Testing and Reviewing the Top 12 Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis in 2023

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Ever felt a dull, constant ache in your arch after a long day on your feet; or a sharp, stabbing pain in your heel with every step? Well, you’re not alone.

“Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common complaints that I see in the office,” says New York City-based podiatrist Diana Levin Valencia, DPM. “Walking pretty much everywhere definitely predisposes people to the condition, but poorly-fitted shoes, standing desks without proper support, as well a person’s foot type in general all play a role.”

To be clear, it’s certainly not a city-specific ailment. Plantar fasciitis is extremely common, and it is estimated that approximately 1 in 10 people will develop the painful condition at some point in their life. Think of your plantar fascia like a thick, stretchy rubber band. It connects the bones in your foot together and forms the arch on the bottom of your foot. Anything that irritates or damages it can cause plantar fasciitis, including: being on your feet all day, working on a hard surface, wearing shoes that don’t support your feet well enough (like flip flops), and even walking around barefoot while you’re at home.

The right footwear can make a big impact on easing your pain. But what do you need to look for? “When walking or running on paved or concrete streets, you need shoes that will absorb shock,” says Levin Valencia. “That takes some of the job away from the plantar fascia.”

To help you navigate the crowded footwear market, we first consulted with Levin Valencia to determine the most important factors and categories to consider for individuals with plantar fasciitis. Then, we tested 25 pairs of shoes to get the most detailed insights possible. The result? Over 4,280 hours of testing logged, and a final list of 12 of the best shoes for plantar fasciitis that you can trust.

Make room for another pair of sneakers in your closet, because these are about to become your new go-tos for dealing with plantar fasciitis. Thanks to the arch support and extra cushioning in the heel, we have not felt an ounce of pain or discomfort with our plantar fasciitis while wearing these shoes.

The heel support is really where this shoe stands out. It holds your foot in place and does not allow any slipping or rubbing at all, giving you a super secure feeling mile in and mile out. And don’t worry about it feeling too snug–the slightly-wider toe box gives your toes plenty of room to move. In fact, they’ll make you feel like you could just keep walking without your feet ever getting tired. This is the first pair we’ve worn that felt just as good as our other shoes–without the need for orthopedic insoles.

Sizes: 5-12 | Colors: 14 | Widths: Standard | Heel-to-toe drop: 10mm

For active women looking for a great walking and jogging shoe that will keep plantar fasciitis at bay, look no further. The first time we put these shoes on, we felt like they were specially designed for our feet. These shoes do an amazing job of supporting high arches and cradling your foot, and they seemed to take pressure off of the balls of our feet. It felt like we were walking on air no matter how many miles we tackled.

One small note: We did notice that our arches felt tired when we wore these shoes all day long without our orthopedic inserts. But when we used our inserts? It was like we never had plantar fasciitis at all.

Sizes: 5-13 | Colors: 7 | Widths: Narrow, Standard, Wide, X-Wide | Heel-to-toe drop: 10mm

The first thing you’ll notice when you put these shoes on is their bubbly spring. You’ll find an energizing and more bouncy feel than many sneakers, giving you not only a pep but pop in your step. With no 'break-in' period needed, our heel felt completely cradled and cushioned from the very first try on. In fact, we really noticed that these shoes helped calm the usual stinging in our feet.

We would wear these all day if we could – but maybe not for more than walking or casual wear. Because unfortunately, our arches weren't as protected as expected while running. We found that we weren’t able to run more than a half mile before feeling arch pain.

Sizes: 5-11 | Colors: 5 | Widths: Normal | Heel-to-toe drop: 11mm

Pounding the pavement or standing for hours is no problem when you’re wearing these shoes. Right out of the box, we could feel the major upgrade in comfort and support compared to other shoes we’ve worn. The curve of the heel combined with their gentle stability made it feel like we were walking on soft carpet. The stretchable knitted upper forms and contours your foot, making it feel like it was truly made for you. If they feel a little too loose? You can adjust them to find your perfect fit with two removable spacers that come with the shoes.

The one thing you won't need to adjust is the comfort. Even after long shifts and endless hours on our feet, we did not experience the pain in our heel that we have become used to in other sneakers.

Sizes: 5-12 | Colors: 9 | Widths: Narrow, Standard, Wide, Extra Wide

By far, our favorite part about this shoe is the cushioning and shock support. No matter how far we walked, these sneakers felt like they were propelling us into our next step, but most importantly, they were absorbing the impact-we did not feel the usual stinging shock anywhere from heel strike to toe-off.

We found that these shoes needed a few days to break (we felt the heel tab and heel collar hurt our ankle), and we recommend going up at least a half-size up for a more comfortable fit. Note: When you have flat feet and plantar fasciitis, you'll find relief through arch support. We did not find these to be the best in that regard, but if that's not a concern for your feet then consider these an excellent choice.

Sizes: 6-12 | Colors: 5 | Widths: Normal | Heel-to-toe drop: 12mm

When it comes to travel, you need a lightweight shoe that won't add bulk to your suitcase but will add comfort and support for long days on your feet. For those needs, we're sold on these sneakers. (In fact, we're already thinking about wearing them on our next trip to Europe, where most streets are cobblestone and our feet take a beating when we walk around.) They're extremely light and comfy but hold our heel in place without causing blisters.

We felt so stable and secure in these sneakers that we even wore them to dance class. We didn't stumble once or feel any typical plantar fasciitis pain even after an hour and a half of intense, high-impact choreography. From the mall to grocery store, cement to hardwood floors, we were more than satisfied with the performance of these kicks.

Sizes: 6-11 | Colors: 4 | Widths: Normal

The first thing we said when we put these on: 'It feels like we're walking on clouds.' Thanks to the midsole foam, our feet, heels, ankles, and knees felt incredibly supported while walking and running. Due to the shoe's unique anatomical design, your arch and heel will feel snug and secure while you'll still be able to wiggle your toes. Even after wearing these shoes for long periods of time (8hrs+), we felt none of our usual plantar fasciitis pain. It is 110 percent better than any other shoe we have worn in the past two years since being diagnosed with plantar fasciitis.

Sizes: 5.5-12 | Colors: 9 | Widths: Normal | Heel-to-toe drop: 0mm

Now we know why nurses, doctors, chefs, and tons of on-your-feet professionals wear these! These clogs are rock-solid when you try to twist them, but oh-so-comfortable when you slip into them. While they were a bit awkward at first (we're not used to wearing clogs!), the lightweight midsole and padded instep collar make these incredibly easy to walk in for hours on end. Our feet, heels, ankles, and knees feel stable and supported, and we especially felt their shock-absorbing power in the heel. With plenty of cushioning and arch support, these shoes were so soothing; we never felt any stabbing pain in the heel or ankle area like we're used to.

Sizes: 4.5-13 | Colors: 15 | Widths: Medium | Heel-to-toe drop: 1.5 inches

The power of these shoes is all in the details. We noticed a unique heel cup rim around the edge of the heel, with a small oval cushion in the center of the heel for extra comfort. The actual insole was removable and after further inspection, we found that it had some unique features-including extra foam on the balls of the foot and a hard plastic support system that runs from under the arch through the entire heel. The result? A heel cup that hugs and supports while the extra cushion gives plenty of softness with each footfall. The shoe is light, breathable, and easy to walk in; they don't weigh your foot down or feel heavy and clunky in the slightest.

After walking for a while, we sometimes found we needed to tighten the laces as we felt our foot was sliding a bit. But that was the only downside we could find in this shoe, which felt absolutely idyllic wearing from morning to night.

Sizes: 5.5-12 | Colors: 5 | Widths: Medium | Heel-to-toe drop: 0.5 inches

Plantar fasciitis doesn’t just go away on off days. In fact, when you’re not actively exercising is often the time you need a supportive shoe the most. (Flip flops and ballet flats aren’t going to keep your foot pain at ease.) We were already hooked on the brand’s sandals, and now we’re obsessed with these sneakers. The slip-on nature is incredibly convenient, particularly during warmer-weather months when you don't want to wear socks. These are as easy to put on as a pair of sandals, but more secure and supportive. The foam is said to absorb 37 percent more impact than traditional footwear, while their patented footbed is designed to reduce stress on your knees, ankles, and other joints. We felt almost-immediate plantar fasciitis relief, and we noticed less back pain on the days we wore these shoes.

Sizes: 5-11 | Colors: 4 | Widths: Normal

These smart-casual leather loafers combine sleek minimal style with excellent comfort.

Two levels of targeted cushioning deliver true, all-day comfort: firm cushioning in the heel reduces impact, while soft cushioning in the forefoot diffuses pressure. Unlike almost every casual shoe we’ve worn before, we did not notice any pain or instability when walking around in these shoes. For maybe the first time ever, we were able to spend all day on our feet without wearing our special inserts, and we did not experience any pain when we took the shoes off at the end of the day.

Sizes: 5-11 | Colors: 2 | Widths: Normal

We never realized how bad our plantar fasciitis pain was until we realized how walking should feel thanks to these shoes. While the heel was slightly elevated compared to shoes we have used in the past (ensuring that we did not feel any excess pressure on the balls of our feet), where these sneakers really stood out was in their arch support. From the moment we put them on, we immediately felt like the insole was applying gentle, supportive pressure in a way that would massage the arch of our foot as we pressed into the ground with each step. It didn’t matter how long we were on our feet, the support never let down. These absolutely made our walking experience better and helped us deal with pains that we thought were normal.

Sizes: 6-12 | Colors: 3 | Widths: Medium

Every foot is individual so there is no “one size fits all” recipe for the best shoe for plantar fasciitis, says Levin Valencia. That being said, some shoes with a higher heel-to-toe-drop ratio are better for relieving the symptoms of plantar fasciitis. “The reason for this is that the Achilles tendon also attaches to the same bone as the insertion of the plantar fascia,” she says. “A higher heel takes stress away from both insertion sites, thus relieving pain.” You’ll also want to look for a shoe bed that is firm but supportive, which can help absorb excess shock from walking.

As a health and fitness editor who has been regularly testing all categories of activewear since 2009, Jen Ator has nearly 15 years of pinpointing the highs and lows of footwear. As a four-time marathoner and Ironman finisher, as well as a certified strength and conditioning specialist, she personally knows what to look for in terms of comfort, support, and energy return, and has worked with many individuals suffering from common aches and pains like plantar fasciitis. For this piece, Jen worked closely with the testing team to gain insights from our real-world test and spoke with Levin Valencia to determine our winners for best shoes for plantar fasciitis across various categories.