The Best and Worst Shoe Brands for Women with Foot Pain – The Top 5 Choices

Are you experiencing foot pain either at the bottom, side, or back of your feet? Have you recently switched to a new shoe brand or shoe style? One of the most effective ways to help significantly reduce or fully eliminate your foot pain is by wearing supportive shoes that fit the shape of your feet correctly. Some shoe brands manufacture shoes that are ideal for women with foot pain as they provide targeted cushion and support to key areas of the foot. I will show you a list of the best and worst shoe brands for women with foot pain based on my many years of shoe fitting experience. I will also show you a list of the best shoes among each shoe brand.

My Experience Fitting Women’s Shoes and Helping Women with Foot Pain

I have fitted children’s and women’s shoes for many years at a shoe store that specializes in helping people with foot problems. I have helped hundreds of women with foot problems find the correct pair of shoes for their feet, and I believe I will be able to help you too. Many women who come to the shoe store ask me what is the best shoe brand to help them treat and prevent their foot pain.

One thing I learned after having fitted shoes for many years is that there is no such thing as a universal shoe brand that works best for women with foot pain. Allow me to elaborate. Every woman is different, and their needs will be slightly different depending on their foot type and shape. Different foot types will require different levels of support to get the best results. Your foot shape —narrow, medium, wide, extra wide— also determines what type of shoes you should wear. For example, New Balance manufactures certain shoe styles that have proven to be extremely effective for women with foot pain. However, if you happen to have narrow feet, you won’t be able to wear most New Balance shoes (they tend to fit on the wider side), you will have to try a different shoe brand such as Asics (fits narrow and medium feet).

The Importance of Being Proactive and Taking Action!

Before trying invasive techniques such as casting, surgery, or steroid injections to reduce or fully eliminate your pain, I suggest that you start by making sure that you are wearing the correct pair of shoes. Something so simple such as wearing supportive shoes in the correct size can make a world of difference, and this approach will be a lot more convenient and affordable.

One of the most common questions women ask me is: If I had to recommend one shoe brand that actually helps treat and prevent foot pain, what would it be? As I mentioned before, the answer to that question is not that simple, because how effective the shoes from a specific shoe brand can be for one woman might not be as effective for another. With that said, there are certain shoe brands that you should definitely try and some others that you should stay away from.

What are the Worst Shoe Brands for Women with Foot Pain?

Most women who come to the shoe store complaining about foot pain are wearing the following shoe brands:

❌ Under Armour

❌ Nike

❌ Puma

❌ Adidas

❌ Reebok

I am not saying that all shoes from these shoe brands are bad for women with foot pain, but the majority are. The main reason why those are the worst shoe brands for women with foot pain is that they manufacture shoes that are too flimsy and unsupportive. Let’s take a look at a couple of images that will help us visualize what I mean.

Do you notice how the heel counter of the Nike shoe below is too soft compared to the heel counter of the New Balance shoe on the right? The heel counter is the part of the shoe that provides heel and ankle support, and if you are experiencing foot pain, the firmer it is, the better.

Do you notice how the outsole of the shoe below is a lot thinner compared to the Saucony shoe on the right? The outsole of the shoe is the part that provides shock absorption and reduces the impact that your feet take when they come in contact with the ground. You will notice that most Under Armour, Nike, Puma, Adidas, and Reebok shoes come with outsoles that are on the thinner side.

Now that you know which are the worst shoe brands for women with foot pain and the reasons why, let’s take a look at the best shoe brands for women with foot pain.

What are the Best Shoe Brands for Women with Foot Pain?

✅ New Balance

✅ Saucony

✅  Asics

✅  Orthofeet

✅  Brooks

These shoe brands have proven to be the most effective ones when it comes to helping treat and preventing foot pain. There are certain shoes among these shoe brands that provide the following 3 important features:

1️⃣ High Levels of Cushion and Support

Your shoes should provide supportive outsoles with extra padding and a rigid structure to provide constant support for the whole foot. I will provide you with a link to that specific shoe shortly.

2️⃣ Firm Heel Counter for Heel Stability

Shoes that provide firm heel counters can help prevent some of the twisting motion if your ankles are supinated or pronated. Always press on the heel counter of the shoe and make sure that it feels firm. Do you notice how the shoe on the right has extra cushion and padding right below the heel area? I will also provide you with a link to this shoe shortly.

3️⃣ Lightweight and Flexible

The shoes need to be supportive but lightweight and flexible at the same time to prevent your feet from easily getting tired. If you can flex your shoes as a spiral as shown in the left image, that simply means that your shoes don’t provide the correct amount of support.

Now that you know which are the best and worst shoe brands for women with foot pain you are ready to make a more informed decision. I also have put together a list of the most effective shoes that I have fitted over the years for women with foot pain. Keep in mind that the shoes below can accommodate different foot shapes (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide, high insteps, so make sure that you order the shoes based on your foot shape.

Believe it or not, you can buy the most supportive and comfortable shoe in the market, but if that shoe is not fitted properly, you won’t get any of the benefits that the shoes have to offer. If you are unsure of your exact foot length and shape I suggest that you use the resource below:

How to Measure Your Foot Shoe Size – The Most Simple and Effective Way!

Should You Fit an Orthotic for Extra Support?

I strongly suggest that you start by trying a pair of supportive shoes first. There is no reason to invest in an orthotic when a pair of supportive and well-fitted shoes might be all that you need for your foot pain. If after trying a pair of supportive shoes for a month you still experience pain, then you might be a good candidate for orthotics.

If you want to try an orthotic, I suggest that you contact me directly and I will guide you through the steps to take:

comfortablewomenshoes@gmail.com

Have you tried any of the shoe brands that I recommend? What has been your experience with them? Help me make this resource even better by adding your shoe recommendations as well!