The 5 Best Training Shoes for High Arches (2025 Update)

It can be a tedious process when searching for the best training shoes for high arches. Every training shoe is built slightly differently and their last constructions can greatly differ which means some models will provide more arch support than others.

High arches and how much arch support you need in your training shoes when working out can vary pretty significantly. For example, some will only need a little arch support while others will want a much more supportive arch.

Whether you’re an avid CrossFit athlete who needs CrossFit shoes with arch support or you’re a recreational lifter who needs a little support for exercises like squats, this list should provide you with a few great training shoes to explore.

My Top Training Shoe Picks for High Arches

• Best Men’s Training Shoes for High Arches: Inov-8 F-Lite 260 V2
• Best Women’s Training Shoes for High Arches: On Cloud X 3
• Best Training Shoes for High Arches and Wide Feet: Reebok Nano X3
• Best Training Shoes for High Arches and Weight Training: Adidas Dropset Trainer 2
• Best Training Shoes for High Arches and Standing All Day: Nike Free Metcon 5

Best Men’s Training Shoes for High Arches

When searching for and reviewing the best men’s training shoes for high arches, I’m looking at how a shoe fits in regard to men’s foot anatomies and relate that to the shoe’s overall performance.

A good well-rounded training shoe with arch support for men needs to provide the arches with adequate support while also being stable for heavy lifting and responsive for versatile training.

Top Pick: Inov-8 F-Lite 260 V2

• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 8mm
• Weight: 10.5 oz
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: True to Size, but if you have a wider foot, then some may want to size up a half-size
• For More Info: Read My Review

The Inov-8 F-Lite 260 V2 is taking my top pick as the best men’s training shoe for high arches. This model features an adequate amount of arch and midfoot support and is a good all-around style training shoe.

There is a lot to like about this shoe and there is multiple proprietary Inov-8 features built in. For example, this model features Inov-8’s signature Rope-Tec construction around the midfoot, the dynamic-fascia band on the outsole, and a POWER FOOTBED.

I think if you’re someone wanting a shoe with arch support that can excel for heavy lifting, CrossFit workouts, versatile training, and even short interval runs, then the Inov-8 F-Lite 260 V2 could be worth exploring.

My only note about this model is that most guys may want to size up a half size, especially if you’re on the larger end of your normal true-to-size shoes. If you want a bit more forefoot width in your shoes, then I’d suggest checking out the Inov-8 F-Lite G 300.

Best Women’s Training Shoes for High Arches

To assess the best women’s training shoes for high arches I’m constantly bothering my girlfriend for her thoughts on certain training shoes and listening to my YouTube community for feedback on particular shoes.

The picks below are directed by blending the feedback I get from the women lifters and athletes in my community with my personal interpretations of models when I review them.

Top Pick: On Cloud X 3

• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 6mm
• Weight: 8.8 oz (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: True to Size
• For More Info: Read My Review

The On Cloud X 3 is taking the top pick as the best women’s training shoes for high arches. This model delivers a moderate amount of arch support and works well for a fairly wide range of training contexts.

The On Cloud X 3’s arch support comes from its Speedboard construction, CloudTec outsole, and Helion Foam midsole. The blend of these features gives the On Cloud X 3 a nice level of responsiveness for training.

In regard to performance, the On Cloud X 3 works best for class-style training, light to moderate lifting, and some light runs. It’s a good shoe for tackling a little bit of everything while also biasing a more versatile performance and construction.

I also like the lightweight and breathable upper construction in this model. The upper construction gives this shoe a nice edge for daily wear and it makes this model easy to wear in warmer settings and climates.

Best Training Shoes for High Arches and Wide Feet

When looking into the best training shoes for high arches and wide feet, I’m mostly interested in how much arch support a model provides in addition to the width that it comes with.

Once I’ve assessed these two characteristics, I’ll then explore how the shoe performs. I’ll review the model’s stability for lifting, versatility, and overall durability.

Top Pick: Reebok Nano X3

• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 7mm
• Weight: 13.85 oz (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: For wider feet, you should be safe going true-to-size in the Nano X3. Narrow/neutral-width feet, size down a half size.
• Read My Review: Read My Review

The Reebok Nano X3 is earning the top spot as the best training shoe for high arches and wide(r) feet. In the context of sizing and fit the Nano X3 typically works over for E-width feet and below. If you have EE-width or wider feet, tread lightly with this model.

Compared to prior Reebok Nano models, the Nano X3 will give you a little more arch support which is great for athletes and lifters who like lower to moderate degrees of arch in their training shoes.

When it comes to performance, the Nano X3 does fairly well across the board and will work for things like HIIT, CrossFit, and lifting. This shoe is often what I describe as a “jack of all trades” for most.

The Floatride Energy foam midsole is responsive and stable enough for heavy lifting, and the full rubber outsole is also great for giving you adequate traction on different surfaces when working out.

Best Training Shoes for High Arches for Weight Training

To review and assess the best training shoes for high arches and weight training I’m looking at how much arch support a shoe provides while also being good under heavy weight.

For example, if you’re deadlifting heavy or squatting, does the shoe help support your arches while also providing a stable base to train on?

Top Pick: Adidas Dropset Trainer 2

• Best For: Heavy Lifting, CrossFit, and HIIT Workouts
• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 6mm
• Weight: 9.85 oz (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: True to Size
• For More Info: Read My Review

It’s really tough to beat the Adidas Dropset Trainer 2 when it comes to it being the best training shoe for high(er) arches and weight training. This model delivers a really good amount of stability and has moderate arch support for different foot anatomies.

I like that this shoe’s medial sidewall doesn’t feel super jarring and if you need a little support when lifting and jumping it provides “enough” to provide stability without completely tanking its comfort.

This shoe’s lower stack height is also a perk for those that like a little more ground feel with their training shoes when lifting. For heavy deadlifts, squats, and weightlifting, the Dropset Trainer 2 has been stellar.

I also like that this model can transcend lifting and work for athletic-style training sessions and CrossFit. It’s a good training shoe that definitely has a lifting bias, but can work as an all-arounder if that’s what you’re after.

Best Training Shoes for High Arches and Standing All Day

When assessing the best training shoes for high arches and standing all day, comfort is at the forefront of my tests. For this section, I’m mostly concerned with a shoe that provides enough arch support for folks on their feet all day.

Essentially, I’m assessing how comfortable a shoe is for standing all day for something like work, how a shoe performs for walking, and if you can actually train in it, too.

Top Pick: Nike Free Metcon 5

• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 5mm (per Nike’s support team)
• Weight: 10.05 oz
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: True to Size.
• For More Info: Read My Review

The Nike Free Metcon 5 is bringing home my top pick as the best training shoe for high arches and standing all day. The Nike Free tech in this shoe’s midsole gives them a nice blend of feeling plush yet stable for all-day wear and they have moderate arch support.

For example and to give context here, the Nike Free Metcon 5 is one of my go-to recommendations for other trainers and coaches that ask about the best trainers for being on their feet all day.

When it comes to performance, the Nike Free Metcon 5 works best for versatile training and is a suitable option for anyone who does a lot of HIIT, cross-training, and light to moderate lifting on a weekly basis.

I also like that this shoe has a slightly wider toe box compared to its predecessors. If you need a model for walking, training, and want a shoe that’s pretty comfortable for high-volume use, the Free Metcon 5 is a good option.

How Do I Build Arch Strength In My Feet?

When discussing high arches and working out, it’s important to understand that no two arches are the same. Different athletes and lifters will require different degrees of arch support in their shoes and additional arch training if they wish to improve their arch strength.

Training shoes with built-in arch support can be useful tools for promoting performance, however, that does not mean you should necessarily ignore training your arches directly and just bank on your shoes to pick up the work in regard to support.

In my coaching opinion, no matter your arch height, it can be useful to spend a little time each week training the feet and more specifically the arches of the feet. The foot has three primary arches including the transverse arch, medial longitudinal arch, and lateral longitudinal arch.

One of the easiest ways to start building your foot’s arch strength slowly is to simply walk and be barefoot more often. You could also wear barefoot shoes for progressive periods of time during your week to build your foot and arch strength slowly.

Once you’ve built up a baseline level of arch strength and feel comfortable moving without additional arch support you can explore foot exercises to build your arch strength and endurance.

I personally love programming a couple of active foot exercises into each of my training blocks. They’re a great way to build your foot strength and resilience slowly without taking a ton of time out of your weekly training.

I consider them [active foot exercises] more of tune-up work to ensure that I’m training and building a well-rounded lower body. When we’re talking about training, we have to remember that pretty much all of our movement starts with the feet.

You can also perform some massage work on the feet if you experience discomfort regularly when training and explore short foot exercises to help build the feet’s strength.

Are High Arches Bad for Working Out?

When discussing the topic of high arches being “bad” for working out, I think it can be more productive to take an individual and contextual approach when looking at this topic.

For example, let’s say you have high arches, but you don’t have issues or discomfort with your feet and ankles when training. In this case, if your arches aren’t hindering your performance, then they’re not necessarily “bad”.

Now, in this context, it can still be useful to train the feet and arches directly and not completely ignore them even though there may be no discomfort present. However, there’s likely no need for immediate alarm if you’re not experiencing any performance decreases due to your arches.

Conversely, if you’re experiencing discomfort due to high arches when training, then it would be wise to look into shoes designed to support your needs and to train the feet and ankles directly to improve their strength and stability.

That being said, different forms of training will produce varying degrees of stress on the tissues surrounding the feet. Thresholds for our tissues will all vary based on multiple factors and it’s important to recognize that there’s no “one-size-fits-all” for what’s best in regard to our feet and biomechanics when training.

How I Rank Training Shoes for High Arches

When assessing and reviewing training shoes for specific contexts like high arches I create a subtle bias in how I approach my typical review process. Essentially, I’ll go through my normal shoe testing, but also be hyper-conscious of the specific aspects I’m exploring.

In the case of training shoes for high arches, I’m constantly assessing how the medial side of the shoe interacts with the foot when I’m training. Does it provide additional support? Can I physically feel material supporting my arch when lifting, jumping, and running?

I personally have a neutral foot with a moderate arch height and am constantly working on strengthening my feet and arches. By assessing multiple training shoes and comparing them directly I can typically identify which models clearly have more arch support than their peers.

Once I’ve assessed a shoe’s abilities to support high arches, I then cross-reference this aspect to my traditional training shoe tests which constitute of different criteria including things like.

1. Midsole Construction: How does the midsole interact with different types of training? Is it stable under heavy weight? What is the material used to create the stability of the model’s midsole?
2. Outsole Construction: Does the outsole provide additional stability support? How does the tread interact with the ground for multi-directional training? Does the outsole protect the midsole and prolong the shoe’s durability?
3. Upper Construction: Does the upper breathe well? Does it lock the foot down to prevent heel slip while also providing additional security and support?
4. Sizing and Fit: How does the shoe fit in regard to length and width? What types of foot anatomies will align best with said training shoe’s last construction?

These are only a few of the questions that I explore when testing training shoes, and in this case, cross-referencing a shoe’s performance with its ability to support athletes and lifters with high arches.

Takeaway Thoughts

If you have high arches, then you likely know the importance of finding a good pair of training shoes to support your training needs. There are countless training shoes on the market that can be viable options for supporting those with high arches.

The training shoes for high arches featured above are only a few to explore if you need additional arch support when lifting and working out.

If you have additional questions on any of the cross-training shoes for high arches featured in this article, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly or @that_fit_friend).