With so many cool sneakers dropping left, right, and centre, it’s sometimes easy to get carried away and focus on style over substance. With that said, the shoes that we wear on our feet are tools at the end of the day. This means they should be functional and perfect for everyday use. Wearing uncomfortable shoes can result in many long term issues and ailments. This is why we wanted to look into the New Balances that podiatrists, chiropodists, and foot specialists love.
According to New York based podiatrist Tyler Miranda, DPM, “New Balance shoes offer excellent support for the heel, arch, and forefoot.” That’s not all, as she also goes on to say that New Balances have a wide toe box that’s particularly valuable for anyone who needs that little extra room in order to avoid. So let’s get to it!
The New Balance 574 V2 is a firm favourite among podiatrists. With a special midsole combining a soft foam and a durable polyurethane rim, this delivers all the support you need for comfortable, long-term, day-long wear. On top of that, it’s also combined with a foam cushioned heel, lightweight, breathable upper, and a durable rubber outsole.
Now, if there’s ever a time you need comfortable walking shoes, it’s when you’re hiking or trail walking. And that’s exactly where the New Balance 1300 comes in. Durable, comfortable, supportive, light, they are perfect for trail walking, or for many other activities.
For those of you who don’t already know, plantar fasciitis is one of the most common conditions causing pain in the heels. It causes inflammation of tissue in the feet, and can be extremely painful if not treated early. The best shoe for plantar fasciitis is the New Balance FuelCell Propel V3 because of, among other things, the FuelCell technology which adds more shock absorption, allowing the foot to sink down.
The New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 V11 is the dream shoe for anyone with arthritic knees. Thanks to features like its Fresh Foam cushioning which is a material in the midsole composed of lots of resilient foam beads, this can help to relieve pressure on joints when you walk or run. There’s also a foot bed with molded edges for under-arch support, but you can remove it if you don’t need it.
Orthotics are basically prescription medical devices that you wear inside your shoes to correct foot issues, and they can also help with foot pain. The New Balance 880 V11 is particularly good for using orthotics with, not just because they, like all NB trainers, have removable insoles, but also because it has a rounded toe box, and it’s available in wide and double wide sizes.
The New Balance 577 V1 has special ABZORB cushioning in the heel which gives it exceptional shock absorption – perfect for people who experience pain in their knees. The benefits don’t stop there. It’s also great for motion control too, limiting rotation that can move up to your knees and spine. What’s more, you don’t have to worry about pesky laces either, thanks to the handy Velcro straps.
In case you didn’t already know, pronation has to do with the natural movement of the foot when it hits the ground. If you overpronate, this can result in your shoes getting too worn on one side. If this sounds like something you do, make sure you check out the New Balance Fresh Foam X 860 V13. It provides stability and has a firm dual-density medial combined with stiffer foam on the inside part of the midsole for added stability.
If you have underpronation, then this means that there’s a minimal inward foot roll when you walk or run. If this describes you, the New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 V12 was made just for you. Not only is it a New Balance that podiatrists love, it’s also available in some really great colour options as well.
Podiatrist Rahul Patel says that the New Balance 993 has features that make it one of the best stabilising running shoes if not the best. This is down to its ability to control the amount of movement of the foot of the shoe. And this is exactly what you need if you want to prevent ankle injury for runners.
Anyone with fallen arches or arches that are low to the ground would be well advised to wear trainers designed to fully cushion and support them. If you have a rigid flat foot or a flexible flat foot, the New Balance 1540 V3 should be on your radar. Perfect for anyone with flat feet because of its superior support, it boasts a double layer of thick foam for padding and also contoured heel bed.
In addition to raving about New Balances, podiatrists also love ASICS, Karhu, and Saucony.
All New Balance shoes have removable insoles. That’s one of the reasons why many podiatrists recommend this brand, to accommodate various orthotics.
