7 Best Walking Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis in 2023

Crazy soft and delightful on walks minus the maddeningly shaky rides – this is what put Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 right at the top of all plantar fasciitis walking shoes. The fact that we stopped complaining about heel pain the moment our feet met this shoe already sufficed why it’s the greatest!

Upon measuring the stack height of GTS 23, we learned that its heel is 34.1 mm from the ground and 2.7% taller than the average. Meanwhile, the forefoot is 21.5 mm thick, and 11.5% closer to the ground than average. This yields a drop of 12.6 mm, which is above the others by 41.6%, and translates to moderately high heels that aid in toning down the strain on our feet, especially our plantar fascia. 

Additionally, our heels and ankles are securely hugged by the heel counter. The reason behind that is its stiffness, which we proved by personally evaluating it. After the pinches and presses, we rated the heel counter stiffness a 4/5. We also attempted to contort the whole shoe to determine the overall stability but it felt like it was against the twisting, so we also scored the torsional rigidity a 4/5. On our actual strolls? It’s indeed steady!

The deal-breaker is that it’s upper is not ready for excessive wear. When we applied our Dremel to its material, it was easily nibbled by the tool. Therefore, GTS 23 is not a good idea if you plan on using the shoes heavily.

ASICS Gel Kayano 30 supports the natural arches of our feet while still being an absolute treat. We are mounted in the shoe but our movements aren’t limited. Instead, our feet and ankles got the reinforcement they required, allowing us to walk without unnecessary side-to-side rolling.

Getting on the Kayano 30, we immediately noticed a difference: our weight was evenly dispersed on the cushion, reducing the localized tension in our heels. The one in charge behind this is the terrific arch support that maintained us in a nice center position. For a more analytical viewpoint, we measured the stack height of the midsole. In the heel, it’s 39.7 mm and 19.2% thicker than the average. In the forefoot, it’s 27.7 mm and 13.5% more substantial than others. These values resulted in a huge 12 mm drop that alleviated the pain in our plantar fascia.

Even though we are greatly above the ground, we never experienced any tripping tendency. This is all thanks to the uncompromising construction of Kayano 30, which received a 4/5 in our torsional rigidity test.

We also determined the midsole’s level of hardness using our durometer. The higher the measurement, the firmer it is. As expected based on our dreamy underfoot impression, the midsole is softer than most walking shoes by 32.2% at 16.4 HA. All of the shoe’s supportive features came with a price, and that’s weight. Kayano 30 weighed 10.7 oz (303g), which is 12.7% heavier than average. We recommend switching to lighter options if weight is of great importance to you.

In our search for exceptional slip-free walking shoes for plantar fasciitis, we discovered that Hoka Bondi SR is the one to beat. Being slip-resistant is already on its name (SR) but we were still blown away by how we were able to traverse paths, whether wet or icy, without being anxious and without actually falling. Not to mention, our heels were in so much comfort and twinging was way out of the picture!

Testers with plantar fasciitis among us were thrilled about the heel stack height of Bondi, which we measured at 39.4 mm. This was 23.9% thicker than average and it was exactly what we needed to cater our heel with extra support and protection.

We found that shoes that are too narrow are a no-go for plantar fasciitis. Good thing that when we measured the widest part of the shoe using our caliper, we found that it was very accommodating. At 100.3 mm, Bondi is 2.5 mm wider than average. 

We measured Bondi SR’s outsole hardness, and it didn’t come as a surprise when our durometer indicated a 3.7% softer value than average: 73.1 HC. This allowed the outsole to stick to different surfaces, especially smooth ones. The catch is the outsole’s not that durable. We confirmed this when we put our Dremel to use and pressed it to the outsole, as it caused a 2.48 mm dent compared to the 1.4 mm average. So we suggest seeking other pairs if durability is non-negotiable.

For a fantastic plantar fasciitis-supportive walking shoe, the Hoka Arahi 6 is mind-blowingly light. Our feet and ankles felt braced but never slowed down, thanks to the airy build of the shoe. Arahi 6 really knows how to manage any discomfort, especially around our heels, so it’s definitely the way we recommend going!

When it comes to cushioning, Arahi 6 is not stingy. We recorded a stack height of 32.6 mm at the heel, which is 0.6 mm lower than the average. The forefoot, on the other hand, is 17.2% higher than the mean at 28.5 mm. The good amount of foam combined with a 41 HA hardness that’s 68.7% denser than most worked in our favor as it granted support and responsiveness that also led to relieved pains.

Arahi 6 got our scales to shift from zero to 8.89 oz (252g), which on feet, felt feathery light, especially for a stability shoe. What’s more, it’s 5.9% lighter than average. The drawback is that an even harder midsole came with the cold, as we confirmed upon depositing the shoe in our freezer for 20 minutes. The midsole got firmer by 53.7%, so we want to put emphasis on this if ever you take Arahi 6 out for a walk during the chilly season.

No wonder our feet are absolved from stress when we sport the Brooks Glycerin GTS 20 as we are basically floating in the shoes. Its cushioning is yet the superlative of all the plantar fasciitis walking shoes we have worn and scrutinized. 

We felt that the primary reason behind our acheless strides was the chunky foam that elevated our heels. We pursued more information about the midsole in our lab and learned that the heel is indeed lifted at a thickness of 36.5 mm. That’s 9.9% more than others. The forefoot stack height is 25.5 mm and 4.9% taller than average. Therefore, the heel-to-toe drop is 11 mm and 23.6% higher than average. In addition to relieving our foot pain, the cushioning served as an impact-proof platform for our feet.

Along with support, the foam of GTS 20 also endowed us with insane comfort. Measuring the thickness of the insole alone, we immediately understood where the fantastic underfoot feel came from. The insole is 5 mm thick, which is 13.6% beefier than the standard.

The bad news is the generous cushioning cost the shoe a slightly heavy weight. At 10.9 oz (309g), GTS 20 is 15.3% heavier than the average. We recommend getting this shoe if you don’t mind the extra load on the feet.

Although ASICS GT 2000 11 is 58.9% pricier than most walking shoes, we still chose this as the plantar fasciitis walking shoe with the best value because of its features that are truly invaluable! Our heels and arches are not only spared from pain but the shoe also accords us with stable and reactive rides.

We felt that our gaits were neutralized in GT 2000 11. As a result, we also noticed that our plantar fascia became free from inflammation. To look more into this, we dissected the shoe and discovered that the LITETRUSS system is incorporated in it, acting as an excellent stabilizing feature. The wonderful news is it didn’t rigidify the shoe. In fact, we were able to bend the shoe effortlessly using our digital force gauge which reflected a 24.9N counterforce. For reference, this is 18.1% more flexible than average. 

Underfoot, we are supported by a firm midsole, which we measured to be 29.3 HA hard and 20.6% firmer than most walking shoes. GT 2000’s wide base also prevented unsteadiness and the plantar fasciitis associated with instability. The forefoot and heel are 115 mm wide and 92.8 mm wide, which are 2 mm and 2.7 mm broader than the averages.

The problem is the fit itself is a bit cramped. The widest area in the toebox equates to 95.6 mm, which is 2.4% narrower than most. If you don’t have slender feet, we suggest trying out other walking shoes that are offered wide.

After conducting shoe trials both in the lab and the real world, we ultimately decided that Saucony Guide 16 takes the top spot as the best plantar fasciitis walking shoe for wide feet. It afforded us a spacious toe compartment while embracing our heels inside. The cherry on top is it still promotes our natural foot movement, despite its stabilizing characteristics.

The wide foot testers in our team are especially happy with the accommodating fit of Guide 16. In fact, in our lab, the widest section in the toe box is recorded to be 100.1 mm, which is 2.1 mm roomier than the standard. 

We cut the shoe open and discovered that its foam is integrated with the HOLLOW-TECH frame, which we found effective in carrying out its purpose: to support the arch and assist in steadiness. What even furthered the stability of the shoe was the heel counter that got us locked in and centered. On our assessment of compressing the heel, it is indeed very stiff that is scored 5/5 in rigidness. However, we still felt smooth transitions while strolling in the shoe. We validated this with our digital force gauge, which logged a 20.5N resistance to bending, making it 32.3% more flexible than the average.

Durability-wise, Guide 16 doesn’t shine. Its heel padding, for one, only scored a 1/5 in our durability test as it was easily reduced by our Dremel tool. If longevity is the most essential feature to you, we recommend skipping this one.