What are the best shoes for Plantar Fasciitis?

Plantar fasciitis, a common cause of heel pain, can significantly impact your daily life, making each step a challenge so, in this article, you’ll discover essential tips to help you choose shoes that provide optimal support, cushioning, and stability.

Whether you're a professional on your feet all day or someone seeking everyday comfort, we've got you covered. Step into a world of relief and discover your ideal pair today!

Disclaimer: This information is of a general nature and should not be taken as a diagnosis. All questions and concerns should be directed to your Doctor, Podiatrist or other health advisor.

Although the pain often is worst within the first steps of the day or after long periods of inactivity, such as sitting, but may settle during the day or with exercise, it can also be trigged by long periods of standing activity or time on your feet.

Plantar fasciitis it is most common between 40 and 60 years old, is more common in women than men, is more likely in people with diabetes and people that are overweight. The risk can also increase for people with reduced ankle movement, flat feet or high arched feet and old or poor-quality footwear can also increase the risk.

Ignoring plantar fasciitis can result in chronic heel pain that hinders your regular activities. Additionally, if you're consistently experiencing heel pain, you’re likely to change how you walk to try to avoid this pain, which can in turn lead to foot, knee, hip or back problems.

It is important then, that if you have or think you may have plantar fasciitis, you take steps to address it.

Luckily, plantar fasciitis is something that can be treated yourself, although if the pain persists after a couple of weeks, you should see your GP to avoid worsening or further complications.

Some steps you can take to treat or ease plantar fasciitis yourself include resting, icing the painful area using an ice pack wrapped in a towel for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours, stretching and rolling the inflamed tissue and trying to lose weight, if you’re overweight.

To avoid undue stress on the tissue it is important that your footwear offers good support and cushioning with good stability underfoot, doesn’t have a high heel and, extremely importantly, that they fit well.

So the things to look for when trying to find the best shoes for plantar fasciitis:
- Offer the right support and stability for the whole foot.
- Have soft materials for cushioning and flexibility.
- Have plenty of room for toes to flex, enabling you to stretch the plantar fascia.
- Are adjustable enough to fit well.
- Have shock absorption and arch support for heel pain relief.
- Are flat: no high heels.

So naturally, our shoes are designed with foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis in mind and come with many of the features outlined above as standard.

For support and stability many of our shoes come equipped with a built-in heel cup for support and flared soles for stability. With wider feet comes a wider area of support needed, so our shoes are especially designed to accommodate with specialist lasts for wide, wider, and extra wide feet.

For cushioning and flexibility many of our shoes come with a lightweight, flexible Air-bubble sole, offering extra cushioning as you walk and making it feel as though you’re walking on air!

For room to flex your toes many of our shoes are designed with round or square, deep toe boxes that offer plenty of room for toes to move or for swollen toes to be happy and comfy. We also offer a large range of footwear with toes boxes made from our special stretch material, which stretches offer extra room for toes.

Find out more about toe shapes and learn your foot shape >>

For shoes that are adjustable to ensure good fit we offer a range of fastenings to suit all needs, be they laces for ultimate adjustability and a secure fit, straps for adjustability and security but more suited to people with reduced hand motility, as well as slip on styles.

For good arch support our footwear offers extra versatility: rather than offer shoes designed especially for fallen or high arches or other issues, we supply shoes that have specially designed removable insoles so that you can remove one or both insoles and insert your own specialist insole.

This allows you to cater for your issue with the insole designed for your need.

All our dual width fitting styles (V, 2V or 6V) come with removable insoles along with many other styles allowing extra room for insoles.

For shoes that fit try our Online Fit Finder. Simply measure your feet with a fabric tape measure, enter your measurements into our Fit Finder and find your size and width fitting requirements along with a selection of styles available in your size and fitting.

My husband is very pleased as he doesn't have to listen to me gasping with pain every time my foot hits a slightly uneven surface or complaining of sore toes and heels. Thank you so much, it is not an overstatement to say your shoes have changed my life!
Mrs B

With these factors in mind, see our selection of the top 10 best shoes for plantar fasciitis

Piper is an incredibly comfy wide or extra-wide fitting wedge trainer in breathable suede, with a seam-free square toe box. With a flared wedge heel for increased stability, air bubble sole and lace design for a securer fastening, Piper is the perfect trainer for plantar fasciitis!

Wolf is a modern and stylish wedge trainer with leather and stretch fabric uppers and lace fastening, The flared wedge sole with grippy rubber outer sole offers extra cushioning with stability and grip.

New lightweight active style Panther has adjustable touch fastening straps, extra-flared heel for stability, square toe shape and flexible, extra-cushioned air-bubble sole.

Best-selling everyday shoe Rory is oft described as “the comfiest shoe you will ever wear”!

Made from beautiful soft leather with adjustable touch fastening strap and lightweight, shock absorbent air-bubble sole for extra cushioning as you walk.

Another vegan-friendly style with similar features is Page, with smart styling in leather look material with double touch strap which gives even more fit adjustment.

Rory is a new style based on our best-ever selling shoe, oft described as “the comfiest shoe you will ever wear”!

Made from beautiful soft leather with adjustable touch fastening strap and lightweight, shock absorbent air-bubble sole for extra cushioning as you walk.

This (Rory) is your perfect shoe. Nothing has ever been so comfortable.
Mrs R

Twin pull-back straps ensure you can adjust Teal to suit your needs perfectly with a secure fit every time.

Best-selling flat sandal Halford features a pull-back strap for secure fit alongside 4 elasticated inserts to adapt to the shape of your foot.

With the support and stability of a full-back design, slightly raised heel and Halford and flexible air-bubble sole, Halford is the ideal sandal for plantar fasciitis.

Browse all ladies wide-fitting footwear »

Our men’s range of wide and extra wide footwear include many of the same design features that make our ladies range suitable for such a variety of foot health conditions, including lightweight shock absorbing soles, heel cups and flared soles for security and stability and a choice of fastenings for adjustability and fit.

Classic casual lace-up style Bob, along with many of our men’s casual styles, features a super stable, air-bubble sole, square toe-box and soft padded ankle collar for improved comfort.

Here’s what Mr W had to say about Bob:
Absolutely amazing. So comfortable, will always purchase my footwear from Wider Fit.

Unbelievably light Patrick combines classic men’s leather styling with a modern, super lightweight cushioned sole. The soft, seam-free leather toe box means no rubbing for pure comfort all day.

Stylish sporty shoe Phil brings comfort with support and stability with a leather and mesh upper. The lace up design allows for good adjustment and easy access, the mesh fabric offers give to allow feet to swell and the lightweight, flexible rubber sole offers cushioning and support.

Casual leather mule sandal Blake has wide, adjustable straps and low sides for support and stability with a padded insole and chunky air-bubble sole for cushioning. Although listed as 2V(EE-4E) the broad tread and adjustable cut-to-fit straps mean that Blake is also suitable for people requiring up to a 6E width fitting.

Browse all wide-fitting shoes for men »

All men’s styles listed except Blake include built in heel cup for security and are available in our wide 2V(EE-4E) and 6V(6E-8E) variable width fittings, with removable insoles for the insertion of specialist insoles and are Healthy Footwear Guide approved shoes.

Risk free footwear

VAT Exempt footwear

Need Our Help?