10 Best Walking Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis or heel spur syndrome is a common medical condition that can cause a great deal of pain when walking or running if not supported. Purchasing the best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis available on the market in 2021 can help to reduce the pain of walking with plantar fasciitis, allowing sufferers to walk normally and offering great relief. Properly designed walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are a popular strategy for relief from the problems of plantar fasciitis by supporting the plantar ligament effectively for comfort and relief.

Choosing the right option for you is difficult, which is why we’ve done all of the research and testing of a wide range of different walking shoes for plantar fasciitis to simplify your life as far as possible. Below, you’ll find our best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis reviews, breaking down what makes each of our top 10 walking shoes for plantar fasciitis stand out from the crowd, as well as our walking shoes for plantar fasciitis buyers guide to help you understand what you’re looking for when buying these orthotic support shoes.

With our guide and reviews for you, this should allow you to buy the best walking shoes for plantar fasciitis available for your particular needs and preferences, keeping you safe, comfortable, and supported while walking or even running.

Related: Best Dress Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis.

View the Best Walking Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis, Below.

• New Balance Men’s Suede 928v3
• Brooks Men’s Beast ’18
• Ryka Women’s Devotion Plus 2 Walking Shoe
• Saucony Women’s ProGrid Integrity ST2
• ASICS Men’s Gel-Nimbus 21
• Brooks Men’s Addiction Walker Walking Shoes
• Orthofeet Women’s Plantar Fasciitis Sneakers
• Skechers Men’s Oak Canyon Oxford
• Brooks Women’s Adrenaline GTS 19
• Vionic Women’s Walker

1. New Balance Men’s Suede 928v3

New Balance is a premium walking and running shoe brand dedicated to designing shoes to help athletes achieve their maximum possible performance. This ethos also applies to the orthotic potential of their shoes, making the New Balance Men's Suede 928v3 walking shoes for plantar fasciitis one of the best plantar fasciitis shoe options available in 2021.

These are durable premium walking shoes for plantar fasciitis, with a biomechanically engineered design for maximized performance and microfiber wrapped EVA foam footbed for a high level of comfort and padding as well as strong arch support to relieve the pain of plantar fasciitis somewhat. These walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are tough and well designed, offering a high level of support and pain relief and a long lifespan.

The New Balance Men’s Suede 928v3 walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are premium walking and running shoes that are built to last, with durable uppers and a high build quality throughout.

2. Brooks Men’s Beast ’18

Offering high performance walking and running design and excellent support for any type of foot, the Brooks Men’s Beast 18 walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are tough, durable and supportive walking shoes that protect your feet with a high level of support and compression. These walking shoes for plantar fasciitis feature biomechanical engineering to boost the level of protection and support they offer to the maximum degree possible.

This biomechanical engineering includes premium design elements like the Extended Progressive Diagonal Rollbar (PDRB), a component of the sole that guides your gait into a straighter, smoother motion, giving excellent support and motion control to support your feet as it guides you into correcting your gait, helping with a wide range of foot problems including plantar fasciitis.

The upper of these walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are made from a breathable and durable synthetic material that promises to protect your feet while still keeping them cool and comfortable while you run.

The Brooks Men’s Beast ’18 walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are biomechanically engineered to provide excellent support, offering a high level of support and protection for any type of foot, helping to correct a wide range of gait problems caused by issues such as plantar fasciitis.

3. Ryka Women’s Devotion Plus 2 Walking Shoe

The Ryka Women's Devotion Plus 2 Walking Shoe for plantar fasciitis is a model of walking shoes for plantar fasciitis that offers a lightweight construction for unobtrusive comfort. The breathable mesh upper allows your feet to breathe, staying cool and dry even during more intense exercise or more extended periods of walking, while keeping the weight to a minimum for even more comfort.

The footbed is designed for precise anatomical return, correcting the gait problems that can be caused by plantar fasciitis and allowing you to walk normally without pain. In addition to this, the supportive synthetic overlays crossing the upper surface of these walking shoes for plantar fasciitis ensure a high compression fit to keep your feet in place and well supported at all times.

Lightweight, breathable and versatile, the Ryka Women’s Devotion Plus 2 Walking Shoe for plantar fasciitis are well designed and supportive plantar fasciitis shoes with enough support and stability to provide relief from the pain of foot problems.

4. Saucony Women’s ProGrid Integrity ST2

The Saucony Women’s ProGrid Integrity ST2 walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are smart looking walking sneakers that combine high performance and support to offer a premium comfort experience and relief from the pain caused by walking with plantar fasciitis. The non-marking sole of these walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are flexible and durable, with Walk Trac design elements for a high level of grip, traction, and durability when walking in any environment.

The insole is well cushioned, while the tongue and collar of this model of plantar fasciitis shoe are thickly padded for a high level of comfort and compression while walking or running.

Offering a high level of comfort in a durably constructed body, the Saucony Women’s ProGrid Integrity ST2 walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are well padded and cushioned, making them an excellent choice for most users who prioritize the comfort of their feet.

5. ASICS Men’s Gel-Nimbus 21

The ASICS Men’s Gel Nimbus 21 walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are premium plantar fasciitis support shoes designed to offer the most relief possible from the pain caused by walking with plantar fasciitis, supporting problem areas and cushioning the regions of your foot that are most in need of added padding and protection.

The sole features both rear foot and forefoot gel technology cushioning system elements, absorbing shock during the impacts of footfall and toe-off phases while walking, and allowing for a high level of movement as your foot transitions through its walk cycle in order to minimize discomfort. The Guidance Trusstic System technology built into the sole gives a high level of foot guidance to help correct gait problems, helping to alleviate some of the secondary issues caused by plantar fasciitis.

Designed for high performance and exceptional support for plantar fasciitis, the ASICS Men’s Gel Nimbus 21 walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are among the best plantar fasciitis shoes on the market in 2019, thanks to their advanced design and technological features.

6. Brooks Men’s Addiction Walker Walking Shoes

Biomechanically engineered to maximize support for plantar fasciitis and a wide range of additional foot conditions, the Brooks Men’s Addiction Walker Walking Shoes for plantar fasciitis feature a number of valuable and innovative design elements. These biomechanically engineered support elements include the Extended Progressive Diagonal Rollbar (PDRB), a sole element designed to guide your gait into straight, smooth motions.

This gives excellent support and motion control to as it guides you into gait improvement, supporting your feet to a high level while helping to relieve the issues caused by a wide range of foot problems. The insole offers a high level of strong arch support, maximizing the possible relief for plantar fasciitis arch issues.

The Brooks Men’s Addiction Walker Walking Shoes are durable walking shoes for plantar fasciitis, offering biomechanically engineered support for a wide range of foot conditions including plantar fasciitis.

7. Orthofeet Women’s Plantar Fasciitis Sneakers

The Orthofeet Women’s Plantar Fasciitis Sneakers are premium shoes for plantar fasciitis, offering an exceptionally high level of specially designed support and relief for plantar fasciitis sufferers as well as comfortable padding for added pain relief. The included premium orthotic insole provides anatomical arch support and a highly cushioned heel pad, conforming to the contours of your foot during your regular walk cycle.

This effectively alleviates pain at the heel, foot, knees, hips, and even lower back, making walking a far more comfortable experience. The lightweight ortho cushion sole features air cushioning pads for springier steps, biomechanically engineered to reduce joint stress, boost stability, and smooth out the motion of your feet to reduce pain and increase comfort while you walk.

Explicitly designed for orthotic support of users with plantar fasciitis, the Orthofeet Women’s Plantar Fasciitis Sneakers are exceptionally well designed and supportive shoes for plantar fasciitis, offering premium support and cushioning.

8. Skechers Men’s Oak Canyon Oxford

Designed for strength, durability, and comfort, the Skechers Men's Oak Canyon Oxford shoes for plantar fasciitis are well-designed premium Skechers athletic shoes for any user but offer particularly valuable support for plantar fasciitis sufferers. These shoes for plantar fasciitis are designed with a soft memory foam insole that molds to the contours of your feet, providing ergonomic support to your arches and padding in the spots where you are most in need of added cushioning and protection.

The looser and more relaxed fit allows for more flexibility, with extra wide sizes also available to offer a high level of support and comfort for even those with unusually wide feet who can often struggle to find well fitting orthotic support on the high street without seeking out expensive specially designed custom shoes.

The Skechers Men's Oak Canyon Oxford shoes for plantar fasciitis stand out from the crowd thanks to their relaxed fit and range of available sizes, offering a better and more comfortable fit for those with more full feet.

9. Brooks Women’s Adrenaline GTS 19

The Brooks Women’s Adrenaline GTS 19 walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are high quality walking shoes for plantar fasciitis, offering some of the best support and guidance for foot problems of any walking or running shoes on the market in 2021. The GuideRails Holistic Support System built into the soles of the Brooks Women’s Adrenaline GTS 19 walking shoes for plantar fasciitis provides a high level of support and prevents your feet from shifting in unwanted directions, effectively correcting a wide range of gait problems and helping to relieve plantar fasciitis, protecting your knees and ankles from injury while walking or running.

The upper of these walking shoes for plantar fasciitis is breathable and lightweight, keeping these walking shoes comfortable and non-distracting even during more intense walking, running or other exercises for maximum comfort and support in all situations.

Combining a high level of support with excellent comfort, the Brooks Women's Adrenaline GTS 19 walking shoes for plantar fasciitis are an excellent choice for most users, no matter whether you're looking for a supportive shoe for walking in to correct gait problems and relieve plantar fasciitis or for something suited for intense running.

10. Vionic Women’s Walker

The Vionic Women's Walker is a premium walking shoe for plantar fasciitis that offers high-quality design and durable construction for the best plantar fasciitis support and protection possible and a long-lasting body. The Orthaheel design provides a high level of support for plantar fasciitis, giving orthotic support and correction for comfort and support in all situations, while the PU foam base insole gives comfortable padding and strong arch support.

The moisture wicking cool mesh liner of the Vionic Women’s Walker walking shoes for plantar fasciitis is breathable and keeps your feet dry during intense use, wicking sweat away to reduce moisture and odor buildup while wearing these. In addition to this, the durable leather upper of these walking shoes for plantar fasciitis is water resistant and tough, keeping your feet well protected and giving an extended lifespan to the Vionic Women’s Walker plantar fasciitis shoes.

Designed for motion control and a high comfort level, the Vionic Women’s Walker plantar fasciitis shoes combine orthotic support with comfort padding and breathability for premium performance and comfort.

Walking Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis Buyer’s Guide

Fitting Walking Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis

When you buy a pair of walking shoes for plantar fasciitis, it is important that you ensure that your shoes of choice fit correctly, as poorly fitting shoes can cause further problems as well as failing to relieve the pain of plantar fasciitis.  Avoiding overly tight shoes is an integral part of this because sometimes as later in a day of walking your feet might swell a little, meaning that any pair of shoes that fits perfectly in the morning may be too tight to offer the ideal support and comfort you’re looking for by later in the day.

When buying new walking shoes for plantar fasciitis, make sure that you get both of your feet professionally measured in all dimensions. Length is only one aspect of your feet, as they are three dimensional objects; making sure that your shoes fit in terms of width and depth is just very important.  Also, different makes of shoes have different fits so it is highly recommended to get proper measurements for your width and length for the specific brand you want to wear.  For example, a size 9 men’s in a Nike brand is sometimes smaller and tighter than a size 9 men’s in an Adidas brand.

The last important thing to remember when buying new walking shoes for plantar fasciitis is to try them on while wearing the type of socks you would expect to wear during regular use of those particular shoes. Socks add a little to the size of your foot, and wearing socks that are thicker or thinner than your usual choices when trying on a new pair of shoes can cause you to buy a pair of shoes that won’t fit perfectly in most situations!

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common reasons for pain in the heel and arch of your feet. It is a condition caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, the thick band of tendons that runs along the underside of your foot, connecting the heel bone to the toes. This painful condition causes stabbing pains during walking and running, particularly during your first steps after sitting down or standing still with no steps taken.

Plantar fasciitis is a particular problem for runners, overweight individuals, or people who wear insufficiently supportive footwear. Plantar fasciitis usually causes a stabbing pain on the sole of the foot, near the heel. This pain is generally at its worst with the first steps after getting out of bed in the morning, or after standing up from a chair. In most cases, the pain is far worse just after exercising than it is during exercise.

Ignoring plantar fasciitis can lead to further damage, potentially causing chronic heel pain, which may hinder your daily activities, having a significant impact on your life. Adjusting your walk pattern to minimize the pain of plantar fasciitis without appropriate footwear can cause secondary problems with your feet, knees, hips, and back as well!

You might be interested in; Shoes for Heel Pain.

What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?

There are many different causes that can lead to tearing of your plantar fascia, ranging from age (plantar fasciitis is significantly more common in people aged between 40 and 60) to weight (Overweight individuals put more stress on the plantar fascia thanks to the pressure of added weight).

Too much stress and tension placed on it can cause small tears to the plantar fascia, and repeating this stress and strain induced tearing can cause significant inflammation and irritation to the rest of the plantar fascia.

The biomechanics of your feet can also be a significant influence, as any sort of abnormality in feet and walking patterns can cause problematic stress patterns on your plantar fascia, from high arches to flat feet or even simple unusual walking patterns.

In addition to this, spending large amounts of time standing upright on hard surfaces, such as in jobs like teaching, factory work, or other standing based employment, can cause additional strain to your plantar fascia, increasing the likelihood of damage to the tendons.

If you’re planning a holiday, check out these flip flops for Plantar Fasciitis.

How Long Does Plantar Fasciitis Last?

While it is possible for plantar fasciitis to go away on its own, it can take as long as a full 2 years (24 months) for the pain to recede, and ignoring it entirely can cause significant worsening of your plantar fasciitis. Resting your feet can make a substantial difference to the length of time it takes for your plantar fasciitis to fade while continuing, as usual, can add significantly to the time required, or even worsen the symptoms, causing more severe foot problems later.

Resting your feet as soon as you detect the first hints of plantar fasciitis symptoms can make a significant difference to the length of time it takes to recover fully, preventing further damage and helping to ease pain and inflammation. Elevation can further reduce the inflammation and pain, cutting down on the stress placed on your plantar fascia significantly. Stretching gently before exercising is another good option, reducing the risk of causing further tears to your plantar fascia and reducing the risk of worsening the problem.

Expert Tip by Dr. William Naughton

If you think you’re showing the signs of plantar fasciitis stop any activities or shoe gear that increases or worsen your symptoms.  Rest is always advised but also doing specific stretches and icing the area can benefit you too.  Proper supportive shoe gear or inserts can help as this article as discussed.  If symptoms do not resolve or persists it is recommended to seek proper medical care.

Did you know?

Any pair of shoes can offer support for plantar fasciitis if you have the appropriate orthotic insoles!