I want to tell a painful story about how I learned about the best shoes for plantar fasciitis.
Early in May 2017, we had our first really splendid summer day. My hiking buddy and I decided on a trail that was about 5.5 miles long, with an elevation change of about 500 feet. Since the trail surface was mostly dirt and stable rock and the with the warm weather I decided to wear some hiking sandals that I had broken in the previous summer.
On the final descent of about 450 feet, I “blew out” my right foot. To my dismay, I learned that my well-ventilated but poorly designed sandals had given me my first introduction to plantar fasciitis. They had virtually no arch support, and as I went down the steep trail, my foot would slide forward in the sandal, contributing to the injury.
What is Plantar Fasciitis
If you’d like to learn more about this condition and my recovery, please check out my article Plantar Fasciitis: My Successful Recovery Journey. For those who are already familiar with it, continue reading to discover my preferred supportive footwear.my ‘go to’ supportive footwear.
In my situation the arch of my foot, extending from the base of my big toe to the front of my heel was in excruciating pain. I could walk, but it was difficult and painful. The linked article describes my research and recovery, but in this article, I’d like to focus on the ‘proper footwear’ that supported me through that recovery. Since I have switched all of my sandals, walking shoes, the orthotics in my boots and even my house slippers to use the Abeo brand, I have not had any reoccurrence of Plantar Fasciitis or other foot injury such as Metatarsalgia.
Abeo footwear choice are truly my best shoes for plantar fasciitis.
Summer is for Sandals
One medical professional told me during my recovery that I should throw away all my sandals and never wear them again. This was not an option for me. I live in sandals all summer and for much of spring and fall. I decided that I just needed to find some decent sandals that would support my feet properly.
Everyone’s situation is different, but my injury partially was due to the fact that I have very high arches and I’d been buying ‘any old’ sandal that was cute, but didn’t necessarily support my feet. In my research, I also learned that some footwear and orthotics are made with a Metatarsal support that is designed to support the area between your toes and the ball of your foot – and having this support can keep your foot from sliding forward.
I discovered The Walking Company, and one particular brand of shoes they carry is called Abeo. This brands has a large number of sandal styles that have high arch support built into the footbed of the sandal. Some of the sandals are also offered with metatarsal support!
My First Experience with Abeo Sandals
I bought my first pair of Abeo Balboa Sport sandals while my foot was still recovering from injury. They were just what I needed to support my foot while it was healing. The arch in the footbed was a noticeable improvement as soon as I put them on.
As my foot continued to heal, I started replacing my regular walking shoes with Abeo choices. I had a pair of fairly new hiking boots that I liked, so I just replaced the inexpensive footbed that was in them with an orthotic from Abeo that had both the high arch and metatarsal support. I even got a pair of house slippers that had orthotics in them that are fuzzy!
Since the styles available seem to change a lot, this link takes you to the current selection of sandals (at a category level). Look for the word ‘Sport’ in the name to see the Abeo choices that are best for active summer activities.
The exact styles that I show in my pictures are not currently available on Amazon, so I am sending you to the Category page. That's actually good, because you'll be able to see a variety of styles, utilizing supportive footbeds.
Abeo Footwear Choices
‘Sport’ Sandals
I love the Sport sandals from Abeo! I have tried the Balboa Sport and the Goleta Sport versions, but there are other choices with different styling. If you see ‘Sport’ in the name, you can count on having supportive straps, most of which are adjustable for how they fit your feet. Sport sandals have a strap around the back of your heel to add support when hiking on uneven surfaces or even when dancing! There is nothing better to wear in the summer for outdoor live music when everyone is dancing on pavement.
Another feature of the Sport sandals is that the strap that goes over the front of your foot can be adjusted for wider feet and to accommodate bunions.
Flip Flop Sandals
Abeo also offers ‘flip flop’ style sandals that fit well enough that they don’t feel sloppy. Sometimes the name of the style is similar to the sport styles, but without ‘Sport’ in the name. Confusing, but sometimes that’s just how marketing is.
These ‘flip flop’ sandals are great when I am out running errands. These have the high arch + metatarsal support built into the footbed and they are easy to slip on without bending to fasten them. The straps that fit over the top of my foot are supportive, yet comfortable. This style is called Balboa.
Dress Sandals
Abeo carries some dress sandals with higher heels or wedge heels. They also come with a molded footbed that supports a high arch, but I haven’t worn many of these styles.
Walking Shoes, Boots, and Athletic Footwear
Abeo also has a full line of walking shoes and I’ve purchased and wear several pairs, including some Mary Janes and some wedgie short heels. I have not yet tried the boots or athletic shoes, but my understanding is that the same footbed configurations are available. The insoles in the walking shoes can be easily upgraded to the premium orthotics – the outline is the same but the premium insoles support my high arch + metatarsal.
Orthotics
Over-the-counter or custom-made insoles can provide extra arch support and help alleviate pressure on the plantar fascia. Custom made orthotics can run into the hundreds of dollars, but they are ‘lifesavers’ for people with difficult foot and leg length situations.
I was lucky, because the high arch + metatarsal orthotics from Abeo were all I needed for my foot shape. I use inserts like these in my hiking boots, my walking shoes and even in my slippers around the house.
I buy orthotics for my exact size, but if I am putting them in a shoe or boot from another manufacturer, I buy a half to full size larger shoe or boot to leave enough room for the insert to fit comfortably and not squeeze my foot. I bring an extra pair of orthotics with me when I go shoe shopping so that I can test the size out while I am in the store.
Abeo’s dress shoes seem to come with a standard (Neutral) footbed insert. While those are probably great for people with regular arches, if you need more support you can easily replace them with a premium orthotic that suits your foot shape.
This link takes you to all the Orthotic Insert choices that are currently on offer. The selections include inserts for different foot types and both men's and women's sizes.
About Fit
I’ve found that the ‘sport’ sandals that are offered by Abeo tend to run very true to size. The footbeds are very similar from style to style. I have experienced almost no break-in time with any of the sport styles. I just make sure that all the strap adjustments are made, and then I can start wearing them without any rubbing or discomfort.
The flip flop style sandals vary more between styles. While the footbeds are similar, the strap styles can really change the wearing experience. I tend to buy the type of sandal with a thong next to your big toe, and some of these require some break-in time. I’ve also found that these sandals run very true to size.
About Durability
These are among the best made and most durable sandals I have ever owned, beyond being my choice of shoes for foot pain. I’ve had some pairs that have made it through more than two summers of constant wear. The sandal shown in my featured image is a year old and it still looks great! Even the velcro on the front ankle strap is still fastening perfectly. There are so many reasons to buy these great sandals, beyond my opinion that they are the best shoes for plantar fasciitis prevention.
Best Footwear for Plantar Fasciitis
I can say without hesitation that I think that Abeo footwear helped me recover from my injury. Consistently wearing only supportive footwear has helped me with my goal of plantar fasciitis prevention.
