Best shoes for one bag travel for plantis facistis

My plantar fasciatis has drastically improved by wearing Hoka One's. They have saved my feet. I cannot praise them enough.

Plantar fasciitis has been discussed numerous times. Some of the more recent threads: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/best-travel-shoes/fashion-conscious-gal-with-wide-feet-and-plantar-fasciitis

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/best-travel-shoes/looking-forward-to-trying-aetrex-sandals

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/best-travel-shoes/women-s-ballet-flats-with-arch-support-for-summer-in-london

Use the search bar to locate additional threads.

Go shopping for Keens. Expensive but durable, comfortable and worked for my plantar fasciitis. I travel with one bag as well. Wear slip ons on the plane and Oxfords in the bag.

Since finding this brand a decade ago my plantar fasciitis has completely disappeared.

I have 3 pairs of their sandals, ( 2 Whisper, 1 pair of Newport) a pair Targhee low cut hiking boots, 1 pair of Khaki Oxford’s and 1 pair of knaki slip on).

Have hiked in the sandals and the Targhee lace up worn the slip ons all over London, and worn the lace ups Mudlarking on the Thames.

It’s VERY important for you to try on the shoes and walk a bit with whatever socks you intend to wear.

Good Luck

agree with previous poster - I'm a nurse and on concrete floors for 12 hours a day - I've worn them all. Always loved Keen, but now my favorite is Hoka ONE, the BONDI 6 or BONDI 7 version - it is s game changer.
Second choice is Keen Targhee.

I had PF several years ago. My podiatrist told me I needed higher arch supports and had me just replace the insoles I had in all my shoes with stronger store-bought ones in lieu of custom orthotics. Problem went away.

My wife has had many issues, and even surgery for her Plantar Fasciitis; and has found only the Hoka brand shoes work for her. She tried a number of good brands, but no others really worked. They are limited to Athletic looking shoes, but if you go with a darker color, you can pull off casual without looking like you just came from the gym.

Stan's solution is the same as mine. Off the shelf insoles to add arch support.
I never do any amount of walking without well-fitting shoes and insoles, and have not had a return of PF in 2 decades.

In recent years I've taken five long trips to Europe, averaging about 7 miles of walking each day. On only one of the trips did I have a problem, and that problem was plantar fasciitis. On that trip, and only on that trip, I wore good, supportive lace-up shoes with a rather stiff sole. On the other trips I wore supportive On Cloud lace-ups with an especially cushiony sole and had no problems. I used the same non-custom Aetrex orthotics in all the shoes because of my high arches. The stiff-soled shoes--in conjunction with the heavy walking regime--may or may not have contributed to my plantar fasciitis, but it took 5 or 6 months for the PF to go away after I returned home, so I'm not inclined to take stiff-soled shoes to Europe again. I am definitely not promising that cushy shoes will solve your problem.

I am another fan of Aetrex insoles. I am also a fan of their shoes. They’re not cheap, but they come in lots of different styles and tend to hold the arch firmly, which is crucial for me. I have a pair of their slip-on, which work with their insoles, but otherwise they weren’t tight enough. I have PF, too.

When I had a problem with plantar faciitis several years ago, my doctor, who had also had it herself, said that wearing shoes with a heel was better than flat ones. I tried it and was surprised to find that sandals with a modest, maybe 2 inch, heel were much better than my Ecco or Keens or sneakers when the faciitis was bothering me. I believe it has something to do with stretching the calf muscles. Perhaps a heel wedge might also work?

I had toe surgery in 2019, and many of the interventions used for Planter Fasciitis were recommended by my PT, and I have learned a lot, painstakingly. I love shoes, so a foot injury was quite limiting [and heartbreaking] to what I could comfortably wear. [ I assume you are a woman???]

I do feel strongly that a few sessions of PT is time well-spent: practicing appropriate stretching of the surrounding anatomy, along with strengthening exercises.

I have the Ecco soft 7 and wear them casually, but not for all-day walking. They don't have enough support for me.

Hoka's provided much relief, but study the designs of the various styles, as they are constructed differently. I really liked the Hoka Arahi line, because of the internal support in addition to the arch support, and I believe that style is one of Hoka's most structured.

Before my surgery I had many pairs of Aetrex, but my podiatrist warned me against shoes that bent too much under the ball of the foot, and many Aetrex styles just had too much flexibility in that area for my problem. I'm hoping the new styles improve on this.

I also recommend Brooks, the Ariel line, "for maximum support and cushioning", [per their description.] Again, once you research the styles of a brand, look for the style with the most support throughout the shoe construction.

For relaxing your tired feet, I can't say enough about Oofos sandals. You wouldn't wear these during the day, but they provide so much arch support and comfort for aching feet after the day. I believe they were designed for PF. Everyone I know with PF has experienced some level of relief with Oofos sandals. They now have a closed-toe style, but I haven't tried those.

I just discovered L'Amour Des Pieds brand, and they offer a number of stylish shoes with major arch support. I can wear the Himar sneaker-sandal style for all day walking, and they actually look quite stylish. The Himar style has lots of arch support and overall cushioning.

Wish I wouldn't have had to learn all of this, but if it keeps me traveling, then I can accept my plight. Here's to everyone having many years of good foot health, as it really awful when the feet aren't happy! Happy- and safe- travels!

One last note-
many of the styles I've recommended are expensive, but once you find the "magic" ones, and register on the brands' websites, you can take advantage of some really great sales! I only pay full price once!

I'm a Vionic fan when it comes to having a very firm, high arch support. They have more styles than some of the other brands. But each is different so you need to try what works best.

I'm also a believer in PT. Spent time with a therapist for both knee pain and PF. She taught me to stand with the ball of my feet elevated about 1 1/2 inches for at least 3 minutes ( 2x4 works well). I do that about 3 days a week. Heel pain gone but still need a new knee.

Another person here who was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis about 15 years ago and who hasn't had any issues with it since I started wearing more appropriate shoes.

I particularly took note of your comment about ankle rolling. I've found that no matter where I travel or what season, wearing lace up "mid" hiking boots works best for me. They are just high enough on my ankles to keep them from turning.

I now have 6 pairs of boots that would fit that description. Two are a bit higher than my ankle. All except one pair are waterproof. I prefer waterproof mesh over leather because of weight. With size 10 feet, leather boots get real heavy really quick. The brands I have are Ahnu, Teva, Abeo and KEEN.

My newest pair is the KEEN Terradora 2 like these. It has great arch support.

I bought the older version KEEN Terradora last year. Those are also good, but my feet like the new ones better.

I always take a pair of flats on my trips. I probably shouldn't bother because I rarely wear them. The ones I usually take are a very old and almost worn out pair of Abeos. That is a brand available at the Walking Company, in their stores and online. These are the closest thing to my old ones, but they are much heavier.

I also love these heavenly Gabi sandals, but I wear them with socks to avoid showing my ugly toes.

Speaking of socks, I swear by Sockwell Circulators. I have several pairs. They are not cheap, but they are great for support and lessening fatigue when walking and standing for long periods of time. I usually get mine from Amazon, but the link is to my favorite pattern on the Sockwell online website.

I highly recommend going to the Walking Company or a similar store where you live. Abeo isn't their only brand, but they do a machine study of your feet to determine what kind of footbed you need and help you find shoes appropriate for your needs.

Thanks everyone I already have a decent pair of plastic insoles but they seem to bug my feet also after extended wear. Plus removing the bottom of the shoes to fit the plastic insoles can also be an issue.

Removable footbeds are common. I always check for them in walking shoes. Note the details in this example.
https://www.newbalance.com/pd/mens-leather-928v3/MW928-V3.html

A plastic insole does sound uncomfortable. I've used this type for years, and find them comfortable for all day wear.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00272ZTOQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details

Pat, thanks for your recommendation for the l’amour Des Pieds. I really like the looks of the Himar, and may order it. I went ahead and ordered these. I ordered the silver-gold
https://www.zappos.com/p/lamour-des-pieds-verdun-gold-silver-synthetic/product/9570444/color/771583

I typically prefer to wear more fashionable sandals with my dresses with my sandals, but I know I need to take sneakers with me, too. I like the fact the Himar’s run wide. What color did you get? I’m going to probably end up getting them, but want to try these first.

@Lulu...gosh, those sandals are cute! Maybe not wide enough for my slab feet but I like the buckles for adjustment.

I also, of course love Zappos...such an easy company to buy from with their generous return policy. No connection to Zappos...just live in an area where they don't realize actual women have size 11 feet,lol!

Lulu,
I have that pair of sandals in red.
In the Himar style, I have the black and the tan, and am thinking about the sage green- waiting for a sale. A few seasons back there was a lilac Himar- hopefully that color will return.
I found the Himar style was a size too big, and the other styles were about half a size too small. Your experiences will be interesting.
Happy shopping- and travels!

Pam,

I actually am a 10 wide and will report back the fit! I e never spend $200 on shoes, let alone sandals, in my life. But when you have problem feet and need to walk for miles, it will be worth it.

Pat, Those Himar’s must be super if you have multiple colors!

"But when you have problem feet and need to walk for miles, it will be worth it."

Truth! I just close my eyes and click buy. If they fit my feet and are comfortable I'm in.

Yes, I would love to know how they fit you. I'm an 11W but with a narrow heel so the adjustment on the back of the heel strap looked good to me.

Regarding L/Amour des Pieds- I do wait for the sales. There's a sale at the company's website now, but sizes are very limited. Nordy's also carries them. I usually just search the web and wait for the price reductions.
Good luck!

Pam, they weren’t comfy on my feet. It is truly a medium and wasn’t too bad at the toe bed, I had to have the start at the very farthest hole though. What bothered me is there is a point on the inside where 3 straps come together and from the start it was rubbing, for $213, I better feel like I’m walking on a cloud. Shoot, they are so dang pretty.

Well, poo. Thanks for the update. At least with Zappos its an easy return. And yes, for $213 they need to feel great right out of the box.

I’m really looking for a metallic sandal, I think they are pretty with dresses and a nice neutral. I just ordered these from DSW. It says white, but it looks silver to me. Vionic does a wide width in their sandals, I have 2 thongs. I like their arch support. For walking all day I wish Vionics had more foam sole. I’ll let you know how these feel, probably will take a week to get on.

https://www.dsw.com/en/us/product/vionic-farra-sandal/508071?activeColor=100&cm_mmc=CSE-_-GPS-_-G_Shopping_Sandals-_-New_Sandals&cadevice=c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4fGxoo_Z7wIVVv3jBx3vHwwKEAQYAyABEgJjOPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

So, I haven’t received those sandals yet, but I did receive these Flitflop Silver Sneakers. I want to wear sneakers on the plane, in case it rains during a tour. But I want something that looks cute with a dress, a bit stylish. These are awesome! They are SO comfortable and although they don’t have a orthodic insole, it’s removeable and plenty of room for your own without making it too tight, which always seems to be an issue with fashion sneakers. For those of you with wide feet, these are great. I read they run a bit wide, I’m a wide, a they are so comfortable.

https://www.nordstrom.com/s/fitflop-rally-sneaker-women/5299158?color=SILVER+LEATHER&mrkgadid=3313920751&mrkgcl=760&mrkgen=gpla&mrkgbflag=0&mrkgcat=&utm_content=33067282949&utm_term=aud-913788632325:pla-289239136684&utm_channel=low_nd_shopping_standard&sp_source=google&sp_campaign=662927176&adpos=&creative=145503081785&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&acctid=21700000001689570&dskeywordid=92700049882428389&lid=92700049882428389&ds_s_kwgid=58700005465916970&ds_s_inventory_feed_id=97700000007631122&dsproductgroupid=289239136684&product_id=23574626&merchid=1243147&prodctry=US&prodlang=en&channel=online&storeid=&locationid=9016149&targetid=aud-913788632325:pla-289239136684&campaignid=662927176&adgroupid=33067282949&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4uOB9Ifl7wIVhNzICh18yQ41EAQYBSABEgIAVfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have used custom and store-bought sole inserts for years with mixed success. This product works better, though, at least for me: Futuro Arch Support These inserts wrap around your foot, which keeps the solution near where the problem is. One advantage is that I do not have to buy so many inserts for different shoes. Tip: Do not worry about fixing them tightly around your foot. A looser, more comfortable fit works for me.

You can find these on Amazon and at many drug stores.

I feel like this is the ultimate quest! Stylish shoes for PF are hard to find! I love my Hoka Bondi 7s for running. They would work for just walking around too. But they are pretty ugly. I also really love my Oofos flip flops - quite possibly the best PF shoe out there and I feel like I've tried them all! But the Oofos are a flip flop and not going to cut it all day for me. Oofos also make a shoe and I like it but it's super ugly and a bit on the warm side. I'm not taking that as my one bag shoe. I do like Keen Targhee for the more subtle style and waterproof feature. But I find that it's not an every day, all day shoe for me - my feet feel tired in them if I wear them day in and day out. My everyday shoe at home are Asics Nimbus - very lightweight and cushiony. I should note that with my Hokas, Keens, and Asics, I do use my custom inserts that I have for my PF.

I am struggling with what footwear I'll take on our next European trip. I do plan to just do a carry on plus a day pack. Ideally I'd love to take my Asics, Keens, and Oofos flip flops but I think that's just not going to work. The struggle is real!

I mentioned these in the above post and they are so, so, so comfy! I’m a 10 Wide and they actually ran too big. They are out of the 9.5 Wide at DSW and Nordstrom, but I found them on Amazon. I thought the white and silver was fine, maybe a little too bright. I would have gone ahead a gotten them, but found more of a rose and silver shade. They also come in other colors. I think the cork would be a great neutral. Seriously, those of you with PF need to check these out.

https://www.vionicshoes.com/farra-sandal.html?76=968&utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&crtp=paidsearch&aid=28855&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImZv2zsfu7wIVAb3ICh2QHwBzEAQYAiABEgLVhfD_BwE

The previous post has been reported to the webmaster.

so john sth post reported for webmaster investigation. the first try was stopped, let's see how this one gets on

by the way, this thread from February has received several spam attempts

I also have dealt with plantar fasciitis as well as metatarsal stress fractures so having good supportive shoes is a necessity. I have found the Taos brand to be both stylish and extremely supportive. For winter travel, I have a pair of lace-up leather shoes from Mephisto. Yes, they look a little clunky but oh so comfy and supportive. We have been to German and Alsatian Christmas markets on several trips and planning for this year and the Mephitos are my go-to shoe - thick soles to handle cold cobblestone streets, lace ups to provide support and black to match everything. Thinking of adding a Taos ankle bootie this year since the arch support in my other Taos shoes is wonderful. Good luck finding the perfect shoe choice and enjoy your travels!

Thanks a lot for ino

sajjad spam reported too

I developed a painful case of plantar fasciatis on a trip to Santorini back in 2018. I 'd had it about 6 months when I met a woman who worked at a shoe store called Fleet Feet here in NY. She turned me on to a sock called the Straasburg sock that is worn at night. Within about 8 weeks of wearing the sock at night while I slept, my foot was feeling almost 100% better. About another month down the line, I was able to stop wearing the sock, and have not had a recurrance since.

I can't recommend any specific shoes that helped me get rid of the pain (though I do have about 6 pair of Keens and wear them on a regular basis), but I would highly recommend that sock. The investment is not large, less than $50, but the fairly rapid relief from pain would have been worth it at a much higher price.