6 Best Plantar Fasciitis Tennis Shoes in 2025

The Mizuno Wave Exceed Tour 6 offered a unique balance of support and adaptability that allowed us to perform long rallies without worrying about foot pain. Our lab results validate it’s rigid and pliable in the right areas, all in a lightweight package, boosting speed, stability, and comfort. It’s hard to find another shoe that can match this pair, so we rank it as the best plantar fasciitis tennis shoe.

From split steps to crossovers, we had no second thoughts about our next move. The shoe has a rigid foothold that made us feel so secure. We discovered it features the stiff Wave plate, which boosted torsional rigidity to a high 4/5 score. Ankle shifts were also out of the picture when we rated the heel counter with the maximum 5/5 stiffness score, which prevents additional strain to our heels.

When it comes to bending our feet, the shoe moves with us naturally. We were relieved to find a D-Flex Groove running through the midsole for enhanced flexibility. We validated that this pair is 32.7% more pliable than average.

Performing dynamic footwork feels easy in this pair because of its light 11.7 oz (332g) build. For reference, that’s 7.8% below average, which helps prevent fatigue.

It’s hard not to love this shoe, but we recommend highly aggressive sliders to go for a pair with more medial reinforcements.

​​After countless hours on the court and inside the lab, we can attest to the Adidas Barricade 13 offering the best stability among plantar fasciitis tennis shoes. Besides its generous width, our feet felt secure in the platform due to its stiff midsole and reassuring heel hold. To take pressure off our heels, the midsole provides excellent impact protection and features a steep drop.

It's hard to lose balance in the Barricade 13 even as we perform dynamic footwork. The midfoot has a TPU that acts as a barrier against ankle twists and rolling over the edge. In our torsional rigidity test, we couldn’t rate it anything lower than 5/5. It also received the top score in heel counter stiffness, which helps avoid foot strain because we remain centred.

Barricade 13 features wide dimensions that keep us surefooted. Our calliper shows it’s 115.4/95.3 mm, much more spacious than the 111.8/89.6 mm average, and leaving no room for any missteps.

To protect our feet from hard landings, the cushion offers much-needed shock absorption. We measured the heel area with a 102 SA score, which is high enough to avoid triggering heel pain from impact. The steep 11.3 mm drop also takes the load away from the rear section.

Unfortunately, this shoe made us overheat in the summer. Those who want free-flowing ventilation should go for a more breathable pair.

Repetitive matches, running around the court, and hours in the lab led us to discover the Reebok Nano Court as the plantar fasciitis tennis shoe with the best shock absorption. We have the numbers in the lab, but our feet truly enjoyed soft landings followed by energetic takeoffs when sprinting for the ball. To balance all the fun is a supportive shoe with stabilising components in the right areas, such as its stiff heel counter.

We follow a strict and standardised method of measuring shock absorption in the lab and got a high rating of 109 SA in the heel, offering 10.1% better impact protection than average. Meanwhile, we enjoyed responsive toe-offs with every landing since the forefoot attained a better-than-average 61.0% energy return score. 

To ensure we don’t strain our heels and overwork our feet, the Nano Court has tonnes of subtle guidance features, such as the TPU heel clip and the Rubber Aid flanges. 

Even while performing multi-directional changes in footwork, we felt confident in the shoe. In our manual assessment, both the heel counter and torsional rigidity scored a high 4/5 rating, confirming their reassuring support.

However, Nano Court has a steep 14.7 mm heel drop. While it takes the load off our heels, it may cause unwanted sliding and toe stubbing for some players.

From taking off for a shot or launching hard dashes cross-court, the ASICS Solution Speed FF 3 gave us the best lightweight experience among plantar fasciitis tennis shoes. Besides its undeniably light build, we discovered in the lab that it features a flexible and grounded midsole. Thankfully, it offers support in the right areas and delivers a well-cushioned feel for harsh landings.

Our scales confirmed what our feet experienced: this shoe only weighs 10.9 oz (309g), 14.2% below average. Its effortless sensation becomes more pronounced when it takes minimal effort to bend our feet. In our standardised lab test, it's 6.2% more flexible than average.

Solution Speed FF 3’s nimble energy comes from its below-average. 28.3/18.5 mm stack. Thankfully, it feels well-cushioned for landings and doesn’t trigger heel pain. Returning a high 104 SA score in the heel, we validated its impact protection.

Too much flexibility can cause our feet to overwork, so we were pleased to find the Speedtruss shank that adds structure to the midsole. In our torsional rigidity test, it received a high 4/5 rating, boosting stability. Plus, its firm heel hold (5/5) ensures we won’t do excessive movements that can worsen plantar fasciitis.

Because of this pair’s slim dimensions, it may cause pressure points or instability for wide feet. Those who need more internal real estate should opt for a more accommodating shoe.

Multiple tests on and off the court can back us up when we say the NikeCourt Vapour Lite 2 is the best budget tennis shoe for those dealing with plantar fasciitis. While the average tennis shoe in our roster is £140, this pair has an accessible £90 price point. In the lab, we confirmed its low price and light build doesn’t sacrifice impact protection, support, and ventilation.

When we measured for Vapour Lite 2’s shock absorption, it attained a high 105 SA score, reassuring us that our heels will feel protected even for longer rallies. It also features a high 11.5 mm drop that takes the weight of our heels and reduces strain.

When it’s time for quick and explosive movements, we don’t feel like toppling over or twisting our ankles. When we tested for its torsional rigidity, we rated it with a high 4/5, confirming the stable support it offers.

Vapour Lite 2 is not only easy on the pocket, but it's light on the feet too! Besides its low 11.9 oz (336g) weight, it also offers lots of airflow and has a high 4/5 breathability score in our smoke test. These results boost its comfort for long hours on court during the summer.

However, note that this pair runs slightly smaller than average. We recommend trying the shoe on before buying or getting a half size up.