The Best Hoka Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis, According To Medical Experts

Forbes

3 days ago

Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition that can make it harder to run or exercise, to stand for extended periods and even make walking more painful and difficult. The best Hoka shoes for plantar fasciitis can't cure your feet of their condition, but they can help mitigate the symptoms, letting you better enjoy everyday activities as you work to treat the inflammation of the plantar fascia tissue. And while we named the Hoka Clifton 10 the best Hoka shoe for plantar fasciitis overall, there are numerous other options to consider, based on your condition and your preferred activities.
The best Hoka shoes for plantar fasciitis offer cushioning and support to ease your symptoms.
In order to recommend the best Hoka shoes for plantar fasciitis, we spoke with board-certified podiatrists and a doctor of physical therapy. Their insights are valuable to help you choose the best Hoka shoes for plantar fasciitis relief, and also offer a better understanding of the causes, symptoms and treatments of this painful and frustrating condition.
Hoka
Weight: 9.8 ounces per shoe | Heel drop: 8 mm | Midsole: Molded EVA foam | Upper: Breathable Jacquard
W. Zach Smith, a doctor of physical therapy and founder and owner of HIDEF Physical Therapy, says: 'My favorite Hoka for plantar fasciitis is the Clifton. It has enough stability to provide support for the foot but also enough cushion to spread out the ground contact force, which then reduces the force at the plantar fascia.' That was high enough praise for this lightweight and highly versatile shoe to be on our radar. When both of the other experts we spoke to—both podiatrists—also had high praise for the Hoka Clifton, we zeroed in on this shoe as the top contender for the top spot. The shoe has a soft and highly flexible Jacquard woven upper that comfortably but securely holds your foot in place, thus letting the thick cushioning of the compression-molded EVA foam midsole offer excellent underfoot support.
The 8mm drop is ideal for running, jogging and various exercises, but is a bit much if you plan to wear these shoes primarily for walking. (Or for a job that involves long hours of standing.) The durable and nonmarking outsole has treading suitable for use on the street or track or on the treadmill and at the gym. Overall, the padding and support in this shoe gives your foot a plush feel and greatly relieves the pressure and pain of plantar fasciitis, letting you continue with physical activities.
Amazon
Weight: 8.2 ounces per shoe | Heel drop: 5 mm | Midsole: Super critical foam | Upper: Breathable Jacquard
The Mach 6 shoe from Hoka weighs just 8.2 ounces—scarcely more than a pound. That light weight translates into faster speed as you get in those runs, plantar fasciitis be damned. The shoe offers a good balance of support, cushioning and responsiveness, making it suitable for use both in mitigating the pain of inflamed plantar fascia tissue and for helping propel you forward. One critical factor here is the ultralight but very supportive super critical foam midsole, so-called thanks to the use of a supercritical fluid—in this case the liquid form of nitrogen, injected into the EVA foam.
That midsole both cushions against impacts and spreads out the pressure during footfalls and helps spring you ahead—that's the whole 'responsiveness' thing. Note that many people who are generally happy with the Mach 6 say that the model tends to run a bit small, so consider going up by half a size to play things safe.
Amazon
Weight: 8.1 ounces per shoe | Heel drop: 5 mm | Midsole: Molded EVA foam | Upper: Flat knit
If you're headed to the gym for some serious circuit training and you don't want your foot and heel pain to put a damper on things, consider putting Hoka Arahi 7 shoes on your feet. These shoes provide both pain relief and excellent stability and control, keeping your feet and ankles safer as you go through any number of movements and positions. Board-certified podiatrist Dr. Jason Gold of the Foot, Ankle & Leg Vein Center says, 'The fit, comfort, cushioning and support is just right with the Arahi 7. It's also meant to provide motion control, so it's a good choice for people with flat feet or rolling ankles, which are common causes of plantar fasciitis flares.'
The shoes have a moderate 5mm heel-to-toe drop, so they're fine for use jogging or walking, and a built in 'J-frame' helps keep your foot centered, preventing too much pronation or supination (which is when the foot rolls inward or outward, respectively), both of which can exacerbate symptoms of plantar fasciitis. The Arahi 7s have a slightly narrower toebox than many other Hoka shoes (and shoes from other brands), so if you need extra splay for comfort, be forewarned.
Amazon
Weight: 10.5 ounces per shoe | Heel drop: 5 mm | Midsole: SCF foam | Upper: Breathable knit
Many dedicated running shoes have a large heel-to-toe drop, which is the height difference between the elevated heel and lower toe. A drop of eight to 10 mm can help propel a runner forward, but that's too much of a drop for walking, which requires a more natural gait for comfort and for foot health, especially when your feet are already afflicted with a condition. 'A slightly elevated heel-to-toe drop [can] lessen the strain on the Achilles tendon and the fascia,' says Dr. Naim Shaheed of the Ankle & Foot Centers of America. The five mm drop of the Bondi 9s is ideal for many people who take long walks and the SCF (super critical foam) midsole greatly reduces the pain of plantar fasciitis.
Gold says of these shoes: 'I recommend the Bondi often because it's one of the most cushioned shoes Hoka offers. It provides generous, soft padding underfoot, and that's exactly what sore heels and arches need. And the wide, stable base helps maintain alignment of the foot while you're walking.' These shoes are a tad heavier than most of the others we're covering, but they're still light enough to walk for miles. And any heat that builds up during those long walks is readily released through the generous venting in the knit upper.
Amazon
Weight: 9.1 ounces per shoe | Heel drop: 6 mm | Midsole: EVA foam | Upper: Creel Jacquard mesh
Excessive pronation, which is when the foot rolls inward with each step, can be a problem all on its own, putting excess strain on muscles, ligaments and tendons, and it can exacerbate symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Fortunately, the Gaviota 5 shoe from Hoka can help prevent this foot rolling. 'If you want something with a bit more structure and support, the Gaviota 5 is a great pick," says Gold. He adds, 'Its 'H-Frame' construction holds the foot in place without feeling overly rigid. For those patients who tend to overpronate or require a touch more guidance when walking, I rate it.'
The Gaviota 5 has the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association and receives stellar reviews from users, who praise its stability and comfort. The upper's creel Jacquard mesh is an engineered, polyester-based mesh fabric that's often used in running shoes and is characterized by its flexibility, soft feel and breathability. This is a pricier Hoka than most, but if you have plantar fasciitis and a tendency to overpronate, it's worth the price.
Hoka
Weight: 6.6 ounces per shoe | Heel drop: 5 mm | Midsole: EVA foam, memory foam | Upper: Dynamic mesh
A recovery shoe is a type of footwear specifically designed to aid in the recovery process after intense physical activity or long periods of standing, but they can also bring great relief from chronic conditions like plantar fasciitis. Recovery shoes are typically more comfortable than standard shoes and offer features like enhanced cushioning, support and pressure distribution to promote faster healing and reduce muscle fatigue. The Ora Recovery Shoe 2 from Hoka is a lightweight slip-on shoe with a cushioned and contoured midsole and a dose of memory foam added under the heel for even more comfort.
While perfect for indoor wear like a comfortable slipper, you can indeed use these shoes while you're out and about. They have an elastic band at the ankle that adds support and keeps the shoes on your feet, and they have a 5mm heel-to-toe drop, which is ideal for walking.
Hoka
Weight: Varies | Heel drop: 5 to 8 mm | Midsole: 35% sugarcane EVA foam, memory foam | Upper: Ripstop and webbing
Hoka's Project Transport Shoe is where style meets support and comfort. While most Hoka shoes look fine in a sporty way, few people would call them stylish. These shoes, on the other hand, make a statement even as they cradle your feet and offer the cushioning and stability you need when you have foot ailments. And don't think that because they were made with style in mind that they lack in technical chops: The Project Transport shoes have a tough Vibram rubber outsole with a tread pattern suitable for use on multiple types of terrain, while the EVA midsole, made with renewable sugarcane, offers plenty of arch support and foot comfort.
The shoes lace up for a proper fit but then a zippered closure covers the laces, leaving the upper looking sleek and modern. And highly reflective detailing on the exterior of that upper catches plenty of light at night, both helping you stay visible and offering just a bit more of a fashion statement. Note that while Hoka claims these have a 5mm heel drop, many reviewers feel that it's closer to 8mm.
The gear team at Forbes Vetted conducts extensive research, expert interviews, close reading of customer reviews and, when possible, hands-on testing of all products we cover. Our editors and writers have extensive experience reviewing footwear of all kinds, from the best workout shoes for women to the best dress sneakers that are still comfortable.
To make sure we recommended the best Hoka shoes for plantar fasciitis, we broke things down by category—the best Hoka shoes for running, walking, recovery and more. We also relied on the expertise of the Forbes Vetted gear team and the experts we interviewed.
Regardless of the type of Hoka shoe—or shoe from another brand—that a plantar fasciitis patient ultimately chooses, the shoe must have the following attributes in order to help mitigate the affliction.
The midsoles of every shoe covered here provide excellent arch support, which is critical for people suffering from plantar fasciitis. Good arch support helps distribute weight evenly and absorb shock, reducing pressure on the plantar fascia.
Ample heel, midsole and forefoot cushioning absorbs shock and provides comfort to the feet, reducing the pressure concentrated on inflamed tissue and bringing some pain relief. Hoka shoes are renowned for their cushioned feel.
A heel-to-toe drop of between 5mm and 8mm is considered the sweet spot for plantar fasciitis relief, and every Hoka shoe we included here falls somewhere in that range.
Just as you need ample support and cushioning under the foot when you are dealing with plantar fasciitis, you also want a flexible and comfortable upper that lets the foot move naturally. We looked for Hoka shoes with woven and flexible uppers that would keep a foot secure but not restrained.
'Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain, often resulting from strain on the plantar fascia—a thick band of tissue that supports the arch of the foot,' says Shaheed. It can be caused by strain created by repeated activities like running or dancing. Additionally, it can be caused by wearing ill-fitting footwear, excess weight or advancing age.
Yes, choosing the right shoes can significantly help manage and alleviate symptoms of plantar fasciitis. Shoes with good arch support, cushioning and a wider toe box can reduce stress on the plantar fascia. With one caveat about toebox size, all of the Hoka shoes selected here meet those criteria.
Heel-to-toe drop in running shoes affects plantar fasciitis because it influences how weight is distributed during foot strikes, potentially exacerbating or alleviating pain. Lower-drop shoes encourage a midfoot or forefoot strike, while higher drops promote a heel strike, impacting the load on the plantar fascia. A higher drop (as in much above 8mm) may encourage a heel strike, potentially increasing stress on the plantar fascia, especially during activities like running or walking. This can be counterproductive for plantar fasciitis.