Best Walking Shoes for Women with Foot Pain – Extra Cushion and Support!

Have you been experiencing foot pain either at the bottom, side, or back of your feet? Has the pain been interfering with your daily activities? Foot pain is never normal. It’s not normal for women to feel like they can’t walk from being in constant pain. 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 perfectly. I have put together a list of the best walking shoes for women with foot pain based on my several years of shoe fitting experience.

It’s a fact that your symptoms might improve if you give yourself a break, but may arise as soon as you return to being active. That’s why having a good pair of supportive walking shoes is important. Wearing a pair of supportive shoes in the correct shoe size is a proactive way to help with the pain.

I have been in touch with several women who are told by their medical professionals to try shock wave therapy, steroid injections, or even surgery to get rid of their foot pain. Before you try an invasive method to get rid of your pain, I strongly suggest that you start by making sure that you are wearing the correct type of shoes. The correct type of orthotics can also make a world of difference when it comes to treating your foot pain.

My Experience Helping Women with Foot Pain

I work for a shoe store that focuses on helping women with complicated foot shapes as well as foot problems (flat feet, high, arches, rolled ankles, heel pain) find the correct pair of shoes for their feet. I have helped several women with foot pain find the perfect pair of shoes for their feet, and I believe I will be able to help you too.

Keep in mind that simply because a friend, family member, or even your medical professional recommends a specific pair of walking shoes to help with your foot pain, that doesn’t mean that it will work well for your feet. The walking shoe that’s right for you might be different for everyone. Your foot shape determines what specific walking shoes will work best for you, that’s the reason why the walking shoes that I recommend are available in different widths so they can fit different foot shapes (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide, high instep).

Why Are You Suddenly Experiencing Foot Pain?

The fact that you suddenly started experiencing foot pain doesn’t mean that you recently hurt your feet. The foot pain that you are experiencing today might be the result of wearing unsupportive shoes or shoes that didn’t fit properly for many years.

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

I don’t like to recommend specific shoe brands for women with foot pain as one of the most common mistakes that people make is to generalize and believe that all shoes from a specific brand will work for their feet. There are specific shoe styles among each shoe brand that work a lot better than others, and I will show them to you shortly.

Possible Reasons Why You Are Suddenly Experiencing Foot Pain

I have put together a list of the most common reasons why women experience general foot pain. Keep in mind that I made this list based on the feedback I receive from women who come to the shoe store that I work for complaining of foot pain:

1️⃣ Unsupportive Shoes

Most women who come to the shoe store complaining about foot pain are wearing shoes that are too flimsy and unsupportive.

2️⃣ Wearing Shoes that are the Wrong Size

A large number of women who come to the shoe store complaining about foot pain are wearing shoes that are either too short or too narrow.

3️⃣ Foot Conditions

Another common reason is women with existing foot conditions such as flat feet, rolled ankles, and high arches are more prone to experiencing foot pain.

4️⃣ Wearing Shoes that are not Tied Properly

Shoes that are not properly tied don’t provide the same levels of stability and support than those that are.

5️⃣ Wearing Casual Shoes Instead of Sneakers

I have noticed that women who wear casual shoes instead of everyday sneakers are more prone to developing foot pain. The reason for this is that Mary Jane shoes, flats, or seasonal footwear such as sandals and boots don’t provide the same support as sneakers/everyday walking shoes.

What Makes the Walking Shoes that I Recommend Ideal for Women with Foot Pain?

The walking shoes that I recommend provide 3 key features that might help significantly reduce or fully eliminate your foot pain as long as they are fitted properly:

1️⃣ High Levels of Cushion and Support

Your walking shoes should provide supportive outsoles with extra padding and a rigid structure to provide constant support for the whole foot. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes. Do you notice how the running shoe on the right has a more supportive outsole compared to the shoe on the left? I will provide you with a link to this specific shoe shortly.

2️⃣ Firm Heel Counter for Heel Stability

Walking 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 shown in the left image, that simply means that your shoes don’t provide the correct amount of support.

The goal of wearing supportive walking shoes is to allow your feet to stay comfortable while being active.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best walking shoes for women with foot pain. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

Best Walking Shoes for Women with Foot Pain

Take a look at the description below each shoe to find out whether that specific style can fit the shape of your feet (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide)

How to Figure Out Your Exact Foot Length and Shape

Did you know that some women experience foot pain from simply wearing the wrong type of shoes?

If you live in an area where you can’t have your feet properly measured, I suggest that you take a look at a different article I wrote where I help women figure out their exact foot size and shape from home. I offer this service for free so take advantage of this and make sure that you know your exact foot size:

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

Make Sure that You Tie Your Walking Shoes Correctly

The only way to get the full support and stability that your shoes have to offer is to tie them comfortably tight at all times. The tighter that you make your shoes, the more support and stability that you will get.  I don’t want you to make the laces so tight that you feel like you are cutting your circulation, but they should be comfortably tight.

There is a specific shoe lacing technique that I use and works really well for women with heel pain but it also works for women with general foot pain:

How to Tie Shoes for Women with Heel Pain – Follow These 3 Simple Steps

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

Should You Consider Physical Therapy?

If after wearing supportive shoes and orthotics you still experience foot pain,  you may be a candidate for physical therapy. A therapist can teach you exercises to strengthen your feet, ankles, and legs. They can also teach you stretches that might take pressure off your feet and improve symptoms.‌

Help me make this resource even better by adding your walking shoe recommendations that worked well for your feet. I am sure that other women will benefit from reading about your experiences!