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Waking up with plantar fasciitis pain is no walk in the park. But the best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis make things far more manageable — and may even help you recover from the frustrating injury.
Plantar fasciitis is caused by irritation of the ligament that runs from your heel to the ball of your foot. And if you’re one of the 2 million people who undergo plantar fasciitis treatment for this common foot injury every year, you may already know that although those first few steps of the day are painful, walking actually helps ease the pain from plantar fasciitis with each additional step.
But the shoes you wear matter. The best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are supportive, comfortable, and cushioned. And no matter what caused your acute or nagging plantar fasciitis — standing for long periods, running, and even your foot shape can play a role — ensuring you stay mobile and not barefoot is crucial to your recovery, says Hilary Brenner, DPM, a New York-based podiatrist and foot surgeon. You want to protect the soles of your feet from the hard surfaces around your house and outside to allow the plantar fascia ligament to heal, she says.
Watch on FN
To help speed up your recovery, we did the research and tapped Brenner and other foot health pros to share a comprehensive list of the best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis. These sneakers and slip ons will help you heal so you can get back to doing what you love sooner. Note: If you still love a certain pair of sneakers that didn’t make the list for the best walking shoes, you can try insoles for plantar fasciitis — our foot pros recommend those from Superfeet, Cadence, Currex, or Birkenstock. Just swap the insole in your current pair for one with more arch support and stability — two key features to look for in plantar fasciitis footwear — to feel the difference.
Ahead, the top walking shoes for plantar fasciitis, backed by podiatrists.
Weight: 8.9 oz (women’s); 10.8 oz. (men’s)
Special features: Made for everyday walking and easy runs; “plush” level of cushion to relieve pressure on fascia
Pros: High amount of cushion
Cons: Lower heel-to-toe drop of 4 mm
Retailer availability: hoka.com, rei.com, dickssportinggoods.com, nordstrom.com
Special features: Good arch support, wide toe box, thick heel, semi-stiff sole
Pros: Stylish option that can be dressed up or down
Cons: Only available in women’s sizing
Retailer availability: toryburch.com, nordstrom.com, amazon.com, zappos.com, bloomingdales.com
Weight: 9.2 oz. (women’s); 10.5 oz. (men’s)
Special features: Good heel-to-toe drop ratio for plantar fasciitis, maximum cushion
Pros: 8 mm heel-to-toe drop, designed for neutral or underpronation
Cons: Neutral, moderate support
Retailer availability: asics.com, nordstrom.com, footlocker.com, zappos.com
Weight: 11.2 oz. (women’s); 14.9 oz. (men’s)
Special features: Encap midsole, rollbar system
Pros: Stabilizing design, prevent overpronation, available in many widths
Cons: Not available in many colors
Retailer availability: newbalance.com, amazon.com, zappos.com
Related: The Best Stability Running Shoes
Weight: 8.9 oz. (women’s); 11 oz. (men’s)
Special features: Forefoot rocker, max cushion
Pros: Altra’s trademark FootShape, 33 mm midsole
Cons: Chunkier look, designed for running
Retailer availability: altrarunning.com, rei.com, amazon.com
Weight: 7.3 oz. (women’s); 8.7 oz. (men’s)
Special features: Heel stability, made for everyday wear and walking
Pros: Lots of support, stable, and reflective heel panel
Cons: Neutral stability, 5 mm toe drop
Retailer availability: hoka.com, nordstrom.com, zappos.com
Special features: Sturdy, firm sole, heel stability
Pros: Stylish for everyday wear, stuff insole
Cons: Lacking on arch support
Retailer availability: adidas.com, zappos.com
Weight: 9 oz. (women’s); 9.9 oz. (men’s)
Special features: 12 mm midsole drop, available in multiple widths
Pros: Customers love it, great for standing all day
Cons: Could be more arch-supportive
Retailer availability: amazon.com, brooksrunning.com
What to Look for In the Best Walking Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
While choosing the right shoe for you will be individual to your feet and your needs, these universal elements are important to look for in the best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis.
- Thick arch: Walking shoes designed for high arches, which have a high level of midsole arch support, will help reduce the strain on your plantar fascia ligament by providing shock absorption, says Brenner. “Arch support is more important than cushioning to relieve strain on the plantar fascia,” says Langer.
- Cushion: While perhaps not as critical to relieving plantar fasciitis pain, adequate cushioning is still important to overall comfort. That level of cushion, however, is subjective, says Langer. It’s a matter of trying on several pairs of shoes to determine the best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis for your needs specifically.
- Forefoot rocker: This isn’t a must-have feature, but some people with plantar fasciitis may find a shoe with a forefoot rocker or a toe spring may be helpful in relieving fascia pressure. A forefoot rocker is essentially an upward curve of the sole of a shoe underneath the ball of the foot and toes.
- Firm heel counter: This hard piece of material at the back of the shoes helps stabilize and control the heel and therefore prevent unnecessary movement and overpronation, says Brenner. “By decreasing overpronation, you’re taking stress off of the plantar fascia,” she explains.
- Stiff insole: Those with plantar fasciitis want to avoid shoes with super flexible soles, says Brenner. “You don’t want to be able to bend the shoe in half like a taco,” she laughs. “Instead, only the toe box should bend.” This helps to stabilize the foot which puts pressure on the plantar fascia, she explains.
- High heel-to-toe drop: Heel-to-toe drop refers to the difference in thickness of a shoe’s sole between the heel and forefoot. A good range for the best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis is 7 to 12 mm, according to Brenner. Again, this will help put more pressure on the forefoot to therefore take some of the stress off the plantar fascia, she says.
Tips for Walking with Plantar Fasciitis
A light walk can help reduce symptoms of mild cases of plantar fasciitis. However, if the pain is a 5 out of 10, it’s best to rest instead. Specifically, the RICE strategy, or rest, ice, compression, and elevation is helpful to reduce inflammation of the ligament and begin the healing process, says Brenner. Light stretching, such as manually bending the toes gently back to release tension in the tight plantar fascia ligament, and over-the-counter pain medication should help.
If you must walk, limit your time on your feet to less than 10 minutes and avoid concrete terrains (hence why you won’t find a winner for best shoes for walking on concrete with plantar fasciitis), and wear shoes with lots of cushion, she says. Discontinue the activity if you experience stabbing pain or your heel becomes red or swollen, says Brenner.
How We Chose the Best Walking Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. Our coverage spans top industry news, retail trends, head-to-toe fashion, athletic and outdoor analysis, and more. Footwear News’ global network of editors has carefully curated all product selections featured using our expansive brand knowledge and thorough research to find quality, long-lasting items. Learn more about us here.
To put together this list of the best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis, we consulted multiple experts in the field of podiatry and orthopedics — several of whom have experienced plantar fasciitis themselves — as well as looked at the key features they recommended by present in optimal footwear. Additionally, we consulted studies, surveys, and other published research regarding plantar fasciitis and the type of footwear that is best for those with it. Customer reviews and footwear market research helped to round out our selection for the top walking shoes for plantar fasciitis, so you can shop confidently.
Related:
Best Socks for Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Fasciitis Stretches
Best Slippers for Plantar Fasciitis
Best Sandals for Plantar Fasciitis
Meet the Experts
- Hillary Brenner, DPM, is a New York-based podiatrist and foot surgeon and is also a spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). She has received extensive training in new foot care technologies such as shock wave therapy, which can be used to treat plantar fasciitis.
- Meredith Warner, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon based in Louisiana. She’s also the founder of Well Theory, a health supplement brand, and inventor of The Healing Sole, a patented flip flop designed to help heal plantar fasciitis.
- Tim Karthas, DPM, is a podiatrist based in Peabody, Massachusetts and a seasoned marathon runner who partners with the Oofos brand of recovery footwear. He specializes in foot and ankle surgery and podiatry and has previous experiences (and healed from) plantar fasciitis himself.
- Paul Langer, DPM, is a board-certified podiatrist with Twin Cities Orthopedics and a part- owner of Fleet Feet Minneapolis who has experienced plantar fasciitis flare ups. He’s also a fellow at the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine.
Meet the Author
Alyssa Sparacino is a content strategist, editor, and writer with a focus on fitness, health, and wellness with more than a decade of experience in digital media. She most recently held the role of editorial director at Shape Magazine. Her writing has been published in outlets including Shape, Health, What to Expect, Men’s Journal, Travel & Leisure, and more. Sparacino holds a personal training certification with the American Council on Exercise.
