Today, there are tens of the best recovery sandals for plantar fasciitis. Some are the real deal and some are just not so good, but they masquerade as the real thing.
But first ….
What is plantar fasciitis?
According to an article in the Washington Post, in 2019, more than 2 million Americans sought treatment for heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis. You can see it is quite a serious problem.
Between the toes and the heel of your foot, there is a thick band of tissue. It is called plantar fascia.
Because your feet carry all of your body weight, sometimes, the plantar fascia gets inflamed, especially if you wear unsuitable shoes or when you engage in extreme activity.
Does plantar fasciitis go away? Yes it does. You should massage your feet regularly, stretch and give your feet some rest.
Above all, you should wear the right shoes.
That is why you are reading this article. We are going to show you the sandals that can help you recover faster from plantar fasciitis.
You can read: Best non-slip work shoes for plantar fasciitis
Best walking sandals for plantar fasciitis
Table of Contents
Probably, your doctor will recommend a good pair of shoes for PF.
In the past articles, we have looked at the best men’s work boots for plantar fasciitis. So yes, there are all types of shoes, including flip-flops for PF.
Even if your podiatrist does not recommend a good pair, do not sweat it. Here, we bring you two of the best walking sandals for plantar fasciitis.
1. OOFOS Original Sandal: Best flip flops for plantar fasciitis
When your plantar fascia is inflamed, the last thing that you want to do is to sit it out. Rather, exercise helps in hastening the recovery process.
One of the best foot exercises is walking but with serious heel pain, you will find it hard. That is why you need a good pair of supportive sandals.
With the best walking sandals for plantar fasciitis, you can alleviate some of the pain and speed up your recovery process.
Get a pair of OOFOS Original sandals. They are specifically designed to assist people with serious or mild heel pain in their recovery process.
OOFoam absorbs more shock than regular foam
One of the benefits of wearing the OOFOS original sandal is that it is constructed with a special foam that absorbs almost 40 percent more impact than regular foam.
When you have plantar fasciitis, even the mildest shock getting to your feet can send chilling pain to the heel.
That is why you cannot wear regular shoes. In addition to being the super impact absorber, this pair of walking sandals for plantar fascia is also very stable.
The combination of high quality foam and stability reduces foot exertion. This saves you from experiencing heel pain.
This foam also cradles your feet perfectly, especially at the arches. This makes walking easier. It also ensures that you do not arch your feet too much when walking.
This keeps your inflamed plantar fascia intact and it does not exert it too much.
American Podiatric Medical Association Approves this Sandal
When you are trying to recover from plantar fasciitis, you do not want a product that is not tested and proven by the relevant authorities.
And what is better than carrying the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance! This program pays recognition to products that benefit foot health.
It is the highest form of recognition for a product that is designed for daily foot care routine.
2. LLSOARSS Plantar Fasciitis Feet Sandal with Arch Support
The manufacturer of the LLSOARSS sandals has incorporated as many of the foot’s biomechanics as possible in its design.
Here are some of the benefits of wearing these sandals for plantar fasciitis:
Ergonomically conforms to the shape of your feet
It is built after what they call the wet sand principle, which they say is motivated by what you feel when walking barefoot in wet sand.
In simpler words, what LLSOARSS means is that their sandals are so ergonomic such that when you wear them, they seem to “hug” your feet.
One benefit of wearing such sandals is that they support your foot in every area, but more so in the areas that need the most support such as the heel, ball area and the heel.
Support ensures even weight distribution
They come with good lateral and medial arch support, which enhances even weight distribution. Regular sandals would let most of the weight rest on the heels or ball of foot area.
When you have plantar fasciitis, the pain is concentrated at the heels. You want a sandal that has an elevated and cupped heel.
High shock absorption
If you are recovering from plantar fasciitis, you want a thick sole that will protect you from rocks and uneven ground.
The LLSOARSS sandal sole is super absorbent of the impact that comes from your feet landing on the ground. None of this shock gets to your feet.
Vionic sandals for plantar fasciitis
Is Vionic a good brand for plantar fasciitis?
Well …
These sandals offer many benefits for a person who has plantar fasciitis. In fact, podiatrists can recommend or even prescribe these sandals to people with flat feet, plantar fasciitis and even knee pain.
3. Tide II Vionic sandals for plantar fasciitis
By design, the Vionic Tide II flip flop for plantar fasciitis is a toe post, which may hinder you from walking long distances in it.
But apart from that, there are many benefits, such as we will outline here:
Incredible arch support can help with flat feet too
These are not flat sandals as you will no doubt tell from the pictures. Rather, they have a high heel and incredible arch support. They cradle your feet nicely especially at the arches such that they cradle your foot bottom in its entirety.
When you have plantar fasciitis, you should not wear any type of shoes. You need the ones that are specifically made to help heal this condition.
They align your feet and enhance a natural walking posture
This is where the first huge benefit of wearing the Tide Ii Vionic sandals for plantar fasciitis comes in. They help to naturally align your feet and encourage a natural walking posture.
The shoes also support the arches and since they are ergonomic, soon after breaking them in, they adapt to your foot shape and walking style.
When you flex your feet at the arches, the sandals flex as well, supporting you fully.
Elevated heel helps in weight distribution
Another benefit is heel support. By having an elevated heel, these sandals take most of the weight off the heel and distribute it evenly so there is no undue pressure on one spot.
The third benefit of getting this pair of flip flops for plantar fasciitis is their multi-purpose design. For instance, if you need the best shoes for flat feet, these ones might help you.
They can also help a person who suffers from heel pain.
When you engage in extreme activity, you are more vulnerable to plantar fasciitis if you have flat feet. What you need is more support at the arch and some elevation at the heels.
4. Vionic Women’s Rest Bella Toe Post Orthotic Sandal
Vionic orthotic sandals have many health benefits and that has made them popular with many people.
If you are looking for the best Vionic sandals for plantar fasciitis, you can get the Rest Bella Toe Post Orthotic flip flops.
Here are some of their benefits:
Paneled sole is anti-slip
The paneled design of the soles is anti-slip, so you can wear them in wet weather without trouble. However, the toe post design, it might irritate the delicate space between your toes, because of the water.
If you have been asking: What sandals do podiatrists recommend? These would be probably one of the top choices. They come with the highest recognition (not approval, but recognition) as they have APMA Seal of Acceptance.
Encourages your natural walking posture
When you have an inflamed band of tissue on your foot, you tend to land and roll your feet on the areas that are less painful. Unfortunately, this does not encourage faster recovery from plantar fasciitis. Rather, it makes it worse.
These Vionic sandals encourage your feet to roll naturally because they adapt fast to your walking gait and stride. This enhances recovery and with time, it lessens the pain associated with the tenderness from the inflamed tissue.
A sandal for every outfit
These walking sandals for plantar fasciitis come in a wide variety of colors. Women love to match their footwear with different outfits, so it always helps to have more variety.
The only downside that you need to be aware of is that the Vionic Tide II sandals seem to run a little wide. Thus, if you have too narrow feet (most women do), you will find that they run a bit wide.
To compensate for this, you will love the fact that the sandals are ergonomic, so every part of your foot will be supported.
They reduce plantar fascia pain
Because you can walk more, you can heal faster since you are giving your foot the exercise that it needs so much.
These sandals can reduce the pain you experience from plantar fasciitis. The first few hours of wearing the sandals will feel a little uncomfortable.
This is the break-in time to get the sandals to eventually adapt to the shape of your feet. After that, you will experience incredible comfort.
If you need a pair of plantar fasciitis sandals that you can wear all day long, try these ones. The shoes are soft without feeling spongy.
They are also firm without being hard. You can stand in the sandals for hours without aggravating your inflamed foot bottom.
Teva Sandals for plantar fasciitis
Teva is one of the renowned brand names for women’s sandals, wedges and other footwear that can help a person experiencing plantar fasciitis.
Here are two of their best walking sandals for plantar fasciitis:
5. Teva Women’s Tirra Sandal
What are some of the benefits that you enjoy when you get this pair of sandals for plantar fasciitis? There is a good number.
First, the heel is designed with a cushioned Shoc pad. If you have heel pain, the Shoc pad in the heel helps to absorb most of the impact that comes when your foot hits the ground.
If you have plantar fasciitis, a jolt when walking can trigger serious heel pain. That is why all the sandals that we are reviewing here absorb impact very well.
Secondly, the sandals have a high quality EVA midsole for arch support. If your plantar fasciitis comes from having flat feet, you need good arch support.
Thirdly, these sandals are made with a rubber sole, which is fairly thick so that it can absorb most of the impact. The Spider Rubber rugged outsole offers good traction on different surfaces. It also has a nylon shank, which gives your feet extra support on uneven ground.
6. Teva Women’s W Tirra Sandals
Teva W Tirra sandals for women can help with recovery from plantar fasciitis. They have features that can benefit your foot health.
Here are some of the benefits that you can look forward to:
The sandals have EVA top and midsoles, which give good arch support. The top sole absorbs most of the impact that comes from walking. The last thing that you want to experience is a jolt to your feet when you have an inflamed plantar fascia.
The heel is also slightly elevated by up to an inch. One of the ways to know you have plantar fascia is heel pain. When the heel is elevated, the pain lessens. That is how this sandal reduces plantar fasciitis pain.
The sandals have straps that lock into place with Velcro taping. They secure so nicely on your feet and stay intact throughout the time you will wear them.
What sandals do podiatrists recommend?
Deteriorating foot health is a growing concern in the world. According to Medical News Today, plantar fasciitis is one of the top ten conditions affecting the feet.
If you are a victim, you should get podiatrist-recommended sandals.
Here are two of them:
7. Birkenstock Essentials Unisex Arizona EVA Sandal
Birkenstock Arizona sandals are recommended by podiatrists because they alleviate the pain that comes with plantar fasciitis.
One of the things that make these sandals quite outstanding is that they come with cork material. The benefit of having a cork sole is that it offers support at all pressure points.
It also absorbs all the impact from your feet hitting the ground so they do not experience any jolts.
The simple design of these sandals makes them easy to wear. The straps come with buckles so you can adjust them accordingly. The heel is elevated just slightly but that helps especially if you are recovering from plantar fasciitis.
Another benefit that Birks sandals have in common is that the roomy space especially in the toe box area. With plantar fasciitis, your feet could feel swollen so you want sandals that can accommodate them fully.
There is a slight molding at the toe area while the heel is cupped slightly. All of these little features help to alleviate the pressure on the foot.
8. Taos Footwear Women’s Trulie Leather Sandal
These sandals really help with recovery from plantar fasciitis. We shall explain how they do that.
When you experience persistent pain in your feet, you want to help the legs and feet do as little work as possible. Choosing sandals that offer support really helps.
These are ergonomic sandals. Therefore, they conform to the shape of your feet. When you walk, they support your foot in every way possible, by cradling it in the arches.
In return, this makes walking easier on your heels, ankles, knee and hip joints. Most people are surprised that their entire foot is in contact with the sole, including at the arch area.
These sandals are unisex by design. However, when ordering one, you should note that the size 10 for women is different from the size 10 for men and so on. You can learn more about shoe sizes in a past article.
Best Recovery Sandals for Plantar Fasciitis FAQ
After reading our reviews on some of the best walking sandals for plantar fasciitis, you might need more information about how such help to improve your foot health.
Our frequently asked questions section will shed more light on this topic.
Can you wear sandals with plantar fasciitis?
Sandals are more helpful for plantar fasciitis recovery than closed shoes. They have more room, they are easier to adjust and it is also simpler to pull them off when you need your feet to relax. Birkenstock Arizona sandals are some of the best for this condition.
Are Birkenstocks good for plantar fasciitis?
The Birkenstock Arizona sandals are recommended by podiatrists. The cork sole is so good at adapting to the shape of your feet and supporting them at all of their pressure points.
Should you go barefoot with plantar fasciitis?
Walking barefoot might help to prevent plantar fasciitis. However, when you are already recovering from this condition, it is best to wear podiatrist-recommended sandals such as Taos Footwear Trulie Leather Sandals because they will absorb all impact.
What aggravates plantar fasciitis?
Engaging in extreme exercise when you have plantar fasciitis can make it even worse. Just wear the recommended shoes or sandals and walk slowly to exercise the foot. Also, massage the foot to keep the blood flowing.
Can plantar fasciitis go away on its own?
It can go away with time. However, it is best to wear podiatrist-recommended sandals and shoes. Also, give your feet a lot of rest. Walk around slowly to exercise the feet to hasten the healing process.
Should I stay off my feet with plantar fasciitis?
When the plantar fascia is extremely inflamed, you should stay off your feet. The weight of your body makes the feet even worse. However, when you start recovering, move lightly and wear the right type of sandals.
Final Thoughts and Recommendation
The best recovery sandals for plantar fasciitis should offer heel, arch and ball of foot support. To remove the guesswork from your search, you can order the podiatrist-recommended sandals.
Here, we recommend the LLSOARSS sandals because of their incredible build quality, support for the entire foot and proven track record.
To get a good pair of sandals that can help in your recovery from plantar fasciitis, you will pay a good amount of money, anywhere from $30 to $200. If the features justify the price, go for it!