Best Hiking Boots for Plantar Fasciitis

The best hiking boots for plantar fasciitis are numerous, but if you’re in a rush, our top choice goes to the Salomon Men’s Quest 4D 2 GTX.

Plantar fasciitis can be a debilitating condition with horrible heel pain that worsens with time if you don’t find great support. Do you enjoy living an active lifestyle? It’s crucial to act fast and invest in proper footwear to help you revel in the outdoors pain-free.

In this article, we’re going to review the following hiking boots for plantar fasciitis:

Top 9 Hiking Boots and Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis

We’ve scoured the internet and pulled together a well-crafted list of the best hiking boots for plantar fasciitis.

What to Consider When You Have Plantar Fasciitis

While plantar fasciitis is a condition that requires rest and proper care, sometimes, you just need to be outdoors. You must wear shoes that offer plenty of support and comfort, so you can enjoy mother nature with ease.

As long as you’re not putting the muscles in your feet under too much strain, hiking can be beneficial. Walking helps, as you need to strengthen your feet and reduce the chance of the condition getting worse.

Certain stretches and exercises can help your recovery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XINGaYD0Zz0

Footwear to Avoid

With plantar fasciitis, you also want to look at the footwear you should avoid:

• Stiletto heels: Raising your foot into an unnatural angle puts a strain on your plantar fascia. We know they look pretty, but that doesn’t cut it.
• Flip flops or ballet flats: This footwear offers zero arch or heel support, which is the opposite of what you need.
• Worn out or brand-new shoes: Worn soles and shoes that are stiff are both hard on plantar fasciitis. For newly-purchased footwear, give yourself a chance to wear it in slowly before taking up a whole day in them.

What to Look for in Hiking Boots

They come with different features and some of this boils down to your preference. Keep the following in mind:

Support and Stability

The best hiking shoes for plantar fasciitis will be those with excellent support.

Ankle and Arch Support

This includes a stiff, tall shaft to protect the ankle area. If you’re looking for the tallest shaft available, our top choice (Salomon Quest) fits the bill with an option that’s 6-inches tall.

While Merrell has its downfalls where long-term quality is concerned, their comfort features come out on top. These boots offer additional arch support where other footwear falls short. This helps distribute any pressure across the foot and keep you balanced.

Fit

Too loose and you won’t be steady in your boots, but overly tight could lead to other problems like hot spots and blisters.

Some boots offer half sizes to help you achieve a more custom fit and the lacing system will make a difference, too. Look for laces that cinch up easily and stay securely in place. The Keen Targhee boot offers this feature.

Footbed and Cushioning

Keep an eye out for cushioned or contoured footbeds that provide relief from the bumps you’ll encounter when on your feet.

We’d recommend any of the Merrell boots here because they provide air cushioning along the heel. The brand’s EVA footbed molds to the shape of your foot, as well. You shouldn’t feel uneven in your shoes.

Materials

Walking along rough terrains can certainly beat your shoes down and you don’t want your boots falling apart after a few hikes. Here are a few materials to look for:

Sole

Many boots feature a rubbery Vibram outsole, or other proprietary options, with differing levels of traction. If you’re hitting a wide variety of terrains, you’ll want deep lugs to help keep you steady on your feet, regardless of the ground below.

The Salomon boot comes with a branded Contragrip sole, giving you high traction on rocky areas. To our knowledge, these soles hold up over time, as well.

Exterior

For the uppers, synthetic options, such as polyester and nylon, are easier to break in, lighter weight and dry faster than your other options such as leather. The primary downside is that they’re not water-resistant.

If you’re looking for a long-lasting waterproof variety, 100 percent leather will be your way to go. These boots will be heavier, and more costly, but you’re paying for durability, after all.

We’d like to recommend the Salomon Men’s Quest 4D 2 GTX here because it comes in at a happy medium. These boots feature leather, synthetic and mesh materials offering the best of all worlds.

Interior

Do you find yourself sweating a lot while hiking? You’ll want a breathable lining on the inside of your boot, while some even offer antimicrobial treatments. The Keen boot provides an inner membrane that’s not only waterproof, but features sufficient airflow, as well.

Waterproofness

Not everyone needs a waterproof boot but for those that do, pay extra attention as many customers complained that this feature doesn’t always present as advertised.

A fully waterproof boot offers protection along the outside and the inner portion. Closed-cell or gusseted tongues and collars are important too, as they keep moisture from leaking in through the top portion.

The Timberland Chocorua wins here as it provides 100 percent waterproof leather on the outside, a GoreTex membrane on the inner and a gusseted tongue up top. Furthermore, the rust-proof hardware, such as the eyelets, ensures these pieces hold up in the face of rain.

Weight

Plantar fasciitis sufferers can benefit from hiking shoes that are lightweight. There’s less strain on your calf muscles this way, which can impact your feet in return. You won’t feel as if you’re lugging around bricks, either.

One of the lightest boots on the list is the Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge Plus II weighing in at around 1 pound per shoe.

What’s the Right Pair for You?

Everyone is different and the level of pain you feel when walking is also a personal thing. If you don’t want your condition to worsen, finding a pair of hiking boots you can wear for long periods is essential.

You may not find a boot that hits every feature you’re looking for, so you need to prioritize here. Is added support and cushioning the most important thing? All of the choices brought to us by Merrell feature ample comfort.

Maybe you hike regularly in wet conditions and if this is this case, a durable waterproof option is essential. Both styles from Timberland could fit the bill.

Lastly, you don’t want to suffer from overly heavy boots that’ll weigh you down. When you’re shopping, make sure to look for a lighter pair, such as those from Colombia. Some manufacturers list the weight for one shoe or both together, so make sure to check this and don’t get confused.

Wrap Up

The best hiking boots for plantar fasciitis will feature a stable support system, both inside and out, and be on the lighter side. You’ll need to strike a balance here since extra features ultimately come with additional weight.

We’ve chosen the Salomon Men’s Quest 4D 2 GTX as our number one choice because it weighs in at around 1.3 pounds for each boot. They aren’t the heaviest, nor are they the lightest, but they do offer sufficient stability. This comes in the form of a Contragrip outsole and a 6-inch shaft, among other features.

The Columbia Men’s Newton Ridge Plus II has to be our second choice as it’s one of the lightest options on our list at 2 pounds per pair. They’ll be less waterproof than the option above, but again, you’ll need to pick and choose what’s essential.