Best Running Shoes for Shin Splints – 2024 Buyers Guide

Weighing in at 8.7 oz., the Hoka One One Clifton 7 is the perfect balance of lightweight and cushioning. It boasts a full-length EVA midsole to help cushion and absorb the impact of each and every step and includes a removable foam-padded insole for additional support. The outsole provides excellent traction and adds a little bounce to your stride.

The upper mesh is lightweight and breathable, featuring a high heel collar designed to prevent rubbing and chafing when running long distances. The engineered mesh adds breathability, making this shoe consistently cool and dry as you train.

The Clifton 7 remains at the top of our list as one of the best all-around long-distance running shoes, and is an especially good fit for runners prone to shin splints. While its cost might cause a little heartburn, you won't regret buying them once you've experienced their comfort and support.

The most important feature of the Wave Inspire 16 is found in the midsole. U4ic midsole technology works to absorb the impact of each and every step without adding heft or unnecessary weight. It is built as a stability trainer with the look and feel of a minimalistic trainer. We found that the X10 outsole adds an extra pop in your step as you get used to these shoes' feel.

The Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 shoes offer two different options for the uppers -- both with their own feel and benefits. The engineered mesh upper feels ultralight and is exceptionally breathable (my personal preference of the two). On the other hand, the knit upper doesn't breathe as well but it offers a more secure fit.

We this the Mizuno Wave Inspire 17 is a great choice for runners dealing with shin splints. With multiple upper options, you can enjoy the shoe's cushioned sole technology while choosing between added stability or lightness and breathability.

This is one of those shoe lines that we hope will never change. Brooks maintains their tried and true all-around excellent design with the Ghost line which will please both casual and professional runners.

The sole is equipped with DNA Loft to provide excellent cushioning with every step, however, the 12mm heel drop can be a bit much for runners with a forefoot strike. Some of our runners thought the shoes felt a little on the heavier side, however, they maintained a really nice and soft feel even through longer runs.

The engineered mesh upper is an improvement over the Ghost 13. We love how it feels accommodating to different feet, yet not sloppy in the midfoot or toe box.

The Brooks Ghost 13 is a fantastic out-of-the-box shoe for road runners who need to take extra care of their shins. Especially if you're a heel striking runner, these shoes will be great for you to avoid shin splints.

The folks at Hoka One One claim that they've designed the Arahi 5 with a 'laser-focused fit.' We found the upper to be slim, but not tight, providing an excellent and comfortable fit. Over longer runs, our feet stayed secure in all the right places with no blisters or rubs to show for it.

The Arahi 5 features the Meta-rocker system much like the Clifton 7. This will serve both forefoot-strikers and heel-strikers alike, providing a noticeable boost when kicking up longer, faster strides, and creating a very smooth heel-to-toe progression on a typical run.

Most notably, this model features a supportive J-Frame -- a firm EVA that runs down the medial side of the midsole and wraps around the heel to reduce pronation.

The combination of all these features lands the Hoka One One Arahi firmly on our list of best shoes for shin splints. These are a must-try for pronators! Keep the shin splints demons away by investing in a pair of these for the spring season.

Featuring Asics' Trusstic System technology, this shoe utilizes lightweight materials and reinforced padding on high impact areas to provide excellent support without the need for bulky materials. Asics also added some gel in the heel to double down on support for heel-strikers. While this shoe is a bit on the heavier side (10.2oz), it won't weigh you down.

Also to love about the Asics Gel Nimbus design is that the upper really hugs your foot. The tongue and the heel are engineered to promote lockdown and prevent movement which can cause blisters. The uppers are a little on the bulky side and offer less breathability than other models, but its a small tradeoff for this shoe's lockdown foot support.

In short, the Asics Gel Nimbus 23 is an excellent everyday trainer which will provide excellent support, comfort, and durability to prevent shin splints.

A major stability feature of the Adrenaline GTS 21 is the that its built guide rails which promote proper gait and even out your weight distribution with every step. The midsole also boasts DNA Loft crash pads to provide excellent energy feedback and shock absorption.

The 3D print mesh upper cradles the foot and promotes lockdown while wicking away moisture to keep your feet cool and dry.

If you are seeking perfect blend of stability and lower profile to stave off shin splints, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 is a great choice.

As mentioned above the Triumph 18's thick sole, featuring the PWRRUN+ midsole, is what stands out to us most on this shoe. We were not disappointed by the added boost and support we experienced across the entirety of the footbed. This is not your everyday EVA midsole! Plus, the 8mm drop makes this shoe a good all-around fit, and especially good for forefoot strikers.

You'll notice there is a lot of rubber on this shoe. While it's built for stability, it also weighs in on the heavier side of everyday training shoes (12.2 oz). For casual runners, this might not make a difference but more seasoned runners may opt for a lighter trainer.

The uppers are sleek and feature some interesting design aesthetics to compliment the FormFit engineered mesh uppers.

All in all, the Saucony Triumph 18 brings a compelling option to the table for any runner struggling with shin splints. Possibly the most durable shoe on this list, we'd recommend it as a best fit for the casual jogger or runner.

Brooks claims that the Glycerin 19 will provide you with "your softest run ever" and we have to agree that this ranks as one of the softest shoes you'll find.

Similar to the Ghost 13, the Glycerin 19 boasts a full-foot DNA Loft insole, but the Glycerin features a 10mm drop which will feel a bit more natural across multiple gaits and running styles. Over time and miles, we found that the softness stayed true whereas some other shoes began to feel mushy.

The uppers are breathable and supportive. Perhaps a bit too supportive for some as a few of our runners noted a definite firmness in the upper. Not stiff, but definitely not the most flexible you'll find.

At the end of the day, the incredible softness of the soles combined with the firm support of the uppers make the Brooks Glycerin 19 a strong choice for runners with shin splints issues. For the professional running crowd, we give these a high rank as recovery shoes. We even think they make great everyday out-on-the-town shoes!

New Balance's previous model, the 1080v11, is held in high regard by casual and professional runners alike so we were cautiously hopeful that the v11 design didn't screw anything up. After all, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

We found the Fresh Foam X sole to hold up over long distances--even at faster paces--and the stretch mesh upper formed to different foot sizes quite nicely. An exceptionally comfortable shoe with a noticeable midsole pop. The only negative note was from our runners with wider feet - some noted that the larger "N" on the outside of the shoe felt rigid and took some time to get used to and break in.

For any runner looking to avoid shin splints, the New Balance 1080v11 is an excellent choice for the casual or competitive runner.