Which brands of shoes work best for plantar fasciitis? You know you need good arch support, cushion in your heel and stability while walking, working or hiking. But, finding a good pair of shoes, sandals, work boots, hiking boots or house shoes can be really overwhelming and frustrating. Start with these brands, so you don't waste your money on a shoe that won't end up helping you!
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Take it from those who've walked in your shoes (pun intended). These are the shoe brands that helped them relieve pain and recover from plantar fasciitis flare-ups.
In addition to the brands on this list, ask your podiatrist for recommendations on shoe brands to wear. Your doctor can give you personalized advice.
In addition to asking your podiatrist, go to The Walking Company or other shoe store and ask for a gait analysis and shoe fitting. They can help direct you to the best women's and men's shoes for you. Be sure to tell them that you suffer from plantar fasciitis!
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👟 What to look for when choosing a shoe brand
If you have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, one of the first things you'll want to do is look for shoes you can wear that don't hurt your feet!
It can be a frustrating experience at the beginning because it may feel like everything you wear hurts your feet.
But, it's important to know what to look for in a shoe style (or entire shoe brand), so you don't waste your money on a shoe that isn't really going to help you get better.
Here are the main features to look for when shoe shopping:
- Cushion at the bottom of the heel - this is especially important if you are having a flare-up, where your heels are incredibly painful. The cushion will help ease the pain as you walk.
- Firm arch support - oftentimes, one of the reasons you have plantar fasciitis, is because you were wearing unsupportive shoes before. If you want to recover and lessen your pain, it's absolutely imperative that you choose shoes that have a firm arch support built in. A less ideal option is to use orthotic inserts for arch support, but they don't always fit well and you can't use them in all shoes (example: sandals). So, having a shoe with built in arch support is ideal.
- Stability - look for shoes that will be stable on your feet as you walk. Shoes with minimal, loose or ill-fitting straps will cause your feet to shift as you move and this can cause a lot of pain.
🏆 Best overall shoe brands
In general, those who have recovered or are recovering from plantar fasciitis swear by these shoe brands. These are the shoes they wear day in and day out now, when they're walking, running, working, going to a party, hiking or relaxing by the beach.
These are the shoes that they wore to reduce that intense pain we all know so well. These are the shoes with the support, cushion and stability your feet need right now.
- Hoka - athletic running and walking shoes. Styles and names to look for: Bondi, One One, Clifton
- Brooks - athletic running and walking shoes. Look for these styles especially: Ghost, Adrenaline
- Oofos - super cushiony recovery sandals and shoes
- Birkenstocks - sandals, waterproof sandals, clogs, shoes, wedges, boots. Almost all styles are highly recommended, since they have the same anatomical footbed, firm arch support and varying levels of cushion. Are Birkenstocks good for plantar fasciitis?
- Vionic - Firm arch support and many cute styles for dress shoes, sandals, sneakers, casual shoes and boots.
- Chacos - waterproof sandals, flip flops, slides, boots, shoes
- Topo - wide, roomy toe box, secure midfoot and heel, low heel to toe drop, lightweight materials - athletic shoes
- New Balance - some styles have a wide toe box
- Kuru - footwear for foot pain. On their site, you can search for shoes specifically to relieve plantar fasciitis.
- On Running Shoes - athletic shoes Cloudflyer and Cloudflyer Wide
- Asics - athletic and sports shoes. Check out Gel Kayano styles, specifically.
- Archie's - arch support flip flops with real arch support, no toe clawing, lightweight, no toe plugs, secure and comfortable material. Great for the beach, lake or working in the garden.
🩴 House shoes
When I was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, one of the biggest changes I had to make was not walking barefoot at home. I now wear my Birkenstock Madrid sandals as house shoes. When it's colder, I wear Birkenstock Zermatt shearling lined slippers. So comfy! Here are some other slipper and house shoe options, too:
- Birkenstock - for cold weather, Zermatt shearling lined slipper. for warm weather, Madrid slides, Arizona sandals and really any Birkenstock sandals work well for walking around the house.
- Oofos - super cushiony recovery sandals and shoes
- OrthoFeet - house shoes with arch support and ergonomic soles
- Vionic - Firm arch support and several house slipper styles to choose from.
- Crocs - LiteRide Clogs, a lightweight version of Crocs, for wearing around the house
- FitFlops - waterproof, impact pillows for non stop comfort, anatomical arch contour footbed, slip resistant
🥾 Work boots
Being on your feet all day at work can make plantar fasciitis pain even worse. Wearing the wrong work boots or shoes can injure your feet. Here are tried and true work boots that plantar fasciitis sufferers swear by.
- Timberland Pro - work boots with steel toe, alloy toe, composite safety toe or soft toe options.
- Salomon - athletic, hiking and sports shoes
- Red Wings - work boots with safety steel toe and soft toe options, as well as waterproof boots.
- Wolverine Raider - shock absorbent work boots in various styles and features
👠 Dress shoes
Even when you don't have problems with your feet, dress shoes tend to be very uncomfortable. So, when you're going out to dinner, a party or wedding, or you work in an office, you need dress shoes that support and cushion your heels and arches. These brands offer many dress shoe options, in addition to being supportive and comfrotable.
- Vionic - Men's and Women's dress shoes with firm arch support. Firm arch support and many cute styles for dress shoes, heels, ballet flats, sling-backs, loafers, sandals and dress boots.
- Aetrex - Dressy sandals and wedges for women with plantar fasciitis
- Taos - Dress sandals and wedges for women
- Clarks - Ankle boots, ballerinas, chelsea boots, court shoes, knee high boots, loafers, slip-ons, mary jane, mules, strappy sandals, slingbacks and high heels. For men, they carry chelsea boots, derby shoe, desert boots, loafers, slip ons and oxford shoes.
- Kuru - footwear for foot pain. On their site, you can search for shoes specifically to relieve plantar fasciitis.
- Birkenstocks - sandals, waterproof sandals, clogs, shoes, wedges, boots. Almost all styles are highly recommended, since they have the same anatomical footbed, firm arch support and varying levels of cushion. Are Birkenstocks good for plantar fasciitis?
- Dansko - Firm, high arch support in boots, booties, heels, flats, wedges and sandals. Wide foot options. For men, they have dress casual shoes.
🥾 Hiking boots and waterproof boots
Whether you're hiking, trail walking, trekking in the country or working on your farm, these hiking and waterproof boots can take it all - with the needed cushion and support your feet need.
- Merrell - Lots of hiking boot options for men and women, in addition to water shoes and athletic trail sandals.
- Muck Boots - Waterproof boots for muddy conditions, gardening, hunting and work
- Le Chameu - High quality country waterproof boots. Anti-fatigue sole absorbs shock, shank reinforcement board for better stability and fatigue reducing arch support.
- Ariat - Western boots, work boots, riding boots, dress boots, hiking boots and casual shoes for men and women.
- Grub - Hunting, farm, work and hiking boots
🦶🏼 Minimalist shoe brands
Looking for minimalist shoes that can still support and cushion your feet? Try these brands for zero-drop heels and that barefoot feel while still protecting your feet and providing some support to your arches and heels.
- Xero - Natural fit, wide toe box, zero-drop non-elevated heel for proper posture. Sandals, athletic shoes, dress flats, ballet slippers for men and women.
- Lems - Freakishly flexible, zero-drop non-elevated heel. Casual shoes and boots.
- VivoBarefoot - Casual shoes and boots for men and women.
- Altra - wide toe box, cushion athletic shoes
👣 Inserts and arch support
Have a great pair of shoes but need more support from the insole? Try one of these fan-favorite inserts for plantar fasciitis sufferers.
❓ FAQ
Although everyone's situation is different, in general, if you have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, you should avoid the following types of shoes: shoes that have no firm arch support (like flip flops), high heels and shoes that are hard, with no cushion (these will cause pain).
Yes, the brand and type of shoe you should to wear will make a huge difference in your pain level and recovery if you have plantar fasciitis. Choose shoe brands that prioritize firm arch support, stability while walking and cushion in the heel.
Podiatrists recommend a variety of clinical treatments, medications and orthotics to treat plantar fasciitis. You should schedule an appointment with a podiatrist if you suspect you have plantar fasciitis, so you can get personalized care and treatment.
The goal of orthotic shoes is focused solely on recovery and treatment of a medical condition. Style doesn't really come into the equation, especially in traditional, older orthotics. However, in recent years, shoe makers have come out with lots of stylish yet supportive shoes in all categories! So, now you can feel good and look cute!
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