad Ankles
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 20
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As one of the best 12mm heel drop running shoes, the Adrenaline GTS 20 is a great shoe because it fits a wide variety of people. It offers exceptional cushioning and ankle support, which makes it really helpful for runners with weak or injury-prone ankles.
It is for your average runner who’s looking for a good cushion and a good amount of support and wants to feel good throughout the entirety of their run.
It is a Brooks’ stability favorite. It has some similar features to the previous version, but there are some small tweaks that are going to further enhance that on-foot experience.
It still has the DNA Loft and the heel crash pad to make sure that you’re having a soft landing.
GuideRails & Stability
The Adrenaline no longer uses the medial posting we saw in previous versions. In 19, it switched over to the GuideRails and we continue to see the use of the GuideRails.
Brooks has done this to create a highly stable design without the use of a traditional medial post posting.
So, the Adrenaline GTS 20 has the GuideRails system on the medial side as well as the lateral side to give you on-demand and holistic support throughout the entirety of your run.
GuideRails can often be equated similar to bumpers on a bowling alley. You can put the bumpers up and you don’t necessarily have to use them and you can still bowl straight down the middle just as when you’re running.
You can still run right down the middle of the shoe and not necessarily interact with the GuideRail.
However, the longer you run, the more fatigue you get and the higher chance you have of needing a little more support on the end of your run.
So, with Brooks’ GuideRails, it’s going to be a little more holistic for your running experience and be more on-demand for those later parts of your run when you need a little more support.
Upper
On the upper, this is where we see the big updates in this shoe.
The Adrenaline GTS 20 has a streamlined engineered Flex Fit mesh upper which has two layers of mesh.
The inner layer is a little thinner, almost feeling like a sock where the outer layer is very breathable and durable to make sure that you’re good to run in whatever conditions.
It still has all the support you need for running long miles on the roads but in just a little bit of a sleeker package.
Outsole
Moving on down to the outsole, there’s a lot of blown rubber. It’s a very similar design to previous versions with some small tweaks to the flex grooves, but overall, you’re going to get that durability and traction you’ve come to expect from the Adrenaline series.
The Adrenaline GTS 20 has good flex grooves all the way throughout the midsole and the outsole. It’s going to give you a little bit more flexibility while you run and make sure that your foot can operate uniquely in your shoe.
Midsole
On the midsole, the Adrenaline continues to use that DNA Loft compound but it’s been slightly tweaked. It’s now a little softer while still retaining that highly responsive feel.
Overall, the Brooks Adrenaline 20 will continue to offer a highly stable package with an enhanced on-foot experience.
We’ve done a comparison review of the Adrenaline GTS 19 and the GTS 20.
| Where to buy (not affiliate) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brooks | Running Warehouse | |
Brooks Ghost 13
Brooks actually took the DNA Loft that was in the heel of the Ghost 12 and they extended it all the way through the forefoot in the 13.
This is going to make the Ghost 13 a little bit softer and a little bit lighter and a little more of like a bouncy plush feel.
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Upper
The other change was to the upper. Brooks changed it to this engineered air mesh which is basically super lightweight and kind of aerated mesh that has almost like padding to it.
This engineered 3D Print upper gives the shoe structure where it needs to while it’s lightweight and breathable where it needs to be breathable.
The Ghost line has become a staple for runners the world over. I believe it’s the number 2 best-selling running right now.
Why is that?
It’s because it has a great step-in feel. It’s soft, cushioned, it feels protective, it has some inherent stability without being stiff.
You can read the full review of the Brooks Ghost 13.
| Where to buy (not affiliate) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Brooks | Running Warehouse | |
Asics Gel Nimbus 22
This is a great shoe from Asics that provides the right amount of cushioning and support to take you through the miles ahead.
The Nimbus is a “max cushion”, neutral running shoe. Anytime you can create a shoe for 22 years, you know it’s going to be a great model. Asics advertises it as a max cushion running shoe, but I’m not sure it provides the amount of cushion these great max cushion running shoes do.
When you slip your foot into the Nimbus, you’re going to notice it is super comfortable right out of the box.
If you’re going to be using the Nimbus as your day-in-day-out trainer, I would say this is a fantastic shoe for you.
Also, if you wear running shoes just to kind of kick around in and walk around on the weekends, this is a fantastic option.
Midsole
Jumping down to the midsole, the Nimbus 22 features a thicker version of Asics’ softest and most resilient midsole foam package called FlyteFoam Propel.
But there’s still going to be that classic Gel in the heel and the forefoot.
The heel cushion is out of this world. For super-heavy heel strikers, having that extra cushion in the heel is awesome.
Outsole
The first thing I want to talk about is the TPU shank or a plastic shank plate that they always put in their Cumulus or Nimbus series.
Normally, this shank would go the entire length of the shoe, but on the medial side, it almost looks like it’s a decoupled midsole.
But looking at the outsole, you can see the shank is connected on the lateral side.
Then, there are eight cutout grooves with five in the front and then three in the back. There’s a lot of flexibility in the front of this shoe but not much in the back.
So, even though this is a neutral high cushion shoe with no stability built in, it’s going to have that rigidity that you have come to know in most Asics shoes.
Upon forefoot toe-off, the Nimbus flexes really well. I wouldn’t say it’s the most responsive shoe, but it flexes in the right points and you’re going to have a good ride in this shoe.
Upper
Asics is fusing on the Asics logo instead of stitching it on for weight purposes, I would assume. So, there’s no weird seams or overlays in the forefoot, which means you won’t have any blistering or hot spots.
The Monofilament mesh upper is breathable and feels pretty much the same as the Pegasus Turbo 2 from Nike.
The overlays in the midfoot really help grip your foot and secure your ankles in nicely without putting too much pressure on it.
And if you’re someone with a little bit higher instep and you need more volume in your shoes, the Nimbus works perfectly.
The heel area is wrapped around by a sturdy internal heel counter. The heel fit is fantastic and has that really nice grip in the heel.
So, you’ll have no heel slippage and you won’t have to yank on the laces to really get them tightened up.
If you’re looking for something a little bit lower in price point, go ahead and look for the Asics Gel Cumulus.
The Cumulus also has that rearfoot Gel cushioning and then more of like a ground feel on the forefoot.
But if you’re looking for that high cushion neutral trainer, the Nimbus is the shoe for you.
Last but not least, Asics has launched a lighter version of the Asics Gel Nimbus called the Nimbus Lite.
| Where to buy (not affiliate) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Asics | Dicks Sporting Goods | |
Related:
Asics Gel Kayano 27
The Kayano‘s cushioning and solid heel counter attenuate shock nicely and offer maximum comfort and ankle support.
You can read the full review of the Asics Gel Kayano 27
Asics GT 2000 9
The 2000 series has been around for years and for good reason. It’s a reliable moderate stability shoe that’s going to work for a wide range of overpronators.
Midsole
With version 9, we’re not going to see huge updates in the midsole. We’re going to continue to see that FlyteFoam cushioning for reliable protection and a little bit of pop.
And of course, we’ve got the exposed Gel in the heel for a soft underfoot experience.
Stability
For added stability, we’re going to continue to see Dynamic Duo-Max medial posting going to offer all the stability you need for minor to moderate overpronators.
Outsole
On the outsole, we’re going to see plenty of durable rubber in the heel and forefoot as well as that Trusstic system in the midfoot for a little bit of torsional rigidity.
Upper
Finishing this shoe off, on the upper, we’re going to see an engineered mesh.
It’s worth noting with the 2009, we’re also going to see a knit version. So, there are two versions available depending on what you want your on-foot experience to be like.
Overall, the Asics GT 2009 is going to continue to be a staple for mild to moderate overpronators. It has all the cushioning and stability you need to do your daily miles on the road.
Last but not least, here’s a comparison of the Asics GT 2000 vs 1000.
| Where to buy (not affiliate) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Asics | Road Running Sports | |
Mizuno Wave Inspire 16
In January of 2020, Mizuno Wave Inspire released its 16th edition. The Wave Inspire has become the cornerstone of the Mizuno stability line and one that lots of runners have been enjoying.
It comes with a nice firm snug heel counter to provide you plenty of ankle support.
The Inspire falls in the stability category. So, if you pronate and you need something nice and supportive up on that inside, this is your go-to shoe from Mizuno.
It is also considered an everyday running shoe. So, you’re probably going to use this on the roads, track, treadmill, more to get your base everyday mileage in.
In this latest release, there were a couple of small effective updates to the Wave Inspire 16 essentially only being in the upper with no changes to the midsole or outsole from the previous version.
Upper
This is the first time ever that the Inspire series will be offered with two different uppers, a knit upper as well as an engineered mesh.
The upper of the Wave Inspire 16 was built with a new engineered mesh which was developed for a softer fit in a wearable day-to-day look that I really love.
This lighter and softer upper wraps around the foot really nicely. It’s comfortable and roomy and you can wiggle your toes quite nicely in there.
This generous toe box compliments the flexible forefoot that allows for smooth toe-offs on the street and on the trails.
The lacing system is not very noticeable and it kind of just wraps and holds down the foot quite nicely.
But I would love to see Mizuno move to a more gusseted thinner tongue. Not that I think anything’s wrong with this one, but I would love to see some innovation and change in the Mizuno Wave Inspire.
The Wave Inspire 16 fits true to size and you’re going to have no issues with the fitting at all.
The black-on-black colorway would be great once the Inspire’s running life is over and you want to keep it as your walking around shoe.
Midsole
The cushioning of the Inspire has improved a little bit over the year. So, you’ve got the U4icX midsole and then also your U4icX heel wedge as well.
Together, that makes that soft cushion transitioned ride all the way from your heel to your forefoot to your toe-off.
The forefoot is flexible and springy and it’s going to provide you with that smooth transition and toe-off.
The 12-millimeter heel drop and that smooth ride provide you that really nice toe-off no matter whether you’re heel striking, hitting that midfoot, or if you’re turning up the pace and landing on your forefoot.
True to the reason this shoe was made, there is plenty of stability provided by the Wave plate and the midsole.
Stability
Unlike the Mizuno Horizon 4, the Wave Inspire has stuck with the Wave plate.
Again, the Wave Inspire works perfectly for someone that pronates or needs that little bit more support when you are running.
How does Mizuno do stability?
Well, it’s very different from a lot of other brands like Brooks, Asics, Saucony…
What Mizuno is using is a TPU wave plate. What that does is when you tend to overpronate or roll in too much, it just loads up that medial side and then bounces back quite nicely as opposed to just consistently pushing it out to your lateral side.
It feels very firm and very stable.
Outsole
The outsole is the same as the previous version. The Wave Inspire is still a nice lightweight cushioned shoe and it does last quite a while.
The outsole offers plenty of grip on all types of terrain, concrete, asphalt, crushed gravel, fire roads, and technical trails.
The rubber that Mizuno use underneath is very hard to wear through probably one of your more durable trainers.
Related: Best Running Shoes for Asphalt and Concrete
All in all, the Mizuno Wave Inspire 16 is a workhorse of an everyday stability trainer and the durability is extremely impressive.
Inspire 16 vs Inspire 15
Let’s quickly compare the Mizuno Wave Inspire 16 to the Mizuno Wave Inspire 15.
As I said before, the outsole on both versions is identical.
Moving on to midsole, both shoes use a U4icX cushioning system which does really work quite well in both shoes.
However, the midsole on the Mizuno Inspire 16 definitely feels a bit softer on the foot. It is the same mold though, but for whatever reason, it does feel a lot softer and a little bit more squishy under the foot and just overall holding the foot a little bit better.
The biggest difference between both of these shoes is definitely in the upper.
The new upper in the Wave Inspire 16 is very similar to the Brooks Adrenaline. It uses a 3D engineered mesh which is nice and seamless and it kind of does have that double overlay across the midfoot.
Also on the Inspire 16, the second lace loop down does wrap further down the foot. What that does is it pretty much makes that nice secure fit and feel and really locks down the foot quite nicely.
The heel counter hasn’t changed a whole lot. There’s a little bit of kind of 3D engineering around the back, but both hug the foot really well. Mizuno have been able to do that for quite a while now.
| Where to buy (not affiliate) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mizuno | Zappos | |
ON Clouflyer
ON is a Swiss company that has won all kinds of awards for their technology. It’s one of the fastest-growing running shoe companies in the US and in the world.
The Cloudflyer is ON’s premium stability shoe and it’s going to be great for that runner that wants to go long distance and people that need more support in general.
When you go long distance, stability is key and the Cloudflyer gives you the support by building the entire shoe with bigger elements.
It’s great for streets, long-distance running, pavement, concrete a and little bit of dirt.
It’s also a great shoe for the beginner runner who’s looking for just a nice accommodating fit that’s going to offer a little bit of mild overpronation support on the medial side.
Midsole
What we’re going to see in the midsole is going to be a composition called Helion foam throughout the entire midsole.
The Helion foam in this Cloudflyer is temperature resistant so it’s going to perform great in both warm weather and cold weather conditions.
The Cloudtec cushioning technology is what makes ON running shoes stand out. It’s those little loops that are created in the sole of the shoe to allow for vertical and horizontal absorption.
When you land, those loops collapse down and bounce you right back up. So, in their mind, it’s like you’re landing softly, but then when you take off, they collapse all the way so it feels like you’re pushing off on concrete.
Again, it’s a good initial impact and then a hard takeoff, which is what you want.
Stability
The Cloudflyer is a supremely cushioned lightweight flexible stability shoe. It’s strange to mention the word ‘stability’ along with ‘flexible’, but the Cloudflyer is that shoe.
Stability is achieved with the ON Cloudflyer with a wider platform outsole for bilateral stability as well as stability through geometry with these smaller cavities in the medial Cloud elements that act like a wedge to get you through your gait cycle and give you pronation guidance.
The lateral Cloud elements are a little bit larger so they’re going to be a little bit softer so that the overpronator can ride along the outside of the shoe and then once we come to forefoot we have firmer elements and softer elements on the medial side so we can have a nice balanced explosive toe-off.
Upper
The upper of the Cloudflyer has a saddle through the midfoot for a nice supportive hold as well as a star lacing system which provides a firm hold while removing pressure points.
There’s a newly engineered mesh on this entire upper and a wider toe box for that inherent stability.
With all ON shoes, all roads lead to the big toe and that’s why they have an asymmetrical upper. Also, all ON shoes have a rectangular toe box to allow toe splay as well.
The padded heel area of the Cloudflyer has a hard piece of plastic that they call their heel strap cage to keep your heel and ankle locked down and in place.
This is a super-light shoe and it’s got the antimicrobial mesh no-sew technology to resist chafing.
Outsole
On the outsole, you will notice ON’s patented Speedboard plate running down the middle. What that Speedboard will do is load the energy as your foot lands and then propel you forward as you go to toe-off.
You will also notice some strategically placed rubber on the heel and the forefoot for added durability.
All in all, the ON Clouflyer is a great shoe for beginning runners and you got all the stability with the ultimate lightweight.
| Where to buy (not affiliate) | ||
|---|---|---|
| ON | Holabird Sports | |
That’s it for this article. These were some of the best running shoes for bad ankles. If you’ve ever run in a shoe that provided you with great ankle support, please share your experience down below.
