The 7 best shoes for plantar fasciitis in 2023

Pros: Sleek look, strong arch support, lightweight, all-day comfort

Cons: Stock is often low for certain sizes and colors, slightly less cushion than bulkier brands

At the beginning of my PF journey, I found doctor-recommended HOKA Bondis or Cliftons to be saviors. While Hoka will always hold a place near and dear in my heart, the Brooks Glycerin offers similar foot support at the same price point but feels lighter underfoot. 

Now, I actually lost sleep over which I would recommend most, so you really can't go wrong with either the Brooks or the Hokas. But the Brooks Glycerin truly offers the perfect amount of arch support as well as removable inserts if you want to use your customized orthotics instead (we recommend Tread Labs). 

Whether you are getting back to running with plantar fasciitis, looking for a walking shoe for plantar fasciitis, or just something to hobble around in the midst of a severe flare-up, the Brooks shoe's heel delivers a completely cushioned step. This is oh-so-important for people with plantar fasciitis, as this shoe helps to ease that intense shooting pain on the bottom of the heel or middle of the arch.

Finally, these Brooks are stylish — within hours of wearing them I'd received multiple compliments. Though many colors are often sold out for all the above reasons, I found the Grey/Ombre/White to match most outfits and look sleek without having to worry about showing dirt, like with white.

Pros: Extremely supportive foot bed, fits well with a variety of arch types

Cons: Not the cutest shoe

The holy grail of shoes for plantar fasciitis is finding a good, supportive casual shoe for standing all day. Most non-orthopedic shoes offer very little arch support or heel cushioning, and in my experience, adding an orthopedic insert to most casual sneakers leaves the foot feeling squished.

But not with Dansko. The orthopedic-specific brand is best known for keeping healthcare providers and teachers comfortable with its ubiquitous clogs. 

Its casual sneaker, the Dansko Pace, is pretty understated and aesthetically agreeable, which is the most you can ask for in the orthotics category. The Pace has a removable insert and a stiff footbed with strong arch support, so this shoe meets all of our experts' requirements for PF support. 

These shoes also feel incredibly well made, like they aren't going to break down on you. That longevity helps justify the price. And with a heel height of under two inches and resistance to bending easily, these shoes follow our experts' recommendations. These are also what we recommend as the best shoes for nurses with plantar fasciitis or the best shoes for standing all day.

Pros: Support "beads" on footbed to prevent sliding when wet, supportive arch for multiple arch types

Cons: Stretches out a bit over time, less foot cushion than some may need, not true to size 

I absolutely love Vionic's ultra-popular High Tide Sandal, which you can still find at a few shoe stores but the company is discontinuing the model. That makes Vionic's Tide II Post Sandal the next best option. 

It's a strong go-to sandal for everyday wear as it's easy to slip on and off. This is ideal at the beginning of your PF journey when you want to wear shoes every moment you're not sitting (that rule significantly helped me recover). 

Vionic Tide II Post sandals have solid arch support and little grippers on the insole. At first, these seem like a simple design element but over time, the grippers start to feel like little massagers as they also work to keep your foot in place. I recommend sizing down in these and the High Tides, as they can get a little too flippy floppy, especially with regular use. 

The one downside is that they might not be "cushy" enough if you are in your initial and most difficult PF phase.

Pros: The cushiest shoe of all for serious foot pain, no sliding around or falling off them

Cons: Pretty unattractive, very bulky (yet light), not warm for winter months

If you're suffering from plantar fasciitis, you need to ensure your feet never hit the ground without support, so slippers or house shoes are one of the top necessities. Hoka's Recovery Slides are my go-to pick for lounging around the house. 

Hoka's Recovery Slides are originally intended for runners post-workout, which is why they feel as close to literally walking on a cloud as you can get. They're not the prettiest — although they definitely fall into the so-ugly-they're-cute category — but it just really doesn't matter when you are in serious pain around the house.

Wearing supportive shoes around the house is crucial: Not only do many people feel a sharp or dull heel pain first thing in the morning, but your feet should be supported with every single step, which includes those around the house, Dr. Cornell explains. 

For me and others struggling with this condition, barefoot time is a thing of the past. But with how soft and lightweight these Hoka Recovery Slides are, you won't mind the support. They feature an ultra-supportive outer layer of EVA foam which allows them to feel cushy to the touch. 

These Recovery Slides are not as stiff as other footbeds but also aren't bendable, which is key according to our experts. They also integrate Hoka's signature rocking technology, and that rolling sensation with every step helps ease the pain in my experience.

I also love that you can throw a pair of socks on with these slides in the winter, and that being made of foam, you can wear them in the shower, too.

Pros: Hugs your foot, supports your arch, perfect heel height, can be dressed up or down

Cons: Seasonal

Formal footwear can induce an anxiety attack if you have plantar fasciitis. I'm excited to say I will no longer be declining wedding or dinner party invites based on potential foot pain after discovering these Naot Oz wedge shoes. 

The insoles hug your feet, conforming to your exact arch support needs. The heel size is perfect for adequate structure. When I wore these to an event, I commented multiple times to my partner that they were more comfortable than my sneakers — how is that possible?

I also love that the Naot Oz utilizes a velcro adjustable heel strap to adjust the tension on the fly if I'm having any discomfort. 

Pros: All-weather friendly, roll-down fuzzy part, very strong and supportive footbed and arch

Cons: Slightly clunkier and heavier than other boots

Supportive boots can be hard for people with plantar fasciitis, as many have weather-protectant factors with little attention paid to footbed comfort.  Dansko, however, comes in for the win again.

The Dansko Bessie Burnished Nubuck boot rocks the brand's signature base that provides structure, solid arch support, and a perfectly cushioned heel bed. They feature memory foam cushioning yet still maintain a lightweight feel.

I love the simple slip-on style, and that these boots can be styled straight up or rolled down to reveal the cozy shearling inside. They're also real leather, which I feel helps justify the $190 price tag, and they're treated with a 3M Scotchgard stain resistor to protect them.

In other boots we tested, we sacrificed comfort and arch support for style, but these can be styled for a variety of outfits and weather conditions.

Pro tip: Add full weather-proofing by applying Dansko's Suede and Nubuck Protector Spray.

Pros: Cushy all-day comfort, heel and arch support, versatile style

Cons: Gets dirty easily, shoe strings are a little short for those double knotters out there

When it comes to men's supportive footwear, the category is pretty limited for PF prevention and management. Our male tester tried a handful of options, and most didn't provide enough heel and arch support to last the whole day (or pass our expert's guidelines). 

But Ecco's Soft 7 Street Sneaker delivered. They feature a cushy yet supportive footbed, a stylish look, and are able to prevent sore feet, legs, and back through an entire workday. The arch support was easy to feel, as the experts recommended.

What's more, the leather touches elevate the style from basic white sneakers to fashionable go-to's. That makes these sneakers ideal for everything from stylish daily wear to business casual. The one con is that if you go with the white colorway, unsurprisingly we found it got dirty very easily.

What else we recommend

Naot Aura Rivotra:  Part bootie, part dress shoe, these boots offer solid arch support in a true-to-size, well-fashioned style. It has a cushioned heel, but this may not be cushioned enough for a full-blown PF flare-up. In my experience, they are excellent for day-to-day living with PF.

Vionic Shawna Bootie: This trendy bootie was a cross between the casual sneaker and boot category, leaving it as a middle ground that didn't have a home in this guide. But it deserves some serious love anyway: Sitting at a slight angle, the slightly lower arch support might be better for people with a flatter foot. It's also certainly the most stylish shoe we tested, with serious daily wearability that can be dressed up or down.

Hoka Clifton or Hoka Bondi 7: Hoka's running shoes have long been recommended by foot specialists for PF heel pain relief. Originally meant for long-distance runners, the brand focuses on shoes that provide support without sacrificing the feel of the shoe — they are like walking on a cloud. There are multiple inches of cushion before your foot is anywhere near the ground. They also have memory foam meant to accommodate a narrower heel and they cradle the Achilles, which can sometimes get sore with PF. 

What makes a comfortable, supportive PF-friendly shoe? Our experts say the below factors are crucial to alleviating your pain and helping the tendon find relief in the long term. Any shoe, whether it be a sandal, boot, or sneaker, should:

• Fit correctly left to right and front to back, meaning your heel and toe aren't rubbing against the ends of the shoes, and your foot has enough wiggle room on each side of the shoe, but it isn't too wide if you have a narrow foot.
• Have orthotic inserts or the ability to remove their foot pad and add your own insert. Inserts help with cushioning and shock absorption to avoid heel pain.
• Have solid heel and arch support. Dr. Summer Bochat, DPM at Northern Illinois Foot & Ankle Specialists says that you should be able to literally feel the arch in the shoe. If you have high arches, you'll want more arch support than someone with flat feet. This helps support the ligament causing the issue so it's not getting too much strain on the heel.
• Be hard to bend. This denotes that the shoe has good heel and arch support, as you want to avoid flimsy and thin shoes such as flip-flops without any structure

Have a 1-2 inch heel. Completely flat is not ideal, nor is a high heel. The angle your foot sits at as you step can pull on not only the plantar fascia but also the Achilles tendon and potentially tendons in your ankle, depending on your mobility there. A slight drop of 1-2 inches is ideal because it angles your foot in a way that strains all these tendons the least, while anything higher will cause the Achilles to contract too much, causing worse PF pain.

Test #1: Pain prevention and relief

When you are in serious pain you really don't care about much else, which is why this was the most important test. If I was trying a pair of shoes that didn't play nice with PF, I'd know it in just a few minutes. When I was having less serious flare-ups, I'd learn this by later that night, I wished I'd worn more supportive shoes. All of the selections included in this guide were pain-free after wearing them all day.

Test #2: Arch support

Proper arch support, as the doctors discussed, gives relief to your struggling Plantar Fascia ligament. "Proper" here depends on your natural arch height — I have high arches, so I analyzed which shoes would be most supportive for someone with a mid to high arch. If you have low arches or flat feet, it's smart to check my selections for yourself. 

Test #3: Heel cushioning

When you first strike down on your foot with PF, there are two things that can happen: You have shooting pain and wish you were in bed, or you are met with a fluffy heel pad that makes you want to take another step. These selections focused on the latter, of course.

Test #4: Attractiveness and style

Because we're real humans, we hold style as a key marker for making us actually want to wear supportive shoes out of the house. Orthopedic footwear still has some work to do, but it is possible to find shoes that are both attractive and pain-free. We also tried to choose options that will work in many seasons with many styles and outfits, as they can be pricey and you probably won't be able to buy one in every color.

What shoes should you not wear with plantar fasciitis?

Plantar Fasciitis causes pain because the ligament that runs from your toes to your heel, the plantar fascia, has become tight and every step then causes the ligament to tear a small amount, more and more. Therefore, shoes that don't properly support your foot are out.

You want arch support, heel cushion, and an overall well-designed shoe so that neither the plantar fascia nor the surrounding ligaments or tendons are being pulled on. You shouldn't wear shoes that are in any way flimsy or bendable, which means no flip-flops or ballet flats. You also shouldn't wear high heels, since that can put a strain on the ligaments.

Instead, look for shoes with arch support you can feel, cushioning in the heel, and a 1-2 inch heel, our experts advise.

What kind of shoes should I wear for plantar fasciitis at home?

If you have plantar fasciitis, you want to wear supportive shoes literally every time your foot touches the ground, which includes walking around the house. "The first signs of plantar fasciitis may be morning heel pain either a sharp or dull pain usually experienced first thing in the morning," Cornell explains. Sliding into supportive shoes immediately upon waking can help relieve this pain.

Look for house slippers that have arch support and heel cushions. Chances are your regular slippers won't cut it. We love Hoka's Ora Recovery Slide which is easy to slip on and off and feel like clouds underfoot. They have layers of dense EVA foam to provide both support and keep the shoe lightweight with every step, and Hoka's signature rocker design helps work with your foot's natural movement.

What aggravates plantar fasciitis?

The number one thing that aggravates plantar fasciitis is not giving your feet enough support. This can mean wearing shoes without enough cushion or arch support or standing on hard surfaces, like concrete, for hours without rest. A supportive pair of shoes, like all those included in this guide, can go a long way to avoiding a plantar fasciitis flare-up.

Dr. Kenneth Cornell, DPM, podiatrist at Austin Regional Clinic in Austin, TX

Dr. Emily Splichal, DPM, a human movement specialist at the Center for Functional and Regenerative Podiatric Medicine in New York

Dr. Summer Bochat, DPM at Northern Illinois Foot & Ankle Specialists in Illinois