Best Walking Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis (Men & Women) – 2023

If you suffer from plantar fasciitis, you probably already know the importance of a high-quality pair of shoes. Whether you are walking, running or working, having the right kind of shoe is essential to alleviating the foot pain caused by plantar fasciitis. 

Because there aren’t many shoes that are created specifically for plantar fasciitis, we went on a mission to find the best and most comfortable shoes on the market right now. Most of these are walking or running sneakers, so we tried out the most supportive models from some of the top brands. We also considered the recommendations of podiatrists and those suffering from plantar fasciitis. 

After nearly 26 hours of research and review, we have chosen the New Balance WX608 v4 as the best comfort shoe for plantar fasciitis. The WX608 v4 is an upgrade from the previous version, with enhanced heel support and widths that can accommodate custom orthopedic inserts.

Comparison Table of Top 3

9 Best Walking Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis

Now that you’ve read our buying guide and understand the most important considerations for finding a good pair of comfortable shoes, read our reviews of the top 10 best shoes and decide what will best meet your needs. 

1. New Balance WX608 v4 – Top Pick

New Balance is a favorite among those with plantar fasciitis or other causes of heel pain. They have long produced shoes that focus on cushioning and support, and this WX608 v4 is one of their best yet. 

It includes upgraded insole features to provide incredible support, stability, and shock-absorption while still being light enough for versatile cross-training purposes. New Balance shoes are also wider than most brands and can accommodate custom orthopedic inserts or insoles to add even more cushioning. 

Features: Ethylene-vinyl acetate footbed, full-shoe ABZORB cushioning, injection-molded EVA

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2. Orthofeet Sprint – Best for Men 

The Orthofeet Men’s Spring shoes are designed to alleviate foot pain from a wide variety of foot conditions: plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, tendonitis, diabetic neuropathy, arthritis, and more. It includes orthopedic insoles and extra-cushioned heels to reduce impact along points of likely pressure and pain. The seam-free lining ensures that you will not feel any irritating rubbing from the stitching of the fabric, which makes it easier to find a good fit.

Features: FEATURES

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3. Merrell Edge Hiker – Best for Outdoors

Merrell is a well-known and well-respected brand for outdoor shoes. Plantar fasciitis should not prevent you from enjoying the outdoors, so we are including these in our list as a good comfort shoe for trail hiking. The Merrell Edge Hiker has a Vibram sole with great traction and grip while still being extremely comfortable and supportive in the air cushion heel. 

Features: 100% Mesh, Vibram sole, Breathable mesh lining, Bellows tongue, M-Select FIT.ECO contoured footbed with organic odor control, Shock-absorbing air cushion heel

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4. Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 – Best for Women

The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 18 is a shoe designed for the person on the go. This shoe is a great option for those who need to walk a lot for work or who enjoy running as a form of exercise. It provides the durability and breathability needed for running, along with all the necessary features of great comfort shoes.  

The uniquely adjustable mid-foot saddle gives you a close-to-customizable fit, and the lightweight fabric lining keeps it comfortable and breathable.  The insoles are removable allowing you to use any inserts or insoles you choose with a seamless fit.

Features: 12 mm. Differential, flexible mesh outer, lace-up closure, BioMoGo DNA, progressive Diagonal Rollbar®: tri-density midsole

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5. ASICS GEL Venture 5 – Best-Selling

The ASICS Gel Venture 5 is easily the best-selling comfort shoe for plantar fasciitis that we could find. It is extremely popular among those with an without heel pain because of its focus on all-around comfort and cushioning. 

It comes with amazing gel-support shock absorption that keeps you comfortable for hours upon hours. Many users are fond of this shoe for outdoor activities as well as workplace use, and we found it to be durable and reliable as well.

Features: Rubber sole, 2.25” shaft from arch, GEL cushioning, removable foam sock liner, high-traction AHAR outsole

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6. Brooks Ghost 11 – Best for Running

While the Brooks Adrenaline GTS is a fantastic comfort shoe runners with plantar fasciitis pain, there’s no competing with the Brooks Ghost 11 in this category. This shoe is consistently rated one of the best running shoes on the market, while also providing amazing cushioning and support for those with foot pain. The Brooks Ghost shoe series has received numerous Runner’s World Editor’s Choice Awards due to its combination of both comfort and durability. This is definitely the shoe to buy if you want to keep running despite intense heel pain from plantar fasciitis.

Features: 12mm heel drop differential, mesh outer fabric, BioMoGo DNA and DNA LOFT cushioning, Segmented Crash Pad

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7. Brooks Launch 5 – Most Cushioning

It’s obvious that Brooks makes excellent running shoes for those with pain from plantar fasciitis. With the Launch 5, they have made a “running shoe” that is actually more comfortable than any shoe we reviewed. The open-pore mesh outer allows for optimum airflow throughout the day. The cushioning system is flexible, responsive, and built to last. Many reviewers said they felt like they were “walking on clouds.”

Features: FEATURES

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8. Gravity Defyer G-Defy Mighty Walk – Most Accommodating

We call the Gravity Defyer G-Defy Might WAlk the “Most Accommodating” because it seems to work for everyone! Podiatrists find themselves recommending this shoe for those with flat feet, wide feet, neuropathy, diabetes, and bunions.

It is clearly designed to support sensitive feet and offers everything you could ask for in a comfort shoe: seamless inner fabric lining, front rocker sole, removable insoles, extra-wide toe box, and VersoShock technology. Reviewers were thrilled to find that it was comfortable for those with exceptionally large feet as well.

Features: VersoShock spring system shock technology, seamless interior, front rocker sole

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9. Merrell Jungle Moc – Best Slip-On

As with our other Merrell choice, the Men’s Jungle Moc is a great shoe for both plantar fasciitis pain as well as outdoor trekking. Its convenient slip-on design makes it an accessible and low-frills shoe that works on hikes as well as city treks. 

As with all Merrell shoes, the Jungle Moc has a solid traction sole and a rugged build that ensure many years of heavy use. In fact, this shoe has been around for practically 20 years and shows no sign of slowing down. We like this slip-on model because of its minimalist design and high-quality materials.

Features: Suede leather upper, M-Select Fit.ECO footbed, Air Cushion heel, waterproof outer, 1lb 9oz weight

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10. Vionic Walker – Best for High Arches

Vionic is another brand often recommended by podiatrists and those suffering from plantar fasciitis pain. It is a brand that focuses heavily on comfort and support. The Vionic Walker is especially helpful for those with high arches who also experience pain from plantar fasciitis. 

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This shoe is designed specifically to help realign your gait and evenly distribute impact to avoid heavy heel strikes. The mesh liner adds good airflow and the leather detailing helps provide protection and durability for many years of use. For a shoe with such a niche market, we found the price to be reasonable and the quality to be excellent. If you have high arches, look no further.

Features: Premium water-resistant leather uppers, thermoplastic heel counter, action lacing system, moisture-wicking mesh liner, PU foam base, biomechanical removable orthotics, deep heel cup, antibacterial covering, motion-controlled footbed

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Walking Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief – Buying Guide

There are few if any shoes specifically designed for those suffering from plantar fasciitis. Some shoes claim to alleviate foot pain from a variety of conditions, but may not meet your specific needs. Others do not make any claims about foot pain but end up being incredibly supportive and comfortable nonetheless. 

To help you navigate the thousands of shoe options on the market, we put together this buying guide with the main factors to consider when buying comfort shoes for plantar fasciitis.

Fit

It’s like sandals like Birkenstocks that fit good, but are arguably the most important consideration when buying any pair of shoes, not just those for plantar fasciitis. But when you are trying to buy shoes to alleviate the pain that already exists, a good fit is essential. Shoes that do not fit correctly may not only aggravate your existing pain from plantar fasciitis, but it may also create new problems and cause additional pain. 

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Some of the best ways to ensure a good fit are to try them on towards the end of the day when your feet are likely to be the largest, to wear the socks you will likely be wearing with the shoes, and to carefully measure your feet prior to ordering. If you want even extra support check out plantar fasciitis socks.

Toe Box Width

As part of ensuring a good fit, you want to make sure your shoes have sufficient width in the toe box. The toe box is the front of the shoe where your toes sit. They should not be overcrowded or squeezed and should be able to freely wiggle. For plantar fasciitis, it is especially important to err on the wider side. This is because using toe-spread for even weight and support distribution will ensure that undue pressure is not placed on other parts of your feet while walking. You may also want to invest in the best shoe stretcher spray when you’re shoes are brand new in order to loosen them up.

Heel Drop

The heel drop of a shoe indicates how high the heel rises above the toes. If your shoes are completely flat, the heel drop will be zero. A higher heel drop means that you are less able to walk heavily on your heel, as the front or middle of your foot will likely hit the ground first. This is helpful for plantar fasciitis pain because it is the heel that experiences the most discomfort. You want to structure your shoe and gait so that your heel receives a lighter impact.

Arch Support

Plantar fasciitis is very closely tied to arch support. Often it is caused by wearing shoes that are too supportive, which can actually weaken your feet over time by limiting their ability to stretch and flex naturally. But in order to fix plantar fasciitis, you need to start with strong arch support and very slowly decrease it over time as your feet get stronger. You may be interested in our reconditions for the best shoes for standing all day on this page.

A good way to test arch support is to measure your arch height before ordering. Make sure to measure both of them as there may be differences between your left and right feet. The shoes may feel a little stiff at first and that is a good sign. You do not want a shoe that bends too easily at the arch or it will not be able to give you the support you need.

Cushioning

The other side of arch support is overall cushioning. Cushioning is important for shock absorption and should be present all along the shoe, from the ball of the foot, through the midsole, and to the heel. You will likely need extra cushioning in the heel as this is where the pain from plantar fasciitis is usually concentrated.

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Most of the best shoes for plantar fasciitis have a slight incline or platform to the heel in order to reduce the pressure and workload on the heel and tendons.

Orthopedic Insoles

One of the best ways to tackle pain from plantar fasciitis is to find supportive and cushioned insoles. If you are frequent runner then check out the best new balance shoes for plantar fasciitis. You can even have insoles customized for your specific feet. These insoles will provide even more cushioning at certain points where the pain is most intense. Did you know plantar fasciitis can lead to other harmful injuries such as knee pain? If you already have this problem you can see the article here and can compare what’s the best shoe for you.

You should buy your insoles after you have purchased your shoes though. And you may need to try a few different types of insoles before finding one that blends perfectly with your chosen shoes. Do not rely solely on insoles to alleviate your pain though; make sure you are using them in combination with a supportive pair of shoes.

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What Is the Best Walking Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis – Final Thoughts

Ultimately, we chose the New Balance WX608 v4 as the best comfort shoe for plantar fasciitis. You really can’t go wrong with New Balance when looking for a shoe that provides excellent cushioning and support with high-quality materials and reliable production. New Balance has focused a great deal of their business on comfort shoes, which means you benefit from decades of knowledge and specialized design. If you don’t want to waste time buying multiple pairs of flashy shoes in hopes that they help with your pain, buy a pair of New Balance WX608 v4 and you will be instantly happy you did.

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