The Best Walking Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis

The Bondi 9 offers the deepest cushion we list, with a published stack of 43 mm at the heel and 38 mm at the forefoot, and a new supercritical EVA midsole. Reviewers describe easy step-in comfort and a stable platform, and lab testers rated its heel padding as durable. The men's shoe comes in Narrow, Regular, Wide and X-Wide, and it is tagged for walking, standing all day and recovery in our data. It costs about $175 at full price, which is high. It is also heavy at 297 g in the men's, and the toebox is narrow in the standard width. Skip it if you want a light shoe or you are on a budget. HOKA's Fly for 30 guarantee gives you 30 days to try it on your own floors. See our HOKA Bondi 9 review.

The Ghost Max 3 is Brooks' cushioned walking and recovery pick, with a nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 midsole and a comfortable, secure upper. Reviewers call it stable, and Brooks lists it on its walking page. The men's version comes in Regular, Wide and X-Wide, and the women's in Narrow through X-Wide. It costs about $160 at full price, and Brooks' 90-day Run Happy trial is the longest window in this list. The downsides: it is heavy at 306 g in the men's, the foam lacks energy and lab data found heel shock absorption only so-so. Skip it if you want a light shoe or you need support features for overpronation. Our Brooks Ghost Max 3 review covers fit, and owners call the sizing true.

The Nimbus 28 is a running shoe that doubles as a plush walker. It has a tall, soft midsole with PureGEL, high shock absorption and a strong, secure fit, and reviewers say it feels stable despite its height. It weighs 281 g in the men's, lighter than the Nimbus 27, and costs about $170 at full price, the second US price increase in a row. Energy return is poor and breathability could be better. Skip it if you want a bouncy shoe or a low price. RunRepeat lists men's Normal, Wide and X-Wide, and women's Narrow, Normal and Wide, although ASICS' page showed a width selector without listing them. ASICS accepts returns within 90 days, which is helpful when your feet are sensitive about fit.

The Addiction Walker 2 is a classic for people who spend all day on their feet. It has a full-grain leather upper, a wide, steady platform with strategic arch support and a slip-resistant outsole certified to SATRA TM144:2011. Men's widths run from 1B to 4E, and it costs about $130 at full price. Owners describe long-lasting cushioning, and fit is reported as true to size across 457 votes. The downsides: it is heavy at 411 g in the men's, stiff enough that it needs a break-in, not very breathable and more work-shoe than athletic. Skip it if you want a light or breathable shoe. Width stock varies, so check before ordering. Brooks' 90-day trial applies, and our Addiction Walker 2 review has more.

The Cloudrunner 3 is for people who want stability and padding in a shoe they can wear every day. Reviewers describe excellent support, thick tongue padding, a durable outsole and comfort for walking and all-day wear. It is tagged for walking, travel and standing all day in our data. It costs about $160 at full price and comes in Regular and Wide. The trade-offs are significant: low energy return, a heavy build at 295 g in the men's, a narrow toebox and poor breathability in hot climates. Skip it if you have a wide forefoot in the standard width, or you walk in hot weather. On's page says its 30-day run trial is only offered in Switzerland and the UK, and we could not read a US return policy, so check the retailer's terms.

The GO WALK Arch Fit 2.0 Slip-ins pairs a Hands Free Slip-in design and heel pillow with a removable Arch Fit insole that Road Runner Sports describes as podiatrist-designed. That is a retailer description, not a medical claim from us. It also has ULTRA GO cushioning, is machine washable and costs about $95 to $100. The catch is the data: weight, drop and stack were not published, we found no independent lab data and durability is unknown. Skip it if you want lab-tested specs or a performance shoe. The men's page we read showed only 4E in stock and the women's showed B, so confirm the exact style, width and price. The removable insole may make it easier to try your own orthotics, which a podiatrist can advise on.

The Glycerin 23 is a running shoe that walkers love. It has a very soft, easy ride, a premium knit upper with strong heel lockdown and testers found it durable and grippy in wet and dry. It is tagged for walking, recovery and standing all day in our data. Regular, Wide and X-Wide widths are offered, and Brooks' 90-day trial applies. It costs about $175 at full price, which is high. It is also heavy at 303 g in the men's, has low energy return, no gusseted tongue and owners say it runs slightly small. Skip it if you want a light shoe or you are watching your budget. Our Brooks Glycerin 23 review covers sizing. If the plush feel appeals but the weight does not, the Ghost Max 3 above is the lighter, similarly soft alternative, at about $15 less.