Do you have plantar fasciitis? Then you’re in need of special shoes, because ordinary shoes just won’t cut it. You need shoes with non-slip soles to let you zip about quickly, but the shoes also need to take your condition into account. That’s why you need the best non slip work shoes for plantar fasciitis.
If you’re unable to keep to your feet when you’re at work, everyone loses. You can get hurt when you slip and fall and the prospect of injury can slow you down. You lose time on the job while the company you work for loses your contribution to the work effort. Customers have fewer people to help them.
What is Plantar Fasciitis? And what are it’s Symptoms and Causes?
Table of Contents
The most common symptom for plantar fasciitis is feeling some pain at the bottom of your foot, especially at the start of your day. This can be at the front or center of the heel bone.
This pain can also occur when you’ve been sitting at your desk for hours on end. A thick band of tissue running across the bottom of your feet has become inflamed, and that’s causing the pain.
Some activities can cause or exacerbate this condition such as vigorous walking or perhaps even standing on your feet for most of the day. If you’re obese or even just overweight, you’re more at risk to get this problem. The same is true if you tend to wear shoes with not enough support.
There may also be something wrong with your foot mechanics to cause this condition. You may have a high arch or you’re flatfooted, or you may have a weird way of walking. Basically, you’ve messed up how your weight is distributed when you’re on your feet, so you get more stress for the plantar fascia (the tissue that connects your heel bone to your toes).
Actually, watch this video of Dr. Christine explaining this heel pain (plantar fasciitis).
So if you’re in need of good nonslip shoes for the workplace that also factors in your plantar fasciitis, here are some shoes you need to consider:
Best Work Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis : Reviews
1. Timberland PRO Men’s 6″ Pit Boss Steel-Toe
There’s no denying the sheer popularity of this model, with thousands of customer reviews to back up the Timberland claims regarding its quality. The majority of customer reviews give it a perfect score, so there’s a very good chance it’ll work for you too.
Product Highlights
It’s available in a variety of sizes, and there are special versions for wide feet. You have nubuck material for the boots, and you can choose among black oiled nubuck, brown oiled nubuck, and wheat nubuck. Even the lighter colored wheat version looks serious enough for the workplace.
With this steel toe boot, you have a pair of shoes that’s safe to use and comfy too. It’s also tough enough for demanding workplace conditions. It meets ANSI safety standards. The soles aren’t just slip-resistant, but they’re also resistant to oil and abrasion.
The steel safety toe meets US and Canadian safety standards, including safety standards for impact and compression. The shoes also give you secondary underfoot protection against “live electrical circuits, electrically energized conductors, parts or apparatus”.
If you’re used to uncomfortable shoes, then you’re in for a pleasant surprise. This has the Timberland Pro 24/7 Comfort System. It’s designed to help reduce the foot fatigue you feel after a hard day’s work, as it amply supports your arch while it provides great cushioning for every step you take. This system includes rugged nubuck leather uppers, with padded top collars and polyurethane midsoles for comfort.
The rubber compound for the outsole is fantastic, as it offers great resistance to slips, oil, and abrasions. The rubber compound is also quite durable and resistant to heat. The Goodyear welt construction also increases the durability while you also get cast metal top hooks for enhanced durability. Your feet get enough support with nylon a shock-diffusion plates that also boost torsional rigidity.
Are you embarrassed about stinky shoes? That’s not much of a problem with the Timberland PRO Men’s 6″ Pit Boss Steel-Toe either. The open-cell polyurethane footbeds are undoubtedly comfy and breathable, but they also feature antimicrobial treatment that prevents and controls odors.
You get all these technologies and features, and it doesn’t feel like you’re lugging bricks on your feet either. They’re not as heavy as you may be worried about. The size 9 of these boots weighs just 1.58 pounds (716 grams).
Pros
- Timberland is a classy brand
- It looks great, and suitable for the workplace or for more social events
- Wide range of sizes with accommodations for wider feet
- Tough outsole that’s resistant to slips, oil, and abrasions
- Doesn’t smell bad
- Offers great support
- Very comfy and relatively lightweight
- Quite durable
- Quick to replace defective shoes
Cons
- No option for narrow feet
- Some issues regarding quality control (sometimes you get defective shoes)
2. Asics Men’s GEL-Tech Walker Neo 4 Walking Shoe
Does your workplace allow you to wear walking shoes? Maybe they’ll let it pass if you’re getting the more subdued (and admittedly classy-looking) black/black/ silver colorway. Besides, this Japanese shoe brand is serious about producing high quality athletic footwear. After all, ASICS stands for anima sana in corpore sano, which is Latin for “a sound mind in a sound body”.
The men’s shoes version is great, though hopefully you find one in your size. There’s also a women’s version, so you’re not limited to just getting a smaller size for the men’s shoes.
Product Highlights
If you’re suffering from plantar fasciitis, then you really should consider just getting this pair of shoes. Plenty of folks with that condition have proclaimed this pair of shoes as the comfiest they’ve ever tried, and it really keeps your feet from feeling achy.
The upper of the shoe offers excellent fit, while the mesh in the upper makes the shoe nicely breathable and comfy to wear. If you have plantar fasciitis with the characteristic flat arches, then you’ll get fantastic arch support. The insole is removable, so you can clean it more easily and you can also get your orthotics in if you need them.
This has the vaunted Duomax structure, which reduces the stress on your feet caused by overpronation. This gives you that support for your feet that you desperately need to compensate for your plantar fasciitis. Stability comes from the high tech Trusstic technology, which keeps the shoes from twisting excessively. There’s even a medial window that alleviates the pressure on your bunion.
Is it comfortable? You bet it is, as you have lots of gel in the rear and forefoot to absorb the impact of your steps and of the load on your feet. The collar and tongue are padded too. It’s quite lightweight, so you’re not lifting weights on your feet all day. You also get added comfort from the Ortholite sock liner, which in addition provides antimicrobial protection.
The grip of the outsole is excellent, as this pair of shoes is designed for vigorous walking about. It even works for hiking too, so it’s really secure when it comes to slipping.
Pros
- One of the most comfortable shoes you’ll ever try
- Fantastic support for planar fasciitis
- Minimizes the stress for your feet
- Very stable
- Lightweight
- Doesn’t really smell bad afterwards
- Looks nice in black
Cons
- May be a bit too casual with suits
- Not always easy to find in stores (so you can try it out before you buy it online)
3. Brooks Men’s Addiction Walker Walking Shoes
Some say that this is aptly named, since it can be quite addictive. Once you have this in your shoe collection, you may find yourself wearing this more often than your other shoes. That’s especially true if you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis.
Product Highlights
Let’s get the non-slip soles right out of the gate. If you’re worried about slipping on the job, then you can rest easy knowing that the soles of this pair of shoes won’t slip right from under you. The traction is terrific, and that includes for dry as well as wet conditions. The slip has even been certified for slip resistance, as it complies with the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standards.
Cushioning is also ample, so that your feet are comfortable as the cushioning absorbs and deflects the shock of the impact of your feet on the hard floor. Here Brooks uses their unique proprietary cushioning called BioMoGo DNA. It actually adapts to your particular weight, along with the speed of your walk or run and the length of your stride.
Then there’s the Extended Progressive Diagonal Rollbar (also known as PDRB). This is the support system in the shoe that provides support for your entire body. It positions the arch support in a strategic way so that the shoes can guide and keep your body in its natural path of motion as you walk and run. It offers proper pronation control to help compensate for pronation issues.
The stability of the shoes isn’t in doubt either. It gives you a very stable ride thanks to the forefoot MC Pod construction. Your feet as a result are set optimally for balance, stability, and efficiency.
It’s a very comfy pair of shoes as well, and that’s partly due to the full-grain leather upper. Over time, it molds itself nicely to the specific shape and flexibility of your foot. It also helps that it’s available in a wide range of sizes, with versions to accommodate wider or narrower feet.
Even the colors are nice, as they’re all geared towards workplace use. While the white should do well in a healthcare workplace, you also can use the black and brown colors in a more professional setting.
The vast majority of people who have used this agree that this is extremely comfortable to wear. If you’re going to be standing or walking around for most of the day, this is what you want to use. A lot of people like mail carriers have expressed delight in how these shoes have helped them in their job.
Pros
- Looks very professional
- Extremely comfy
- Nice sizing
- Ample cushioning
- Great support
- Superb stability
- Non-skid soles
Cons
- Not for high arches
- Great for walking, but not so much for hard running
Buying Guide for Non-Slip Plantar Fasciitis Shoes
Here are the factors you need to look at if you’re looking for non-slip shoes for the workplace that also takes your plantar fasciitis into account:
A. Is It Suitable for Work?
While the terms “non-slip” and “plantar fasciitis” might grab your attention, you can’t forget that these are work shoes. That means it can’t be overly casual. Some workplaces explicitly forbid the use of sneakers, so you may be limited to picking from work boots instead.
Your workplace may allow for athletic shoes and sneakers, or perhaps you can talk to your supervisor about your plantar fasciitis so you get special dispensation to wear special athletic shoes. But you should really keep away from overly loud color combinations. Usually, in the workplace you’re supposed to project a professional vibe, and not to show off what a fun and “cool” person you are. So stick to darker colors, like black and brown. These can pass for black and brown leather shoes.
Still, it’s nice to have a wide range of color choices. If you have a rather casual workplace, then having cool shoes can help you to feel better. That can lead to less pain and improved productivity.
B. Slip Resistance
You really don’t want slipper shoes regardless of where you plan on wearing your shoes. But that’s doubly important for the workplace, where you may be expected to move around smartly. Slipping in front of your boss, your subordinates, or your clients doesn’t make you look good, and your business suffers as well.
Usually you want shoes that proudly declare that they’re slip-resistant. In general, this means the outer sole is somewhat stiff, and the heel can absorb the shock impact.
Read reviews regarding exactly how non-slippery the shoes really are. Do they work on marble floors? What about wet or oily surfaces? Check out that at least your shoes can get a good grip on the floors of your workplace.
C. Adequate Heel Support
What you want from your shoes is enough support for your plantar fascia to deal with the load your heel has to carry. After all, plantar fasciitis is associated with increased loads that can be caused by excessive weight. A raised heel can do the trick, though of course the height of the heel should remain reasonable. Stiletto heels going 6 inches high just won’t do. But a nice heel to toe drop should help.
D. Proper Arch Support
Whether you have a high arch, flat feet, or normal pronation, your shoes should be appropriately suitable for the type of arch you have on your feet. The wrong type, like using shoes for over-pronated (high arch) when you have flat feet instead, can lead to injury and pain.
E. Correct Cushioning
The cushioning should mold to the shape of your feet, while the cushioning should also be ample enough to absorb the shock of walking and running. Flexibility along the cushioning is necessary, or else the shoe won’t flex and move along with your feet.
F. Accommodating Orthotic Inserts
If you have plantar fasciitis, your doctor may recommend that you put in shoe orthotic inserts to correct the problem. This will require that you have shoes with removable insoles to accommodate these inserts.
G. Proper Fit
Even if you don’t have plantar fasciitis and you’re just looking for casual shoes (and not for work), you have to make sure that your shoes fit. This is perhaps the most important rule of shoe buying. You have to get the right size, and then you need to make sure that the shoes take the width of your feet into account.
This includes making sure that your toe box area is adequate. The toe box should just be large enough for your toes, but they should let your toes spread out.
H. Durability
Non-slip soles aren’t really worth much if they don’t last all that long. But the upper may also be susceptible to wear and tear. What you want is a pair of shoes that can last for a long while.
I. Comfort
This is one of the more important features. Some shoes may need to be broken in first, so you need time to get them to mold to the shape of your feet. But then afterwards the shoes should feel nice and comfy on your feet. You shouldn’t have any pains or bunions after using the shoes all day long.
Conclusion
Plantar fasciitis can hurt a lot, and it hurts even more when you keep falling on the job. But with the best non-slip work shoes for plantar fasciitis, you can make sure you keep the pain away. Now you can finally concentrate more on doing your job right, instead of worrying about slipping on the floor and hurting yourself.