7 Best Women’s Running Shoes for Bad Knees 2024

Today I present some of the Best Womens Running Shoes for Bad Knees. Running is a high-impact activity that can have a devastating effect on even the healthiest knees.

Therefore, it’s important to wear the correct footwear whether you have a knee issue or not. Hence, I’ve compiled some of the top-rated Women’s Running Shoes for Bad Knees. Check them below.

Related: Best Cross Training Shoes for Bad Knees 

Review: 7 Best Women’s Running Shoes for Bad Knees

1. Brooks Women’s Adrenaline GTS 20 Running Shoe

Brooks Women’s Adrenaline GTS 20 delivers excellent cushioning, support, reliability, and flexibility. Hence, it’s one of the Best Women’s Running Shoes for Bad Knees. It has features and technologies that prevent or alleviate knee pain.

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For starters, the midsole features GuideRails® support technology. This technology prevents excess movement of the foot. Hence, protects the wearer from knee pain and overpronation during running.

The GuideRail technology also places the feet back into their neutral position when they shift away from the correct position. Hence, promotes efficient running experience.

The midsole of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 20 also has a perfect combination of DNA Loft foam and BioMoGo DNA foam. These two components deliver superior cushioning that help to protect women runners with bad knees.

Brooks GTS 20 also has a segmented crash pad that provides additional cushioning, support, and stability. The crash pad encourages natural foot movement allowing you smooth transitions throughout the running session.

The outsole features a blown rubber compound that offers protection against abrasion. Beneath the outsole, there are Omega Flex Grooves that enhance flexibility and encourage the natural movement of the foot.

The heel cup is well structured to deliver a secure lockdown at the back of the foot. This prevents unintended shoe removal.

The upper of Brooks GTS 20 features an updated dual-layer FlexFit material that’s engineered to provide a stretchy and flexible fit to avert overpronation. The upper is also highly breathable to allow entry of fresh air into the shoes.

The 3D Fit Print design reinforces the structural integrity of the upper. The forefoot section is also spacious enough to accommodate wide footed runners. The padded tongue helps to distribute pressure evenly on top of the foot. Hence, helps to prevent discomfort or pain on top of the foot. 

 

2. New Balance Women’s Fresh Foam 1080 V10 Running Shoe

Wearing the correct shoes can help alleviate knee pain and other pains on your hips, feet, or lower back. The New Balance Women’s Fresh Foam 1080 V10 is a perfect choice for any runner experiencing such pains. It’s well-cushioned, lightweight, and highly durable.

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The Fresh Foam midsole is a cushioning technology that delivers needed comfort. The technology also provides an energetic bounce back for a more responsive ride that protects the knees from excess ground impact.

The Ortholite sockliner provides extra comfort. It also offers excellent moisture management capacity helping to prevent sweat.

The New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v10 has an outsole that utilizes blown rubber compound. This compound enhances the overall cushioning and responsiveness of the shoe. It also provides protection against abrasion while ensuring reliable traction on various terrains.

The outsole also has flex grooves at the bottom of the unit. The groves enhance forefoot flexibility while improving the grip of the shoe.

The upper features an Engineered Hypoknit technology that provides unmatched comfort. This technology provides excellent support to the feet while ensuring a customized fit. The bootie construction ensures the wearer has a comfortable wear experience.

The lacing system and the tongue deliver excellent midfoot lockdown. Thus, you’ll have a comfortable running experience even with your bad knees. The heel section offers crucial support and its designed to prevent unintended shoe removal.

  

3. HOKA ONE ONE Women’s Bondi 6 Running Shoe

Most female runners with bad knees are pleased with the support, cushioning, and stability that the HOKA ONE ONE Women’s Bondi 6 Running Shoe provides.

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The midsole features a soft EVA foam that provides excellent cushioning that protects the wearer’s knee from excess impact during running. The EVA foam also provides excellent shock absorption while ensuring the stability of the foot.

The Meta-Rocker Geometry design allows the runner to have a consistent ride as it encourages natural movement of the foot. Hence, a responsive running experience.

The Hoka One One Bondi 6 utilizes an engineered mesh material. The material provides a cloth-like fit and it allows entry of air into the shoes for a comfortable running experience. The internal heel counter helps to hold the heel in place helping to prevent in-shoe wobbling or unintended shoe removal.

The outsole utilizes a high abrasion rubber compound that’s lightweight yet durable. The rubber compound is found in regions that are susceptible to quick wear and tear like the forefoot and heel sections.

Beneath the outsole, there’s a Full Ground Contact design that allows close ground contact. This feature makes the Hoka One One Bondi 6 idle for all-day standing. It also enhances the shoe’s traction and facilitates smooth transitions during running.

The shoe also features a soft textile lining that provides additional breathability ensuring that the wearer a comfortable in-shoe environment. The removal foam insole provides extra cushioning and support.

  

4. ASICS Women’s Gel-Kayano 27 Running Shoes

ASICS Women’s Gel-Kayano 27 is one of the best women’s running shoes for bad knees. It delivers excellent support, cushioning, and stability. Hence promotes comfort and high performance for women with bad knees.

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The midsole of Kayano 27 features many technologies and features that work together to alleviate knee pain and other discomforts.

For starters, the shoe features Dynamic DuoMax Support technology that helps to prevent overpronation and knee pain. It does this by keeping excess movement in check. This Stability Running Shoe for Overpronators controls each stride you take facilitating smoother transitions during running.

The Gel technology is found on the rearfoot and forefoot regions. This technology enhances more cushioning, hence, helps in shock reduction during toe-offs and landing. The gel technology also allows various foot movements allowing you to run on different terrains with much ease.

The FlyteFoam Propel technology promotes the running efficiency while ensuring a responsive bounce back. Meanwhile, The Space Trusstic technology boosts the shoe’s structural integrity while enhancing its stability.

To ensure a more balanced and smooth heel to toe transition the shoe features an Impact Guidance System. The EVA sockliner promotes additional comfort and support during running.

The Asics Gel Kayano 27 has an outsole that utilizes AHAR technology. AHAR provides high abrasion resistance. This outsole technology also provides a reliable grip, which enhances the stability of the wearer allowing them to have better ground control.

This outsole technology also promotes a spongy cushioning that enhances proper shock absorption that protects the foot during hard ground impact. Hence, prevent common running injuries like knee pain.

  

5. Mizuno Women’s Wave Rider 20 Running Shoe

Mizuno Women’s Wave Rider 20 is a road running shoe that has a reliable midsole, upper, and outsole. It has several features and technologies that make it the best women’s running shoe for bad knees.

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The midsole features a Smooth Ride technology that makes each stride soft and comfortable. Hence, allows smooth transitions during running. Thus, protects knees from injuries.

Another technology on the midsole unit is the U4ic. It provides excellent shock absorption while ensuring responsive cushioning. The U4icX found on the heel region helps to cushions the landings while ensuring a pleasant underfoot experience.

The upper of Wave Rider 20 utilizes a Triple Zone Mesh technology that provides excellent breathability and reliable fit. The mesh allows entry of air into the shoe for fresh and dry feet throughout the running session.

The shoe also features an ortholite sockliner that provides extra underfoot cushioning. It also has anti-moisture and antimicrobial properties that promote a cleaner and healthier in-shoe environment.

The outsole unit of Wave Rider 20 features X10, a quality rubber compound made from carbon. This compound is found on the heel section and helps to provide traction while offering protection against abrasion.

The forefoot section features Blown rubber that helps to provide extra cushioning without compromising on flexibility. Thus, the foot can bend more easily during those exercises that require lots of forefoot bending like plyometrics.

  

6. Saucony Women’s Cohesion 10 Running Shoe

Saucony Women’s Cohesion 10 is a reliable lightweight running shoe that’s moderately cushioned and it’s ideal for budget-conscious runners. Most female runners with knee issue love the simplicity and responsiveness of this shoe.

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The midsole utilizes injection molded EVA (IMEVA) that delivers crucial cushioning and excellent shock absorption properties. This feature protects the foot and knees from hard ground impact.

The upper features a network of overlays that cover both sides of Cohesion 10. These overlays provide exceptional support to the foot. The upper also features a soft mesh material that aids in breathability. The mesh allows entry of air into the shoes for a comfortable running experience.

The shoe also features a removable insole that provides additional underfoot cushioning. However, you can replace the insoles with custom orthotics for extra support.

The collar and tongue have excellent padding for additional comfort and support. The outsole of Cohesion 10 utilizes XT-900 carbon rubber that covers regions that are susceptible to quick wear and tear. The forefoot and midfoot sections feature iBR+ that provides traction on varied surfaces.

The flex grooves underneath the outsole enhance the shoe’s flexibility while the Tri-Flex configuration enhances surface contact for unmatched stability.

  

7. ASICS GT-2000 7 Women’s Running Shoes

ASICS GT-2000 7 is a stability running shoe designed for overpronators and runners with knee issues. GT-2000 7 is a highly comfortable, breathable, and supportive shoe that’ll make your running experience enjoyable.

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The midsole unit of the GT-2000 7 features a DuoMax Support system. This system prevents excessive inward rolling of the foot during running. Hence, it alleviates stress on the feet and knees.

The midsole also has an Impact Guidance System. This Technology interlinks various components to enable a natural gait movement during the running session.

Another feature that the midsole boasts of is the Trusstic System. This system works to prevent twisting of the foot that can cause knee injury. It does this by providing structural integrity, ensuring the shoe remains in good shape throughout the running period.

On the forefoot and rearfoot sections, you’ll find gel cushioning technologies. The cushioning helps in impact reduction upon impact.

The outsole features the AHAR rubber compound. The forefoot section features a blown rubber compound that aids in delivering improved flexibility and responsive cushioning. The heel section features AHAR+ which enhances the shoe’s durability. These two types of rubber deliver reliable traction and grip.

The upper features a Jacquard mesh material that promotes the shoe’s durability while ensuring breathability. Hence, it allows a sufficient amount of air into the shoe for a cool and comfortable in-shoe environment.

  

Things to Consider When Buying Best Women’s Running Shoes for Bad Knees

Cushioning

Running shoes that are well cushioned will protect your knees and feet when you strike hard ground surfaces. The correct cushioning will help in shock absorption ensuring that you have pain-free runs.

Sometimes, good cushioning may provide the needed support that would help to alleviate or prevent knee pain during running. From our review, Hoka One One Bondi 6 is the best cushioned running shoe for bad knees.

Breathability

When looking for the best women’s running shoes for bad knees, you would want to choose one that delivers excellent breathability. Female runners who go for long-millage runs are more likely to experience knee pain. However, there’re runners who experience knee pain even over shorter runs.

Therefore, choosing breathable running shoes will prevent excess heat, sweat, and discomfort allowing you to run in a cool and dry environment.

Stability

Runners who overpronate may need to invest in running shoes that deliver stability to the foot. Hence, prevent the inward rolling of feet that may cause flat feet.  These shoes have higher arch support to provide maximum comfort.

For runners who underpronate they will need shoes with smaller arch support and those that prevent foot rolling.  Therefore, if you have any of these conditions, it’s important that you be keen when choosing your running shoes.

Conclusion

I hope that this review on the best women’s running shoes for bad knees has been helpful. Always remember to choose comfortable, cushioned, and stable shoes if you have knee issues. From our list, Brooks Women’s Adrenaline GTS 20 takes the first position because of its amazing technologies and features that keep the foot in check to prevent or alleviate bad knees