The 9 Best Running Shoes for Bad Knees of 2025, According to Medical and Shoe Experts

Sizes: 5-11 | Toe Drop: 10mm | Stack Height: 31mm in heel, 21mm in forefoot | Cushioning Level: Medium | Weight: 8.1 oz

Cloudrunner is an ideal name for our best running shoes for bad knees pick; the super lightweight shoe clocks in at just over 8 ounces. But don’t let the airy shoe fool you. It is packed full of technology, such as CloudTec, the system of cushioning throughout the shoe that absorbs impact to help prevent strains and pains. The cushioning is what gives the bottom of this shoe its honeycomb appearance. It’s like you checked into a spa for your feet and the pressure valve on your ankles and knees has been released. The plush cushioning doesn’t sacrifice arch support either; the shoe maintains its shape even as you bend, twist, run, and jump.

Also available in men’s sizes at On, REI, and Zappos.

Sizes: 5-12 (wide sizes available) | Toe Drop: 4 mm | Stack Height: 31mm in heel, 27mm in forefoot | Cushioning Level: Maximum | Weight: 9.3 oz

Bermel says Hoka’s beloved Bondis are a great example of a shoe with a high stack height and minimal toe drop — an equation that results in a fabulous shoe option for those with knee pain. The Shape team agrees — editors love wearing these big, lofty, cushion-y boys on recovery runs and easy miles. They provide a stellar amount of support and give the joints some much-needed rest even when they’re in use. The neutral shoes lock in ankles and keep ’em right where they should be throughout runs without making feet feel weighed down.

Also available in men’s sizes at Hoka and REI.

Sizes: 5-12 | Toe Drop: 10mm | Stack Height: 28mm in heel, 18mm in forefoot | Cushioning Level: Maximum | Weight: 9.5 oz

This pair of shoes feels like stepping into a fluffy cloud. They are a max cushioning shoe, meaning, you guessed it, this is the most amount of softness in the Brooks line. We also found that the placement of the cushioning provided some ankle support and took away that tippy feeling running shoes can sometimes have. Even with all that padding, the shoes remain responsive and lightweight thanks to the nitrogen infusion process used to create them. The GuideRails technology also provides stability to ensure the healthiest running pattern for your feet, knees, and hips.

Shape Senior Editor Summer Cartwright has an autoimmune condition that depletes the cartilage in her joints — specifically, her knees and hips. She’s a marathon runner and these are the shoes she trusts to keep the pain away when she ups her mileage.

Also available in men’s sizes at Amazon, Brooks, and Zappos.

Sizes: 5-13 (narrow, wide, x-wide available) | Toe Drop: 6mm | Stack Height: 38mm in heel, 32mm in forefoot | Cushioning Level: Maximum | Weight: 8.3 oz

This is the shoe you want on your team when you reach the dreaded heavy foot point of a long run. You know the one — you’re 8 miles in and your strides start to feel like you’re picking up bricks with every step. On this pair, the foam sole provides comfort and rebound for a light feeling, no matter how many miles you run. The pressure mapping has firmness and support and flexibility where you need it (so you won’t sink into the cushioning with no spring). Not only are these great qualities for knee pain, but they also make this one of the best shoes for plantar fasciitis, too.

Also available in men’s sizes at Amazon, New Balance, and REI.

Sizes: 6-12 (wide, x-wide available) | Toe Drop: 6mm | Stack Height: 39mm heel, 33mm forefoot | Cushioning Level: Maximum | Weight: 9.7 oz

Stability shoes often feel extra firm or even heavy, but not the Brooks Ghost Max. If you’re already a fan of the Brooks Ghost line (a favorite of celebs like Jennifer Garner), this iteration has the same basics with a maxed-out cushion. The shoe’s broad base offers extra stability, but the high stack and max cushioning keep your ride feeling plush. No wonder Bermel was praising these babies before they even launched — they’re an achy-joint savior. And another bonus for those running with knee pain: The shock absorption is on point.

Are these shoes super lightweight? No; they’re around 10 ounces depending on the size you get. But typically you aren’t (and should not be) looking for a feather-like shoe when you have joint pain. If you aren’t used to shoes with some larger stack heights — this one is around 33 mm in your forefoot or 39 mm in your heel — it might take some time getting used to the lift, but once you’re there it’ll be smooth sailing.

Also available in men’s sizes at Amazon, Brooks, and REI.

Sizes: 5-11 | Toe Drop: 6mm | Stack Height: Unavailable | Cushioning Level: Maximum | Weight: 8.8 oz

As with knee pain, the features required to support the ankles are not one-size-fits-all. The Cloudmonster has a relatively low heel-to-toe drop at 6 millimeters (most running shoes are around 10 or 12 millimeters, per Bermel), meaning the difference between the heel and forefoot is less. This may promote a more natural running form and keep the feet at a neutral position, and doing so may improve balance and reduce stress on the ankle joint. This shoe still contains the CloudTec cushioning, but Shape testers found it provided more ankle support with each step. It had that bouncy effect, yet had a firmness, so it didn’t feel like you were attempting to run on top of beanbags.

Bonus: the lightweight mesh upper is fabulous on hot summer runs. It keeps your feet as cool as possible and doesn’t cause any weird blisters since the flexible material shapes to your foot and moves with it.

Also available in men’s sizes at On and Zappos.

Sizes: 5-13 | Toe Drop: 12mm | Stack Height: 36mm in heel, 24mm in forefoot | Cushioning Level: Maximum | Weight: 8.8 oz

If you’re just getting into running or have a minimal amount of closet space and are looking for one running shoe to suit your needs, Brooks Adrenaline brings versatility. The GuideRails technology keeps movement in check to help prevent injuries and increase stability. The DNA cushioning adapts to runners’ weight, pace, and stride to remain responsive to that individual’s running form. All of these factors come together to create a shoe that is great for speed runs and marathons. The lightweight feeling allows you to pick up speed without causing strain to your knees yet feel stable and balanced enough for quick steps.

Also available in men’s sizes at Brooks and Amazon.

Sizes: 6-12 | Toe Drop: 12mm | Stack Height: 38mm in heel, 26mm in forefoot | Cushioning Level: Maximum | Weight: 8.3 oz

Want to power up your transitions? Then the Mizuno Wave Rider may be the shoe for you. This put a literal bounce to our step and that airiness also took pressure off the knees when running. As soon as your foot hits the pavement, it returns to the air because of the foam and plate design. The plate disperses the energy over larger areas to give a stable platform to push off for faster transitions. The shoes have a high heel-to-toe drop, which may take some getting used to, but is one of the aspects we liked most. It provided lots of cushioning without ever feeling burdensome or heavy. It also was the right size and fit — plenty of room in the toe box and midfoot, but not so much that we experienced sliding or blisters.

Also available in men’s sizes at Mizuno, Amazon, and Zappos.

Sizes: 5.5 to 12 | Toe Drop: 0mm | Stack Height: 28mm | Cushioning Level: Medium | Weight: 8.27 oz

At first glance, the idea of a zero-drop shoe might turn off runners with bad knees. After all, doesn’t zero drop mean there’s no extra cushioning? No, not at all — and in fact, the Altra Provision 8 running shoes have a 28mm stack height and moderate cushion that feels perfectly lovely on our feet. One runner said she felt like she was “running on a supportive sponge” — enough said.

Note: The Shape team and experts highly recommend making the transition from running shoes with a toe-drop to zero-drop shoes super gradually, as a low to non-existent drop puts more pressure on your calves and can lead to injury or discomfort, according to Bermel.

Also available in men’s sizes at Amazon, Altra, and REI.