Foot pain and discomfort is very common. According to a survey, over three million people suffer from some kind of foot pain every year and there are various reasons for it.
Some people experience foot pain because of bunions, some have hammer toes, and some suffer from plantar fasciitis that causes painful heels and forefeet.
It is a fact that women get more affected by plantar fasciitis because of walking 3 miles more than men. Also, 9 out of 10 women wear small shoes on a regular basis that is another reason for growing plantar fasciitis pain.
So, the best way to deal with plantar fasciitis is to wear the right pair of shoes. They must be comfortable, have a good arch support, and must have a cushioned and supportive insole. Also, there must be a wide toe box along with an outsole that provides more traction.
Here in this article, we are going to review seven best dress shoes for plantar fasciitis both for men and women so that both the genders can walk without pain.
Top 7 Dress Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
1: Rockport Men’s Sharp and Ready Colben Oxford – Overall Best Dress Shoes for Men
Materials: This Rockport casual shoe is the best dress shoe for men that can help you in walking comfortably without the pain of plantar fasciitis. 100% soft and genuine leather is used for its construction to give you quality and comfort.
Upper: It has a soft and flexible leather upper featuring a lace-up style with blind eyelets. Also, the logo of Rockport is debossed on its tongue.
Lining: The soft knitted fabric lining ensures you feel real comfort no matter how long you keep the shoes on.
Outsole: The outsole of the shoe is made up of EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate). It is a rubber-like material that provides softness and flexibility and improves the stability and traction.
Footbed: The shoes are featured with a latex foam footbed that provides an extreme level of cushioning to reduce foot fatigue. These insoles are removable so that you can easily add the orthotics.
Sizes and Widths: The shoes are available in extended sizes and widths to help you in easily getting the right fit according to your feet size and width.
My Opinion:
Pros: It is a lightweight shoe made up of 100% leather, perfect for casual or office use. Both the inner and outer parts of the shoe are well constructed. It has a good cushioning system that provides real comfort to your heel and toes, has a synthetic sole with good gripping, and is available in extended widths and sizes.
Cons: Your feet may sweat a lot.
2: Orthofeet Proven Gramercy Men’s Oxford Shoes – Best under $150
Money-back Guarantee: The Orthofeet Company promises to return its users a full refund if they fail to get the required comfort and support. You can avail this offer within 60 days after purchasing your product.
Lining: Seam-free fabric lining along with extra padding inside the shoes provide a superior level of comfort and protection to the feet.
Sizes and Widths: The shoes are available in different sizes and widths to make it easy for everyone to get a perfect fit.
Insole: With anatomical arch support and additional cushioning layers, the orthotic insoles help you to get real comfort. Your foot, heel, knees, hips and lower back pains will surely be reduced when you move with these orthotic insoles.
Toe Box: The wide toe box of the shoe is there to help those who have Bunions and Hammer toes. This wide toe box eases pressure on your sensitive feet.
Outsole: The outsole of the shoe is also ergonomically designed featuring air cushioning for extreme comfort during each step. Also, it is firm and has a good grip.
My Opinion:
Pros: Made with 100% genuine leather, this Orthofeet Proven Gramercy men shoes is extremely comfortable to use. Its wide toe box allows the bunions and hammer toes to accommodate well. Also, its excellent cushioning system provides the ultimate level of comfort and support.
Cons: Poor customer service.
3: Rockport Men’s Almartin Oxford – Price Range from $48 to $100
Upper: Another dress shoe from Rockport is in our list but it is different in design and quality. It has the same 100% leather upper featuring a lace-up style with blind eyelets, but the small dots are spread at the front, back, and side areas of the shoe.
Collar and Tongue: The collar and tongue of this shoe are padded to prevent swelling and lace bruising. No matter how long you keep the shoes on, they will make you feel comfortable all the time.
Footbed: The shoes are featured with sponge EVA footbeds that adjust automatically according to the shape of your feet for a personalized fit.
Outsole: There is a Polyurethane outsole that is heavier than EVA outsole but holds up better. This PU outsole provides excellent shock absorption to keep your feet safe from fatigue.
Sizes and Widths: No matter whether you need a narrow, wide, or an extra-wide shoe, there are shoes of every size and width.
My Opinion:
Pros: It is a well-made and comfortable shoe that is ideal for wearing in formal gatherings. Its good-looking design, durability, comfortable and cushioned insoles, and PU outsole increase its worth.
Cons: According to some users its sole is not durable.
4: Ariat Women’s Steel Toe Safety Clog – Overall Best Dress Shoes for Women
Upper: If you are looking for the best dress shoes for women to comfort plantar fasciitis, then you can go for this clog from Ariat. It is a fine shoe featuring a full-grain leather upper with amazing stitched detailing. The company’s logo is also debossed on the side of the shoe.
Lining: It has a leather lining that is the best of all. It is quite soft and durable, adjusts according to the shape of the foot, and allows the air to pass through.
Footbed: A cushioned leather footbed provides great level of comfort and support to make every step of your life peaceful.
ATS Technology: ATS stands for Advanced Torque Stability Technology that provides excellent support and cushioning to your feet as you move. It is responsible for promoting good posture and reducing fatigue.
Outsole: If we talk about its outsole, then it is a slip-resistant sole that grips the ground well.
My Opinion:
Pros: These are the comfortable and long-lasting shoes that are effective in reducing heel pain. Its ATS technology provides excellent support and cushioning and its outsole is slip-resistant.
Cons: The shoes are not designed to wear for longer period.
5: Vionic Women’s Ease Sydney Loafer – Best Women Loafers from Vionic
Design: This loafer has a sweet shorter vamp design with a signature metal saddle trim. It is a classic style shoe that is perfect to wear in offices or small gatherings to keep the plantar fasciitis pain out of the shoe.
Lining: The breathable leather lining of the loafer makes it quite a comfortable shoe to wear in summers. It keeps the moisture away for maximum comfort.
Footbed: There is a padded footbed featured with Orthaheel technology. This technology helps support the natural alignment of your foot and assists relieve heel pain. It reduces over-pronation by strengthening your foot muscles.
Outsole: The shoes are featured with a rubber outsole that grips the ground so well. It provides all-day traction to help you walk comfortably on any surface.
Size: They fit nicely and true to size,but it is better to go for a half size bigger shoes.
My Opinion:
Pros: Perfect loafers for women suffering from plantar fasciitis pain. Its padded footbed with Orthaheel technology provides excellent orthotic support and better shock absorption.
Cons: They are not durable. Also, its style is not comfortable for feet with moderate bunions.
6: Dunham Men’s Revdare – Price Range from $ 59 to $167
Upper: This Men’s Revdare from Dunham has a genuine leather upper with a traditional lace closure. Its seam-sealed waterproof construction featuring wingtip detailing and punctured medallion toe make it a durable and stylish shoe.
Lining: Synthetic lining of the shoe gives a soft touch. It makes you feel comfortable all the time no matter how long you keep the shoes on.
Footbed: It is featured with a molded OrthoLite footbed that is removable. It is a lightweight and durable footbed that is breathable as well. Also, it provides an extreme level of cushioning and comfort.
Outsole: There is a ground contact EVA lug sole. It is a thick rubber sole made up of ethylene and vinyl acetate to improve the stability and traction of the shoes.
Shank: Shank is a supportive structure located between the insole and outsole. It is embedded into the midsole to support the arch.
My Opinion:
Pros: Its seam-sealed waterproof construction is the most appealing feature. Also, the removable OrthoLite footbed and the EVA lug sole keep you feel comfortable all the time.
Cons: Shoe sizes are not true. Also, its bottom heel is heavy.
7: Vionic Men’s Eddy Orthotic Leather Casual Moc Toe Boot Shoes – Best under $140
Upper: Another dress shoe from Vionic is in our list that you can purchase to deal with your plantar fasciitis pain, but it is for men. It has a leather and human made upper featuring grommet details and contrast stitching.
Footbed: A padded footbed with Orthaheel technology provides excellent support. It helps support the natural alignment of your foot and reduces over-pronation.
Outsole: There is a rubber outsole that is the best option for added traction and durability in any type of weather.
Lining: The inner part of the shoes is also made up of leather that is breathable and soft. You can keep your shoes on for a longer period without any discomfort.
Toe Box: Its wide toe box helps you to walk easily without exerting any strain on your toes. A wider toe box always helps when you need to wear shoes for long. Your toes get enough space to stay in their original position.
My Opinion:
Pros: These Moc toe shoes are nice and comfortable. The Orthaheel technology works well, and its arch support is as good as others.
Cons: There is a question on the durability of the product. Also, the shoe sizes are not true.
Other brand shoes: Best Clarks Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
Guide to Buy Dress Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
It is quite important to treat plantar fasciitis as you may experience severe pain that may turn into a disability if left untreated. So, along with pain killers and exercises, it is also necessary to wear the best supportive shoes so that you can move here and there without any discomfort.
To get the best dress shoes for plantar fasciitis, you should have to consider the following features.
Lightweight Materials: Try to buy those dress shoes that are made up of lighter materials. The lighter the materials will be, the more it will be better for the plantar. Leather is the best material among all but make sure that the leather used is not that heavy. You can also go for synthetic and textile made shoes as they are lighter in weight.
Arch Support: Arch support is necessary to get rid of the heel pain. But make sure that it corresponds to your feet’s contours. A perfect level of cushioning support will help you to get your feet to respond according to the contours. Too much or too little arch support may worsen your pain; therefore, the mid-level arch support, according to your feet curves, is a necessary thing.
Removable Footbeds: Shoes with removable footbeds are best to buy as they allow you to replace them with more cushioned and supportive ones. Although these footbeds come with the best technologies to comfort your feet, if you need additional support and cushioning, then you have the option of replacing them with the best ones.
Cushioning System: Shoes with superior cushioning are ideal to purchase. Whether it is an insole or midsole, additional cushioning provides not only extreme level of comfort but also offers great support to your feet.
Outsole: To check the outsole of your shoes is also very important. Dress shoes for plantar fasciitis come with different outsoles. You will find rubber, EVA, and PU made outsoles. But rubber is the best option to go with. You will find both traction and comfort with the rubber outsole. But it doesn’t mean that EVA and PU are not the good options. EVA also provides softness and flexibility and improves stability and traction. It is also lighter than PU, and PU is excellent for shock absorption.
Lining: The last thing that you should check is the inner part of your shoes. Soft, breathable fabric is a must. If you are looking for the shoes to wear for a longer period on a daily basis, then their inner part must be comfortable.
Is a dress shoe better for plantar fasciitis?
It all depends on your needs. No matter whether you select a dress shoe or a casual shoe; as long as it is comfortable, provides good support and cushioning, and makes you feel better, it is ideal for you.
So, if you are looking for a dress shoe to deal with your everyday plantar fasciitis pain, then make sure it is lighter in weight and has a cushioned insole and midsole. Also, a good arch support and an outsole with excellent traction is a must.
Is it necessary to select the dress shoes with removable footbeds?
It is not necessary, but if you go with removable footbeds, then it will be beneficial for you in the future. They will give you extreme level of comfort and then at any stage,if you feel that the footbeds are not working well for you then you have the option of replacing them with orthotic insoles.
Does Orthofeet shoe help with plantar fasciitis?
Almost all the Orthofeet shoes come with orthotic insoles featuring anatomical arch support and additional cushioning layers. So, these insoles help you to get real comfort and reduce your heel and foot pain.
But it is not necessary that every plantar fasciitis sufferer get their perfect match shoes; however, additional support and padding under the heel and forefoot areas relieve extra pressure on the foot that may suit most of the users.
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