Plantar fasciitis is a foot condition that causes the thick band of tissue under your arch to become inflamed.
But plantar fasciitis doesn’t mean you can’t wear casual, open shoes. If you want to go to the beach or stay cool in summer, you just need to choose the best flip flops for plantar fasciitis.
We recommend the OOFOS OOriginal for our top pick. The footbed molds to your foot, it provides great arch support, and the shoe is moisture and odor-resistant.
However, all of the flip flops on this list offer good arch support, a stable heel cup, and cushioning.
So read through them all and choose which one would suit you!
Top 3 Best and Favorites
Best Overall | Best Overall |
OOFOS OOriginal
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| CHECK PRICE |
Top Value | Top Value |
New Balance 340
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| CHECK MEN’S PRICECHECK WOMEN’S PRICE |
Most Cushioned | Most Cushioned |
Hoka Ora Recovery Flip
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| CHECK MEN’S PRICECHECK WOMEN’S PRICE |
Best Overall
1. OOFOS OOriginal
The OOFOS is a relaxed-looking sandal, made entirely of soft, squishy foam with great arch support.
Although it’s minimalist, the foam absorbs nearly 40% more shock compared to other types of foam. This helps to significantly lower fatigue when wearing these flip flops.
The foam footbed provides great support for the arches. Wearing these flip flops will give your plantar fascia the support it needs. It also helps to keep the muscles and joints properly aligned to reduce the chance of injury.
The flip flop has a rocker-shaped sole, which helps you to walk naturally without overly flexing the foot.
They’re made of closed-cell foam so they don’t hold onto odor and they’re also very easy to wash.
Just keep in mind that they may become slightly slippery when your feet sweat.
PROS:
- Super soft foam molds to the shape of your foot
- Unique arch support
- Minimalist construction
- Moisture and odor-resistant
CONS:
- These flip flops may be slippery if your feet sweat while you’re wearing them
Top Value
2. New Balance 340
These flip flop are comfortable, help keep your feet supported, and are a great value!
The footbed of these flip flops is wear-moldable, which means it will contour to your foot to provide the right amount of arch support for your arch. This will distribute your weight evenly and reduce pressure on the plantar fascia.
The synthetic suede upper is comfortable and soft and has a polyester lining that won’t chafe. It features a lightweight EVA midsole, which absorbs shock and provides comfort.
A textured rubber outsole keeps you safe on your feet and also helps to absorb more impact on the foot. Unfortunately, the footbed may become slippery if your feet sweat.
PROS:
- Wear-moldable footbed
- Lightweight EVA midsole
- Comfortable synthetic suede strap
- Textured rubber outsole
CONS:
- The footbed may be slippery if your feet sweat while you’re wearing these shoes
Most Cushioned
3. Hoka Ora Recovery Flip
Just like their running shoes, the Hoka One One flip flops feature a thick, chunky midsole that’s soft and plush.
As you can tell by the name, Hoka intended the Ora Recovery Flip to be a recovery shoe and provide excellent support you’re resting or doing light activity.
The thick midsole provides good shock absorption, and the soft footbed molds to your feet and provides strategic arch support. A soft EVA top layer and jersey textile toe post provide comfort when your foot is in the flip flop.
There’s also a meta-rocker in the sole, helping to ensure a natural and easy gait without straining the plantar fascia.
Grooves in the outsole help to promote an easy stride, but the sizable midsole prevents it from flexing too much.
PROS:
- Super soft footbed
- Early-stage Meta-Rocker
- Wide, stable base
- Dual-layer construction
CONS:
- The strap isn’t very durable and may break if you do a lot of activity in this shoe
Best for Wide Feet
4. Spenco Yumi Plus
The Spenco Yumi Plus features the brand’s Total Support Technology, which is based on the Spenco insoles.
This is designed to keep your foot properly aligned throughout the gait cycle, minimizing the chance of injury or uneven weight distribution.
Orthotic arch support is built into the flip flop, providing the best support for your plantar fascia and preventing unnecessary strain. There is also a metatarsal dome, which lets your toes splay naturally and distributes weight evenly.
The forefoot is cushioned, but the more important feature for those with plantar fasciitis is the generous amount of heel cushioning. There’s also a deep heel cup that will keep the foot from moving out of alignment.
These flip flops come in multiple sizes and two different widths, so people with wide feet have options. That being said, it may be too wide for people with narrow or small feet.
PROS:
- Cushioned forefoot
- Firm orthotic arch support
- Built-in metatarsal dome
- Cushioned heel with deep heel cup
CONS:
- This flip flop may be too wide for those with narrow or small feet
Most Durable
5. Vionic Tide (men’s)
6. Vionic Tide II (women’s)
The Vionic Tide and Tide II are durable flip flops that also provide excellent support for plantar fasciitis.
Both of the shoes have a durable, robust TPR outsole that will last a long time whether you’re wearing them at home or while walking outdoors.
The other materials of the flip flop are also durable, including leather and textile on the uppers and EVA in the footbeds.
Speaking of the footbeds, they both include Tri-Planar Motion Control technology. This built-in orthotic technology was designed by a podiatrist and uses a deep heel cup, arch-hugging support, and the medium-density midsole.
This combination helps to provide the ideal support to the arch, and these shoes have been proven to alleviate the heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis.
There’s also a light texture on the top cover of the flip flop, which helps to prevent your foot from slipping on the platform as you walk.
PROS:
- Soft woven toe post
- Medium-density EVA midsole
- Deep heel cup
- Robust TPR outsole
CONS:
- These flip flops seem to run slightly small and narrow
Best for Wearing in Water
7. Crocs Swiftwater Wave Flip
Crocs are known for their comfort and are great around water.
If you want flip flops that will support your plantar fascia and also allow you to have water adventures, the Crocs Swiftwater Wave Flip could be the shoe for you.
It’s extremely lightweight, and the soft, comfortable Matlite straps help to keep the shoe stable on your foot even while you’re doing activities.
The footbed is contoured to provide good support no matter what you’re doing. A substantial heel cup helps to maintain the correct foot position, while a raised edge around the whole footbed adds to the stability of the foot.
There’s a non-slip outsole, which helps to prevent slips that could damage the tissue underneath the foot. It also has slits to channel away excess water and increase traction.
PROS:
- Lightweight design
- Soft Matlite uppers
- Contoured footbed
- Non-slip outsole with siping
CONS:
- Crocs are known to be wide and may not comfortably fit narrow feet
Most Stylish for Women
8. Mephisto Natty
If you’re looking for a plantar fasciitis-friendly flip flop sandal you can wear to more formal occasions, the Mephisto Natty is a good choice. It has a substantial footbed that offers great support, and pretty, petite straps.
The straps are in an asymmetrical design and come in a variety of colors. There’s a buckle closure on the back strap that allows you to get a comfortable fit.
The footbed is made from natural cork, which molds to the feet for arch support. It’s also quite eco-friendly in comparison to other materials. A deep heel cup provides a comfortable and stable platform.
Not only does the cork provide excellent shock-absorbing properties, but there’s also Soft Air technology in the midsole. This adds a significant cushioning effect to the shoe, so your joints are protected on every step.
PROS:
- Asymmetrical straps with adjustable buckle
- Cork-cushioned footbed
- Flexible, Soft-Air midsole
- Patterned rubber outsole
CONS:
- Some may find that the strap around the toe is stiff and uncomfortable
Best Heel Support
9. Birkenstock Honolulu EVA
The heel is the part of the foot that’s most affected by plantar fasciitis, so it’s essential that the flip flop you choose provides good heel support.
The Birkenstock Honolulu EVA fits that bill with a supportive heel cup and thick cushioning under the heel.
The whole flip flop is made of EVA foam, making it washable and waterproof as well as very lightweight. An anatomically-shaped footbed contours to the arch and offers excellent support.
Thick EVA delivers protection against jarring, protecting the foot’s tissues from injury due to shock. There’s also a raised toe bar, which helps the foot to stay in the right position as the toes are encouraged to grip naturally.
Although this shoe is a normal width by the brand’s standards, it’s wider than average. You should order a size or a width down if you have normal to narrow feet.
PROS:
- Anatomically-shaped footbed
- Spacious toe box
- Lightweight and waterproof EVA
- Deep molding in the heel
CONS:
- The shoe runs wide by industry standards
Best Traction
10. OluKai ‘Ohana
Losing your footing or slipping on smooth or wet ground can strain your plantar fascia and increase pain. The OluKai ‘Ohana offers excellent traction to keep you safe on your feet.
The non-marking sole has a thick, coral-inspired design in the rubber. This provides good grip on a number of surfaces, keeping you stable and secure on your feet.
An anatomical CMEVA midsole provides contoured arch support. It also has drop-in footbeds for a better fit and comfort.
Synthetic leather straps with a soft, quick-dry lining can handle being splashed or a bit of rain. The nylon toe post reduces chances of chafing and keeps you comfortable.
PROS:
- Quick-drying lining
- Comfortable and supportive
- Compression-molded EVA midsole
- Non-marking rubber outsole
CONS:
- The manufacturer states that these shoes do run wide so you may need to order a size or width down
Top Casual Flip for Women
11. Dansko Cece
These flip flops are sleek and attractive. The upper is made of classic leather, and is available in a number of colors. It has an adjustable Velcro strap that should fit most foot shapes comfortably.
You’ll have a contoured EVA footbed with Dansko Natural Arch technology. This will give your arches the support they need, as well as a high level of comfort as it’s covered in soft leather.
Underneath the footbed is an EVA midsole, which will absorb shock. Also, the durable rubber outsole will protect the foot by absorbing impact and keep you steady on your feet at the same time.
PROS:
- Leather upper
- Adjustable Velcro strap
- Contoured footbed
- Durable rubber outsole
CONS:
- These flip flops run slightly small and you may need go a half size up
Buyers Guide – Flip Flops for Plantar Fasciitis
Excellent Arch Support
Arch support is essential for those who suffer from plantar fasciitis.
The flip-flops you wear should offer excellent arch support that prevents your arch from falling flat and causing strain on the plantar fascia.
Contoured Footbed
Along with arch support, the footbed should be contoured and mold to your foot.
This will help to distribute your body weight evenly across the shoe, reducing the chance of pressure points or excess strain on the plantar fascia.
Deep Heel Cup
Most flip-flops have a flat heel, which lets the foot move about freely.
Choose a flip-flop with a deep heel cup, which keeps your foot secure and stable and prevents any unnecessary movement that could cause pressure and pain.
Cushioned Sole
The sole should be well-padded, especially in the heel, which is where the pain of plantar fasciitis manifests. Having a soft landing when you walk reduces shock in the bone and can help to alleviate the pain.
It also helps if the sole is non-slip, to prevent jarring in the case of a slip, which could aggravate the plantar fascia.
FAQs
Can I Wear Flip Flops With Plantar Fasciitis?
Flip-flops with flat, thin soles provide no arch support or cushioning. These are not a good idea to wear with plantar fasciitis, as they provide no structure or protection for your foot.
However, if you choose flip-flops that have good arch support, a deep heel cup to keep the foot in place, and a contoured footbed, they could help with plantar fasciitis.
As long as the flip-flops support the plantar fascia and prevent excess movement of the foot, they can be helpful for plantar fasciitis.
Can Walking in Flip Flops Cause Heel Pain?
If you’re wearing thin, unsupportive flip-flops, they can definitely cause heel pain, both when you’re wearing them and the typical plantar fasciitis pain after your feet have been rested.
However, if you’re wearing supportive flip-flops that offer good arch support and shock absorption, then you shouldn’t experience any pain when wearing them.
Do Flip-Flops Cause Plantar Fasciitis?
Wearing the wrong flip-flops can lead to plantar fasciitis. Wearing unsupportive shoes for prolonged periods of time can place excessive strain on the plantar fascia, leading to development of the condition.