The Best Running Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis For All Foot Types

Plantar Fasciitis can be extremely painful and discouraging if it persists without any cure. We have listed the best running shoes for plantar fasciitis based purely on their design.

This buying guide will cover shoes for all foot types, so without further adieu, we give you the top 10 running shoes for plantar fasciitis:

Top Rated Running Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis - 2018

1. New Balance Vazee Prism V2

Best Arch Support Running Shoe For Plantar Fasciitis

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2. Brooks Addiction 12

Most Durable Running Shoe For Plantar Fasciitis

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3. Mizuno Wave Catalyst 2

Most Comfortable Running Shoe For Plantar Fasciitis

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1. New Balance Vazee Prism V2

Comfort
100%
Durability
95%
Arch Support
100%

The New Balance Vazee Prism V2 is built for the moderate to excessive over-pronator.

It comes with a removable foot-bed that provides ample cushioning, but can also be swapped out for your very own orthotics.

The upper comes in a synthetic mesh material that is extremely breathable. This comes in handy when running on those hot summer days.

This New Balance Vazee Prism V2 provides a fast and responsive feel while running. A rare trait for shoes having medial posts and providing this much arch support.

Who is this running shoe for?

The New Balance Vazee Prism is an excellent option for those of you with flat feet and plantar fasciitis.

This is truly a rare shoe, providing a lightweight, fast and aggressive ride.

An excellent option for those looking for that element of support while still having a fast paced ride.

2. Brooks Addiction 12

Comfort
90%
Durability
100%
Arch Support
95%

The Brooks Addiction 12 is a shoe that was built to produce the best bio-mechanical motion out of your gait.

The heel to toe drop is a whopping 12 mm, which is going to keep a lot of pressure off your heel and help transfer that weight to the forefoot. This will allow your heel to recover and heal over time.

This is great shoe for guidance and control for those who tend to over-pronate and have plantar fasciitis injuries.

These shoes will easily bring you 300 to 500 miles of road use, one of the most durable running shoes out on the market today.

The shoe is a bit on the heavy side, but is probably one of the best out there for plantar fasciitis and flat feet.

Another great shoe from Brooks is the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 17 as well as the Brooks Beast 16.

Who is this running shoe for?

The Brooks Addiction 12 is a shoe built for those of you who are addicted to comfort.

It is the complete package, built for those of you with flat feet and plantar fasciitis.

The Brooks Addiction 12 is  durable running shoe built to last.

3. Mizuno Wave Catalyst 2

Comfort
95%
Durability
95%
Arch Support
95%

The Mizuno Wave Catalyst is a lightweight shoe that is great for the overpronator. The shoe provides excellent stability while providing a lightweight, flexible response.

A removable foam insole allows you to replace it with your own custom orthotics, an excellent feature for those of you nursing a fresh plantar fasciitis injury.

The uppers on this shoe are breathable and have a very open feel to them. While the mesh grips onto the foot giving that snug feel.

The Mizuno Wave Catalyst’s use X-10 carbon rubber on the sole which really extends the durability of the shoe.

This shoe balances the support required for everyday training along with the light-weighted responsiveness suitable for feeling fast.

Who is this running shoe for?

This is a good running shoe for those of you who want a lightweight responsive ride on a stability running shoe.

4. Saucony Kinvara 7

Comfort
95%
Durability
95%
Arch Support
90%

If you want to go really fast then the Saucony Kinvara is the running shoe for you. This is Saucany’s long distance fast running shoe.

The Saucony Kinvara is known for being extremely lightweight, having a responsive feel along with adequate comfort and flexibility.

There are a lot of features packed into one running shoe. So let’s get into what each feature actually brings to the table and what that means to you.

In the Kinvara 7, Saucony introduced its Everrun compound material in the heel, but in the Kinvara 8 the company has introduced it’s full length Everrun mid sole. This ensures that the shoes won’t flatten out, allowing you to use these shoes over and over again.

The upper has been stripped down even more from the 7 and that’s always good thing. It gives the shoe a sock like fit which reduces slippage and friction.

Although a lot has changed on the Saucony Kinvara 8, if you want to go a little lighter on your pocket, you can always go in for the Saucony Kinvara 7.

This is hands down one of the longest lasting, fast running shoes on the market.

Who is this running shoe for?

The Saucony Kinvara 7 and 8 are excellent running shoes for those of you looking for running shoe that will last a really long time.

The mid-foot support system provides ample support for mild to moderate over-pronators.

5. New Balance 1540 Running Shoe

Comfort
90%
Durability
85%
Arch Support
100%

The New Balance 1540 is a motion control shoe for all you flat footed runners suffering from plantar fasciitis.

These shoes have a medial post on the inside of the shoe preventing over-pronation.

Some problems with shoes is that when they start to break down, the shoe will tend to supinate, which is not a healthy movement for your foot. What we really like about the New Balance 1540 is that the shoe compensates for this by employing a lateral post as well.

This limits the amount of break down on the outside of the shoe, preventing over correction and consequently correcting supination as well.

The insole on the New Balance 1540 is a flat and stable platform. This enhances stability for heavier runners.

The New Balance 1540 V2 also comes with a removable insole, which can be easily replaced with custom orthotics.

The shoe also has a nice rocker from heel to toe assisting with roll through every step of the way.

Who is this shoe for?

This is a versatile running shoe for those of you suffering from flat feet and plantar fasciitis.

It addresses a wide variety of incorrect movement patterns and is also an excellent choice for heavier runners.

6. Saucony Triumph ISO 3

Comfort
90%
Durability
85%
Arch Support
100%

The Saocony Triumph ISO’s are one of the better shoes being made by Saucony. This is an excellent shoe for those of you who are a fan of the brand and have plantar fasciitis.

These shoes offer a neutral, well cushioned ride.

On a side note, not a lot has changed on this model from the previous editions. So if you want to spend a little less, you can always look at the original Triumph ISO’s or The Triumph ISO 2’s.

The Saucony ISO is a flexible shoe, but make no mistake it is quite supportive. While we would not recommend this to severe to moderate over-pronators, these shoes are a great fit for those with neutral.

The Everun foam technology produces cushioning with a bouncy spring like feel. It provides that extra spring in your step while running.

This is a very versatile shoe and can be taken on long runs as well as your short to medium runs.

It also comes with a wide toe box, allowing your toes to breathe and spread. This helps reduce friction and blistering in the area.

Who is this running shoe for?

This running shoe if great for those of you with plantar fasciitis who ave neutral arches and are mild over-pronators.

This is also a good option for those of you who have wide feet.

7. New Balance 1080 V7

Comfort
90%
Durability
80%
Arch Support
80%

For those of you with wide feet looking for a long distance runner the New Balance Fresh Foam just might be the shoe for you.

This is an extremely comfortable and breathable shoe that comes with a no-sew upper. This means that there are no stitches or seams on the inside which can irritate the foot.

The thick mid sole provides for excellent impact protection. While the forefoot is flexible due to the presence of flex grooves.

The mid sole continues with a slightly stiffer heel that provides extra support to your foot.

Who is this running shoe for?

The New Balance 1080’s are an excellent choice of shoe for runners with wide feet. The toe box easily accommodates wider feet adding to the comfort by allowing your toes to stretch.

The stiffer heel offers additional support to the arch, which helps alleviate pain in the long run.

8. Nike Dual Fusion Run 3

Comfort
95%
Durability
75%
Arch Support
80%

The Nike Dual Fusion Run 3 is built for the neutral runner or the mild over-pronator looking for some reliable padding under the foot.

The upper is built from a breathable single mesh layer, along with synthetic overlays for structural support that keep your foot snug inside the shoe.

As you already know, we are huge fans of removable insoles and this shoe has access to the same.

Removable insoles are especially important for those with mild to severe injuries or deformation in the foot. As this allows to replace the existing insole with orthotics to suit your individual needs.

Who is this running shoe for?

What we love about the Nike Dual Fusion Run 3, is it’s versatility. It can be used as-is by neutral runners and mild over-pronators.

But moderate to high over-pronators and those with flat feet can also use this shoe by switching out the insole for more supportive orthotics.

9. Asics Gel Nimbus 19

Comfort
90%
Durability
80%
Arch Support
80%

If you are a neutral runner suffering from Plantar Fasciitis, then the Asics Gel Nimbus is the shoe of choice for you.

With a heel to toe drop of 11 mm, this keeps the fascia from stretching excessively whilst providing adequate cushioning at the heel.

The padding around the heel of the shoe is a bit excessive but settles down after a couple of runs making the shoe fit like a glove. These shoes are very durable and will last a really long time.

Who is this running shoe for?

This is an excellent running shoe for those of you with neutral arches who are looking for a long lasting running shoe.

The excessive cushioning in the heel of the sole will help relieve pain in the heel until the shoe settles in.

10. Asics Gel Exalt Running Shoe

Comfort
80%
Durability
75%
Arch Support
85%

The Asics Exalt 3 has extremely breathable uppers with a synthetic mesh on top giving that classic Asics runner look.

The molded foam insole on the interior is very lightweight and is removable. Removable insoles get extra points from us as they allow you to use your own custom orthotics if need be.

The Shoe also provides excellent shock absorption for a plush ride making your run that much more comfortable.

Asics Duomax technology provides excellent support on the midfoot and arch making this an excellent shoe for those of you with flat feet as well as Plantar Fasciitis.

Who is this shoe for?

This one is for those neutral to moderate overpronators who require additional stability. Great for both neutral as well as flat footed runners.

Combating Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is on of the most common causes of heel pain. If you are experiencing heel pain on your first step in the morning, then what you are experiencing plantar fasciitis.

The pain can feel like a sharp dagger, a stone bruise, a deep throbbing or a dull ache at the bottom of the heel. It is caused by the tearing, inflammation or degeneration of the plantar fascia which is a long ligament in the bottom of the foot.

This inflammation is the result of small micro tears in the plantar fascia. The inflammation causes pain on the inside of the heel where this ligament (the Plantar Fascia) inserts on the heel bone.

The traction on the heel bone from stress on the Plantar Fascia, may cause a heel spur to form. Although, heel spurs are commonly seen on X-Rays, they are rarely the cause of pain.

Causes of Plantar Fasciitis for many is multi factorial.

The causes of these microscopic tears in the plantar fascia is a combination of the following:

  • Abnormal motion in the feet (usually over pronation)
  • Wearing non-supportive footwear
  • Wearing over-used or old footwear beyond their intended shelf life

Some common conservative therapies for this common heel problem include

  • Icing the area beneath the heel
  • Stretching the fascia
  • Heel lifting exercises
  • Wearing supportive shoes
  • Weight loss
  • Taping of the foot
  • Orthotics
  • Using night splints when sleeping

Shoes and orthotics designed for plantar fasciitis need to perform three essential tasks:

  1. Support the arch and the heel
  2. Lift the heel slightly
  3. Reduce over-pronation

What is interesting about Plantar Fasciitis is that people with both fallen arches or flat feet, as well as people with high arches are prone to this injury.

If you have flat feet, over-pronation while walking or running cause stress in the Fascia.

Whereas if you have high arches, as a result of shock absorption during walking or running, the fascia can over stretch between the heel and the toes.

No one is really safe from this demoralizing injury.

How to choose the right running shoe for Plantar Fasciitis

A good pair of supportive running shoes will have:

  1. Excellent arch support – The arch support will support the fascia, acting as a brace while helping it to recover properly from the injury.
  2. A raised heel – A raised heel reduces stress on the heel, shifting pressure to the toes while preventing excessive overstretching of the fascia between the heel and the toes.
  3. Will not flex at the mid foot – A shoe that flexes at the mid foot does not have adequate support and can cause inflammation to the fascia by overstretching it under pressure.
  4. Asymmetrical heels – An asymmetrical heel on the shoe is another feature that helps prevent over-pronation of the foot.

Conclusion:

While not a debilitating disease, plantar fasciitis can be extremely demoralizing. This injury gets carried around by patients for years on end and can sometimes be hard to treat.

A combination of common conservative therapy for plantar fasciitis should be your first line of defense against this injury. If the pain persists for months on end, it is advisable to visit your doctor.

For all other intents and purposes the shoes mentioned above are the best running shoes for plantar fasciitis in our opinion. We hope our buying guide will help you choose the best running shoes for your foot type.

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