Women’s Health

The 5 Best Walking Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis, Tested and Reviewed by a Fitness Editor

We all start the New Year off with lofty fitness goals. Mine at the beginning of the year? Walking half-marathons weekly with my Merach Walking Pad, on top of running in three races—a one-mile dash, a four-miler in the heart of Central Park, and (hopefully) a half-marathon. So far, I've been keeping my walking and running resolutions on track. However, my feet have never taken all that mileage lightly. I used to have chronic knee pain when I started running, but as my legs got stronger, I had a new problem pop up: foot pain.

It's frustrating to stop and start training regimens, but the reality is, athletes get injured. (Though you can help prevent injuries by following a training plan, like our 4-Week Walking Plan.) While that helps out with my imposter syndrome, it curtails my running performance. I have yet to see a podiatrist, but I already know about the dreaded plantar fasciitis that plagues runners and walkers alike—that stabbing-like pain under the heel and into the arch. While I’m particular about my running shoes, I’m amping up my non-run shoe lineup to give my arches the utmost support when strolling hard and recovering.