5 Best Walking Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis and Heel Pain

For around ten years, I have noticed the increase in popularity of the Mizuno Inspire for people with Plantar Fasciitis. In my own running store, I often get customers who are not runners but are seeking the best shoes for Plantar Fasciitis for daily use and walking.

The Mizuno Inspire has become a very popular choice thanks to its elevated heel (12mm drop), arch support and internal structure and shape.

I also wear the shoes myself for some running and daily use. I also appreciate the internal structure of the shoe through the arch and find it can ease general arches and pains in my feet after hard running sessions or particularly busy days on my feet.

Cushioning comes from the brand’s responsive Enerzy foam, as well as the Wave plate, which also provides support and control in the arch. The fit is true to size but on the generous side, offering a little more wiggle room in the toe box than many shoes in the category.

While my findings are purely anecdotal, the Mizuno Wave Inspire is always a shoe that I reach for, for people with Plantar Fasciitis, and people report long-term benefit from.

Verdict

The Saucony Guide is a shoe that walkers and runners alike find comfortable and supportive in equal measure. Thanks to its highly rockered geometry, the shoe works very well for people suffering from Plantar Fasciitis.

With no medial post or other external or additional features to control pronation, the Guide 18 relies on its general shape and structure to provide support. A rocker in the heel and forefoot, as well as deep cushioning, both ease the strain on the tendon as well as keep the arch in a more neutral position.

The vast majority of people I have seen on gait analysis in the Saucony Guide have shown excellent foot strike and gait when walking in the shoe as well as commenting on its overall fit and feel.

The fit of the Guide 18 is true to size but has more volume in the upper than other shoes here, making it particularly good for those with broader feet or higher insteps. The Guide is a well-made shoe that is highly effective in aiding with relief from Plantar Fasciitis, as well as offering great value for money.

Verdict

HOKA shoes are often quoted as being great options for people with Plantar Fasciitis. The issue can sometimes arise when therapists blindly quote the brand rather than specific models. Being mindful of the need for support in the arch, the brand’s Arahi and Gaviota are my favourite recommendations, with the Gaviota 5,I believe, being the best option.

The rocker shape of the midsole of HOKA shoes, as well as their deep cushioning, are excellent features that help provide comfort and relieve pain, but it’s the support that helps control the pronation of the foot and additional strain on the tendon that is the most important consideration in my opinion.

The Gaviota 5 has a good, 36mm deep stack of soft cushioning in the heel and alongside the H-Frame support, the heel naturally sinks into this midsole foam. This often provides instant comfort. The H-Frame support then comes into play, stabilising the arch, helping to keep it in a neutral position and reducing excess strain on the Plantar Fascia tendon.

The overall rocker-shaped geometry of the Gaviota’s sole naturally rolls the foot forward and feels very natural, providing all-day comfort.

Verdict

One of the most durable, work-horse shoes on the market, the Brooks Addiction GTS 15 is an excellent option for those suffering from Plantar Fasciitis who require a shoe for all-day wear.

The higher heel drop at 12mm relieves strain from the tendon, and the good arch support provided by the brand’s GuideRail system helps add shape and structure to the tendon in the arch of the foot.

I’ve recommended the Addiction GTS not only to sufferers of Plantar Fasciitis, but to those with other foot and lower leg injuries and conditions for many years and every time it’s been welcomed with great success. The GuideRail system sits around the whole of the rearfoot of the shoe, seating the foot centrally within it. This makes the shoes versatile and adaptable to a wide range of needs.

I find the fit of the Addiction to be true to size, but with a little more volume in the upper. This makes it a great option for those with wider feet, higher insteps and flat feet. It also makes it a great choice if you are a wearer of custom orthotics, thanks to the roomier upper.

Verdict

Somewhat of a return to form for the Nike Structure, the latest edition, the 26th generation model, gets updates to its cushioning and support that make it a good option for people requiring a walking shoe while suffering from Plantar Fasciitis.

The AIR cushioning of previous editions has now been replaced by a single, deep stack of the brand’s ReactX foam. I’ve found this makes the shoe much more stable while still retaining the step-in comfort.

A good, 10mm heel drop also helps reduce strain on the lower limb muscles as well as the tendons. Control in the arch comes from a combination of a medial post, a firm section of cushioning under the arch, as well as deep sidewalls to the cushioning in the heel of the shoe. These walls seat the foot centrally and keep it neutral, while the post gives more shape to the tendon.

The fit of the Structure 26 is true to size and uses soft, plush padding around the heel and Achilles as well as a breathable mesh in the forefoot for all-day comfort.

Verdict