A comprehensive list of the best sandals for Plantar Fasciitis in 2021
Shop the best plantar fasciitis recovery sandals so far!
According to the Mayo Clinic, Plantar Fascia is a band of tissue running along the bottom of your foot connecting your heel to your toes. If the tension of the plantar fascia tissue becomes too great, the tissue becomes irritated, inflamed, and small tears in the tissue can form. If you are reading this article you probably are already aware of this and know that the pain can be absolutely brutal and it often escalates after physical exercise. Plantar fasciitis is can strike at any time and if it gets bad enough, some people end up needing injections or even plantar fasciitis surgery. Do you deal with flare-ups from Plantar Fasciitis? Recovery sandals could be a good option to help manage your foot pain which is why we put together a comprehensive list of the best sandals for plantar fasciitis. These are the best plantar fasciitis sandals available right now in 2021!
The Top 14 Sandals for Plantar Fasciitis
BEST OVERALL RECOVERY SANDAL
1.
OOFOS Recovery Slide Sandals
Unisex Sandal
The Oofos Recovery Slide won’t win any fashion awards for its somewhat plain looks, but if substance over style is your thing, then don’t pass on this awesome pair of sandals. Out of all the sandals, I have tried this is tops my list in many categories. It is a unisex sandal so you can buy it for men or women. Oofos claims that the materials used in the construction of this pair of sandals can absorb 37% more impact than traditional footwear. Reducing impact is one of the main reasons recovery sandals can be so effective when dealing with plantar fasciitis.
Oofos recovery sandals use a rocker bottom midsole to decrease the impact on key areas of the foot. The high-density foam on this sandal provides incredible support throughout the sandal, especially in the arches. These sandals are fully machine washable and easy to clean when they get dirty. The Oofos recovery slide comes in a variety of colors and even has a flip-flop version that made our list further down.
BEST CUSHION RECOVERY SANDAL
2.
Hoka One One Slide Sandals
Unisex Sandal
The Hoka One One are very similar to the Oofos sandals on most fronts. They are easily washable, comfortable, and have a lot of padding. In fact, these have more padding than even the Oofos do. This can be a good thing for the support and impact implications, but it also makes the sandals feel a bit more masculine and even a bit clunky. The Hoka One One Recovery slides come in various colors and have some bright color combinations. The company uses a special EVA foam that they designed that is ultra-dense and lightweight to provide extra support but making the sandals extremely light. These sandals sport the same rocker style midsole as the Oofos sandals to reduce impact and pressure on key points like the heel which is crucial when dealing with plantar fasciitis.
BEST RECOVERY SANDAL FOR STYLE
3.
Birkenstock Arizona Sandals
Men’s Sandal
Women’s Sandal
The Birkenstock Arizona sandals are a staple look from Birkenstock that has been around forever and they still look great today. If you are looking for a sandal that provides support and comfort while remaining semi fashionable, then these are some of the best options out there. The Birkenstocks are topped with soft wool and the footbed is layered in fluffy wool. The sandals feature a deep heel cup and strong arch support that is supposed to simulate the support of the best closed-toe shoes. These sandals offer a unique design that is great for those with plantar fasciitis.
BEST FLIP FLOP RECOVERY SANDAL
4.
Vionic Wave Orthotic Sandal
Unisex Sandal
If flip-flop style is your game and you are just not feeling the idea of switching to a slide, then these sandals from Vionic are as good as they get. The Vionic Wave is a unisex sandal that has Received APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) Seal of Acceptance. The sandal features a nylon webbing and the footbed is designed to “hug” your arches and provide your foot with all the support it could need. The extra support should help reduce impact and be ideal for those with plantar fasciitis.
One of the things many people often rave about with these sandals is their durability. If you want sandals that have a good build quality and should last, then these could be a good choice. Vionic also makes a similar sandal called the Vionic Tide that comes in both a men’s version and a women’s version. It is very similar to the unisex sandal, but caters more to the width of men’s and women’s feet. This sandal could be a good option, especially for women, as it caters better to more narrow feet in the women’s version.
FLIP FLOP RECOVERY SANDAL
5.
Olukai Ohana Sandals
Men’s Sandal
Women’s Sandal
Another brilliantly crafted flip flop design, that is built with comfort and durability in mind. So much so that they offer a 1-year warranty on all of their sandals. This sandal offers a “drop-in” footbed to create a more natural fit that helps it adhere to your foot when walking. The Ohana sandals offer a super comfortable fit and the compression-molded EVA foam provides enough support in the arches and overall comfort for all-day wearing. On top of that, these sandals are just great-looking flip-flops, in the world of recovery sandals, these offer a much better-looking flip-flop if that is important to you. I mean, if you are going to be battling plantar fasciitis, who says you can’t do it in style?
RECOVERY SLIDE
6.
Gone For a Run PR Soles
Unisex Recovery Slides
Unisex Recovery Flip Flops
PR Soles make a lot of our lists when it comes to orthotic sandals. They offer a recovery slide and a flip-flop version which both are great. We prefer slides over flip flops for recovery purposes and because of the way flip flops impact your walk. That being said we know there are plenty of people who live and die for flip-flops which is why we want to make sure that if you are getting flip-flops, you are getting the best ones for your feet. PR Soles were designed specifically for tired and achy feet and they use a proprietary design called ACUPOINT to massage the foot and activate the nerves. The thick padding on the PR Sandals conforms to your foot and feels great. The ACUPOINT design within the sole provides a bit of a massage when walking which is great for people with plantar fasciitis. The only gripe I have with the PR Soles is that they really do not provide any arch support which can be a dealbreaker for some.
SPORTS RECOVERY SANDAL
7.
Ecco Yucatan Toggle Sandal
Men’s Sandals
Women’s Sandals
The Ecco Yucatan toggle sandal is a women’s sandal and is definitely not a cheap sandal. The men’s version would be the Ecco Yucatan Sport Sandal. In fact, it is one of the more expensive ones on our list. That being said this is an amazing pair of sandals. We absolutely love the Toggle Sandal! This sandal is more of a sports sandal first with some recovery sandal qualities. It has a classic velcro two-strap design for a custom fit with a rubber outer sole making it durable for rougher surfaces. The sandal utilizes a synthetic sole that can stretch and flex with a microfiber cover for a super-soft cushion feel. This makes it an excellent sandal for plantar fasciitis flare-ups. On top of that this sandal is not limited to one or two color options but actually comes in up to 45 different color combinations. This is definitely up there for one of the best active lifestyle sandals if that is your game.
SPORTS RECOVERY SLIDE
8.
Oofos Sport Flex Slide
Unisex Slide
It has everything you love in the classic slide but with a modern spin and adjustable top strap for a more custom fit. It still comes with their unique special design that is supposed to decrease the impact on the heel and toes which should provide relief for the plantar fascia tissue that is inflamed. The “oofoam” is supposed to decrease impact by up to 37%. The patented footbed cradles the heel and actively supports the arches. Each pair of oofos sandals has been granted the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance.
RECOVERY FLIP FLOP
9.
Telic Energy Flip Flop
Unisex Flip Flop
The Telic Energy flip flop is a classic style flip flop that utilizes heat-sensitive materials that allow the sandal to mold to your feet for a custom fit. The Telic sandals are designed for people who have achy feet but still have an active lifestyle and want to keep on the move and be comfortable. These sandals are completely waterproof, so if they get dirty just hose them off or toss them in the washing machine. Telic mentions in their description their sandals “are recommended for alleviation of foot ailments such as joint pain, bunions, and plantar fasciitis”.
ACTIVE LIFESTYLE SANDAL
10.
KEEN Newport H2 Sandals
Unisex Flip Flop
The Keen Newport Sandals come in both men’s and women’s options with a variety of colors. These sandals are very durable and built for activity. The Keen Newport Sandals give you the benefit of a shoe having a closed toe which will protect your toes from rocks or uneven terrain. The closed toes will make them sweat more and for some people, this could lead to rubbing and irritation. The sandals do offer excellent padding and cushion using compression-molded EVA foam for support in the midsole. If you are looking for a plantar fasciitis sandal that protects your toes or has more shoe-like features this could be a great option for you.
RECOVERY FLIP FLOP
11.
Hoka Ora Recovery Flip
Men’s Flip Flop
Women’s Flip Flop
When it comes to overall padding and support on a recovery sandal designed to help fight the pain of plantar fasciitis, there are few better than the Hoka one one ora recovery sandals. They come in men’s and women’s options but they are very similar. The overall construction of the shoe is very similar to the slide version of this sandal, which we have as one our top picks. Its made of highly durable and comfortable materials making it an excellent option a plantar fasciitis sandal. However, the design is rather plain and it has very limited color options. If this is not important to you, then you will likely love this pair for recovery sandals.
RECOVERY SANDAL
12.
Vionic Amber Women’s Sandal
Women’s Sandal
This pair of sandals comes in a women’s option only but it is most assuredly one of the most fashion-focused sandals on this list. If you want to be able to dress up in just about any attire and have a pair of sandals that will work with that outfit, then the Vionic Women’s Amber Sandals are a pair to check out. They may have a lot more style but they definitely are not lacking on the substance side either. The Vionic Amber Women’s Sandal offers 4 straps for customized fit and has a super comfortable EBA footbed. The arch support on these sandals is fantastic and you will most certainly be able to feel the difference if you normally wear cheap sandals. It comes in multiple colors so you can find the right color to match your style.
ACTIVE LIFESTYLE RECOVERY SANDAL
13.
Keen Whisper Sandal
Women’s Sandal
The Keen Whisper sandal is very similar to the Keen Newport sandal above, in that they both share a shoe-like design with a closed toe. The primary difference is that the whisper sandal is ladies’ sandal only and as result, it is more narrow and just feels more dainty. The Newport sandal has a more rugged design and covers more of your toes which makes it great for hiking and outdoorsy people. While the Newport sandal has a women’s option, many customers have found that the overall comfort is better on the whisper sandal for ladies. Both sets of sandals utilize a rugged bungee-type lacing system which is surprisingly effective and convenient. They are very comfortable and have great support for those who find themselves looking for a more active sandal vs a lounge and casual sandal.
ACTIVE LIFESTYLE RECOVERY SANDAL
14.
Spenco Fusion 2 Sandal
Men’s Sandal
The Spenco is technically a men’s slide, but we have found it really is more of a unisex slide. It also happens to run small and narrow in its sizing so plan on sizing up a full size for men. It is fairly plain in design but it doesn’t skimp out on the padding. The spenco sendal is great for plantar fasciitis because of its orthotic grade arch support and heel cupping features. This makes for an excellent recovery sandal at a reasonable price.