Plantar Fasciitis is a condition you wouldn’t wish on anybody. The heel pain you experience in the morning can be so irritating. It can take away the motivation of going for your morning walk, run, or exercise. The pending discomfort at the end of your exercise or day’s activity fuels your frustration.
Your foot gets sore if you do not put on the right footwear. The right footwear provides the necessary cushioning and support for your foot. It reduces the amount of strain on your fascia.
Several shoe brands have taken this medical condition into consideration. They have designed shoes that are suitable for people with plantar fasciitis.
Nike is not left out on this trend. The brand has designed shoes that are suitable for people with plantar fasciitis.
Best Men’s Plantar Fasciitis Shoes
1. Nike Men’s Air Monarch IV Cross Trainer
We give this shoe the highest rating among the Nike shoes suitable for men with plantar fasciitis. This shoe is so comfortable. You can stride in them all day long. It literally feels like you’re walking on air. You can also stand in them for up to 10 hours a day.
It has a light-weight foam, with full length encapsulated air sole unit cushions that provide adequate cushioning for your foot. this feature cushions your heel and reduces the strain on your fascia. It protects your heel from the impact caused by every strike you make on the ground while walking, running or exercising, your heel.
The shoe has also gotten a lot of five-star ratings for excellent arch support. So, even after standing all day in this shoe, you’re likely not to feel any form of fatigue or soreness on your foot. It has an elevated heel, and a deep heel cup, with a firm heel counter. These features are very important as they provide a lot of heel support. The heels are quite bouncy.
The shoe makes a lot of squeaky noise though. But you can endure it. Because, at this point, your primary goal is to get a footwear that lessens the strain on your fascia. It’s heavier and thicker than a typical running shoe, so it is not suitable for long-distance running.
- Excellent cushioning for your heel. This reduces the stretch on your plantar fascia.
- Elevated heel, which provides heel support for your foot.
- Firm heel counter, which provides heel support for your foot.
- Rocker Soles
- Great arch support, even for those with flat feet.
- Firm sole with good resistance.
- Comes in a lot of sizes, even in extra wide sizes like E, EE, EEE, EEEE, EEEE
- Honestly Nothing
2. Nike Men’s Benassi Solarsoft Slide Sandal
We rate this sandal as the best men Nike sandal for plantar fasciitis. It has most of the excellent features that will provide the needed comfort for your foot.
The extra cushion on the sandal makes it quite soft. It absorbs the impact on your heel when walking, and the heel support is okay. You don’t even need to wear socks because the heels are so soft and comfortable.
The cushion on the sandal makes your feet sweat a lot. So, if you’re prone to sweating, your feet may get clammy. Obviously, it doesn’t have a heel counter. But it does have an elevated heel which is also very necessary for heel support.
Its arch support is fairly okay. You may find it suitable for your plantar fasciitis.
- Excellent cushioning for shock absorption on your heels. Elevated heels which is great for heel support.
- Fairly okay arch support.
3. Nike Men’s Air Zoom Pegasus 33
This is another suitable shoe for men with plantar fasciitis. This shoe is suitable for short distance running, walking, gym, and marathon. It has a cushion mid-sole and Zoom air units. These features provide cushioning for your foot. But the cushioning is more at the mid-foot area than at the heel.
It has a curved toe area, which rocks your feet, and is perfect for reducing the strain on your arch. It also has an elevated heel which provides great heel support for your foot. It provides fairly okay arch support.
- Adequate cushioning at the mid-foot area.3-star heel cushioning
- Elevated heels which is great for heel support.
- Firm heel counter
- Sole with good resistance
- Fairly okay arch support
- Fairly okay arch support
4. Nike Men’s Air Zoom Pegasus 34
It has all the features of Pegasus 33, and it is very suitable for men with plantar fasciitis.
But Pegasus 34 is slightly narrower and a little tighter on the foot than Pegasus 33. You may consider these little differences when you want to choose between the two.
- Adequate cushioning at the mid-foot area.3-star heel cushioning
- Elevated heels which is great for heel support.
- Firm heel counter
- Fairly okay arch support
Best Women’s Plantar Fasciitis Shoes
1. Nike Women’s Roshe One Trainers
Nike Roshe One trainers provide adequate cushioning that absorbs ground impact when you’re walking. It has a light foam sole unit and a solar-soft sock-liner. It has a removable insole. So, you can always replace it with a much more cushion insole if you need to do. It’s super lightweight and very comfortable.
It provides good arch support, and it has an elevated heel that provides heel support. Great for your workout at the gym, and for your everyday walk.
- 4-star rating for heel cushioning.
- Elevated heels which is great for heel support.
- Firm heel counter
- Good arch support
- A better rocker sole would have made the shoe perfect.
- Not fashioned for long distance running.
2. Nike Women’s Air Zoom Pegasus 33 Running
Just like the men’s zoom Pegasus 33, the women’s model is quite comfy too. The cushion mid-sole and Zoom air units provide cushioning for the foot, especially at the mid-foot area.
The arch support, rocker soles, elevated heels, and good heel counter, make this shoe suitable for women with plantar fasciitis. The shoe is lightweight and suitable for running.
- 3star rating for cushioning
- Elevated heel which is great for heel support.
- Rocker Soles
- Great arch support
- Heel cushioning is not so adequate
3. Nike Women’s Free Rn Flyknit Running shoe
This shoe has a zoom air cushion. But the cushion is not adequate to withstand the impact from long distance running. However, the cushion is enough for light running and for walking.
This shoe is lightweight, not bulky, stylish enough, and gives a perfect fit. It has an external heel counter with an elevated heel to provide heel support.
- 2-star rating for heel cushioning.
- Elevated heel which is great for heel support.
- External heel counter
- Sole with okay resistance
- Fairly okay arch support.
4. Nike Women’s Free 5.0+ Running Shoe
The shoe has some soft supportive cushion, which is okay for walks, light jogs, and light running by women with plantar fasciitis.
But, the high arch support, rocker soles and elevated heels, makes the shoe suitable for women with plantar fasciitis. And for those who love fashionable shoes, the shoe has quite a good style, lightweight and offers a good fit.
- Elevated heel which is great for heel support.
- Very curved toe with good rocker Soles
- High arch support
- 2-star rating for heel cushioning.
Why You Should Consider Picking Nike Shoe for Plantar Fasciitis
Nike understands that the type of shoes you wear helps reduce the risk of plantar fasciitis. The brand has designed shoes that cushion the heel, and provide good support to other areas of the foot. These shoes help lessen the strain on your fascia.
Some of Nike’s running shoes are also designed to help runners steer clear of plantar fasciitis. The brand has designed three types of shoes. These shoes are suitable for various run forms.
So, there is the:
- Nike Run Long shoes
- Nike Run Fast shoes
- Nike Run Strong shoes
But we will be focusing on Nike shoes that are most suitable for plantar fasciitis.
And we know that searching for the right shoe can be stressful. You’ll often try on a couple of shoes before getting the right one.
So, our priority is to save you the stress of searching for the right Nike shoe for your plantar fasciitis. We’ve chosen these shoes as the best Nike shoes for plantar fasciitis.
We made these picks based on research and customer reviews. So, read through this unbiased review and buying guide to make the right Nike choice.
Reasons Why These Nike Shoes are Suitable for Plantar Fasciitis
We want to help you the best way we can. So, we’ll give you some information on why these shoes are good for plantar fasciitis.
Some customers with plantar fasciitis have testified about the suitability of these shoes. These shoes effectively lessened the strain and discomfort on their foot.
We took our time to make our independent decision on whether these shoes have the ideal features to really help your plantar fasciitis. And we believe that they do have some ideal features appropriate for plantar fasciitis.
So, we’ve provided information on each of the shoes and what makes them suitable for plantar fasciitis. We’ve also highlighted the weak feature(s) in each of the shoes and this will also guide you when making your pick.
Things to Keep in Mind when Reading this Review
Sizing
The right-sizing may differ. Nike shoes are known to run smaller in size. So, if you’re making an online purchase, we advise that you order a size that is bigger than the normal size you wear.
For example, if you wear a size 10 Adidas, it’s best you order a size 10.5 Nike shoe.
Activity
The activity you intend to engage in determines the suitability of any of these shoes. Some of these shoes are pretty much okay for standing on your feet all day, walking, light running, and gym exercises, but not for long-distance running.
Quality and Durability
Since our focus is on the features that make these shoes suitable for your plantar fasciitis, we haven’t done the extra job of examining their quality and durability.
But, from the reviews we have seen so far, many customers have confirmed the fact that these shoes have great quality and durability.
You’ll ultimately have to decide that for yourself.
Things to Consider When Choosing Nike Shoe for Plantar Fasciitis
From the descriptions above, you may have noticed certain features that we have repeatedly mentioned. Features like arch support, heel support and adequate cushioning. These features are features that footwears, suitable for plantar fasciitis, must have.
So, when choosing your footwear, you should take into consideration the things which we will discuss below. This guide is really necessary as it will give you a mental picture of what to look out for in a footwear.
Totally Avoid Flat Heel or Neutral Heel Shoes
You may be wondering, “Why should I avoid flat heels?”
To effectively answer this question, I’ll need you to take a look at your foot. Look at the right side of your left foot, or if you want, look at the left side of your right foot.
Do you notice that the space between your big toe and your heel is shaped in the form of a bow? Do you notice that space does not come into complete contact with the ground? That space is the arch of your foot.
A couple of connective tissues run through that space (i.e. your arch). These tissues are called fascia or plantar fascia. In the same manner that a bowstring stretches across the bow, your fascia also stretches from the bottom part of your heel to the top of your toe.
And just like the tension in the bowstring holds the shape of the arch, the tension in the fascia also holds your arch and makes it springy. So, when you walk, tension is mounted on your fascia and it stretches. Too much stretch and your fascia begin to burn with strain.
Because of this, you need footwear which supports your heel and arch. This will help relieve some of the tension and stretch on your fascia. Shoes with flat heels rarely provide arch or heel support. This is the reason you must avoid them.
Go for Shoes with Elevated Heel
Unlike flat heel shoes, shoes with elevated heels give a lot of heel support. This is why they are highly recommended for plantar fasciitis. But please note, the emphasis is on ‘elevated heel’ and not ‘high heels’.
So, when picking your shoe, ensure that you watch out for the following:
- Elevated heel, say about one inch high. The elevated heel will help carry some of your weight, and lighten the burden on your heels;
- Firm Heel;
- Deep Heel Cup;
- Firm heel counter. So, squish the heel counter or try to bend it in to check if it is firm. If it is not firm, don’t pick the shoe. It will not give adequate support to your foot.
The Shoes Must Have Adequate Cushioning
In order to manage the pain from your plantar fasciitis and prevent it from increasing, it is important to get a shoe that absorbs the impact your heels have with the ground.
Because of this, you must go for footwear that has adequate cushioning. The cushions will help minimize or absorb the impact when you walk, jog, run, or exercise.
You must include cushioning as one of the important things on your checklist. Footwear with a lot of cushioning will take some of the pressure off your heel when it strikes the ground. And by extension, this will lessen the strain on your fascia.
Shoes with Good Sole Resistance
Shoes with soles that have a lot of resistance are the best for plantar fasciitis. So, go for these kinds of shoes. Try to avoid shoes that are very flexible.
In order to know how best to pick them, you should do the following
- Hold the heel and toe of the shoe at the same time.
- Try to bend the shoe towards you.
- If the sole collapses in the middle, or bends easily without any form of resistance, drop it. Don’t buy it!
- If the sole offers a lot of resistance, and bends gradually, then it has passed the test of resistance. It should be right for your feet.
Rocker Soles
Shoes with rocker soles are really great for plantar fasciitis. The shoe rocks your foot with each stride you take.
Shoes with curved up toes usually have rocker soles and they provide adequate toe rocking. So, the more the toe area curves up, the greater the probability that it will give that rocking motion to your foot.
This is necessary because the curved toe reduces the amount of stretch on your fascia when walking or running.
Good Arch Support
You really need a shoe that offers good support to your arch. Whether you have a high arch or even a flat foot, a shoe with great arch support will help ease the strain on your plantar fascia.
So, your ideal shoe will be one that has all or majority of the following features:
- An elevated heel with firm heel counter
- A curved-up toe and rocker soles
- An insole that provides lots of cushioning
- Thick outsole with good resistance
- Arch support
Wrapping it Up
We cannot overemphasize the importance of getting the right footwear for plantar fasciitis. Taking the time to get the right footwear will greatly benefit you. The Nike shoes we have chosen will provide adequate foot support to the essential parts of your foot. This will help control the strain on your fascia.
Some of the shoes give instant results. You may need to wear some others for a short period before experiencing the amazing effect.
It might sound cliché, but in all honesty, the right footwear can work healing miracles on your foot. This does not in any way demean the need for therapeutic exercises. These exercises also help the healing the process of your plantar fascia.
We’ve taken the time to highlight the essential things you need to consider when picking your shoe. Please take the information seriously and pick the right footwear.
Other factors like shoe size, quality and durability are factors you have to decide upon on your own. And also remember that your foot is unique, so you’re the best person to pick out the right shoe for you.
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