From walking shoes to rain boots, these are the pairs we love for supporting our aching arches.
As someone who deals with a recurring bout of plantar fasciitis, I know how badly the sharp pains, heel tenderness, and stiff muscles can upset a regular exercise routine and make daily activities a challenge. If you’re also prone to this issue, the best shoes for plantar fasciitis can help—whether that’s a supportive pair of sneakers or plush recovery slides.
“The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot, attaching the heel into the toes,” says E. Charisse Dunn, D.P.M., a podiatrist and owner of PGA Foot & Ankle, P.A. in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. “When it becomes inflamed, it causes tenderness when the heel is placed flat on the ground,” Dunn says.
There are several things that put you at risk for plantar fasciitis—including wearing the wrong types of shoes. One of the major contributors is having tight calves, especially if you wear shoes with a higher heel lift, says Stephen Bui, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S., a sports medicine and podiatric surgeon. Others include new or increased activity, standing on hard surfaces for long periods of time, and having flat feet or high arches, per the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
Along with rest, stretching, and physical therapy, shoes for plantar fasciitis can help diminish symptoms and get you back on your feet (literally!).
To help you find the best shoes for plantar fasciitis, we rounded up top picks from leading podiatrists and contributed our own editor-tested picks from all types of kicks—from walking shoes to winter boots—to help reduce your flare-ups all year round.
We consulted several experts: E. Charisse Dunn, D.P.M., a podiatrist and owner of PGA Foot & Ankle, P.A. in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Stephen Bui, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S., a sports medicine and podiatric surgeon; Sophia Solomon, D.P.M., a board-certified podiatrist at Atlantic Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in New York City; Asim Sayed, D.P.M., A.A.C.F.A.S., a podiatrist and foot and rear-foot/ankle surgeon; Barbara Bergin, M.D., a board-certified orthopedic surgeon in Austin; Rebecca Pruthi, D.P.M., a podiatric physician/surgeon and owner of Foot Care of Manhattan; Jennifer Gerres, D.P.M., a podiatrist at Foot and Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic in Washington, DC; Hillary Brenner, D.P.M., a podiatric surgeon practicing in New York City and New Jersey; Jay Bhuta, D.P.M., a podiatric surgical expert at Ankle & Foot Doctors of New Jersey; and Kenneth Jung, M.D., an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Los Angeles and Orange County. We also polled our own editors for their best shoes for plantar fasciitis to ensure personal experience and recommendations.
Our pick for the best orthopedic walking shoes, this retro pair of sneakers from Vionic features leather or suede uppers, moisture-wicking polyester mesh liners, a PU foam base, and an EVA foam midsole. It also includes removable orthotics developed by podiatrists and firm heel counter stability and support. Best of all, it has a Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA).