Please recommend good walking shoes for someone who has plantar fasciitis.

[ereks mom]

Dh & I walk for exercise on an uneven gravel surface, and I need some sturdy, but lightweight walking shoes that will prevent heel pain from plantar fasciitis. And the hardest part of all is that these shoes must be 1) wide width AND 2) affordable (under $100 per pair).

 

Thanks to anyone who can help!

Edited April 12, 2010 by ereks mom

[Harriet Vane]

Dh & I walk for exercise on an uneven gravel surface, and I need some sturdy, but lightweight walking shoes that will prevent heel pain from plantar fasciitis. And the hardest part of all is that these shoes must be 1) wide width AND 2) affordable (under $100 per pair).

 

Thanks to anyone who can help!

 

The cheapest possible option is to buy some WalkFit inserts at Target and wear them with your regular shoes. This is what I do. I used to wear custom (expensive!!) orthotics--the WalkFit inserts really are exactly like my orthotics, but are only $20 per pair. They are durable too--they are rigid plastic. I know others who have been helped by this option as well.

 

I also found that Chaco sandals fit my foot nicely. I do NOT like the Chaco shoes, though--they claim to have the same footbed as the sandals but most emphatically do NOT. Also my Chaco shoes fell apart after LIGHT use in less than a year. BUT I have worn Chaco sandals for many years and love them--the footbed fits my foot just like my custom orthotic, so I wear them all summer. Look for the sandals that say "biocentric footbed."

[laurad1125]

I've had pretty severe problems with this (mostly when I was taking/teaching TaeKwonDo and spending a large amount of time bare foot)

 

New Balance cross trainers work really well for me. They run $40-$50. I wear them from the time I get up until I go to bed (no going bare foot, ever) and buy a new pair every 4-6 months. Sometimes I can extend the time by getting inserts but the pain will eventually return. It works for me....

[HeatherM2]

I love skechers, but I'm not sure if they come in wide width.

[Orthodox6]

Probably SAS shoes are on the "wrong side" of $100 per pair. They are superb, however, and orthopedist-recommended.

[BridgeTea]

I wear New Balance #645. They are wide, fairly lightweight cross-trainers that run about $55.00 around here. I am healing up from a torn ligament right now, and they are providing some great support. My orthopedist approved of them. :)

[MaMa2005]

When not in my Birkenstocks, I only wear Propet Walkers. You can find them at Zappos.com. They are well under $100 and come in wide, wide widths. And yes, I have had surgery for plantar fascitis so I know where you are coming from.

[FlockOfSillies]

Love, love, love my Brooks running shoes, but they're $100. I wear them every single day, and I haven't had heel pain since I bought them.

[Danestress]

I don't think there are any American made tennis shoes that have the level of arch support I need. Just because a shoe is "size 7" doesn't mean that there is a standard "best" arch support. Get the orthodic you need and then put them in sneakers.

[mom2a&z]

I've had plantar fasciitis for years and the only thing that has helped is wearing New Balance running shoes pretty much all day every day with custom orthotics.

 

I may not be fashionable but not having the foot pain is well worth it!

 

Good luck.

[TravelingChris]

Another one here who wears New Balance with shoe inserts.

[Denisemomof4]

I don't think there are any American made tennis shoes that have the level of arch support I need. Just because a shoe is "size 7" doesn't mean that there is a standard "best" arch support. Get the orthodic you need and then put them in sneakers.

 

:iagree:

 

Speaking as someone who had tremendous foot pain her ENTIRE life, the orthodics are a life saver. I tried many different things and finally had them made in December. It has made a HUGE difference.

[Alexandra]

I don't wear mine outside of the house but I found that wearing them as houseshoes really helped my feet. I also try to drink plenty of water - this is a tip that I got on here on the boards. I was surprised how much that helped.

[Kim in Appalachia]

the doctor told him to wear running shoes, the real kind. It did cost him over $100, but I know you can get NB running shoes for under a $100. You need the real support of the running shoe. The doctor told him all other sneakers are junk. :001_smile:

 

I hope you can resolve it soon. I know how painful foot pain is. And it is frustrating when you can't do something as basic as take a walk.

[greensummervillian]

I have giant, wide feet and plantar fasciitis. I also recommend New Balance with custom orthotics. What I wonder about is what sandals I can wear. I have considered duct taping my orthotics to a pair of sandals because it gets so hot in the summer that shoes make me miserable.