Are there ANY sandals that won't aggravate plantar fasciitis?

August 5, 2023 1:24 PM

I've had plantar fasciitis for four months. Physical therapy didn't help at all. The only things that have helped have been a cortisone shot in my heel and wearing my running shoes pretty much all day every day. But it's summer here, my feet are burning up, and I long to wear sandals.

Even with either Smartwool or Darn Tough wool socks, and ventilated running shoes (Asics) with Superfeet insoles, my feet are just way too hot. My house shoes are regular Crocs but I can't walk very much in them without having the PF get noticeably worse. I'm happy wearing my running shoes for my morning 2-3 mile walk, but would love to slip on a pair of sandals for general wear, running errands, short walks, and the like throughout the rest of the day. Are there any sandals that won't aggravate the PF? If it matters, I have a pretty average arch, can't stand thong sandals but otherwise am open about style, and have a very small foot (size 5 or 5.5 in US women's shoes; usually a 35 in European sizes).

posted by DrGail to Health & Fitness (43 answers total)

Birkenstocks.
posted by nanook at 1:38 PM on August 5, 2023 [13 favorites]

From personal experience, I found Keen's sandals to reduce my heel pain quite well, starting with the Newport. I didn't have an official diagnosis of PF, but my arch is somewhat low and my foot pronates out a little. I have used their sandals and shoes for more than a decade now and it seems to have helped. Even their low-profile Clearwater CNX sandals. Now I use their Targhee lines for both walking and hiking.
posted by ssri at 1:39 PM on August 5, 2023 [4 favorites]

With plantar fascitiis, I've had good experiences with Dansko and Teva. Tevas are the hard-wearing ones, whereas Danskos look fancier, although you need to like that chunky look, as I do. But I have taken much longer, harder walks in Danskos than I meant to and done well with it. (Bear in mind that was before the past few years when products are getting less and less high-quality.)

Recently I had a foot X-ray for unrelated reasons and learned I had midfoot arthritis, which I hadn't realized. (Not at arthritis age, I thought!) For that, a harder sole or insole is called for. If you are hoping for comfort from cushier soles, you may try a harder sole, in case you have that going on. I get that from Tevas or from Dr. Scholl's arthritis insoles.
posted by Countess Elena at 1:47 PM on August 5, 2023 [3 favorites]

Have you looked at Birkenstocks? They have so many models, maybe one would suit you.
I had PF 7or 8 years ago, and I do remember depending very much on my running shoes, but I used my Birkenstocks for short errands. My favorites are the thong types, so not for you, but it might be worth checking out a real store so you could try some on. They have a style that is a lot like Crocs, but much better fitting. Counter-intuitively, their sheepskin models might be good, even in summer.
Beware of copies, though. I have lots of Birkenstocks, but sometimes I buy cheap copies for when I need to take out the trash in the rain etc. And by accident, I brought a pair of copies rather than the real thing with me to Rome recently, where I walked several miles in them. Really, really bad idea. I have only recently recovered.

Alternatively, try some other sneakers. I almost sleep in my Adidas Ultraboost. They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned, and they have helped me recover from the damage done by those fake Birkenstocks. With cotton socks, I can wear them in the heat of summer. I can't make a link for you because the website is geolocked, so search on the words.
posted by mumimor at 1:55 PM on August 5, 2023 [2 favorites]

When I was recovering from plantar fasciitis I wore a pair of squishy Teva flip-flops for bumming around (as opposed to serious walking -- for that, the Superfeet insoles were what I needed). But I think whether the Tevas will be good or bad for you depends on how much firmness support you need.
posted by heatherlogan at 1:59 PM on August 5, 2023

At the height of my PF I had a pair of slides made by a running shoe company that got me through the summer. (Birks as well but the breaking-in period on those was brutal for me. Sneaker-slides we’re a faster solution with fewer blisters.)
posted by Stacey at 2:21 PM on August 5, 2023

I wore regular Birkenstock Arizonas and then a pair of the EVA flip flops pretty much 24/7 after I developed PF and a couple of years later I’m able to go barefoot comfortably.
posted by MadamM at 2:24 PM on August 5, 2023 [2 favorites]

YMMV but for me shoes that made my toes do extra gripping work - thongs, flip-flops, even Crocs - made things worse. Whether it's closed shoes or sandals, the kind that strap on tightly including around the ankle don't cause the same problems.
posted by trig at 2:26 PM on August 5, 2023 [6 favorites]

I have a stunningly ugly pair of Hoka slides for inside the house. They help a lot.

For outside, I'm having reasonable luck with these.

Good luck. The struggle is real. I'm gonna check out those Oofos ones rec'd above!
posted by fingersandtoes at 2:31 PM on August 5, 2023 [2 favorites]

Yes, echoing that for my pf I absolutely have to have a strap on the back on my shoes. Open backed clogs and flipflops were my favorites until I realized that they were killing me. I love my Keens.
posted by hydropsyche at 2:43 PM on August 5, 2023 [3 favorites]

Barking Dog Shoes has some recs.
posted by oceano at 2:55 PM on August 5, 2023 [2 favorites]

Nth-ing Oofos. I have two pairs (sandals and slides) and wear them around the house. They’ve been great.

I used to wear Birkenstocks (before I got plantar fasciitis) all the time and bought a new pair recently. They don’t aggravate the plantar fasciitis but they feel hard, like they don’t have a lot of support.

I got a pair of Hoka sandals recently because I have two pairs of Hoka sneakers but haven’t tried the sandals yet.

I am currently trying a pair of Keen Elle Strappy Sandals - they feel good so far but I’m debating whether they look too old for me :-)
posted by kat518 at 3:27 PM on August 5, 2023 [2 favorites]

I wear Teva Tirrras sandals because they have the same kind of insole as superfeet.
posted by pangolin party at 3:27 PM on August 5, 2023 [1 favorite]

Birkenstocks, Chacos, other sandals with a shaped/supportive footbed. The only sandals I wear are Chacos. Oh, and Vionic has sandals too: they make all their shoes for folks with foot issues.
posted by suelac at 3:31 PM on August 5, 2023 [2 favorites]

A while back, I would have suggested looking into Chacos. However, Chacos and all the brand listed so far now how the real ones, and the cheapies. And it's difficult to figure out which is which without wearing them. Good luck.

[Don't have plantar fasciitis or any foot issues. But I do have serious spine issues because of an accident and need to walk correctly.]
posted by Lesser Shrew at 3:32 PM on August 5, 2023

One more vote for Oofo’s.
posted by not just everyday big moggies at 3:37 PM on August 5, 2023 [1 favorite]

I've not had this, so take this advice with a pinch of salt. I believe that a lot of feet issues are caused by the heavily padded shoes we wear

You can’t mention PF without one of these people popping up. You might be right, but when your feet hurt so bad that you can’t stand up, it’s not helpful advice. This is similar to “if you don’t want to gush blood, don’t get stabbed”. Great, but once you’ve been stabbed, it’d be nice to know how to make a tourniquet so you don’t bleed out.

I don’t wear sandals, but a few years ago I had a bad flare-up of PF and was googling shoes like crazy. The FB algorithm caught on and started serving me Oofos ads like crazy. I did some research and they have good reviews.
posted by kevinbelt at 3:50 PM on August 5, 2023 [13 favorites]

I also wore Keens when recovering from plantar fasciitis.
posted by wintersweet at 4:11 PM on August 5, 2023

If you haven’t tried them already, open-toed compression socks might be worth a shot. IME they don’t feel too hot and helped somewhat with PF independently of footwear.
posted by staggernation at 4:13 PM on August 5, 2023

(Missed the edit window… not like ankle/calf compression socks for circulation but the little arch compression sleeves specifically marketed for PF, there are dozens on Amazon.)
posted by staggernation at 4:21 PM on August 5, 2023

I had to give up being barefoot in the house because of PF. I bought a couple of pairs of Archies flip-flops and love them. Haven't had a recurrence since.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 4:23 PM on August 5, 2023 [2 favorites]

An unorthodox but helpful solution for me with PF was to actually KEEP the Crocs, size up by one step, and just slide the Supefeet insoles into them. Janky? Perhaps...but the inserts really work, the heel strap keeps things in place, and aesthetically they go unnoticed, so we can then blend back in with Suburban Croc-wearing Types. (Only mentioned because you already confess to Croc-ownership)
posted by garfy3 at 4:27 PM on August 5, 2023

Birkenstocks worked for me when I had Plantar Fasciitis.
posted by conrad53 at 5:09 PM on August 5, 2023 [1 favorite]

I wear Keens outside the house, and Asics inside the house. They keep my PF in check. If I don't wear the Asics inside the house, it gets bad fast.
posted by mollweide at 5:23 PM on August 5, 2023

PF secondary to a degenerating MTP joint. I’ve been meaning to try Kurus, which I’ve seen recommended. My current go-to are Keens, which have pleasantly surprised me.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 5:39 PM on August 5, 2023

I also struggle with plantar fasciitis, and I am currently wearing these sandals by Aetrex that work well for me. Generally my strategy is to get on Zappos and just scroll through sandal options looking for anything that has visible arch support — in that way shopping for sandals is actually easier than shopping for regular shoes because you can see the arch support (or lack thereof) in the photos. Good luck!
posted by peperomia at 5:43 PM on August 5, 2023

I also have very small feet and a history of PF.

I have come to really love my Birkenstocks. I bought a pair of soft footbed Arizonas and the break in period was short. I am probably about a 5.5 at this point (feet have changed/are changing due to pregnancy) and I wear a 35 in the wider option.

I’d also recommend checking out Vionic. I don’t have sandals from them but I have other shoes that work well, and they carry a bunch of sandal options. They are specifically designed to be supportive shoes. The only downside is that they don’t have 5.5 — they have 5, then 6, and then half sizes going up, but no 5.5 :(
posted by imalaowai at 6:17 PM on August 5, 2023 [1 favorite]

Oh, yes, I also second Vionic! I have flip flops from them that I wear around the house. Great arch support.
posted by peperomia at 6:47 PM on August 5, 2023

I got over mine very quickly by wearing the Finn Comfort Sylt with soft footbeds everywhere, including around the house. I also previously wore Crocs around the house but found they weren’t good after plantar fasciitis. Birkenstocks are ok, but these are the most comfortable shoe of any type I’ve ever worn.
posted by wheatlets at 7:14 PM on August 5, 2023

Teva Tirra. Very secure and good arch support.
posted by needs more cowbell at 8:17 PM on August 5, 2023

Birkenstocks will be your best bet. And with regard to this feeling:

I used to wear Birkenstocks (before I got plantar fasciitis) all the time and bought a new pair recently. They don’t aggravate the plantar fasciitis but they feel hard, like they don’t have a lot of support.

The hard feeling is actually a great thing--what you don't want is something too soft, that will encourage your fascia to settle into a squishy texture (like sinking into loose sand) and further stretch them beyond the comfortable limit. Birkenstocks' footbed (and similar orthotic inserts that can be moved from shoe to shoe) work by cradling your footbed in position and offering a firm support that won't stress your fascia.
posted by knotty knots at 10:17 PM on August 5, 2023 [2 favorites]

I tried many more expensive sandals but these Bodytec sandals really do the trick for PF symptoms. Plus, they are cheap.
posted by parmanparman at 2:42 AM on August 6, 2023

I used these things with my regular sneakers and adidas slides when I had PF (sometimes I would double them up on the offending foot). They allowed me to walk longer normally and less painfully than without using them. I don't know how they compare to the shoes suggested in the comments but thought I'd mention them as another option.
posted by newpotato at 2:53 AM on August 6, 2023

As a contrary data point against the Birkenstocks, for me they are very comfortable for about two days and then I have to stop wearing them... because my plantar fasciitis flares up.
posted by kindall at 7:45 AM on August 6, 2023

My pf was acting up badly when I was home, barefoot, 24/7 during covid quarantine. Vionic slippers saved me. They have outside shoes and sandals.
posted by Mavri at 9:13 AM on August 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

Orthofeet? I'm a guy, and I wear their shoes but not their sandals, and I don't take their "ortho" feature to seriously, but I do think they are worth a look. I've found manufacturing quality to be pretty good.
posted by SemiSalt at 9:15 AM on August 6, 2023

Spent years trying different things. Dansko made things worse for me, Chacos are still good but only when I'm not suffering pain. Vionics were okay. Keens are fine for hiking when things are going good, but Oofos for running around shoes has been amazing, no matter if I'm in pain or not. The only caution is that they're so soft that it's possible to turn your ankle if you're like me and also have weak ass ankles.
posted by RedEmma at 12:31 PM on August 6, 2023

I get PF, and Birkenstock classic cork soles are amazing for me in one size smaller than I usually wear, so the arch hits right.

For Chacos, it has to be their big heavy soles like the Z series. The clouds are also ok, but they are making some softer soles that aren't useful to me. Boo to all the Chillos.

Same goes for Keen. Is it heavy and I can really feel that sole? Cool, but never mind on those soft cushy things
posted by advicepig at 12:32 PM on August 6, 2023

Have Oofos been recommended by one thousand people yet? If not, please insert 1000 recommendations from me here. I went to a running store that a local physical therapist type told me had a few kinds of "recovery" sandals (or whatever the word is for what you wear while recovering from a running injury), and the Oofos ones immediately took the pain away. You don't like the thong type I saw, but online they have slides that work for me.
posted by slidell at 4:55 PM on August 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

Not to scare unduly, but I had a plantar fascitis diagnosis for several years and it turned out to be neuropathy associated with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. Check that out, too! It has only begun to resolve in the sense that I continue to lose the remaining feeling, pleasant and otherwise, in my feet.
posted by Scarf Joint at 6:12 PM on August 6, 2023

My wife has plantar fasciitis and extremely picky feet, and most models of Abeo sandals work well for her. Many of their sandals have two different arch support options - a neutral one and an extra metatarsal support one.
posted by maleficent at 4:26 PM on August 7, 2023

The hard feeling is actually a great thing--what you don't want is something too soft, that will encourage your fascia to settle into a squishy texture (like sinking into loose sand) and further stretch them beyond the comfortable limit. Birkenstocks' footbed (and similar orthotic inserts that can be moved from shoe to shoe) work by cradling your footbed in position and offering a firm support that won't stress your fascia.

They don’t offer me any support because I don’t wear them. I don’t like how they feel and I’m not in the mood to wear things that feel uncomfortable.
posted by kat518 at 12:40 PM on August 15, 2023

update re oofos - they are wonderfully squishy but I found their soft squish to aggravate my tendency to oversupination (I had the flipflops, so foot basically rolled right off the side.) Oversupination is super common for plantar fascia sufferers. YMMV but as they are not cheap I thought I'd add my experience.
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:16 AM on January 9 [2 favorites]