We independently evaluate the products we review. When you buy via links on our site, we may receive compensation. Read more about how we vet products and deals.
I have plantar fasciitis, and these 5 products helped me ease the pain
Arch-supporting insoles, a muscle roller and other gear that took me from 'barely able to walk' to 'only hurts after pickleball.'
About six weeks ago, after my weekly pickleball league, I awoke to a stabbing pain in my right heel. I'd had knee pain, a jammed thumb and other ouchies from my favorite sport, but never this. And it sucked. I was no better a week later, so I consulted Dr. Internet. No question about it: I had plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammation of the ligament that connects the heel to the toes.
This sent me down a rabbit hole of causes, prognoses and potential treatments. Turns out this is a very common malady, with lots of opinions on how to deal with it. (One especially useful resource: The Plantar Fasciitis Talk and Tips Support Group on Facebook.) Needless to say, I am not a podiatrist, chiropodist or any other kind of "ist." I'm merely a guy in pain who also happens to be a full-time product reviewer. So I'm pretty good at zeroing in on stuff that works, and I'm more than willing to use myself as a crash-test dummy.
Below, I've listed five products that helped me alleviate a lot of pain. Will any (or all) of them work for you? It's impossible to say, because one thing I learned is that plantar fasciitis affects different people in different ways. I can simply share my own experience as it stands right now. My pain levels have diminished significantly, but your mileage may vary.
This was perhaps my most surprising discovery: an under-$10 roller that's perfect for tending to tender calf muscles — which, it turns out, play a significant role in PF. (Here's a study with details about that, and one more noting the benefits of foam rolling, which is similar to what I'm discussing here.)
Indeed, when I apply this gently along the calf and upper Achilles, I can feel the muscles radiate to my heel. This is the tool I reach for when I've been sitting for a while (or lying in bed overnight) and my calves need a little loosening.
And while I've used it only half a dozen times or so, whenever I do, the PF pain diminishes — at least for a while. I hope it works the same wonders for you.
I had my doubts about these, but after a week with no relief in sight, I decided to try the insoles that many internet users swore by. I started by slipping them into my house slippers, which I wear virtually all day every day and which have zero arch support. The difference was instantaneous. I could walk without pain. Or at least without hobbling pain; the heel was still a little stabby, but much less than before.
A week later, when I went for a podiatrist appointment, guess what was on display in the waiting room? These exact insoles.
I've since purchased a second pair and swapped them for the insoles in my athletic shoes. I can't say they single-handedly (single-footedly?) rescued me from PF, but they definitely made a difference.
Although the aforementioned inserts worked well in my house slippers, my slippers were long overdue for replacing — so I decided to try a pair with equivalent support built right in.
Once again: remarkable difference. When I first step out of bed in the morning, the heel pain is there. When I step into the slippers, it all but disappears. Credit the higher arch, the "deep heel cup," whatever — it works.
Plus, there's nothing orthotic-looking about them; they look like regular slippers. Plus they're warm and comfortable, and available in four colors.
Related: The best slippers for women in 2025
Who doesn't love a foot massage? Machines like this have been around for years, but Bob and Brad's specifically mentions plantar fasciitis relief. Because I'd tried and liked a couple of the company's massage guns, I decided to play footsie with this thing.
A small remote lets you operate it without having to bend over and fiddle with buttons, though you can do that if you prefer. Once you turn it on, there are four settings — heat, knead intensity, air pressure and air mode — each with three levels.
It's simple enough to operate, which is good because it comes without instructions. But I never could figure out the differences in the three "air modes."
I don't like that when you shut the machine off or the massage ends (which it does automatically after 15 minutes), the kneading mechanisms don't seem to "retreat." Indeed, it often feels like your feet are still locked in; they don't slip out very easily. (I'm a size 11, by the way; anyone with larger feet might have an even tougher time.)
The good news is that the massage feels very nice, and it's never overly aggressive like on some foot-manglers I've tried. I'm not sure whether it's giving me any actual pain relief, at least on the PF front, but I look forward to that 15 minutes every day.
I ordered these just before a vacation, remembering at the last minute that my sandals have almost zero arch support and worrying about how I'd feel after a day walking in them.
These slides are stylish, comfortable and surprisingly inexpensive, and KuaiLu makes a similar line of orthotic sandals for women.
While I didn't feel like my feet were getting quite the same amount of arch support as from the inserts and slippers, I wore these for hours at a time and experienced minimal heel pain.
Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
