If you’ve ever suffered from Achilles tendonitis, you already know the feeling of unbearable foot pain. Having suitable and supportive footwear, even in a sandal, can ease the symptoms and promote faster recovery.
Foot conditions such as high arches, flat feet, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendonitis require wearing sandals with adequate support, cushion, and reliable materials for an optimal experience.
- Best Overall Sandal for Achilles Tendonitis – Vionic Amber
- Runner-up Sandal for Achilles Tendonitis – Birkenstock Mayari
- Best Unisex Sandal for Achilles Tendonitis – Vionic Wave Toe Post
Podiatrists used to hesitate sandals and flip-flops, believing that they were harmful to your feet. Surprisingly, many podiatrists now prescribe sandals and flip-flops to patients with Achilles Tendonitis, Plantar Fasciitis, and high arch problems.
How? Some sandals relieve most foot problems like Achilles Tendonitis, Plantar Fasciitis, and Metatarsalgia due to the sandal’s ample arch support, a wide heel cup, a fully contoured footbed, and a durable outsole.
Below, we’ve listed the nine best sandals for Achilles tendonitis with arch support without compromising style and highly ranked by consumers that will surely get you through summertime pain-free.
What sandals should I wear with Achilles tendonitis?
“The best way to treat Achilles tendonitis is by wearing a shoe with ample arch support, as it helps take pressure off the affected area,” according to NYC podiatrist Dr. Emily Splichal.
Typically for Achilles tendonitis, a sandal that helps take the stress off of the Achilles is ideal.
Check out these eight best sandals for Achilles tendonitis that offers optimal comfort and support:
8 Best Sandals for Achilles Tendonitis 2021 (Buying Guide)
Vionic Amber
The Vionic Amber is hailed as our overall best sandal for Achilles tendonitis due to its excellent and casual style that features remarkable stone embellishments. It also comes in different forms of uppers. This sandal for Achilles tendonitis has a refined style, advanced technology, and incredible comfort in one footwear.
Vionic Amber Sandals
The four straps are fully adjustable with hook-and-loop closure for easy slip on and off and a more customized fit. It allows the sandal to be completely tailored to your foot. The middle strap is also detachable and can be converted into a different style.
The smooth footbed is covered in a fine microfiber. The built-in orthotic gives support and durability to promote natural foot alignment.
The flexible EVA midsole also absorbs shock to lessen stress on your feet, joints, and knees. In contrast, the rubber outsole is durable due to the patterned tread that keeps you upright on various surfaces.
According to research conducted by Orthaheel technology, Vionic Amber can successfully assist overpronation. This is thought to help relieve common foot problems such as Plantar Fasciitis.
Lastly, this sandal received the Seal of Acceptance by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA), so you’re guaranteed the product’s safety and benefits.
Birkenstock Mayari
If you’re planning for long-distance walking or hiking or looking to have ergonomic sandals for your feet, Birkenstocks is our top choice.
Birkenstocks Mayari
They were popular in the ’90s, but the brand was introduced centuries ago in Germany in the 1700s. Birkenstocks developed the original contoured arch support in 1902. Since then, the brand has garnered a gold standard for comfortable shoes.
The Birkenstocks Mayari’s cushioned footbed and deep heel cup equally distribute your weight to relieve pressure and prevent Achilles tendonitis inflammation. The raised toe bar promotes gripping and excellent circulation.
The Premium Birko-flor™ leather straps are fully adjustable for a custom fit that needs no break-in period. It comes in 18 different colors, making it fun and ideal for those looking for a wide range of styles.
Some customers report a slightly extra space in the front and back, but this sandal is supposed to have extra room for optimal movement and comfort. If you want to look stylish and comfortable all day, we highly recommend this Birkenstock Mayari.
Clarks Cloudsteppers Arla Primrose Sandal
These Clark’s Arla Primrose Sandal feels like you are walking on a cloud, according to over 1000 satisfied customers. Made with a thick ortholite footbed and ultra-soft fabric straps, you’ll shortly get enough with these sandals every day.
Clarks Arla Primrose Sandal
They look fashionably cute, fun, and comfortable, perfect for a summer sandal. It has a Velcro closure, so ensure you’ll get the appropriate size to fit perfectly onto your feet. Customers recommend a size up before checking out as they tend to run small.
The Arla Primrose is part of Clarks’ Cloudsteppers collection. These sandals come in eight colors, both medium and wide-width sizes. You can even wear this stylish sandal to work with jeans, capris, and dresses. The black silk-like material on top makes it convenient for dressing up.
This Achilles sandal is loved by many for its ease of washing and versatility. If you’re looking for the best sandal to keep your feet cool all day, this might be your perfect choice!
Clarks Cloudsteppers also come in flip flops, slip-ons, there are more than 95 styles available. Check out Clarks Cloudstepper collection here.
OOFOS OOahh Recover Slide
OK, These aren’t exactly sandals, but I have to add them here. The OOFOS OOahh Recovery Slide Sandals.
OOFOS OOahh Recovery Slide Sandals
OOFOS specializes in developing footwear for recovery. OOFOS uses science and research to design footwear that reduces foot fatigue, foot pain and tightness with an American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance!
The OOFOS patented foam absorbs 37% more impact than traditional foam footwear material to provide the perfect blend of cushion, support and stability.
The OOFOS patented footbed cradles and supports your arches allowing you to recover from your injuries faster.
OOFOS Recovery Slid Sandals feature an agile foam strap for support and comfort. The closed-cell foam is machine washable and designed to minimize odors.
You can find OOFOOS collection of sandals at their website, click here.
Dansko Women’s Sophie Sandal
Dansko’s Sophie Sandal is lightweight and garnered a seal of approval from the American Podiatric Medical Association for its all-day comfort with a stylish edge. This sandal complements any outfit and is made to last with a long-wearing, solid outsole.
Dansko Sophie Sandals
This stylish heel adds height without the heel while offering shock-absorbing foam in the sole that feels like walking on clouds. This trendy pick is a god-send for people with flat feet; you’ll surely get a lot of compliments with this sandal.
This sandal provides all-day comfort with excellent arch support. The buckles are great for adjustability if your feet swell in the heat. If you’re looking for the perfect and comfortable sandal for Achilles tendonitis that feels like wearing nothing at all, go for Dansko’s Sophie Sandal. Dansko designs beautiful footwear and I find that by checking the Dansko website as well as Zappos, you can get the best price and choice!
Reef Women’s Cushion Spring Joy Sandal (Flip-Flip)
The Reef Women’s Cushion Spring Joy Flip-Flop is a nice option for a beach sandal. It’s also versatile, dedicated for daily wear, trips to beaches or lakes. Reef sources some of its profits to help marine projects such as beach restoration and conservation.
Reef designs the footbed for optimum arch support. At first, they felt a little strange, but they were super comfortable following a short break-in. Although, some users mention that this sandal isn’t comfortable for people with wide or narrow feet.
If you’re looking for comfortable flip flops and provide adequate support for your arch, go for this Cushion Spring Joy by Reef. They’re not as flat as some other sandals, which are ideal for people with foot problems.
Vionic Wave Toe Post (Best Unisex)
Vionic sandals have received numerous positive feedback from users for their perfect solution to their heel pain concerns. The brand is popularly known for its arch support and ability to relieve pains caused by Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis.
Several people and those new to Vionic find it hard to break them in for a couple of days before achieving an optimal relief.
This Vionic Wave Toe Post has a podiatrist-designed footbed developed to promote stability from the ground up. The unisex toe-post sandal emphasizes soft fiber webbing and the brand’s biomechanically designed footbed that holds your arches and supports your feet all day.
Vionic Wave is also pretty easy to clean since it doesn’t have any rubber or foam footbed. Add a bit of water and use a cloth to wash this sandal. Remember, they aren’t waterproof, so avoid submerging them or taking them in the ocean to preserve their appearance.
Clarks Breeze Sea Sandals
I just had to talk about Clarks again. The Clarks Breeze Sea Sandals are one of the most popular sandals sold by Clarks.
Clarks Breeze Sea Sandal
The fall under the Cloudsteppers collection that I talked about earlier. These sandals feature the Ortholite Footbed with EVA outsole to provide your feet the support and cushioning that you need if you are suffering from Achilles Tendonitis.
These are lightweight and great for trips to the beach or for when you are looking for a comfortable daily sandal.
Clarks offers these sandals in over 30 color combinations and purchasers rave about how comfortable these sandals are. Check Clarks for their full selection.
Common Symptoms for Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles tendonitis symptoms can come in different levels and types of pain, such as:
- Pain in the morning when you first wake up.
- Pain when bending the foot upwards as the Achilles tendon goes into the back of the heel.
- Worsening inflammation and swelling while standing and walking for long periods.
- Pain improves when wearing good shoes, orthotics, and supportive sandals.
Important Points to Consider When Buying the Best Sandals for Achilles Tendonitis
Comfort
Comfort comes first when looking for the best sandals for Achilles tendonitis. Sandals with inadequate comfort can make it challenging to walk in them for quite a long time, despite how stylish or attractive they are. Look for features like a cushion, arch support, and straps.
Support and Stability
Sandals with good stability and secure your feet in place are an essential feature for the best tendonitis sandals. Look for ones with straps to hold the front portion of the foot, heel, and ankle. A slip-on sandal doesn’t give decent ankle stability since the foot tends to wobble around, making it susceptible to injury.”
Protection
Some sandals expose the feet more than others. The amount of protection needed will depend on your expected activity. If you opt to wear sandals that involve running or other informal wear, open-toe designs are nothing to be worried about. However, if you intend to hike and walk on unpaved trails, you’ll have to pick an enclosed toe for superior protection.
Style
Function and comfort go together, and they’re both crucial when buying a pair of sandals. But style can also be a significant factor. Make sure to choose a sandal that matches your planned activities and keep an eye on the heel height and materials.
Benefits of Wearing The Right Sandals to Prevent Achilles Tendonitis
When you wear the proper footwear that fits perfectly, it contributes to Achilles Tendon injuries and ruptures, prevention and faster recovery from injuries, and stopping the reoccurrence.
A poorly fitted footwear provides an opposite effect to your feet by increasing the chance of Achilles Tendon injuries, slowing down recovery, and raising the risks of an injury’s relapse.
The right footwear can:
Keeps your feet comfortable.
Comfortable shoes keep your feet happy, at the same time, help customers with foot problems. Nearly 85 percent of people suffer from foot-related problems commonly impacting people’s daily lives. Some of these causes include wearing inappropriate footwear, developing sports injuries, walking on hard surfaces for extended periods, or being overweight.
Promotes Proper Alignment
Most shoes provide plenty of arch support that helps promote body alignment. The foot is the foundation of your body; everything originates from your feet. If your feet get hurt, the rest of your body gets affected. Keeping your feet in their proper alignment helps evenly distribute your weight, thus, relieving pain and tension in many parts of your body.
Great Alternative Treatment
Excellent shoes and proper arch support can be a form of alternative remedy for all sorts of pain in the feet, hips, back, and ankles. Keeping your shoe preference in mind is the best way to start. By getting a new pair of sandals for Achilles tendonitis or inserts for the shoes, you somehow corrected the source of your problem.
How to use a massage gun for Achilles tendonitis
Kitma Nitro Massage Gun
Best Sandals for Women with Achilles Tendonitis, final thoughts…
The main features of a great shoe for your Achilles Tendon should offer motion control and optimal heel height. Stay away from high and flat heels and reach for a slightly elevated heel piece with proper heel support.
Heel support is key to recovering from Achilles Tendonitis. Whether you injured or damaged your Achilles Tendon, these sandals for Achilles tendonitis will provide you with the maximum support and relief to assist in the recovery of your Achilles Tendon.
We hope the above-listed best sandals for ankle tendonitis can help you choose which one suits your preference. Avoid worsening your foot problems with the wrong shoe that only makes your feet hurt worse and put your money to waste. Investing in the right sandals for Achilles tendon pain, such as Vionic Amber with excellent, casual style or a subtle, unisex type like Vionic Wave, can make you feel poised to walk more and do more.
Shoe Choices by Activity for Women with Achilles Tendonitis
- Best Walking Boots For Achilles Tendonitis (2021 Buyers Guide)
- Best Ankle Support For Achilles Tendonitis
- Best Cross Training Shoes For Achilles Tendonitis (Men & Woman’s Guide!)
- Best Women’s Work Boots For Achilles Tendonitis
- Best Women’s Work Shoes For Achilles Tendonitis (2022 Buyers Guide)
- Best Women’s Sandals For Achilles Tendonitis (2022 Buyers Guide)
- Best Men’s & Women’s Walking Shoes For Achilles Tendonitis (2021 Buyers Guide)
- Best Men’s & Women’s Running Shoes For Achilles Tendonitis
- Best Men’s & Women’s Tennis Shoes For Achilles Tendonitis