Achilles Tendonitis Stopping You in Your Tracks? Try These Tester-Approved Shoes

When you need a reliable sneaker, the Danika sneaker from Aetrex is popular for a reason. “The arch support was great, and it felt both supportive and bouncy,” says writer Alexandra Klausner. Padding all around the shoe — at the insole, around the collar, and at the tongue — ensures that it stays comfortable on your foot no matter where you’re headed. The 1.1-inch heel height helps distribute weight across the foot nicely and may help diminish a variety of types of foot pain. If you wear a custom orthotic, you can remove the arch support cushion and swap in your orthotic.

Although these are machine washable (yes!), reviews do knock this shoe for being difficult to keep clean — marks and scuffs have a tough time coming out of the material. And Klausner, who has a bunion, says that the medium-width shoes were far too narrow to accommodate her foot. She recommends ordering the shoe in wide if you have a bunion.

These stylish sneakers shine outside of the gym, where you can wear them with everything from jeans to shorts and skirts and know that you look good. More important when it comes to Achilles tendonitis is how the shoes feel, especially since other fashion-forward footwear may not feel great. Editor Ashley Ziegler reports that these sneakers have nice arch support and cushioning. “They were easy enough to wear and walk in for casual situations, but I wouldn’t use them for walking for fitness,” she says. Ziegler didn’t love the slightly lifted heel, but for someone who has heel pain, it could help move some of your body weight toward the front of the foot.

These sneakers have a high price point, but they are very well-made, featuring full-grain leather and a leather lining. The brand is known for producing shoes that last for a long time, so some people may find them to be a worthy investment.

If you have to spend substantial time on your feet during the day at work or have a long commute, you’ll want shoes that feel like you’re walking on a cloud. At least that’s how tester Chelsea Avila described the experience of wearing these. This goes double if you have Achilles tendonitis and need a supportive shoe that minimizes discomfort.

Snibbs answers the call: These “work sneakers” will keep your feet comfortable during long shifts. The Spacecloud Premium 2.0 was engineered for people who spend eight-plus hours on their feet, specifically healthcare, retail, and restaurant workers. Although Avila didn’t stand for that long with these on, they didn’t cause her any pain after wearing them for several hours. “I think these are great for commuters who change into shoes when traveling to and from work,” she says.

Although Avila mentioned that they were a bit stiff to wear at first (likely contributing to their easy ability to crease at the top), overall, they required no break-in period. Another plus is that these shoes come in a large variety of sizes, in medium and wide widths, and you can choose from laced or slip-on styles.

These shoes may be advertised for treadmill running, but they deserve to be on your feet outside of the gym. Actually, you can wear them as your everyday shoes, no matter what you’re doing. “These fit perfectly! I don’t think I’ve ever had a shoe fit so perfectly in length and width and be so comfortable,” says writer Olivia Campbell, who calls them her new “go-to sneakers.”

If you do wear these while working out, the mesh upper will keep your foot cool as you move, and the high-stack height keeps you nicely elevated off the ground. The cushioning and arch support within the shoe enhance the feeling of foot stability, which helps you feel more confident as you exercise or move from one daily task to the next.

One thing to keep in mind is that these shoes don’t have the cloudlike excess cushioning that some sneakers have, but Campbell didn’t find that to be a problem. “The pair still offered enough comfort and support to feel good with each step.”

For a slip-on that lets you comfortably multitask, whether running errands or spending a day exploring the city, the Kuru Atom is your shoe. “The sole is very comfortable and supportive,” says writer Grace Gallagher. With an 8 millimeter drop (the difference in height between your heel and toe), the shoe takes the pressure off your heels, plus arch support cradles your midfoot. “I feel very high up in these shoes, but in a good way,” she says.

Although they did take time to break in, says Gallagher, they quickly became her go-to, given how easy they were to slip on and off quickly. (There’s also a pull-tab at the back if you need it.) Plus, the comfort is top-notch, including a soft, breathable upper.

A downside of these shoes is that, given that they’re slip-ons, they’re suitable for walking but aren’t secure enough to exercise in (like a lace-up sneaker would be). They also tend to run large, according to Gallagher, who says that she sized down a half size.

They may look out of this world, but these recovery shoes are legit. Writer Brittany Vargas, who tested them, says they are “comfortable and super lightweight,” and she also pointed out that the bottoms provide good traction. Another huge perk is the holes around the shoe, allowing air to flow through for enhanced breathability.

There are also features on these shoes that provide extra support, something you don’t find in similar styles. These shoes are designed to fit securely on your heel and arch, are made with nodes in the footbed that the company says increases blood flow, and are made with extra cushioning to support you as you walk.

The Kane Revive can take a lot: Get them caked with mud while gardening, head to the splash pad with the kids, sing and dance in the rain — whatever you want to do. Depending on how dirty they are, they can be wiped down, hosed off, or thrown in the washing machine on the cold setting. Because the foam bed doesn’t absorb moisture, the shoe dries quickly.

One sticking point for Vargas, however, was the overall style of these shoes. “I do know that I don’t plan to wear these outside of the house,” she says. But beauty is in the eye of the, well, shoe wearer — and these come in several colors and styles, like a cool white-and-gray speckle or a sweet bubblegum pink and even college-themed options.

These walking shoes feature a thick foam footbed that hugs your feet with ample cushioning for maximum comfort. Although some reviewers didn’t like the exaggerated rocker-shaped sole, writer Mary Sauer appreciated how it helped propel her off the ground as she took each step. Plus, you’ll gain some height with these shoes — which may be a perk or detriment for you personally (or a nonissue entirely), but it’s something to think about.

As structured as the sole of this shoe is, it’s nicely counterbalanced by the flexible knit upper, allowing your feet to move as needed. “It molds to the foot,” says Sauer. One major point to keep in mind is that both Nike and the reviews point out that this shoe can run small, so order a half size up. When it comes to performance, this pair held up throughout various activities, says Sauer, who wore these for prolonged periods of time and on the treadmill. “I didn’t notice any comfort changes over time when I took long walks,” she says. “I’m already wearing them regularly.”

For a shoe that looks good on everyone, Ons are it. This unisex shoe is available in two classic styles: gray and black with white detailing. Writer Julie Cunningham, who tested the previous model (On Cloudflyer 4), says that they were comfortable for day-to-day wear, thanks to their plush cushioning, extra padding in the tongue, and an external “heel counter” to secure the foot — though for more arch support, she recommends considering an insole.

The latest version, the Cloudflyer 5, has been updated to absorb more impact, making it great for long walks and fitness classes. Cunningham says that during a full day of running errands, which included being on her feet for much of the day, her feet remained comfortable while wearing these. “I liked the cushioning style, which is more bouncy, and my feet had room to swell as needed without the shoes feeling too tight.” (Speaking of which, that extra room comes in handy if you have wider feet.)

A few things to keep in mind before you purchase: The shoes take a couple of weeks to break in, and Cunningham found that it took some time for the full arch support mold to her foot. And although these shoes do have a sockliner to provide extra cushioning, you may need to add an insole, depending on your orthopedic needs.