Are you frustrated because all of the sandals that you try hurt your feet? Are you dealing with a foot condition that it’s making it hard to wear a pair of comfortable sandals during the summer? Whether you are dealing with a foot condition such as flat feet, rolled ankles, metatarsalgia, or a complicated foot shape (narrow, extra wide, high instep), certain sandals that will properly support your feet and accommodate your foot shape at the same time. I have put together a list of the best sandals for women with foot pain based on my 10+ years of shoe fitting experience.
Women who are dealing with foot conditions such as flat feet or rolled ankles put pressure on parts of their bodies where they are not supposed to, and this can lead to foot and leg pain, as well as other serious issues in the future such as lower back problems.
Most women who experience foot pain need shoes that provide extra cushion and support to help minimize the impact that their feet take every time they come in contact with the ground, which helps relieve the stress on their feet and legs.
My Experience Helping Women with Foot Pain
I have tested several different shoe brands and styles, and over the years I became familiar with the best sandals for women with foot pain.
One important thing to keep in mind is that several women experience foot pain from wearing shoes that are the wrong size —in most cases, the shoes are either too short or too narrow— I mention this because you can get a really good supportive sandal, but if it doesn’t fit the shape of your feet correctly, you won’t get any of the benefits that the sandal has to offer. What’s even worse, you will end up creating foot issues such as blisters, calluses, and ingrown toenails.
What Makes the Sandals that I Recommend Ideal for Women with Foot Pain?
1️⃣ Arch Support/Shock Absorption: This feature helps prevent your feet from collapsing and turning inwards. The shock absorption reduces the impact that your feet take every time they come in contact with the ground and relieve the stress on your feet and legs. Let’s take a look at an image that shows two sandals that provide very different levels of support. Do you notice how the sandal on the left has a more substantial and supportive outsole compared to the sandal on the right?
This is exactly the type of sandal that will cushion and support your feet. I will provide you with a link to this specific sandal shortly.
2️⃣ Ankle and Heel Support: Sandals that provide targeted cushion and support right below the heels can help minimize your foot pain. Let’s take a look at an image that shows the difference in heel support between two different sandals. Do you notice how the image on the left has more padding and cushion right below the heel area compared to the image on the left? I know this might not seem like a big difference but when it comes to supporting your feet, every quarter-inch of cushion is worth fighting for.
I will also provide you with a link to the sandal below shortly.
Before and After Images of the Supportive Sandals that I Recommend
Let’s start by taking a look at an image of a flat-footed woman who is experiencing foot pain standing barefoot. Do you notice how her feet are collapsing and turning inwards?
Before Image
Now let’s take a look at an image of the same woman standing on a pair of the supportive sandals that I recommend. Do you notice how her feet are a lot straighter? The substantial outsole of the sandal is preventing the woman’s feet from collapsing and turning inwards.
After Image
Wow! What a difference the correct types of sandals can make!
Are Supportive Sandals Heavier than Regular Sandals?
Several women assume that simply because a shoe provides better support than others that automatically makes the shoe heavy. This is far from the truth.
All of the supportive sandals that I recommend provide excellent arch and heel support and they are lightweight and flexible at the same time.
What Shoe Brands Manufacture Sandals with Good Arch and Heel Support?
- Orthotfeet
- Keen
- Teva
- Vionic
- Clarks
Even though those shoe brands manufacture supportive and high quality sandals for women with foot pain, there are only a few styles among each brand that will help treat and prevent your foot pain.
Where Can You Buy Sandals that Provide Good Arch and Heel Support?
Some women visit their local shoe store while some others prefer to buy their shoes online. I suggest that you check if your local shoe store carries any of the shoe brands that I recommended, and because each shoe brand and style fit differently, you should get your feet properly measured at your local shoe store. If you don’t have a local shoe store that you trust or you simply prefer to shop online, I will show you how to retrieve your exact foot length and shape from home.
Find Out How to Order the Correct Shoe Size Online
Buying shoes online can be a challenge. If you are unsure of your current foot length, I suggest that you take a look at a free resource I created where I help women determine their exact foot shape from home:
How to Measure Your Foot Shoe Size – The Most Simple and Effective Way!
Now that you know your exact foot length and shape, let’s take a look at the best sandals for women with foot pain. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Sandals for Women with Foot Pain – The Top 4 Most Supportive and Comfortable Sandals!
Make sure that you take a look at the description below each sandal to check whether that specific style can accommodate your foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide).
Consider that many of the sandals featured below come in several color options, so if you like a model, please make sure to click through and see if they have your desired color.
- Fits women with medium and wide feet
- EVA footbed provides an internal support mechanism that is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support and cradle the natural contours of the foot
- Cleansport NXT™ for natural odor control
- Quick-dry lining
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Lightweight ergonomic outsoles with a mild rocker design provide superior cushioning and enhance stability
- Soft straps with extra foam padding eliminate irritation and provide superior comfort and protection for sensitive feet
- 3 points of adjustability
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in narrow, medium, and wide widths
- Supportive outsole
- Targeted cushion and support right below the heels
- 2 points of adjustability
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Fits women with medium and wide feet
- Handstitched leather upper
- Podiatrist certified arch support
- Mini rocker outsole for improved pressure distribution
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Fits women with medium and wide feet
- Handstitched leather upper
- Podiatrist certified arch support
- Mini rocker outsole for improved pressure distribution
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Fits women with medium and wide feet
- Made of acrylic and polyamide felt fibers, this material is a soft fabric with a smooth leather-like finish
- The suede lined, contoured footbed will mold to the shape of your foot creating a custom footbed that supports and cradles you each and every step
- Anatomically correct cork footbed, crafted from cork that is 100% renewable and sustainable, encourages foot health
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Multiple cushioning layers provide pillow-like support that works wonders to enhance comfort and help ease pain on the foot and heel
- Ergonomic soles with a mild rocker design and superior cushioning enhance stability
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in narrow, medium, and wide widths
- A broad, contoured footbed features soft Super Suede™ linings that molds to the natural arches and curves of your foot for maximum comfort and shock absorption
- It offers multi-layered Tripad® cushions designed to comfort all three pressure points: the inside ball, outside ball and heel for all-day support
- 3 points of adjustability
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in medium, wide, and extra wide widths
- Ergonomically designed insole with contoured support.
- Thick comfortable EVA foam midsole
- 3 points of adjustability
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Fits women with medium and wide feet
- Lightweight EVA-foam midsole adds extra cushioning for maximum comfort
- Rugged Rubber outsole stands up to abuse and supplies great traction
- 3 points of adjustability
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Fits women with medium and wide feet
- 100% leather
- Mini rocker outsole for improved pressure distribution
- Cushioned footbed with podiatrist certified arch support to help absorb impact while standing or walking
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 3 adjustable velcro straps
- Lightweight ergonomic outsoles with a mild rocker design provide superior cushioning and enhance stability
- Quick-dry lining
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your longest foot size
- Available in medium and wide widths
- 3 adjustable velcro straps
- Lightweight ergonomic outsoles with a mild rocker design provide superior cushioning and enhance stability
- Arch support
- Comfort cushioned insole
- Order this sandal half a size larger than your longest foot size
Are Any Other Sandal Choices Available?
These are the most supportive sandals that I have fitted before, nonetheless do keep in mind that everyone’s feet are different, and what might work well for some women in terms of arch and heel support, might not work as well for others. Please remember that if the sandal doesn’t fit your foot shape properly, it doesn’t matter how good it is or how much support it provides!
Relatedly, you may want to take a look at a similar post through the following link:
Best Supportive Flip Flops for Women – Arch Support, Extra Padding Below the Heels, and Stylish!
Thank you for reading! We hope you found helpful this post on the best sandals for women with foot pain. Please feel free to share this post with your community on social media as well as your experiences in the comments section below. If you have any questions or need any assistance, you can also contact us via e-mail and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Excellent site and information- thanks.
I’m hopeful you may be able to help me…
I have ‘fat pad atrophy'(the fat pads on my soles have thinned leading to constant severe he’ll and ball pain, especially when I’m in my feet. I’ve tried Clarks, Brooks, Orthofeet, and several others, but with all it soon felt like I was walking barefoot on a hard surface. Ookos are cushiony but not for running errands.
The only shoes that allow extended time upright without worsening pain are Hoka Bondi’s.
I know no shoe will stop the pain, what I’m looking for are the most cushioned sandals available, preferably more stylish than what I see at retirement homes.
Thanks for any recommendations. .Any chance your store’s in Tucson?
Hello Jennifer,
I am glad you find the website informative.
For the sneakers that you mentioned you have tried, did you make sure that they were fitting the shape of your feet correctly? The reason I ask is that the only way to get the full support and stability that the shoes have to offer is by wearing them in the correct size. I actually created a resource that describes the best shoes for women with fat pad atrophy: Women’s Shoes for Fat Pad Atrophy – Extra Cushion and Padding Below Your Feet!
As far as sandals are concerned, are you looking for an open toe or closed toe sandal? In addition, in order for me to provide you with specific sandal recommendations I first need to know whether your feet are narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide.
Unfortunately, I am not located in Tucson, I am located in Maryland.