8 Best Sandals For Dealing with Plantar Fasciitis Pain

FitFlop makes these dual-strap leather sandals that are low-key and not overtly a support shoe, even though that is exactly what they are. The arches are contoured to keep your foot in a good position and disperses pressure. The support (made from FitFlop’s Microwobbleboard layered cushioning) is really unmatched in a sandal this low-key. We also like that you can adjust the straps for the best fit, although some people who have bunions or wider feet feel like there is not enough variability in the adjustment options.

Kuru’s entire brand is based on making shoes that support plantar fasciitis, so you can be certain the brand’s sandals are doing it well. We like the thick stack height and the high heel drop (at 12 mm) for dealing with active plantar pain. (The higher the heel drop, the more pressure toward the front of your foot and less pressure toward the back.) They are not just orthotic-like. These are straight-up built with an orthotic insole.

For something soft, cushy, and easy to throw on, Nike’s Calm slides are an Esquire favorite. They’re simple, made from a softfoam with a textured footbed that helps keep your feet (socked and not) from sliding out of the sandal. They’re easy for wearing around the house or for quick errands, but they don’t have the same support capacity as some others. They are cool, though.

The Hoka recovery slide hill is probably the one I will die on, and you know what? I think my feet (and yours?) will thank me for it. These sandals are 60 bucks, have a thick cushion, and a soft contour around the heel. For knocking around the house or to the beach or wherever you’re going that’s casual, they simply cannot be beat.

If you’re a no-frills, dependable sandals only type of guy, Vionic’s slides are great. They don’t have a huge stack height (less cushion, but also more low-key looking) but the super lightweight sandal still has flexible, supportive EVA midsoles to reduce foot stress. These have a nice heel cup to keep your foot actually in the shoe and not irritated by flopping as you walk.

Some plantar fasciitis folks love a regular Birkenstock Arizona (my foot pain-suffering family members are partial to the shearling-lined ones for optimal comfort), but the straight cork can be tough on some super inflamed heels. The Birko-Flor is a similar shape but done in some outdoor-friendly materials with a durable, grippy polyurethane sole and tear-resistant upper. Rather than straight cork, the anatomically shaped footbed here is made with a cork-latex material instead.

We have indeed written about the OOahh slide quite a bit, and that’s because it is quite a good recovery shoe. It’s great for plantar fasciitis with its impact-absorbing footbed, but it’s also good for other foot and lower extremity pains.

If you don’t have a single care about going dork mode, get Reef’s Cross-Shore sandals. They are really as supportive and substantial of a shoe you can have that’s still open-toed. These have a soft EVA footbed, extra arch support, and adjustable straps. They lock your foot in place, which can be a necessity for some active pain days—no flipping or flopping. They also hav ea lugged rubber outsole for anti-slippage.