Best Pickleball Shoes For Heel Pain [2023 Picks]
Pickleball is a physically-demanding sport, so it’s important for players to wear supportive shoes. When you have bunions, plantar fasciitis, or chronic heel pain, it can be difficult to find the perfect pair.
That’s why we spoke with 3 experts, including 2 orthopedic surgeons, and researched 10 different shoes to find the best pickleball shoes for heel pain. We made sure to test them and determined that 5 of them are actually the best options on the market.
Our top pick is the ASICS Women’s Court FlyteFoam 2 Tennis Shoes. They are great shoes for all players, regardless of if you use them on the court or in the kitchen.
The Orthofeet Innovative Plantar Fasciitis Shoes for Men are our runner-up. They are great for men who are suffering from plantar fasciitis.
If you suffer from heel pain, we recommend that you check out the ASICS Women’s Court FlyteFoam 2 Tennis Shoes or the Orthofeet Innovative Plantar Fasciitis Shoes for Men.
What To Consider Before Buying?
How’s it supported?
Look for shoes with arch support and a cushioned sole.
How good is the grip?
Look for a grippy sole that won’t slip on slick hardwood. Or a sole that slips on rocks and pebbles, but still feels good on grass?
What about materials?
We spoke with pickleball coaches to help choose grippy materials that won’t slip on slick court floors.
How’s it fastened?
Look for shoes with laces or hook-and-loop closures that are easy to adjust.
How’s it cushioned?
The best pickleball shoes have extra-thick soles and breathable linings.
How much you spend?
The lowest-priced pair on our list is $50, and the most expensive is $240.
What’s the best bet?
Look for a lightweight and comfortable shoe, with a grippy sole that won’t
Recommended Women Pickleball Shoes For Heel Pain
ASICS Women’s Court FlyteFoam 2 Tennis Shoes
- AHAR Outsole: Acronym for ASICS High Abrasion Rubber. Placed in critical areas of the outsole for...
- FLYTEFOAM Midsole Technology: Our FLYTEFOAM technology provides exceptional bounce back and...
- Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL Technology Cushioning System: Attenuates shock during impact and toe-off...
Last update on 2023-06-10 at 09:52 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
ASICS has a broad range of shoes for playing pickleball. But ASICS Court FlyteFoam 2 Women Shoe is their best pickleball shoe so far, specially designed for heel and arch.
This shoe comes with the GEL technology that provides good shock absorption, which means you could enjoy playing some heavy games with no worries about your leg and foot.
The FlyteFoam midsole is specially designed to cushion and comfy your feet from heel to toe. So, you can feel comfortable when walking and running. In a word, this shoe provides excellent cushion and support for running and playing pickleball.
The shoe is light, breathable, and stable, making sure that running and playing are really enjoyable. Hence, you don’t have to worry about your performance on the court.
The shoe is intended to deliver the updated fit. In fact, it uses the MONO-SOCK technology Fit System, which successfully fits your foot shape without causing discomfort.
It uses the Trusstic System technology which keeps your heel stable during games. Plus, it safeguards the ankle from bending forward or sideways.
Benefits:
- GEL technology that provides good shock absorption
- FlyteFoam midsole that cushions and comfy your feet from heel to toe.
- Light, breathable, and stable.
Drawbacks:
- No special insert for wide feet.
How It Performs in Our Test:
This ASICS Court FlyteFoam 2 Women Shoe is really comfortable. Its FlyteFoam midsole and cushioned collar support your foot well. Plus, it provides good traction.
We would recommend this shoe for beginners or elderly people who have difficulty bending their wrists while swinging. Its large sweet spot is great for those who have fast shots. Good equipment at a low price.
Who Should Buy This:
ASICS Court FlyteFoam 2 Women Shoe is the best pickleball shoe so far. It’s comfortable and provides good support during games.
Gravity Defyer Athletic Shoe
- VersoShock Patented Technology: shown to relieve pain in the knees.
- Roomy Toe Box extra room for comfort and better blood circulation.
- Front Rolling Design designed to reduce foot stress by isolating 28 bones, 30 joints, and over 100...
Last update on 2023-06-10 at 02:03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Gravity Defyer Athletic Shoe is great if you are looking for comfortable shoes to wear while playing pickleball. They are great to wear while running or walking for hours.
The shoe is quite comfortable. The shoe has a removable insole, which means that you can easily replace them with orthotic insoles. The material used is breathable and designed for comfort.
Aside from the right dimensions, the insoles are removable, which makes the shoes more flexible. You will not feel any foot pains. The shoes also come with a removable insole which allows the shoe to breath.
The shoes come in 3 different colors with a unique design, making it suitable for picking players.
The shoe’s features manage to reduce foot stress by isolating 28 bones, 30 joints, and over 100 muscles from harm. As such the shoes will be more comfortable to play pickleball.
Unlike other shoes, these shoes do not come with any arch support. This may make your feet hurt after some time of wearing them.
The design of the shoe is modern and fashionable. They can be used for both outdoor activities as well as indoor activities.
Benefits:
- Comfortable shoes to play pickleball
- Great to wear while running or walking for hours
- Designed for comfort
Drawbacks:
- No arch support
How It Performs in Our Test:
The shoe is quite comfortable. The shoe has a removable insole, which means that you can easily replace them with orthotic insoles. The material used is breathable and designed for comfort.
The shoe’s features manage to reduce foot stress by isolating 28 bones, 30 joints, and over 100 muscles from harm. As such the shoes will be more comfortable to play pickleball.
Compared to other shoes, these shoes do not come with any arch support. This may make your feet hurt after some time of wearing them.
The design of the shoe is modern and fashionable. They can be used for both outdoor activities as well as indoor activities.
Who Should Buy This:
The Gravity Defyer Athletic Shoe is great if you are looking for comfortable shoes to wear while playing pickleball. They are great to wear while running or walking for hours.
ASICS Men’s Court FlyteFoam 2 Tennis Shoes
Orthofeet Innovative Plantar Fasciitis Shoes
- Men's Orthopedic sneaker featuring OrthoFeets tie-less system that enables fastening and unfastening...
- The heel strap enables to adjust the grip around the heel from narrow to wide heels, as well as for...
- Orthofeet shoes have unmatched cushioning and benefit 20+ conditions including foot and heel pain,...
Last update on 2023-06-10 at 13:05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Orthofeet Men’s Plantar Fasciitis Shoes with Arch Support and Heel Lift are orthotic (arch support) friendly, therapeutic footwear that provides support for plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, and other foot problems. The shoes have built-in orthotic insoles and an anatomical orthotic insole, which can be removed to accommodate custom orthotics.
People suffering from pain in their heel and arch will appreciate these shoes, which are designed with extra cushioning in the arch and heel. These shoes are also comfortable for people with flat feet.
The shoes have wide toe boxes, which accommodate feet that spread wide. People with bunions, hammertoes, and swollen feet can wear these shoes without discomfort.
The shoes come in five widths, which should accommodate most foot sizes and accommodate custom orthotics.
The shoes have a soft, padded tongue and collar, which cradles the foot. The collar is removable, which allows it to accommodate orthotics.
The shoes have removable EVA footbeds, which can be removed to accommodate orthotics.
Benefits:
- Very comfortable for people with heel and arch pain
- Extra cushioning in the arch and heel
- Comfortable for people with flat feet
- The shoes are wide, accommodating people with bunions and other foot disorders
- The shoes are soft, padded, and cradle the foot
Drawbacks:
- When compared to similar products on the market, the shoes are slightly expensive
How It Performs in Our Test:
The Orthofeet Men’s Plantar Fasciitis Shoes with Arch Support and Heel Lift were comfortable for our feet. They have a wide toe box, soft, padded tongue and collar, and removable EVA footbeds.
Who Should Buy This:
The Orthofeet Men’s Plantar Fasciitis Shoes with Arch Support and Heel Lift are beneficial for people who need extra cushioning in the heel and arch, people with flat feet, and people with foot disorders.
New Balance Men’s 806 V1 Tennis Shoe
New Balance Men’s 806 V1 offers exceptional stability, support and durability. The excellent cushioning offered in the New Balance Men’s 806 V1 not only prevents injury but also makes your gameplay more enjoyable.
Featuring New Balance’s famous C-CAP cushioning system, the New Balance Men’s 806 V1 provides excellent shock absorption as well as stability.
These shoes offer outstanding stability, support and cushioning. If you are a player who is suffering from running related injuries, these shoes are ideal.
The New Balance Men’s 806 V1 shoes offer ideal support and cushioning. If you are a player who is suffering from running related injuries, these shoes are ideal
The New Balance Men’s 806 V1 shoes offer ideal support and cushioning. If you are a player who is suffering from running related injuries, these shoes are ideal.
The New Balance Men’s 806 V1 shoes offer ideal support and cushioning. If you are a player who is suffering from running related injuries, these shoes are ideal.
Its outsole is very durable. The outsole is crafted from rubber, so you will get a good grip while playing the game with these shoes.
Benefits:
- Stable, durable and comfortable game use
- Midsole cushioning offers excellent shock absorbency
Drawbacks:
- The outsole may feel slippery sometimes
How It Performs in Our Test:
New Balance Men’s 806 V1 offers exceptional stability, support and durability. The excellent cushioning offered in the New Balance Men’s 806 V1 not only prevents injury but also makes your gameplay more enjoyable.
Who Should Buy This:
The New Balance Men’s 806 V1 offers exceptional stability, support and durability. The excellent cushioning offered in the New Balance Men’s 806 V1 not only prevents injury but also makes your gameplay more enjoyable.
Why Should You Need Pickleball Shoes?
As I said earlier, if you’re suffering from heel pain because of playing on hard indoor courts it means your skin is tired and the muscles in your feet are getting stressed.
After enough sessions like this one your skin will probably toughen up but what doesn’t toughen is the fat pad under the heel which will keep getting thinner with time and that’s when you experience chronic pain.
Some people decide to play pickleball only in socks (and trust me, I know how it feels because I did the same thing for a while), but sooner or later you will probably get blisters and need to take some time off from playing.
On the other hand, if you’re already wearing shoes, you can prevent your heels from getting that tired skin effect since the soles will be much harder and there will be no fat pad to thin out.
In addition to this, pickleball shoes are specially made for lateral movements (which is what pickleball is all about) which means they allow more freedom of movement for your ankles.
How To Buy Pickleball Shoes?
There are three main aspects you need to look at when buying the best pickleball shoes for heel pain: support, traction, and durability.
Support
This is probably the most important aspect of any pickleball shoe since it’s what makes your feet comfortable no matter how hard or long you play. There are two factors that should be taken into account:
- First, the amount of padding should provide enough shock absorption for your heels without making the shoes feel mushy
- Second, the midsole should be stiff which means there will be no movement between your foot and the shoe (we don’t want to make this mistake).
Traction
Even though pickleball is mostly played indoors and on some outdoor hard courts, there are occasional moments when we play on clay or grass courts. That’s why it’s important to look for a pickleball shoe with good wet/dry traction.
Durability
You don’t need to be told this but obviously, you can expect your playing shoes to get destroyed quite quickly if you play a lot. So even though you should always consider your budget, don’t get the cheapest pickleball shoe out there since you’ll just end up buying another pair sooner than later.
Final Thoughts
Having a good pair of pickleball shoes will make you enjoy your time on the court more and most importantly they’ll reduce heel pain.
This list should give you some insight into what’s available but if you don’t feel like buying online, there are always local stores where you can try them for yourself before making your final decision.
It’s not a secret that pickleball is a much more fun sport when you’re able to give your best from the first minute until the last one.
In addition to this, it means you will be playing for a longer time and as we all know, practice makes perfect 🙂