The Best Running Shoes for Shin Splints in 2025

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Shin splints are one of those nagging running injuries that often only go away with rest. Even the best running shoes for shin splints won’t banish them entirely, but they will make your jogs more comfortable while you’re on the mend—and keep your shins happy in the long-term too. “Proper shoes can significantly lower your risk of developing shin splints,” Leakna Ung, DPM, a podiatrist at the Hartford HealthCare Connecticut Orthopaedics Institute, tells SELF.

Think of them as one weapon in your arsenal: You’ll still need to take other preventative measures (more on those below), but hitting the road in sneakers that absorb the impact of your steps and support your feet can keep your legs feeling fresh and pain-free. Here, we spoke to experts about the causes of shin splints, how to find the right running shoe for your shin pain, and selected the very best options you can try from top running brands.

Our top picks

1. Best Overall: Saucony Guide 18, $140
2. Best for Stability: On Cloudflyer 5, $170
3. Best Cross Trainer: Nobull Drive Knit, $139
4. Best for Plantar Fasciitis: Asics Gel-Nimbus 27, $160
5. Best for Wide Feet: Brooks Glycerin 22, $165
6. Best for Trails: Hoka Mafate X, $225

Tight, sore shins don’t have to throw you off—not with these plush, supportive sneaks.

Best Overall: Saucony Guide 18

Designed with major cushioning, motion-controlling tech, and a wide base, Saucony’s Guide 18 is supportive inside and out. Its plush—but not overly squishy—platform buoys your steps, while its internal sidewalls keep your foot aligned as you move. This isn’t just great for addressing shin splints but also overpronation (which is when your foot and ankle roll inward). According to Jordan Gruskay, MD, a surgical sports medicine specialist with the Hartford HealthCare Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute, the two conditions can go hand-in-hand for some folks, so it can be helpful to wear shoes made to prevent that inward rolling.

For how sturdy the Guide 18 is, it still keeps you moving. That’s in large part because of its rocker-shaped sole, which helps you smoothly transition from step to step, and its securely-fitting heel (as a proud owner of Guide 18s myself, I’ve never dealt with any slippage).

Best for Stability: On Cloudflyer 5

Here’s another stability shoe that packs on the padding. On’s Cloudflyer 5 cradles your heel and keeps your foot and ankle on track. Its midfoot is sturdy and on the stiffer side, which is great for runners who need additional arch support.

The Cloudflyer also uses a sophisticated type of foam to provide targeted impact absorption (as SELF has previously reported, its “dual density” cushioning creates a firmer rearfoot and softer forefoot). It doesn’t have that marshmallow-y feel you may expect from a max-cushion sneaker—instead, its design prioritizes stability.

Best Cross Trainer: Nobull Drive Knit

Gym shoes tend to be flat with a smaller heel-to-toe drop than running shoes, which can contribute to shin splints for some people, Dr. Ung says. But give Nobull’s Drive Knit sneaker a try and you may find that you don’t have to swear off cross training altogether.

This shoe has a low (but not zero) drop, a high-traction outsole, and lots of cushioning compared to other cross trainers. It won a SELF Sneaker Award last year for its stable-yet-springy feel that kept our tester light on her feet during HIIT classes. “There’s so much cushion under my feet, but it doesn’t feel bulky or like I’m walking on giant platforms,” she said. “It’s super lightweight, and after multiple wears I had no blisters, random pains, or shin splints.”

Best for Plantar Fasciitis: Asics Gel-Nimbus 27

Plantar fasciitis, which is usually characterized by a stabbing sensation in your heel or arch, is another common source of discomfort for runners. Luckily, the same design elements that ease shin splints can help keep plantar fasciitis pain at bay, too.

Take the Asics Gel-Nimbus: Carla Gamez, DPM, a podiatrist at the Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, previously recommended it for plantar fasciitis sufferers due to its shock-absorbing stack of foam, which helps soften the pressure on your heels. That lofty cushioning also protects your feet from hard surfaces, which is key in preventing shin splints from developing or getting worse.

Best for Wide Feet: Brooks Glycerin 22

Brooks is known for offering its best-selling running shoes in a range of widths, and the Glycerin is one of its most popular styles. Its ride is soft yet snappy, so you can rack up the miles without running your legs and feet ragged. Nicole Freels, FACPM, a certified pedorthist at Lexington Podiatry in Kentucky, previously told SELF that this balance of cushioning and bounce “is going to put your body in a better position long-term during the gait cycle.”

Aside from its actual width options, the Glycerin also has wide feet nice-to-haves like a knit upper and soft heel collar. Having a little stretch and give where it counts makes it easier to pull the shoe on and off.

Best for Trails: Hoka Mafate X

You might not think of max cushioning when you imagine trail running shoes, since many off-road runners prefer less padding in order to better feel the terrain. However, the new Hoka Mafate X is plush yet protective—the perfect combo for trail runners who deal with shin splints.

It’s molded to hold your foot securely (you don’t want it slipping and sliding around in there while navigating rocks and roots), and its midsole is “surprisingly soft and bouncy,” SELF contributor Lauren Wingenroth noted in her review. “The comfort and stability that mak