Ask Allie: Best Boots for Plantar Fasciitis
After being pregnant I developed plantar fasciitis, which was pain in the heels and bottom of my feet. Plantar fasciitis can also present itself as pain on the top of the feet when your feet are compensating for the inflamed plantar fascia. I also experienced it again while working from home and not wearing supportive footwear. While you may not have experienced foot pain before, you may be experiencing it now after several months of wearing slippers, socks, or bare feet while at home. Like me, you may be looking for boots for plantar fasciitis so you can keep your feet comfortable, warm, and stylish for fall and winter.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
The plantar fascia is a thick ligament that connects your heel to the front of your foot. If you experience too much pressure on your feet, it can cause the plantar fascia ligaments to be torn or inflamed which results in heel pain and stiffness, especially just as you wake or after sitting for long periods of time. Pressure can come from lack of arch support while standing, increased weight from pregnancy or other life changes, age, change in activity, and wearing old shoes that have lost their support and cushioning. I recommend visiting a podiatrist if you are experiencing foot pain to ensure you know the cause and therefore, the right solution. If you are diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, your doctor will likely prescribe The Three S's: Stretching, Strengthening, and Support. There are many treatments and exercises for stretching and strengthing to deal with plantar fasciitis, but finding footwear with good support is a great way to prevent plantar fasciitis and reduce current plantar fasciitis pain. The types of boots that are good for plantar fasciitis are often the same kind that will help with other types of foot pain caused by lack of proper foot support. Below I will share the best boots I have found to help with my plantar fasciitis.
What To Look for in a Boot When You Have Plantar Fasciitis?
If you have plantar fasciitis, you want to find a boot with good arch support, plenty of cushioning, and a shock-absorbing heel. This can be achieved with a shoe brand and style that provides this, or a shoe that has room for an orthotic or insole to achieve these goals.
What Boot Brands Offer the Best Support?
Brands like Aravon, Alegria, Dansko, Vionic, ECCO, Naot, and Orthaheel are highly rated by those with plantar fasciitis, while brands like David Tate, BØRN, KURU, Merrell, Munro, and Cobb Hill are known for being orthotic-friendly and are more likely to have a roomy toebox for your toes. These shoe brands are easy to find at a variety of online footwear retailers; I have a list of such retailers later in this article. Searching online, these are boots I found that are stylish, from a well-rated brand, and would be good for those dealing with plantar fasciitis.
Stylish and Supportive Boots for Plantar Fasciitis
Tall Boots That Can Work with Plantar Fasciitis:
Row 1: Propet ‘Rumor' | UGG ‘Reeza' | David Tate ‘Branson'
Row 2: Easy Spirit ‘Leigh' | Propet ‘Tasha' | BØRN ‘North'
Row 3: BØRN ‘North' in wide calf | BØRN ‘Braydon' | BØRN ‘Tangel'
Booties for Plantar Fasciitis:
Row 1: ECCO ‘Shape 45' | Vionic ‘Bethany' | Clarks ‘Poise'
Row 2: Clarks ‘Desert Boot' | Trotters ‘Kim' | Clarks ‘Pure Rosa'
Row 3: Cloud ‘Raisa' | Aetrex ‘Willow' | Dansko ‘Bethanie'
Casual Booties for Plantar Fasciitis:
Row 1: Dansko ‘Becki' | Blundstone Chelsea | Alegria Boot
Row 2: Munro ‘Finley' | Naot ‘Wander' | ECCO ‘Exostrike'
Row 3: Red Wing ‘Silversmith' | Birkenstock ‘Melrose' | Cougar ‘Helena'
Winter Boots for Plantar Fasciitis:
Row 1: Royal Canadian ‘Cambridge' | ECCO ‘Soft 7 Tred' | Propet ‘Peri'
Row 2: UGG ‘Adirondak III' | Propet ‘Ridge Walker' | Cougar ‘Paige'
Row 3: ara ‘Piera' | Merrell ‘Haven' | Propet ‘Lumi'
Insoles for Plantar Fasciitis
If you find a boot that has all the style you desire but maybe lacking the arch support, an insole may be the solution. Insoles can provide arch support, remedy over-pronation, offer shock absorption, and more cushioning for boots, sneakers, and many other styles of shoes. Many shoes have removable insoles creating more room for a specialty insert, orthotic, or insole. Some of the insoles I have purchased for plantar fasciitis as well as general arch support and comfort are:
- Superfeet Green Insoles: Superfeet are some of the most popular insoles on the market and for good reason. With a deep heel cup, cushioning, and strong arch support, these insoles are surprisingly slim and may fit into your current loafers, brogues, and other slim-profile shoes. While these insoles can be found at REI, Dick's, and Amazon, the only place I found them in wide widths at the time of writing this was Zappos.
- WALK-HERO Insoles: I love these things. I have purchased these insoles multiple times and now have them in my sneakers, boots, and even my Peloton spinning shoes. My husband now has them in several pairs of his shoes and even in his slippers. For winter they even have a shearling version.
You may also like: How to Style Shoes with Orthotics
How to Shop for Boots Online When You're Unsure of Fit or Size
When shopping online it’s hard to know what will work before it arrives on your doorstop. When you factor in a foot issue such as plantar fasciitis or the need for fitting insoles, it can prove even harder to shop online. My preference is to shop online retailers that offer a variety of brands and have free shipping and liberal return policies. These are my favorite places to shop for shoes online when I am searching for a style or brand that is new to me:
- Zappos – Free shipping, and you have 365 days to decide to return (and returns are also free). To try from Zappos, it’s important to wear socks and try them on a clean carpeted floor; they do not take back worn shoes.
- Earth Shoes – A great site for eco-friendly, vegan, and USA-made footwear available in widths, Earth Shoes has free shipping and free returns on unworn merchandise if sent back within 30 days of purchase.
- Healthy Feet Store – Healthy Feet Store offers free shipping to the 48 continuous states and military addresses and $4.95 to Alaska, Hawaii, and the territories. Returns are within 45 days, mail yourself, or use their site for a $10 return label.
- Nordstrom – Nordstrom has a stellar shoe department, free shipping, and free returns. While it’s unethical to return clothes you happily wore, it’s nice that with Nordstrom if you get a pair of shoes you think are comfortable but then say wear sightseeing and end up with pain, you can still return them.
- The Walking Company – The Walking Company may not have the best return policy (30 days but the label is $10), but they do have the best selection of shoes for those with foot issues. Offering the ability to search by seven different widths as well as by style and even those with a removable footbed for insoles, The Walking Company is a shoe store dedicated to offering the perfect footwear for your unique needs.
Online Shoe Stores that Focus on Plantar Fasciitis:
While above I have featured boots that help with plantar fasciitis, there are many more online shoe stores that focus on plantar fasciitis and offer styles beyond boots. Below is a list of some of the highest rated online retailers for shoes for plantar fasciitis:
- Orthofeet offers footwear for men and women and has a whole section dedicated to shoes for plantar fasciitis.
- KURU Footwear focuses on shoes that offer pain-free living and has a whole section dedicated to shoes for plantar fasciitis.
- Vionic is one of my favorite retailers for supportive yet stylish shoes; they too have a whole section on their website dedicated to shoes for men and women who experience plantar fasciitis.
This post was originally published in 2014 but revisited offering new brands, boot styles, and online shopping tips. If you have any suggestions on brands, styles, and insoles for those with plantar fasciitis, do share in the comments to help others! We all thank you for your advice!
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In my experience – have had plantar fasciitis off and on for years. Also have torn a ligament in the ankle and a few other things. Sometimes I can barely walk – I always have to work hard to be on my feet, rolling, icing, exercises. Have tied it all- when I was younger, and of average weight – the earth shoes worked really well. I experienced near healing for long stretches unless I really did something to injure them again. However, I got in a car accident and had a significant loss of mobility and gained a ton of weight. Now that I am overweight, I aggravate it all the time. I am in constant pain. The earth shows do not work with all this extra weight, I need support. Currently, I can hardly wear anything but Keen sandals (H2) and Hoka Bondis (life altering this shoe has been) they aren’t the cutest but the ugly show look is in so I rock that athletic vibe. I wear crocs around the house for a quick shoe but when they get too broken in, I need new ones. The Hoka’s decreased pain in my hips,knees and back that I didn’t even realize was as bad as it was until they helped. Since the accident (broke my back, etc) pain is constant so I can’t always tell when it gets worse, but it was obvious that it made it better! Just wanted to say: in my experience the earth shoes work well… if you are not overweight. Otherwise, having A good supportive shoe will change your life.
Wow! The Sisterhood of The Plantar Fasciitis is happening!
I was able to get rid of mine through exercises (heel stretcher) and never wearing shoes without arch support and a little lift. I always wondered how you wore those Rothys because just looking at them made my heel hurt! lol.
Great round up of shoes and inserts. I stalk eBay and other resale sites for Paul Green shoes. They are pricey, but nothing has worked for me as well as that brand.
I suffered from plantar fasciitis for a long time and tried the orthotics, sleeping in the boot, etc. Finally my doctor put me in a walking cast for 3 weeks which began the healing process. Wore the sleep boot for several more months after that but now am cured. I still like shoes with arch support but am so happy to put this painful condition behind me.
I urge you and your readers to consider an alternative to the now-debunked theories on plantar fasciitis (inflammation of the plantar fascia) and their emphasis on orthotics and cushioning — many podiatrists now recognize the condition as plantar fasciosis, or the death of tissue, resulting from the unnatural shape of our shoes, including the pointed toes and small heels so many of the boots above have. Here’s a starting point:
https://naturalfootgear.com/blogs/educational-articles/plantar-fasciosis-conventional-vs-natural-approaches
This video was very interesting- thank you for sharing! I have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis but have not gotten much relief from orthotics and other treatments. What the doctor says in this video makes a lot of sense, especially considering my pain is as much on the top of my foot as it is on the sole.
Finally catching up and here I see you answered MY question! Yippee! Going to bookmark this page and maybe try some from Zappos – around the office, as you say. 🙂
My mom has plantar fasciitis, and she loves Orthaheels, Birkenstocks/Birkies, and Keens. Most other brands she needs to wear her orthotics in, but all of those brands are nice and supportive for her feet! 🙂
I have the Naya boot shown here and a serious case of PF. Wearable and comfy short term as is, golden all day with my orthotics. It’s a gorgeous boot and I love the zipper on the outside of the boot. Stylish and easier on tights.
I cannot believe this, I too have recently developed this condition in the heel, and was wondering what to do to alleviate this without getting rid of my beloved shoe collection, then I came across this post! Amazing, thank you Allie and thank you universe, the most helpful tip I have received, is to sit in a chair and roll your foot on the floor with a rolling pin, sounds strange, but it does work somewhat!
I did the same thing, after having Emerson I had some serious foot issues and my doc suggested the rolling pin and a golf ball (the rolling pin was far easier). Awesome, there’s so many amazing suggestions for inserts in the comments, gotta love you and the other readers for making this such a great resources for those who deal with this condition! <3
Plantar fasciitis has been a pain in the…heel…for me for over a year. I tried just about everything and in the end, the Birkenstock blue inserts have been the best. Cheaper than hard orthotics but they have to be replaced every 6-8 months, I’ve found. Thanks for the boot info. I love my Keen boots. For dressier options, I’ve had a lot of luck with Clarks and the Feet First brand.
Thanks Michelle for these tips!
I think the number one thing to worry about with boots is that they should not be too big. The worst combination is big and loose at the ankles. I find that then my feet move up and down as I walk and that, even in flat boots, the balls of my feet hurt after half a day from the continual banging. If you have eg lace up boots you can make them tight enough at the ankles. Boots with no fastenings are worst – they have to be fairly loose if you are to get into them. In the worst case, ‘fill up’ the foot space with inserts and/ or wear big socks until they are snug – your feet will be more comfortable and warmer as well.
Thanks Ruth for this information, you’ve helped make this comment area a great resource for others who deal with this condition!
Ill-fitting boots that were too loose in the heel caused my plantar fasciitis (almost a year ago) in a spot on the back of the heel, so no amount of training would help. Instead I have now gotten a lot of thick socks ( I cannot find boots that fit properly with my size 6EEEEEE (UK) foot and narrow heels. However, I have had Giga Laser treatment, and that instantly eased the pain 😀 The condition has not healed yet but has improved considerably.
I have plantar fasciitis and Crocs are the best shoes for relief. I also have a pair of wedge heeled snow boots that I wore daily that helped as well. Unfortunately, I do not know the brand name. My doctor explained that the slight heel from the wedge and the sturdiness of the sole material were beneficial. Hope that helps.
This does, thank you so much for sharing!
I have plantar fasciitis and a couple of other foot problems, and you’d have to pry my Doc Martens off my cold dead, er, feet. Some pairs work well with my custom orthotics (sometimes I have to take their insole out first) and some work well by themselves with a pair of thick and slightly cushion-y socks. I compulsively sale watch 6pm, Amazon, and the actual Dr Martens website, and can often find what I want for somewhere between $30 and $60.
My other go-to brands are Drew and Ros Hommerson.
I used to wear orthotiocs for pronation and Docs were my go-to also! And how could I forget Ros Hommerson? I have a pair of tall boots from them and a pair of short boots from them were some of the only shoes I could comfortably wear after Em was born!
I just bough a pair of DM Delphine boots, and immediately my mostly abolished PF flared up, along with severe pain between my toes and the ball of my foot. I’m hoping that adding my orthotics and taking the break in slowly will help, but I’m sort of concerned that the combination of 40-something feet and Docs aren’t going to be a happy marriage.
Another vote for Earth shoes. After my pregnancies I developed plantar fasciitis and had to donate all my old shoes. All the new shoes I bought were Earth/Earth Orginis/Earthis. They heave great arch support, and are leather. I have Earth Zinnia boots (tall version, not half boot), and they have a huge toe box and are very warm.
Awesome, thanks for this information Hope, and for making the comment area here a great resource for others with this condition! <3
My husband has plantar fasciitis and had a terrible time find supportive shoes. A friend recommended he try Berkinstock inserts for his shoes. They are wonderful! He can wear most any shoe with the inserts and he is pain free! He even uses them in his running shoes and can run for miles w/o issue. These insoles are hard with no cushion and only cover the arch and heel portion of the foot. They cost $50-$60 depending on place of purchase and last quite a long time.
Oooh thanks for this tip Hallie!
I also have plantar fasciitis and have found a 1 and a 1/2 inch stacked heel to be the most important element for relief. Takes the pressure completely off my arches and can be found in a wide variety of boots. My favorites are my Lands End and Rebecca Minkoff boots.
Thanks so much for this Jen!
Living in the city I walk everywhere. This post was wonderful as I have been having this issue. Thank you.
http://www.accidentalicon.com
Glad to help! 🙂
I have had great luck with Orthaheel. They also make orthotics. I buy the “slim fit” ones and can wear them in most flats or boots (usually have to size up 1/2 size to do it, though).
Thanks for the tip Lori!
I’d also recommend Earth and Earthies brands. They’re sold at stores like Nordstrom and are FABULOUS!
Thanks for this tip Erin!