Best Shoes For Achilles Tendonitis
Finding the best shoes for Achilles tendonitis can be a double edged sword. This is because your previous footwear is what probably caused your Achilles injury in the first place.
While the footwear that you should be wearing will most likely injure you further. This is why I have carefully chosen a list of the top shoes for Achilles tendinitis that will let you:
- Transition from your previous footwear into shoes that will hold you foot in better posture
- Help strengthen the Achilles tendon while allowing for better recovery
- Reduce pain and swelling in the Achilles Tendon
Top Rated Shoes For Achilles Tendonitis 2018
1. Skechers Go Walk
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2. Brooks Pure Cadence
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3. Adidas Barricade Club
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Best Walking Shoes For Achilles Thendonitis
1. Skechers Performance Go Walk 3 Compete Lace-Up Walking Shoe
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The Skechers Performance Go Walk Lace-Up walking shoes are featured on this list because of their lightweight comfort. The memory foam footbed allows the shoe to mold to the shape of your foot. Thus providing customized support and ample shock absorption.
The sock liner is made of anti microbial technology that will keep your feet fresh throughout the day. The shoe is incredibly flexible due to the Resalite midsole, this provides plenty of feed back on every stride.
What makes the Skechers Performance Go Walk 3 an excellent walking shoe for Achilles tendonitis is its low drop construction and the low heel collar. Being low-drop, the Go Walk 3’s place the foot in the optimal position for healing the achilles tendon.
The heel sits in a position that is neither too high nor too low. This will give the tendon relief over time, whilst also strengthening it through a broader range of motion.
The soft and low heel collar also reduces irritation in the tendon during walking. Thus reducing inflammation caused by rubbing of the heel collar into the tendon.
2. Orthofeet Monterey Bay And Orthofeet Tahoe
The Orthofeet Monterey Bay (for men) and Tahoe (for women) are comfortable walking shoes that support the feet during long walks. The footbed is flat and low to the ground, thus placing the Achilles tendon in a position that aids faster recovery.
This shoe is also compatible with various orthotics due to its extra depth design. While the seamless upper in the toe box provides ample space and comfort for the toes.
The velcro-lace system employed on these shoes allows for added stability. This in turn helps the achilles tendon heal by guiding the foot through a more stable gait cycle, thus providing torsional support to the achilles tendon.
Orhtofeet shoes even come in double extra wide sizes for those with wide feet. The Orthofeet Monterey Bay and the Orthofeet Tahoe are one of the most comfortable walking shoes for Achilles tendonitis.
3. Nike Free RN
While the Nike Free RN’s are a popular running shoe. They translate very well into excellent walking shoes for Achilles Tendonitis.
This is because of their light weight and low to the ground construction. The Nike Free RN’s are low drop shoes which help keep the tendon in a position that aids in the healing process. It is a good shoe for those with a neutral gait.
Nike has upgraded the upper of the shoe, making it more lightweight, while allowing for more stretch. The Free RN upper sports a circular knit spandex material which also makes it very breathable.
Spandex is a good absorbs the sweat and wicks it away from your feet and into the atmosphere. This will keep our feet fresh and dry through those long walks or runs.
What makes the Nike Free RN an excellent choice for neutral walkers and runners is Nike’s updated Dynamic Heel Fit System. This technology holds the heel firmly in place, while simultaneously having a soft and comfortable heel collar. This reduces rubbing against the achilles tendon during long runs or walks while also reduce heel slippage within the shoe.
The midsole also uses a co-molded technology which uses 2 types of injected foams. This feature offers excellent flexibility and feedback from the ground.
Best Running Shoes For Achilles Tendonitis
1. Brooks Pure Cadence
The Brooks Pure Cadence ends up on almost all of my shoe lists and for good reason. It is an excellent lightweight running shoe for those who tend to overpronate or those with flat feet.
Brooks was able to keep the Pure Cadence 6 extremely lightweight by getting rid of bulky torsional support bars and incorporating their guide-rail technology.
This technology guides the foot through a more natural gait cycle, thus reducing torsional stress on the Achilles tendon. This is one of the primary features that make this an excellent running shoes for those with flat feet and Achilles tendinitis.
What also makes the Brooks Pure Cadence a good choice for those with Achilles tenonditis is the low heel to toe drop. Add to this the low heel collar and you’ve basically got yourself the perfect running shoe for those with Achilles tendonitis and flat feet.
2. New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v7
When you talk about the Fresh Foam line of running shoes, you know you’re talking about maximal cushioning and comfort. New Balance’s Fresh Foam technology is well known in the running world.
This maximally cushioned, neutral, low-drop running shoe is great for those with Achilles tendonitis for the following tow reasons. The base of the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080V7 is extra wide.
This provides a stable platform for runners and helps reduce torsional loads on the Achilles tendon. The engineered mesh upper does a good job of venting the insides of the shoe, thus keeping your feet dry.
While the wide base allows for a wide toe box that let’s the toes splay out and is a great choice if you have wide feet. All-in-all if you are looking for a stable, hyper cushioned running shoe for Achilles tendinitis, the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 should be a great fit!
3. Asics 33-FA
The Asics 33-FA is a staple running shoe for those that want a more natural feel while still having ample cushioning and comfort.
The sole of the shoe is made from three different densities of materials (four if you include the insole). The outsole of the 33FA is made of a durable high density rubber which flexes due to it’s flex grooves that mimic the 33 joints of the foot. The midsole is thick and made of two different foam materials.
The white foam being EVA and the red foam which is much more soft. This is great because the red foam sits directly under the the insole and allows for a plush ride. While the slightly stiffer EVA foam provides all the responsiveness and energy return you will need on long or quick runs.
What makes the Asics 33-FA a good running shoe for Achilles tendonitis is its low drop, which, by now you already know – places the foot in a more ergonomic position.
Like all other shoes on this list, the Asics 33-FA also features a soft heel collar that will not irritate the achilles tendon the way traditional running shoes will.
The upper also offers decent stability, keeping the foot in place, while allowing for ample breathability on long runs.
Best Tennis Shoes For Achilles Tendonitis
1. Addidas Barricade Club Tennis Shoe
The Adidas Barricade Club Tennis shoe is one of the best tennis shoes for Achilles tendonitis. When I look for a good tennis shoe, I want something that is both stable and durable.
The Adidas Barricade club offers premium durability and stability and comfort in an extremely affordable package. My favourite feature of the Adidas Barricade club is its stability. The Barricade line is known for it’s wide bases that help reduce torsional forces on the musculature of the foot.
This translates very well for tennis players with Achilles tendinitis as the shoe helps reduce these forces on the calf muscle and Achilles tendon.
The Barricades are also known for their comfort. These shoes don’t need excessive break in periods and are comfortable right out-of-the-box.
They also have a relatively low drop for a tennis shoe. This helps strengthen the calf muscle and Achilles tendon outside of their “regular” range of motion.
2. Asics Gel Solution Speed 3
The Asics Gel Solution Speed 3 is a lightweight, fast, low to the ground, durable tennis shoe. It offers excellent torsional and side-to-side stability through the use of a full TPU wrap around the foot.
The newly designed upper is breathable a little less breathable although it does allow for some airflow throughout the shoe.
Lightweight and fast shoes are notorious for wearing out quickly, but the Gel Solution Speed 3 offers more durability than some of the more heavier shoes on the market. It is also a very grippy shoe, which translates to better stability on the court, thus saving the Achilles from a lot of stress.
The fit on the Gel Solution speed is a bit narrow and great for those with narrow feet and Achilles tendinitis. The low to the ground stability of this tennis shoe is what makes it one of the best tennis shoes for those with Achilles tendonitis and narrow feet.
3. K-Swiss Hypercourt Express
The Hypercourt Express by K-Swiss is another low to the ground offering that fits like a glove and is extremely stable. The wide base of the outsole provides ample stability on the court, while the super sticky rubber keeps your feet firmly planted.
These two features along with the new upper’s glove like fit is what makes the K-Swiss Hypercourt Express one of the best tennis shoes for Achilles tendonitis.
The shoe saves the Achilles tendon from a lot of the lateral forces of moving side-to-side throughout the tennis court. Thus allowing the Achilles tendon to properly heal over time.
The K-Swiss Hypercourt Express is an excellent tennis shoe for those with Achilles tendonitis and wide feet.
What To Look For In The Best Shoes For Achilles Tendonitis
- Look for a low drop or transitional shoe that is in between a zero drop and a high drop or conventional shoe
- Make sure that the shoe you are wearing has a a low collar. This is because high collars can dig into the tendon and irritate it.
- Look for shoes that hold your foot tightly in place both at the midfoot and at the heel. This can be hard to find as most shoes that have low or soft collars dont usually hold the foot in place.
Conclusion
The shoes on this list are some of the best shoes for Achilles tendonitis. These shoes offer exceptional stability to the foot, tendon and calf muscle by placing the foot in a more natural alignment than conventional shoes.
For a more detailed list of shoes for each individual activity, click on the links below:
- The Top Walking Shoes For Achilles Tendonitis
- The Best Running Shoes For Achilles Tendonitis
- Best Tennis Shoes For Achilles Tenodnitis