Best sandals for plantar fasciitis
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Short answer
Medical sources advise avoiding flat flip-flops with plantar fasciitis. If you want sandals, pick ones with a contoured footbed, real arch support and a deep heel cup. The Vionic Tide II looks like a flip-flop but has an orthotic footbed and the APMA Seal. For around the house, the OOFOS OOahh slide is the softest; Birkenstock's Soft Footbed Arizona is a firmer, longer-lasting option.
Illustration Best flip-flop style
Vionic Tide II Toe-Post Sandal
Looks like a flip-flop but has a podiatrist-designed footbed with arch support and a deep heel cup, which ordinary flip-flops lack.
- Orthotic footbed
- Deep heel cup
- Men's and women's
- APMA Seal of Acceptance
Skip it if: you dislike a toe post; try a slide.
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Illustration Softest recovery slide
OOFOS OOahh Recovery Slide
Very soft, shock-absorbing foam with a cupped heel and arch contour. Many people with plantar fasciitis keep a pair by the bed so their first steps aren't barefoot.
- OOfoam recovery foam
- Contoured footbed
- APMA Seal of Acceptance
- Unisex sizes
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Illustration Cushioned slide with a rocker
HOKA Ora Recovery Slide 3
HOKA's recovery slide carries the brand's rocker idea into a slip-on. Firmer and more structured than OOFOS.
- Early-stage rocker
- Dual-density foam
- 6 mm drop
- APMA Seal of Acceptance
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Illustration Best for all-day wear
Birkenstock Arizona (Soft Footbed)
The cork footbed molds to your foot over time and has a deep heel cup and arch. Choose the Soft Footbed version if you have heel pain; the classic one is firm at first.
- Cork-latex contoured footbed
- Soft Footbed version adds foam
- Regular and narrow widths
Skip it if: you want instant softness; the cork needs breaking in.
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What to look for
- A contoured footbed with an arch, not a flat sole.
- A deep heel cup that cradles the heel.
- Straps that hold the sandal securely to your foot.