- crisp
- smoothing
- tread gone
- worn through
Right shoe, sole up, toe at the top
Outer edge wear
Wear all the way down the outside of the sole suggests the foot stays rolled outward.
What it means
Everyone lands on the outer heel. What is unusual is when the wear keeps going along the entire outer edge, through the midfoot and out to the little toe, while the inside of the forefoot stays crisp. That means the foot is not rolling inward enough after landing. The shoe world calls it supination or underpronation.
A foot that stays on its outer edge does not use its arch as a spring, so more shock goes up the outside of the leg. That is why this pattern often travels with outer-ankle, IT band, or outer-knee complaints and with a history of ankle rolls.
Rigid, high-arched feet do this most. It is far less common than inner-edge wear, which is why so few shoes are built specifically for it.
What to do about it
- Pick well-cushioned neutral shoes with a softer, more flexible midsole and a wide platform. Max-cushion daily trainers suit this pattern well.
- Avoid stability shoes. Their firmer inner side pushes an already-outward foot further out.
- Ankle mobility and calf stretching help a rigid foot roll through; a little lateral hip strength work reduces the outer-edge loading.
Max-cushion neutral
Tall, soft stack with a wide base. Kind to a foot that rolls outward and to long easy days.
Read my own shoesQuestions
Do supinators need special insoles?
Cushioned insoles can help, but a flexible, cushioned shoe does more. Firm, corrective insoles are the wrong direction.
Is outer-edge wear the same as heel wear?
No. Outer heel wear stops at the heel and is normal. Outer edge wear continues through the midfoot and forefoot, which is the tell.