EDIT: Just to clarify, I’m not looking for medical advice – I’m looking for hiking boot suggestions for plantar fasciitis. If you don’t have a hiking boot or insole recommendation, please skip responding!
I got my PF after a long trail walk in poorly fitting Columbia hiking boots.
Based on research and advice from my doctor, I should be using minimalist hiking shoes (like Xero, Topo, Altra, etc.)
Does anyone with PF have experience using more traditional hiking boots without pain?
I’m hesitant to buy minimalist boots because they’re pricey and supposedly wear out quickly, but I’ll do it if it means getting back on the trail.
Waterproofing is a must as I live in Canada, where there’s often slush.
Everyone’s feet are different, so take any advice with caution. Your feet need shoes that fit you perfectly, which might take some experimenting. I developed PF from using trail runners (Altra Lone Peak). My podiatrist said they caused the PF due to being too flexible, so I switched back to rigid boots and haven’t had issues since.
I use Asolo Fugitive GTX and TPS 520 GV Evo boots, along with SOLE Performance Medium insoles with metatarsal pads.
@Ben
Absolutely – it’s a lot of trial and error. And as we get older, our feet can change too, so what worked once might need adjusting later on. Re-evaluating every so often is really worth it.
@Ben
Interesting! Seems like everyone has different advice, which is a bit confusing. My doctor recommended taking it slow with barefoot-style shoes and doing exercises. My pain only came back recently because of these uncomfortable work shoes.
@Logan
Yeah, PF is different for everyone. I haven’t had a flare-up in years since switching back to my boots. What kind of shoes do you have to wear at work?
I’ve had chronic PF and mostly wear Altras. While I haven’t fully healed, I can now hike over 10 miles with minimal pain. Besides shoes, I try going barefoot at home to strengthen my feet, and I do exercises like knees-over-toes, which has helped a lot.
Altra and Topo are good starter options for minimalist shoes, though they’re not fully “barefoot.” If you’ve been wearing regular shoes most of your life, try transitioning with Altra or Topo before moving to Xero or Lems.
@Arin
My PF flares up off and on. I try going barefoot as much as possible, and if not, I’m usually in Altras with Superfeet insoles. I use a night splint and do exercises regularly. I can hike long distances without pain, but my feet hurt more after resting later.
@Vesper
I had PF too and found that compression socks helped a lot. Turns out my feet are different sizes, so now I wear a heel cup in each shoe and a compression sock on one foot only. It’s made a huge difference.
@West
I didn’t. My first podiatrist recommended Superfeet insoles, and another suggested Sole brand insoles. I spent a lot on different insoles and tried various stretches, but nothing fully worked. I then looked into exercises and barefoot training online, which helped build my foot and leg strength.
There wasn’t one fix for me, but strengthening my muscles has allowed me to hike much more than I could before. I got a lot of motivation from Peter Attia’s book Outlive, which talks about overall health.
As someone who’s almost always in barefoot-style shoes, I’d say be cautious about switching over too quickly. If you have PF, you’ll want to build foot strength gradually. I really like Xero shoes, but I’d stay away from any with “vegan leather” as I’ve found that material doesn’t last.
I dealt with PF for years and tried all kinds of exercises, but it only helped a little. On a whim, I got Enertor insoles, and they helped immediately. No pain during an 8-mile hike or afterward! Now I have a pair in my work shoes and hiking boots, and I haven’t had PF pain in a year.