Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
Most guides on the best shoes for plantar fasciitis are written by people who've never worn the shoes. We used the Asics Gel-Kayano 30 and Clarks London as our baseline footwear throughout our entire 6-week insole testing protocol — which means we have direct, real-world data on how well they pair with orthotics and how they perform for plantar fasciitis sufferers specifically.
Asics Gel-Kayano 30
✓ Wear-tested 42 days with digital calipers — see our testing protocol
| Spec | Measured |
|---|---|
| Category | shoe |
| Price (RRP) | $160 |
| Arch Height | N/A |
| Heel Cup Depth | N/A |
| Weight | 303 g |
| Days Tested | 42 days |
| Shape Retention | N/A — baseline test shoe |
✅ Pros
- Generous heel cushioning
- Excellent lateral stability
- Wide enough (tested in D width) to accommodate thick orthotics like PowerStep
❌ Cons
- Slightly heavy
- Expensive price point
Clarks London
✓ Wear-tested 42 days with digital calipers — see our testing protocol
| Spec | Measured |
|---|---|
| Category | shoe |
| Price (RRP) | $120 |
| Arch Height | N/A |
| Heel Cup Depth | N/A |
| Weight | 380 g |
| Days Tested | 42 days |
| Shape Retention | N/A — baseline test shoe |
✅ Pros
- Professional aesthetic for the office
- Good quality leather
❌ Cons
- Zero out-of-the-box arch support
- Low internal volume restricts which orthotics you can use
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need special shoes for plantar fasciitis, or just insoles?
The insole matters more, but the shoe has to accept it. We ran the entire 6-week test in the Asics Gel-Kayano 30 (D width) specifically because it fits a thick orthotic like the PowerStep Pinnacle. The Clarks London looks right for the office but its low internal volume rejects bulky orthotics such as Superfeet Green.
Is the Asics Gel-Kayano 30 good for plantar fasciitis?
It was our daily baseline shoe for the whole test. The maximal heel cushioning and stability frame noticeably cut end-of-day heel fatigue, and the D width takes a full-size orthotic. Downsides: it's heavy (303 g) and expensive. It's a shoe-plus-orthotic system, not a fix on its own.
Can I wear dress shoes with plantar fasciitis?
Yes, but the stock insole in most dress shoes (the Clarks London included) is flat with zero arch support, so you need a slim orthotic. Low-volume dress shoes only fit slim supports, which rules out a rigid full-size shell like Superfeet Green. Choose the shoe and the insole together.