Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis UK (2026)
A practical guide to footwear that genuinely helps, covering trainers, work shoes, sandals, and everyday styles, informed by pedorthic experience and clinical guidelines.
Quick Answer
The best shoes for plantar fasciitis combine firm arch support, a cushioned heel, and either a moderate heel drop or a rocker sole. Almost everyone does better with a removable insole so an orthotic can go in. Flat, unsupportive shoes are the ones to avoid, because they put maximum strain on the fascia.
Top pick: HOKA Clifton 10 (~£150)
What to look for · Compare the picks · Top picks by category · What to avoid
Understanding Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain I see. It affects somewhere between 4% and 7% of adults at any given time. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue running along the bottom of your foot from the heel bone to the toes, and when it gets inflamed, you know about it.
The classic symptom is a sharp, stabbing pain in the heel. It's usually worst with your first steps in the morning or after you've been sitting for a while. It tends to ease once you get moving, but comes back if you're on your feet for a long stretch.
How Footwear Helps (and Hurts)
Bad shoes can cause plantar fasciitis and make existing cases worse. Flat, unsupportive footwear puts too much strain on the fascia. Shoes that are too tight compress the foot and stop it moving naturally.
Good shoes help by:
- Supporting the arch so there's less tension on the plantar fascia
- Cushioning the heel where the pain is worst
- Holding the foot in a neutral position to control overpronation
- Leaving room for an orthotic insole if you need one
What to Look For
Here's what I look for when fitting someone with plantar fasciitis:
- Firm arch support: the shoe needs a clearly defined arch, not a flat footbed. This takes pressure off the heel.
- Firm heel counter: a rigid heel cup keeps the foot in place and stops the excess movement that irritates the fascia.
- Moderate heel drop or a rocker sole: a slightly elevated heel (8 to 12mm drop) reduces the stretch on the plantar fascia. Lower-drop shoes can still work well if they have a rocker sole, which offloads the heel a different way; that's why cushioned rockers like HOKA keep showing up in my recommendations. Zero-drop shoes without a rocker tend to make things worse.
- Removable insole: you'll almost certainly benefit from orthotics, so the factory insole needs to come out.
- Rocker sole option: a curved sole that rolls the foot through the gait cycle. This takes strain off both the heel and the forefoot.
Compare the Top Picks
Every shoe recommended in this guide, side by side. Heel drop figures are the manufacturers' published numbers; where a brand doesn't publish one, the cell is blank.
| Shoe | Price | Best for | Widths | Heel drop | Removable insole | Orthotic rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOKA Clifton 10 | ~£150 | Road running and everyday | Standard, Wide | 8mm | Yes | 5/5 |
| New Balance 860v14 | ~£125 | Overpronation control | B to 4E | 8mm | Yes | 4/5 |
| Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 | ~£140 | Long distances | Standard, Wide, 2E | 10mm | Yes | 4/5 |
| HOKA Stinson 7 | ~£160 | Trails and rough ground | Narrow, Standard, Wide | 5mm | Yes | 4/5 |
| Vionic 23Walk 2.0 | £120 | Everyday walking | Wide (E) | Built in | 3/5 | |
| Skechers GO WALK Arch Fit | ~£70 | Budget everyday | Standard, Wide | Yes | 3/5 | |
| Clarks Un Loop | ~£65 | Office casual | Standard | Yes | 3/5 | |
| Hotter Faith II | ~£89 | Smart office wear | Standard, Wide | Yes | 4/5 | |
| DB Easy B range | from ~£75 | Extra-wide fittings | 2E to 8E | Yes | 4-5/5 | |
| Joya Chicago | £195 | Rocker sole, all-day standing | Standard | Yes | 4/5 | |
| Vionic Reese | £95 | Summer sandal | Wide (E) | Built in | 3/5 | |
| Birkenstock Arizona | ~£90 | Moulded-footbed sandal | Narrow, Regular | Yes | 4/5 |
Top Picks by Category
These are shoes I regularly recommend for plantar fasciitis. All are available in the UK.
Running Shoes
- HOKA Clifton 10 (~£150): loads of cushioning with a meta-rocker sole that takes impact off the heel. Wide toe box and removable insole. I recommend these constantly.
- New Balance 860v14 (~£125): stability shoe with a medial post for overpronation control. Comes in multiple widths and the insole pops out for custom orthotics.
- Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 (~£140): the GuideRails system limits excess foot movement without rigid posts. Comfortable over long distances. Available in wide fittings.
- HOKA Stinson 7 (~£160): the most stack height in the HOKA range, in three widths. The one to pick if your heel pain flares on trails and rough ground. The removable insole takes orthotics well.
Everyday Shoes
- Vionic 23Walk 2.0 (£120): the remake of Vionic's classic Walker, with the same podiatrist-designed arch support and firm heel counter built in. One caveat: Vionic doesn't state the insole is removable, so if you wear custom orthotics, pick something with a confirmed removable insole instead.
- Skechers GO WALK Arch Fit (~£70): solid arch support at a good price. Lightweight, machine washable, and a decent starting point if you're not sure what you need yet.
- Clarks Un Loop (~£65): unstructured leather with a removable insole and cushioned footbed. Smart enough for the office and genuinely comfortable for plantar fasciitis.
Work Shoes
- Hotter Faith II (~£89): a smart leather loafer with a removable OrthoLite insole, in standard and wide fittings. The low wedge gives a helpful heel raise, and it looks right in an office.
- DB Wider Fit Shoes Easy B range (from ~£75): extra-wide fittings up to 8E with removable insoles across the range. Built for comfort and works well with orthotics.
Sandals
- Vionic Reese (£95): a slingback with contoured arch support, a deep heel cup, and genuinely adjustable hook-and-loop straps. One of the few sandals I'd actually recommend for plantar fasciitis.
- Birkenstock Arizona (~£90): the cork footbed moulds to your foot over time, giving you personalised arch support. The deep heel cup keeps things stable.
Want more options? Browse all plantar-fasciitis-rated shoes in the database.
Important Note on Rocker Soles
Rocker sole shoes have a curved profile from heel to toe. Your foot rolls through the gait cycle with less bending at the toe joints and less impact at the heel. Three brands do this well:
- HOKA: meta-rocker geometry across their range
- MBT: the original rocker sole brand, designed for rehabilitation
- Joya: a Swiss brand with soft, curved soles for joint relief. The Joya Chicago is in our database with a full rating.
A note on the brands: HOKA and Joya models here are rated picks in our database. MBT we haven't rated yet, so treat it as a brand suggestion worth trying on rather than a tested recommendation.
If you spend long hours on hard surfaces (warehouse floors, shop floors, hospital corridors), rocker soles are worth trying. They cut peak pressure under the heel and forefoot noticeably.
What to Avoid
Some shoes will make plantar fasciitis worse. Avoid these:
- Flip-flops: no arch support, no heel cushioning, and the gripping motion you need to keep them on strains the fascia directly.
- Flat shoes: ballet flats, plimsolls, and anything completely flat puts maximum stretch on the fascia.
- Worn-out trainers: running shoes lose their cushioning after 400 to 500 miles. I see people all the time still wearing trainers that gave up months ago.
- High heels over 3cm: a moderate heel drop helps, but anything over 3cm shifts weight to the forefoot and changes your gait in ways that stress the fascia.
Stretching and Orthotics
Shoes alone won't fix plantar fasciitis. You need to stretch as well, ideally every day. Here are the ones that actually help:
- Calf stretches against a wall (hold for 30 seconds, repeat 3 times per side)
- Plantar fascia stretch: pull toes back gently towards the shin while seated
- Towel scrunches: place a towel on the floor and scrunch it towards you using your toes
- Rolling a frozen water bottle under the foot for both stretch and pain relief
Tip: Night splints hold the foot in a dorsiflexed position while you sleep, maintaining a gentle stretch on the plantar fascia. Many NHS podiatrists recommend them for persistent cases, and they are available over the counter for £20 to £40.