Supportive hiking shoes

[BlackLabradors]

I have plantar fasciitis and am currently wearing sketchers arch fit all the time as they are my comfiest shoes. Trouble is they are so flimsy and have zero waterproofing. Can anyone recommend a brand of walking shoe/boot that would give the same support? I have tried lots of insoles in my existing shoes but have very wide feet so can’t get them to fit.

Go to a hiking shop and get some proper advice.

Vionic shoes are a good brand for help with plantar fasciitis

Can you buy some insoles instead that you can move between shoes? I have some from a shop called shuropody who have a machine to scan feet free of charge to see exactly where the issue is. Insoles are a bit pricey but gives the chance of several pairs of shoes. And they also don’t recommend sketchers, even the arch fit. Looks like they are a national company and online too.
https://www.shuropody.com/

Grisport make decent wise walking shoes

Keen also used to be good but not had any recently

Grisport lady glide - waterproof, wide and extremely comfortable. I had plantar when I first got them and it did go but no problems with these. Didn’t need any breaking in either. Also Muck Boot wellies are good.

Scarpa boots, I had sketchers when I first got plantar and as so comfy it was what I could tolerate. But I think long term with plantar they are too soft.

Never go barefoot and do calf stretches plus rest. Mine started because I did three hikes in a week. One was supposed to be 5 miles but the walk leader was crap and it ended up 10 and I was wearing just trainers.

I second Scarpa. I can’t put my insoles into mine but they’re so comfy. I also wear excellent hiking socks that have a supportive arch section. Those cost me about £25 but were well worth it.
got both from Ellie Brigham and was fitted for my boots. Boots have done Iceland, Spain, Nice/ Provence and lots of other walks.

I find Hoka very good, they also do a wide fit. If you want shoes look at the trail shoes with gortex, they also do hiking boots

Totally agree.

I also agree with people saying go to a hiking shop and get some good advice.
Go to somewhere where the assistants are properly trained. I do not advise Mountain Warehouse!
I also have wide feet and a few years ago I had plantar fasciitis. Since getting PF, I have always worn orthopedic insoles. Superfeet green are quite good ones. However, you might find that any walking shoes you buy come with their own support insole. Both my Keen walking shoes and my Meindl wide fit boots come with their own support insoles and have given me adequate stability.
When you try your shoes on in the shop, you need to try them on with the socks you will be walking in and the insoles you are going to use. If you buy shoes that fit without insoles you won’t have room later for insoles.

Just bought some merell walking shoes and they are very supportive and have great arch support and enough cushioning to protect my feet.
I walk to and from work, 30 mins each way, so need good shoes. Got them in Blacks.

I was going to start a thread like this!
My issue is blisters though. I normally walk a couple of miles a day but when I go on holiday it's much more and within a couple of days I have blisters on every toe and in between the toes.
No hiking shop within 50 miles though there is a go outdoors.
I wear Skechers but want some lightweight hiking boots.

ASICS trainers or walking shoes have excellent support

Skechers do walking boots. I did look at them a while ago & the waterproof ones didn't have great grips on the soles (the "water resistant" ones looked better). However, that may have changed.

People can’t really recommend shoes/boots over the internet. You just have to go somewhere and try on
loads of pairs.

You'll need to go and try them on. A lot of hiking boots now are heavily engineeed and structured so what is the perfect fit on one foot will be really uncomfortable and painful for someone else.

Absolutely need to try on but it's useful to know what to start with

A pp mentioned miendel- they are classed as wide but the toe box comes in narrower than many of the others

Blisters tends to mean movement - better lacing , and wicking socks might both help
If there are very high eylets around the ankle for example , using them can help prevent movement

Ecco gore Tex! Mine take a daily beating in all weather. They are as sturdy as a cat with 9 lives landing on all fours after a fall from the Burj Khalifa. That’s how highly I rate them.
My feet (have previously suffered from plantar fasciitis) love them and I deliberately walk through puddles (childish behaviour, I know) just to feel the victory of having dry feet/socks despite the beating they take on my muddy treks.

Meindl Philadelphia wide and deep toe box, keen targhee same...slighty rounded.... I find the meindl insole not quite as firm but use orthotic insoles so less of an issue
Altberg are well made and multiple widths in walking shoes/boots..
Merrell v supportive usually narrower fit...

Birkenstock boots :)

Superfeet insoles sorted my plantar fasciitis out.

My walking shoes are Salomon and they're great. I've had Merrell in the past and they've been good too.

Skechers are shit. Based on conversations with several physios and the guy who fitted my kids orthotics.
They both recommended Asics for day to day wear.
Go to a proper shop and get fitted.
Also depending on your age your foot pain could be hormonal and hrt might help.

I’m on hrt. I have ASICS but find the sketchers arch fit much more comfortable. I developed the plantar whilst wearing the ASICS. Trouble with both is waterproofing and I enjoy going for country walks so need something that can cope with wet grass and a bit of mud. I think I’ll give the Grisports a go. Thanks for all the advice.

Useful tips thanks. I have PF as well as blisters and I have orthotic insoles.

I was in TKMaxx today and they had a lot of walking boots and shoes. I wouldn't have recognised the brands but for this thread. I tried several pairs of Keen which look super waterproof but didn't fit around the toes. I bought a pair of Merrell which feel very comfortable and look good. They sort of rock back and forth.

I bought Merrell Bravada 2s from TK Maxx on Saturday. I've been looking for a pair for a while. They were a third of the price I'd seen elsewhere. I like Merrell hiking shoes anyway and the Bravadas are waterproof and all terrain.