Neutral, Stability, or Motion Control:
3 Ways to determine your shoe category

1. Angle of ankle tilt while running
Neutral shoes are for the runner who exhibits under-pronation or supination while running, shown in the first image below. If the toes are pointed either straight forward or inward while running, the shoe will leave the ground touching the toe or the outside edge of the shoes, indicating the need for a neutral shoe. The average runner exhibits mild pronation which occurs when the ankle forms a slight angle with the calf. The pronator requires a stability shoe. If the toes point outward a more dramatic angle can result between the ankle and the calf, and a motion control shoe is needed to give more support to the inside of the shoe.

Neutral Running Gait

Mild Overpronation (Stability Shoe Category)

Severe Overpronation (Motion Control Shoe Category)

2. Wet Test
A wet test can be done to determine the arches. After wetting your feet step on dry concrete or a piece of paper. High arches indicate that little support is needed on the insides of the shoes (neutral shoes), while flat feet tend to require more support in these areas (motion control shoes).

High Arches (Neutral Shoe)

Normal Arches (Stability Shoe)

Flat Feet (Motion Control Shoe)

3. Shoe Wear Test
Take a look at your old shoes. If they are worn down straigh down the shoe from the toes to the heel or on the outsides of the shoes, you are a neutral runner. If more of the wear is on the insides, you probably require a stability shoe. And finally if the outer edges of the soles are not worn down at all, you require a motion control shoe

Middle or outside edges worn down (Neutral Shoe)

Middle and inside edges worn down (Stability Shoe)

Only inside edges worn down (Motion Control Shoe)