Best Flip Flops for Plantar Fasciitis: The Most Comfortable Thong Sandals for Heel Pain

Finding good flip flops to wear if you have plantar fasciitis is a challenge. Most thong sandals worsen this painful foot condition and are not advised by podiatrists. There are some select flip flop sandals, however, that are either recommended by the American Podiatric Medical Association or that have features, such as a contoured footbed with arch support, that are less traumatizing to an injured plantar fascia. The right flip flops can be a great alternative to going barefoot, which doctors advise against for people with the heel pain from this type of foot injury. 

This article on the best flip flops for plantar fasciitis is based on my own experiences with having plantar fasciitis and my research into the best shoes for plantar fasciitis.

The APMA (American Podiatric Medical Association) has specific recommendations for wearing flip flops so they can be worn with the most comfortable fit and prevent undue pain:

• Flip flops are for casual wear while standing or strolling. Don't wear flip flops for long walks or high impact athletic activities. Compared to other sandals, flip flops have less arch support and shock absorption and offer virtually no ankle support, which puts greater stress on the feet.
  
• Flex the flip flops to make sure they bend at the ball of the foot, allowing for a natural stride. Too much flexibility, though, is bad - the sandal should be stiff enough that it doesn't fold over itself.
• Flip flops should fit as regular shoes do - your heel shouldn't lie beyond the heel of the sandal.
• Replace flip flop sandals when they are worn.
• Get flip flops made of soft leather. Leather tends to irritate the skin of the foot less than some of the harder, non-stretchy, harsher man-made materials. By minimizing blisters and chafing, you can walk more comfortably and evenly.
  

Sole is a star in the arch support department.  Sole makes several types of flip flops or thong sandals with orthopedic footbeds that mold to the feet for men and women. There are the Platinum Sandals, the new Casual Flips and Sport Flips, and Sport Slides.

The Platinum Sandals, which Sole has designed specifically for people with plantar fasciitis in mind, have an added metatarsal support pad. The arch support can be adjusted to your arch. The straps are designed to accommodate the particular idiosyncrasies of women's and men's feet. Sole thong sandals are accepted by the APMA.

FitFlops are relatively new on the market. Having launched in the UK in 2007, they have had many testimonials from customers that these flip flops have helped women and men with plantar fasciitis. They have EVA footbeds and rubber outsoles.

Particularly popular is the FitFlop Walkstar III Thong Sandal, with a leather strap, for women. Other cute flip flop sandals include the Electra, Oasis, and Walkstar Classic Thong.

Note: The flip flop sandals were designed to encourage leg muscle and gluteal muscle use. Because of this, people needing serious stabilizers in a flip flop may not find these suitable.

Birkenstock, out of Germany, is well known for making quality sandals with contoured cork footbeds in both leather and man-made materials.

Although I personally don't wear flip flops, the words "plantar fasciitis sandals" mean Birkenstocks to me. I wear Birkenstocks for my plantar fasciitis whenever it flares up - usually the Florida style. The sandals generally come in regular width (wide) or narrow width. Some styles come in a medium width that's somewhere between the two.

(Other folks seem to agree with me. Birkenstock sandals come up as one of the most popular shoes for plantar fasciitis sufferers, based on the poll in my article on Best Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis, with over 1,400 poll respondants at this writing.)

Some of the more popular Birkenstock thong sandals or flip flops include:

• Gizeh
• Sparta
• Luxor
• Ramses

Merrell Women’s Sundew Toe Thong Sandals are made with nubuck leather and neoprene. These flip flops have extra cushioning to provide shock absorption in the midsole and a footbed designed to help align the female foot. Note that this is not one of the shoes accepted by the APMA.

Among many customer reviews for the Crocs Athens Thong Sandal, I found a few reviews from people who specifically mentioned they had plantar fasciitis. This thong sandal has extra cushioning in the contoured footbed, extra arch support, and comes in whole sizes and medium width.

The author is not a medical professional, and the recommendations in this article should not be taken as medical advice.  The author received no freebies in this review. View the author's statement regarding compensation for this article.