If plantar fasciitis is making every step feel like a chore, the right running shoes can be a total pain relief breakthrough. The best Hoka shoes for plantar fasciitis are designed to deliver plush cushioning, smart arch support, and rocker-style soles that help reduce strain on your plantar fascia and keep flare-ups at bay.
Podiatrists often recommend Hoka for this exact reason, so we put top pairs to the test during walks, runs, and long days on our feet to see which ones truly deliver. Ahead, find expert-backed picks that offer comfort, stability, and the kind of support your feet will thank you for.
Credit: Amazon
Sizes: 5–12 | Width: Regular, wide | Stack Height: 37 mm | Drop: 5 mm | Weight: 8.3 oz.
With excellent cushioning and ace arch support, the Clifton is our top pick for Hoka shoes for plantar fasciitis. Brad Schaeffer, D.P.M., a board-certified foot surgeon with Central Park Sole in New York City — who wears Cliftons himself — points out that they’ve got exactly what you need to help relieve the stress on your plantar fascia: shock absorption, a rocker bottom, and just the right amount of support. Our testers agree.
“The shoe has great, firm cushioning,” said one Shape tester. The compression-molded EVA foam midsole absorbed so much impact that she didn’t feel any of the knee pain that typically plagues her on runs, while the early-stage metarocker gave her exceptionally smooth strides. Overall, we found these are just super comfy sneaks: “I notice an incredible difference when putting them on — it feels much better to walk and run in these than it does in my typical daily shoes.”
Credit: Hoka
Sizes: 5–11 | Width: Regular, wide | Stack Height: 36 mm | Drop: 6 mm | Weight: 9.5 oz
The tech inside the Transport offers foot-cradling comfort while the design gives you a little more elevated aesthetic, with monochrome, muted colorways rather than loud, athletic styling. “It’s probably Hoka’s cutest shoe, to be honest,” says Stephanie Tine, D.P.M., a podiatric physician and surgeon at Flamingo Foot & Ankle in Florida. She often wears this pair to work herself and recommends it to patients with plantar fasciitis for walks or low-key hikes.
Our tester found her feet felt supported with every step in the Transport, and she could easily walk long distances without any pain. Bonus: They come with toggle laces that make them easy to slip on and off. But if you want a little more support in the midfoot, there’s also a pair of regular laces included so you can tie them on the traditional way to make sure they’re nice and snug. If you’re searching for the best Hoka walking shoes, these are among the top contenders.
Shape
Credit: Hoka
Why We Like It
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Bouncy cushion
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Reflective details
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Durable
Sizes: 5–12 | Width: Regular, wide | Stack Height: 38 mm | Drop: 5 mm | Weight: 8.6 oz.
The springy Skyflow is an ideal design for people with high arches who might find stability shoes uncomfortable. “A high-arch person does better in a neutral, cushioned shoe because they have more pressure points on their foot: Their big toe joint, their fifth toe joint, and the heel,” says Dr. Tine. “You don’t really need as much arch support as you do cushion.” Our tester found this pair majorly cushy and exceptionally bouncy. Although the Skyflow is designed as a running shoe, she actually liked it best for walking and standing since the big stack of foam felt a little awkward when she tried to speed things up.
Best Hoka Shoes for Running with Plantar Fasciitis
Hoka Mach 6
Credit: Hoka
Why We Like It
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Incredibly lightweight
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Springy foam
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Durable
Sizes: 5–11 | Width: Regular, wide | Stack Height: 35 mm | Drop: 5 mm | Weight: 6.7 oz.
When you’re picking up the pace for a run, it helps to have a shoe with bouncy foam like the Mach 6. It’s designed to give you that extra little boost of speed. But it’s also a solid option for plantar fasciitis, thanks to its balance of support and cushioning.
“The first time I wore these shoes, I ran a local five-mile race and couldn’t have been more comfortable,” our tester said. “I truly felt like I could run fast and was more nimble on my feet.” While the Mach doesn’t have extra stability features or a particularly massive stack of cushioning, they ended up being our favorite pair to run in. Just 6.7 oz., they’re surprisingly lightweight, and we found they gave us that legendary “forget-they’re-there” feeling.
Best Hoka Shoes for Working Out with Plantar Fasciitis
Hoka Solimar
Credit: Dick’s Sporting Goods
Sizes: 5–11 | Width: Regular, wide | Stack Height: 24 mm | Drop: 6 mm | Weight: 6.7 oz.
Worried about feeling unstable on overly-cushioned shoes when you pick up a pair of dumbbells? Check out the lightweight Solimar. It’s got just enough EVA foam to lighten the load on your plantar fascia, but we found the restrained stack of cushioning under the heel made us still feel securely connected to the ground while strength training. Meanwhile, the late-stage metarocker kept the majority of our foot firmly planted on the floor, with just a little lift-up at the toes for smooth strides when we hit the tread.
This shoe has plenty of support, particularly around the heel which gives it a firm, cradling sensation — in the best way. “A sturdy heel counter stabilizes the foot and prevents overpronation, which can strain the fascia,” says podiatrist Jacqueline Donovan, D.P.M., FACFAS.
Best Hoka Shoes for Overpronation and Plantar Fasciitis
Hoka Arahi 8
Credit: Hoka
Sizes: 5–12 | Width: Regular, wide | Stack Height: 34 mm | Drop: 5 mm | Weight: 8.1 oz.
If your feet have a habit of rolling in uncomfortably as you walk, Dr. Donovan says the Arahi’s midsole design helps gently guide you into a neutral position, without being overly rigid. That’s because of the shoe’s patented base, Bekah Broe, Hoka’s senior director of product and performance footwear, tells Shape. “[It’s] designed to combat overpronation with a firm, J-shaped foam on the medial side where the foot typically rolls inward,” she explains. And it pulls that off brilliantly, which is why we named the Arahi the best stability shoe in Shape’s 2024 Sneaker Awards.
Our tester found these kicks provided fantastic support and stability on both walks and runs. The cushioning is soft, but there’s not so much that you feel weirdly high off the ground. We did find, however, that the Arahis take a little time to break in, so be patient. After a few weeks, they’ll feel good as gold.
Best Hoka Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis with Max Cusioning
Hoka Bondi 9
Credit: Hoka
Sizes: 5–12 | Width: Regular, wide | Stack Height: 40 mm | Drop: 5 mm | Weight: 9.9 oz.
When you want as much shock absorption as possible, you want the uber-cushioned Bondi, which rocks a massive 40 mm of EVA foam under the heel. “Known for its maximum cushioning and support, it’s a great option for anyone with plantar fasciitis,” says Dr. Donovan. That extra foam underfoot can just make everything a little more comfy whenever you’re on your feet, Dr. Schaeffer adds.
But beware that all that pillowy plushness can make these shoes a bit too unstable for people who have balance issues. “If I see [patients] walking in, and they look kind of unsteady, I won’t recommend those,” Dr. Tine says. For anyone who can handle serious cushion, though, the Bondi is a go-to rec.
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The Hoka Bondi 8 has a plush, cozy upper that molds to your feet.
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Credit: Shape
Credit: Hoka
Sizes: 5–12 | Width: Regular, wide | Stack Height: 37 mm | Drop: 6 mm | Weight: 9.1 oz.
People with flat feet will want a little extra assistance to keep their feet from rolling in as they walk or run — and the Gaviota 5 can help with ts stabilizing H-frame. “If you look at a flat-footed person, their arch is touching the ground, so you want a stability shoe with a more rigid medial plank on the bottom to help push that arch up,” says Dr. Tine. Unlike Hoka’s lighter-weight stability shoe, the Arahi, the Gaviota adds max cushioning to the recipe. “The cushion felt a lot softer than other Hokas I tested,” said one Shape editor. With the gait-correcting midsole and 37 mm of spongey EVA foam, the Gaviota is basically the love child of the Arahi and the uber-plush Bondi.
Credit: Hoka
Why We Like It
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Grippy traction
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Fantastic support
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Stabilizing frame
Sizes: 5–11 | Width: Regular | Stack Height: 44 mm | Drop: 5 mm | Weight: 10.8 oz.
When you’re heading off roads, look for shoes like the Stinson 7 that are designed to keep you upright on tricky terrain. “You want a trail running tread — because of the uneven surfaces, it’s definitely helpful to have more of a grip on the bottom of the foot,” says Dr. Tine.
The Stinson offers hikers with plantar fasciitis a good dose of support, a stabilizing H-frame base, and a thick stack of foam that we found kept our feet happy even when we were tackling major elevation. It doesn’t have that high top to surround your ankles like a traditional hiking boot would, so if you’re afraid of twisting your ankle on rocks and roots, you might want to check out the equally plantar fasciitis–friendly Kaha 2 — just know that at 16.8 oz., it’ll be a god deal heavier and clunkier.
What To Know About the Best Hoka Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis
- Toe drop: Tight calves can exacerbate plantar fasciitis because they pull on the Achilles, which attaches to the plantar fascia, says Dr. Tine. Shoes that have a moderate toe drop (where the heel sits higher than the toes) can take off some pressure since the calf doesn’t have to stretch as far when you’re standing flat. “It decreases the pull on the Achilles,” explains Dr. Schaeffer.
- Support and Cushion: Extra arch support can help reduce stress on the plantar fascia. But you also want shoes with enough cushioning to absorb the impact of your steps — especially in the heel, which is often a painful spot when the plantar fascia is inflamed, Dr. Donovan says.
- Fit: A good fit is always essential, but there are a few things to keep in mind if you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis. “A too-tight shoe can compress the plantar fascia,” says Dr. Donovan. “Make sure there’s enough space for your toes to move without pinching.” The shoe should feel snug enough that your foot doesn’t slide around (which can increase strain on the plantar fascia), but not like it’s squeezing your foot. Also: Check to see that the arch of the shoe lines up with your foot’s own arch so it provides the support you need.
- Rocker bottom: Sneakers like Hoka shoes that are designed with a rocker bottom can make your strides smoother, giving you a bit of propulsion, which can reduce tension on the fascia, according to Dr. Schaeffer.
- Overpronation and underpronation: A foot that rolls either too far inward (overpronation) or rolls outward (underpronation) can strain the plantar fascia. For help evening out your gait, you’ll want to look for shoes like Hoka’s Arahi or Gaviota with stability features to guide your foot into a neutral alignment.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Which Hoka model is best for plantar fasciitis?
Podiatrists recommend several Hoka models for plantar fasciitis. If you have a neutral gait, the Clifton is our top pick. “[It] offers excellent cushioning and arch support,” Dr. Donovan says. However, people who want more soft foam in their shoes might prefer the Bondi, which gives you a little extra comfort, Dr. Schaeffer says. On the other hand, those whose feet uncomfortably roll inwards or outwards as they walk can benefit from the extra stability in either the Arahi or Gaviota shoes.
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Is Hoka Clifton or Bondi better for plantar fasciitis?
All three podiatrists we spoke to recommended both the Clifton and the Bondi for patients with plantar fasciitis. It comes down to how much cushioning you like — the Bondi will give you a big, pillowy pad of foam underfoot, while the Clifton is a lighter, more streamlined shoe.
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What shoes do podiatrists recommend for plantar fasciitis?
For patients with plantar fasciitis, podiatrists recommend shoes that feature good arch support, a well-cushioned sole, a rocker bottom, a stiff heel counter, and a moderate heel-to-toe drop. The Clifton is a great example of this.
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Why do podiatrists like Hokas?
Many podiatrists like Hokas because they combine ample cushioning with structural support. Their wide base makes them stable yet they’re still light enough that they don’t fatigue the feet and legs as you walk, Dr. Donovan says. Plus, the rocker bottom design takes some stress off the feet by propelling your stride forward, which can be helpful for foot conditions like plantar fasciitis, Dr. Schaeffer adds.
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Can running make plantar fasciitis worse?
If you don’t have the right shoes or proper form, running can make plantar fasciitis worse since the repetitive impact places stress on the plantar fascia. “Any type of pounding on that area will increase inflammation,” Dr. Schaeffer says. That can make it harder for the area to heal. However, this doesn’t mean you need to immediately quit your couch-to-5K plan. “With the right shoes, proper stretching, and strengthening exercises, many patients can continue running while managing their condition,” Dr. Donovan says.
Why Trust Shape
Jennifer Heimlich is a health and fitness writer and a former senior fitness editor at Well+Good. A certified running coach, she’s written for SELF, TIME, GQ, and Outside Run, among other outlets. She’s interviewed podiatrists about the best shoes for all kinds of activities and has tested dozens of walking and running shoes herself, including several that made this list, like the Arahi, Bondi, Transport, Solimar, and Stinson. For this article, she interviewed the following experts:
- Brad Schaeffer, D.P.M., board-certified foot surgeon with Central Park Sole in New York City
- Stephanie Tine, D.P.M., podiatric physician and surgeon at Flamingo Foot & Ankle in Florida
- Jacqueline Donovan, D.P.M., FACFAS, assistant professor at Kent State College of Podiatric Medicine and owner of Erie Foot & Ankle Center in Beachwood, Ohio
