The Best Safety Boots for Plantar Fasciitis

It can be excruciating to walk or even just stand with plantar fasciitis – having to lace on a pair of rugged work boots as you climb up ladders, man heavy equipment or spend hours on your feet at a construction site is pure torture. Plantar fasciitis, the most commonplace cause of heel pain, is the inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament stretching from the heel of the foot to the toes, resulting in sharp biting pain as you rest your weight on your feet.

Improper support for your feet from the wrong kind of shoes can be responsible for putting strain on the plantar fascia ligament in the first place, and subsequently exacerbate it – conversely, though, the proper footwear can go a long way in helping relieve plantar fasciitis pain and help the ligament recover. A good pair of work boots not only feature the heavy-duty functionality and protective features ideal to ensure your safety in your work environment, but also the appropriate support and shock absorptive features that help hold up the natural curvature of your feet and prevent any jarring bumps from triggering stabs of pain in your feet take make movement excruciating. Take a look at our picks for the best safety boots for plantar fascia.

KEN’S PICK
Timberland PRO Men’s Pitboss 6″ Steel-Toe Boot

These rugged safety boots will survive years of rough use in tough workplaces, living up to the promise of ‘safety’ in safety boots. Thanks to the nylon shock diffusion plates, the boots offer impact resistance and reduce the sudden and potentially harmful jolts of sudden bumps and shocks, keeping the pressure off your inflamed plantar fascia ligament. Polyurethane midsoles and open-cell polyurethane footbeds cradle your feet, holding up the natural curve of your arch and heel to keep the pressure off your strained tissue, giving it a chance to recover and heal without making it impossible to stand or move around for too long in your boots. Built to ensure maximum comfort, the padded collar and anti-bacterial, odor-resistant Cambrelle fabric lining cushion your feet and offer a snug fit, despite the rugged protective features of the boots to battle against challenging environments and conditions.

The boots are ASTM F2412-11 and F2413-11 safety standard compliant, the steel toe caps ensuring impact and compression resistance ideal in workplaces where there may be falling object hazards, while also meeting electrical hazard safety standards for use anywhere with potential risk of electrocution. The patented Timberland PRO rubber outsoles are slip and oil resistant, giving you the edge over wet conditions and rough, uneven terrain alike, offering great puncture resistance, while the durable and tough nubuck leather upper completes the boots’ all-round protection. Heat-resistant and with removable, anti-microbial footbeds, the boots are stitched together with heavy-duty Goodyear welt construction to last you a good many years of wear and tear. The boots are available in three classic colors.

KEN’S BUDGET PICK
Caterpillar Men’s 2nd Shift Steel Toe Work Boot

With particular attention given to enhancing slip resistance, the T3 rubber outsole with deep cleats for additional surface area and the appropriate friction make this the ideal pair to have on in wet, slippery or otherwise low-traction terrains, without risking potentially dangerous falls. A steel shank ensures the proper stability and helps minimize shock, the Climasphere insole with a nylon mesh lining keeping the boots breathable and comfortable to have on for long periods of time. Steel toe caps offer impact and compression resistance up to ASTM F2413-11 standards; the boots are also ASTM F2413-05 rated for electrical hazard protection. Cushioned arch support helps maintain the natural curvature of your feet without overstretching the plantar fascia ligament, full grain leather upper durable and sturdy welt construction ensuring longevity, available in two classic colors.

RUNNER-UP
WOLVERINE Men’s Raider DuraShocks

We love the multishock absorbing compression pads engineered into the outsoles to keep the impact of sudden bumps on the down-low, keeping the pressure off your inflamed plantar fascia ligament. The removable, patented full-cushion Wolverine Multishox insole perfectly cradles the feet and offers natural arch support, preventing any unnecessary stretching of the ligament that might set off pain and allowing the tissue to rest and heal. Together with the breathable CK mesh lining and polyurethane midsole, the boots are perfectly comfortable to wear even for jobs requiring some heavy-lifting, giving your feet the chance to catch a break even when you’re on the go. The composite toe boots are up to ASTM F2413-18 M I/75 C/75 EH safety standards, delivering impact and compression resistance and electrical hazard protection, while rugged rubber outsoles promise thorough grip to make your boots slip and oil resistant on tricky and/or wet terrains. The patented ContourWelt construction of the boots make for a highly durable and resilient pair of safety footwear, available in two color options.

RUNNER-UP
Thorogood Men’s American Heritage 6″ Moc Toe, MAXwear Wedge Safety Toe Boot

Dual density, shock absorbing removable inserts on Poron 4000 comfort cushions don’t just pillow your feet and keep them safe from bumps and impact, but also help hold up their natural contours and keep the strained ligaments from overstretching. The cotton drill vamp lining enhances how comfortable the boots are to have on, without compromising on their rugged durability, a composite fiberglass shank and rubber midsole adding to stability and support while the patented oil and slip resistant polyurethane MAXwear Wedge outsole lets you traverse even the trickiest, slipperiest of terrains with ease, the choice of materials making these boots quite heat resistant. The soft-toe boots – sans toe cap – are rated for electrical hazard protection, rugged Goodyear welt construction stitching together the oil tanned leather of the pair, making for a highly durable and heavy-duty set of safety shoes. The boots are available in two color options, featuring a moccasin toe and wedge sole.