In the following guide, I want to go over the best running shoes for Plantar Fasciitis and include an ultimate buyers guide so that every one can get the information they need when seeking comfort. This is going to be a large collection of good Plantar Fasciitis shoes for any runner out there. Sit back and find the one that looks great and feels even better.
Plantar Fasciitis – What Is It? How Do You Get It?
Often called joggers heel, Plantar Fasciitis is a very common painful problem that affects the feet, specifically the heel and the very underside of the foot. People who suffer from this disorder often complain of stabbing pains when they run or walk. The pain typically is around where the bone and ligament come together in the foot. When this area gets inflamed, has scaring, or any kind of structural breakdown, this will affect the plantar fascia within the foot and that is when the issue shows itself. At first, people thought that this was all just down to places in your foot getting inflamed. Research has now shown that more than likely what is happening is there is a breakdown of tissue or change in structure to the foot which is causing the problem. Academics have renamed the condition as Plantar Fasciitis which is what we know it by today.
Heel pain is awful and often times debilitating. The most common cause of this pain is a plantar fascia injury known as Plantar Fasciitis or (PL). Numbers range, but it is said that at least 10 percent of people have had this condition at a given point in time.
If you have ever had this condition, you will know that the pain in your heal from PL is usually the very worst when you first wake up and get out of bed. That changes when you start running! Runners typically have the most issues with the foot when it bends toward their shin causing pain in the central foot back to the heel. Runners tend to experience different pain because the Achilles tendon and muscles in the calf are usually very tight (remember to stretch), and these are what are attached to the back part of the plantar fascia.
This still begs the question of what causes plantar fasciitis and this pain people are experiencing with PL. Runners want to know and so do you! Below are some of the reasons that you may run into this condition:
- Your feet are flat meaning you do not have very much arch in your feet
- You are overweight or have gained a lot of weight recently
- You walk, run, or stand for a long time on non soft surfaces
- There is over pronation of your feet when you walk (they tend to roll inwards)
- You have tight muscles in your calf of the Achilles tendon is tight
Purchase Shoes According To Your Problem
You need to keep in mind the bullet points listed above when you are looking to buy running shoes of any type. If you have one of those problems but not the other, you may want to get a different sole than someone who has another issue. When it comes to buying athetic shoes, I always recommend people to get a product that is going to give nice support to your heels as well as your arches. I have had flat feet almost my entire life and putting a pair of good supporting shoes on is almost instant relief. A lot of people shop around for looks. This should never be the case. Relieving your pain and being comfortable day in and day out is much more important than running shoes that look stylish. Do not waste your money on the newest trend! You have a condition that needs to be treated without making it worse. Below I am going to go into my list of running shoes for plantar fasciitis that I think will solve your pain problems while also looking good as well. This gives you both benefits but remember, comfort comes first.
Are you ready for a large list that goes over more features of what you can get to help you out? Read on!
Best Running Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis – Women’s And Men’s Sneakers
We know from what I mentioned above that a supportive show as well as something that has plenty of cushion around the heel is going to be the best bet for any PL sufferer that is also a runner. The 10 great running shoes that I display below are going to be ranked by the reviews they have gotten which are perfect for either men or women. These should drastically relieve the pain from PL that is debilitating for a runner.
Always make sure to look at all the reviews on the review page and check out what people are saying about them before you actually make a purchase. I have done my best to include only the very best.
Best Plantar Fasciitis Running Shoes For Men List
Product | Image | Price | Rating |
---|---|---|---|
ASICS Gel Kayano 21 | $$$ | 4.8 | |
Brooks Adrenaline Gts 15 | $$$ | 4.8 | |
ASICS GT 2000 | $$$ | 4.5 | |
ASICS Gel Nimbus 15 | $$$ | 4.5 | |
New Balance 990v3 | $$$ | 4.6 |
ASICS Gel Kayano 21
This pair of ASICS running shoes has 2 really cool new technologies. One is called ASICS FluidFit. This allows the shoe to be reinforced but at the same time stretch around your foot. While the mesh will stretch around your foot, this creates a very customized fit that makes it feel like you are not actually wearing shoes at all! The other technology is called FluidRide. This is the reason you should purchase these shoes. It gives a lot of cushioning around your foot, while still being strong enough to stand up to the elements and not weigh much at all. This gives you amazing support for your foot, especially around the heel area. Because of this support and cushioning, as well as fitting you like a glove, this is an excellent plantar fasciitis shoe.
Reviewers have stated time and time again how many miles they have put on these shoes and still think they are very comfortable and offer great support. As someone with wide feet, I was happy to see you could purchase with different widths. Finally, they are an incredibly light product, have lots of mesh for good breath of your toes, and come in a lot of colors that runners are sure to love. They are a little on the high side, but think of getting rid of your pain and it is really a drop in the bucket.
Click here to see the ASICS Gel Kayano 21 Best Price and Reviews
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 15
Brooks has been known to create excellent shoes and the Andrenaline GTS 15 is no different. This is a great platform for comfort, offers a secure platform, and offers a lot of cushioning from your toes to your heels. This is perfect for runners who are looking for a great running experience pain free. Reviews are very positive with most of them saying they have owned these shoes for many months and have put some serious miles on them. After all those miles, the shoes have held up, the cushion has not diminished, and they are still very supportive. If you have plantar fasciitis, this show might be the one that helps you out the most.
After looking at this shoe, the pros are very obvious. The cushioning is oin point and the platform is very stable. You can also see that it is great for running many miles but also low milage runners who are just getting started. Some people have complained that the shoe sizes run just a little bit on the small size so you may want to purchase half a size up from what you normally get. Other than that, an excellent product!
Click here to see the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 15 Best Price and Reviews
ASICS GT 2000
Are you seeing a trend here with ASICS? They are on our list a lot because of their super high quality and detail to perfection. The GT 2000 features gel inserts for your heel which are incredibly comfortable during an entire workout (they really never get old). They are also packaged with a new system which will keep the sole super light weight making it easier for you to run, but still being durable enough to not break down after a couple of miles. We found this show to be comfortable but also enough room to breath and keep your feet healthy. This is one of our favorites out of the running shoe list so check it out!
From what we can see, this is a very stable platform that offers gel inserts for your heels! These gel inserts really take a beating but hold up well and feel good. The shoes look fancy and there are a lot of options to purchase for different sizes of feet. These are also a little on the pricey side, but I still think they are worth taking a look at.
Click here to see the ASICS GT 2000 Best Price and Reviews
ASICS Gel Nimbus 15
Looking for a pair of trainers with lots of cushion around your heel and foot? The ASICS Gel Nimbus 15 is a shoe worth considering! This type of trainer is in between a comfort shoe and a running trainer. From the outside, you can see that it looks nice and have some flexible properties. It really gives you a nice bounce in your stride. This shoe also comes with the FluidFit technology which gives the mesh a stretchable component so it will fit over your feet like a glove. This also gives your feet access to the air so they can breath which feels great and lets you push for longer distances.
This is going to be an expensive trainer because it is a cross shoe. While it has a lot of soft cushioning and is flexible with a nice spring in your stride, it is on the heavy side and meant for slower running.
Click here to see the ASICS Gel Nimbus 15 Best Price and Reviews
New Balance 990V3
The New Balance 990V3 is the shoe that you should get if you want a product that is going to perform well overall in every situation. This shoe will fit almost any foot type, looks like a classic, and even comes with a foam sole that protects you from stepping on rocks or other material and causing an injury to your foot. They are not a new model by any means, but they are becoming more and more popular as people have said these are the best pair of sneakers for plantar fasciitis.
The best aspect of these are that they are actually true to their size. This means when you get a size 10, they will not run smaller or larger, they should fit perfectly. You can order them in different types of widths, can add different types of inserts, and are comfortable all around. If you are a heavier runner, I would look at this shoe first instead of the others.
The only real downside is that because they are build to be so shock absorbent, they typically do not hold up to the quality of other shoes in the same market. If you run daily for many miles, you may want to consider another product. If you only put a few miles on a day, these are the perfect running companion.
Click here to see the New Balance 990V3 Best Price and Reviews
Best Women’s Plantar Fasciitis Running Shoes
Product | Image | Price | Rating |
---|---|---|---|
Saucony Guide 7 | $$ | 4.6 | |
New Balance W1540 | $$ | 4.3 | |
Saucony Kinvara 4 | $$ | 4.4 | |
Brooks Addiction 11 | $$ | 4.2 | |
ASICS Gel Exalt 2 | $$ | 4.6 |
Saucony Guide 7
Saucony is a well known sneaker brand known for their quality products. With the Saucony Guide 7, you will get incredible support to all parts of your feet which is great for runners or those with over pronated digits. These can help drastically reduce the pain from PL in runners as well. Throughout this trainer you get stability while still remaining function and form. They are very flexable and give you some nice cushion and spring in your bounce.
From reading reviews online, the Saucony Guide 7 came in at the top of the women;s running shoe for plantar fasciitis list. Not only is this an athletic shoe anyone can wear, but it looks great as well as you can see from the picture below.
If you are a long distance runner, these are perfect! They are very light while still maintaining lots of cushioning for your heels and soles. That being said, they are known to run on the smaller side and some people do not want to look as flashy as these shoes display with their insane colors.
Click here to see the Saucony Guide 7 Best Price and Reviews
New Balance W1540
New Balance is also an excellent brand when it comes to athletic gear. The New Balance W1540 has supports on the side of the show as well as cushioning meant to absorb and cushion your foot, especially around the mid section. Ranked as a top running shoe in the industry, it can help alleviate pain from plantar fasciitis while still being an excellent light shoe to give you control over your run game.
These are some of the most comofrtable sneakers you can get. They have arch supports that feel natural and give support as well as cushion your heel which is the painful part. You can get inserts to put in these if you want more cushioning and they fit well, but what it comes with are still pretty impressive. There has also been some good feedback from people who are overweight who tried out this shoe. That being said, this is on the expensive side, and if you are just a beginner in running, this is a good fit. Even better is if you are a walker, as walkers rave about this product.
Click here to see the New Balance W1540 Best Price and Reviews
Saucony Kinvara 4
Coming in at third on our list is the Kinvara 4 running shoe. This is the version after the third from Saucony and is high rated, super light weight, and has a large toe box for those who like a little extra room. These are one of the most comfortable just because of this wider toe box. If you have heard of the Kinvara 3 and were a fan, you are sure to love this product as improvements have been made! Did I mention they look cool as well?
If you are looking for a shoe which is both light, and fast on the ground, this is what you will be looking at. There are a lot of marathoners who wear this for that very reason. They fit well, will not slip on smooth services, and look solid. Because they are so light though, they are known to wear down faster than your average trainer. They also do not come with as much cushion as other products. Keep this in mind when shopping.
Click here to see the Saucony Kinvara 4 Best Price and Reviews
Brooks Addiction 11
Brooks made out men’s list and it is now appearing here. The Brooks Addiction 11 offers any type of runner a very natural run that feels great because of their system of cushioning your sole. This cushion helps take any impacts your feet may take, and spread them out to alleviate the pain. Anyone with flat feet or people who have over pronated feet will find that this is a great running shoe that offers support and corrective properties. Those with plantar fasciitis will find that this shoe helps them a lot.
From the reviews, it is clear that these feel amazing on your feet. They offer top rated support to your feet and ankles and is the successor to an already great product, the Addiction 10. There are not that many different colors, but if you are looking to help get rid of those plantar fasciitis aches and pains, check it out.
Click here to see the Brooks Addiction 11 Best Price and Reviews
ASICS Gel Exalt 2
The Gel Exalt 2 by ASICS is a recommended plantar fasciitis shoe for a few reasons. The first being that these come with a gel cushion that will take the shock out of hitting any bumps or lumps in the road. This will keep the pain from hitting your problem areas. Not only that, but they are lightweight and the system they have been build with keeps them weighing less than competitors but still keeping up under heavy load. These are a very durable product with arches that will help anyone with flat feet.
If you are shopping around, you will notice that these are a lot cheaper than the competitors. They remain cheaper but still have a great build quality. They fit perfectly, have cushion, great arches, and reviews have mentioned that this is a shoe perfect for plantar fasciitis pain or any type of Achilles tendon pain. If you are looking to get even more arch support, I have been told that these fit well with inserts you can buy after market.
Click here to see the ASICS Gel Exalt 2 Best Price and Reviews
The Best Plantar Fasciitis Running Shoes Help Flat Feet
So many people around the world have flat feet, myself included! This often means that their feet are over pronated as well. These two issues can often times lead to having PF. If you do get plantar fasciitis, really the only thing you can do is try to make yourself comfortable. To do this, you need something that is going to make sure you have nice arches in your feet (the shoes do wonders for this), and then have a lot of padding around the heel to keep the pain at a minimum. If you do not do any of these things, the healing process is going to take a lot longer or may never happen at all. Get a pair of sneakers that helps you heal up and in no time you will be back at full strength.
There is another thing you need to beware of. Try running a few strides and take a look at your feet. You toes may be pointing inward or roll inward when you are running. If this happens you have a higher chance of getting PF and can cause an increase in pain. Try out shoes that have higher arch supports and insoles that will give you a sturdy but firm platform to stand on. The products with gel inserts are also excellent at helping this. So with all that being said, the best shoes for Plantar Fasciitis are the ones that give you control over your stride, give you arch supports that help get rid of your flat feet, and that overall just feel like you are walking on a cloud.
Plantar Fasciitis Running Shoes Are Best At Reducing Stressed Tendons And Sore Plantar Fascia
It is essential that while you are shopping for a running shoe for your plantar fasciitis problem that you get one that offers a lot of support along with extra cushioning to take some of the stress off. Taking the stress off your plantar fascia is going to give you some relief from the pain and make sure that these symptoms do not flare back up.Great running shoes for plantar fasciitis often times have gel inserts in them such as the ASICS mentioned above. You want to try and find the right combination of comfort and stability with extra support. All these things together will help take the stress off your tendons and help the soreness and pain you are experiencing.
Get Rid Of The Root Cause Of Plantar Fasciitis
From everything that we have gone over so far, you will notice that almost all the products listed are there to reduce the stress on the plantar fascia and ease the pain so you are more comfortable. That does not mean that they are going to target the root cause of your PL in the first place.
Think about the shoes we went over that offered high arch supports. These feel great and get the job done, but they do not begin to address the issue of having flat feet in the first place. Since this can cause PL, its advisable you find the root cause of the problem and try to correct it.
Now, there are a lot of reasons that PL occurs and treatment is going to be different for everyone. Even if there are different treatments, there are still some things you can do to strengthen your feet and get flexible so these problems do not come back up again.
If you look into some statistics, you will notice that almost all the PL cases are appearing in countries where people are wearing shoes all day long. Why do you think this is? Places where people do not wear shoes do not seem to have these problems.
The connection you should see here is that PL is probably coming from a weakness in the muscles in your legs and feet that you are not using while you are wearing typical running shoes. These running shoes listed above are great for helping you find some comfort, but if you want to strengthen your muscles and get rid of the problem, you may want to start trying to walk barefoot at least part of the time. There are some other Plantar Fasciitis exercises you can look up, but barefoot walking is the first start I would recommend.
If you are going to be walking outside, you probably want to have some sort of protection while you are barefoot. In this case, I would recommend that you try out some minimalist shoes.
What are minimalist shoes you may ask? These are just a small sole that fits the bottom of your foot, no toe drops, and very flexible. I actually have a pair of minimalist shoes myself and they do wonders for your feet and your arch!
At first, they will feel a bit awkward and you will feel like you have flat feet all over again. This is alright because the entire purpose of walking around “barefoot” is to strengthen your arch and deal with the problem that caused your PL in the first place. Below are my 2 recommendations for minimalist shoes. Remember, not every case of PL is caused by arches. If you are overweight, you may just need to exercise and drop some weight or fix your stride. If it is your arch like me though, here are my recommendations.
Vibram Five Fingers
You may have seen someone at the gym wearing these or walking around town and thought they were just a weirdo. Truth be told, the Vibram five fingers are a great minimalist shoe! They allow your feet to breath, have an all mesh top, a very thin sole (typically only a few millimeters), and are very flexible. The reason they look a little funny is they have a spot for eat of your toes to go.
I was skeptical at first too until I tried them on. They fit very well to your feet and are extremely comfortable. When walking around, you notice that you feel the ground at all times and have a better connection to where you are going. If you keep up with walking in these, you will notice that your toes start to spread apart and your arch will increase as you are strengthening your feet muscles.
So yes, the Vibrams look very weird, but do not knock it till you have tried it! Seriously, they are very comfortable, and can do wonders if you have PL issues and want to make some gains in your feet progress.
Click here to see the Vibram Five Fingers Best Price
Merrell Trail Glove
The trail gloves by Merrell are also an excellent choice for a minimalist shoe. In fact, these are what I wear every day of the week and have been doing so for the last 3 years. These are increadbly comfortable and do not look strange like the Vibrams.
With this shoe, you get the same benefits. The soles are actually Vibram five finger soles, but connected to a normal looking shoe. This makes them super light weight, but allows you to feel the ground and strengthen your arch at the same time!
These are very flexible and you can bend them all sorts of ways without them breaking. Since I have had the same pair of shoes for 3 years now and still going strong, I can ensure you that they are very sturdy and will hold up to all the abuse you put them through.
Click here to see the Merell Trail Glove Best Price
Statistics and Numbers
Over time, there have been doctors who have run tests and done some studies and came back with numbers on patients who have had this issue. When you go in for treatment or an opinion from a doctor, you are typically going to get something other than what we are describing. We are trying to help you find the best running shoe for plantar fasciitis and this is actually a form of pain management. A doctor is going to try and help you with the root cause which we went over above.
There was a study that followed around a group of athletes and it found that the group that had PL symptoms actually had a lower range of motion than the others. This can be seen in anyone with plantar fasciitis and why it is so important to get something that supports your foot while you are running because your muscles and tendons are tight and your range of motion is limited.
Some key takeaways from this are that if you are a runner and hoping to treat your plantar fasciitis, you might want to have your stride be shorter but faster. This does too things. It will keep you at the same speed as you were running before, but it also makes you stop heel striking. This means you are landing on the middle of your foot or your toes instead of the heel. This can take pain away. The other reason this is important is that because this is how we were meant to run. If you take your shoes off and go for a run, you will notice that you naturally run on your toes because this works with your arch to create a spring board effect and keeps the shock from traveling up your leg but is instead absorbed by your arch so you are not in pain.
Stressing The Importance of Choosing The Correct Running Shoe
I cannot say this enough. We all know that running and exercises is not a no risk activity. As soon as you get hurt, or get PL, you are going to have to cut your training down, or even worse, stop completely for a while.
If you went to the doctor for this, he probably told you that your fascia is inflamed and you need to either cut your running way back or stop.
this is why it is SO important that you pick a shoe that is going to give you the support you need while cushioning those inflamed, sore, painful spots in your feet. The correct running shoe is going to protect every part of your foot and allow you to get by while you are healing up.
Best Shoe Types For Plantar Fasciitis
You now know what can cause the PL symptoms you are experiencing and now it is time to find something you can put on your feet to make yourself eel better. You could of course get some inserts from your doctor, over the counter, or at your logal store and this would help your heels feel a little better, but this is not going to be the best solution. Instead, try and get yourself a new pair of decent running shoes. This will give you support around your arch, which you desperately need, but also keep your ankle stable to not aggravate your symptoms. The correct running shoes are going to do a world of difference for your feet and are not even on the same levels as inserts for Plantar Fasciitis. Sure, they both work, but which would you rather have? Less pain is my guess.
If you have really bad PL, it might just be best to stay off your feet as much as possible. Try and use some ice to make them feel a little bit better and get that pressure off your arch. If you really must get off the couch and go for a run (I know how addicting it can be), then you need to make sure your feet are support with the correct equipment. Remember, comfort over pain every day.
As from the statistics, almost everyone that has PL will make a full and speedy recovery if they are treated correctly. This means that you get a shoe that will help get rid of your pain. The best shoes for plantar fasciitis are going to be your first line of defense in your healing process. They are also going to offer the following:
- Have lots of cushion which will absorb all damage your heel may take while walking or running
- Shock absorbers to take away force from your mid foot while you are striking the ground. These will dissipate any shock you get from running over material like gravel.
- They will have a nice flexible feel and allow you to move freely but still provide support. They should be able to bend but return to their original position. This will help protect your fascia while still giving support.
What Is Wrong With Other Running Shoes?
First off, they are going to be made from a lot cheaper material as they are not going to have to worry about providing the cushion and support that you need. Sometimes they will offer no support at all. Then of course, you will come across some low quality shoes that will flex so much they break. You want something to give support!
Wrapping It up
There is not going to be a perfect solution and there is not going to be one shoe that is better than every other one. Shoes that help treat plantar fasciitis are going to run you a little bit more money than your typical sneaker, but they are priced higher because they are designed to get rid of the pain in your heel while you are running and provide the proper amount of arch support.
If you have shoes that are worn down and are experiencing issues with PL, get rid of them and pick up new shoes. Running in worn out old shoes are going to up your risk of getting hurt.
Remember to look for proper arch support, heel support, ankle support, and cushioning throughout the shoe. Look at the features that each shoe gives you when you are trying to find the best possible shoes for plantar fasciitis. If you made it this far through the guide, congratulations. I hope that this has helped you in your decision and I wish you a fast recovery from your PL. Good luck and happy running!
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