Which Shoes Alleviate Arthritis Pain? We Tested 75 Pairs to Find Out

The Hoka Bondi 9 stands out as our top choice for comfort thanks to its lightweight, ultra-cushioned sole, which is comfortable enough to wear all day long, while still providing excellent stability and support. It carries the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance, meaning it meets standards to promote better foot health. It is also available in a wide range of colors and sizes, with regular, wide, and extra-wide widths.

Writer Mary Sauer found that the shoes added a “cloudlike” feel to her step, with impressive shock absorption. She also felt like they helped her “severe mechanical foot pain,” which impacts her entire foot, making these shoes a potentially great option for anyone dealing with similar foot pain or discomfort.

The Bondi style has also been a longtime staple in my own shoe collection, especially on days when I need extra cushion and comfort. I find that many shoe brands tend to run narrow in the toe box, but the Bondi style provides plenty of room for full toe splay in the regular width, and I’m always able to wear my normal size. They’re also a top choice for many people I spoke with for this story, including healthcare workers who are on their feet all day. Take note, they do add height, with more than 1 inch of cushioning, which some people may require some time adjusting to.

Many of the experts we spoke with for this story named Hoka as one of their favorite brands, favoring both styles that we included in this story, the Bondi 9s and the Clifton 10s (our pick for best for walking). Catanese notes that when he was suffering from sciatica and back pain, he wore Hoka shoes because of their extra cushioning, which provided increased shock absorption and alleviated pain. I personally think that both the Bondi and the Clifton listed below are winners, but if you’re looking for pillow-like comfort, the Bondi 9 wins.

Keep in mind, if you opt for the wider sizes, there is a more limited color range, and we found that some people think these shoes feel clunky.

The Hoka Clifton has long been one of my go-to shoes for staying active and walking long distances without joint pain, and the latest version does not disappoint. The Clifton 10 is very lightweight at just 8.8 ounces, but it still delivers extra cushioning and support, making it our top choice for walking. This version also features a larger heel-to-toe drop than previous versions, with the heel sitting 8 millimeters higher than the toe, up from 5 millimeters. According to Joshua Katz, DO, a board-certified sports medicine physician specializing in nonoperative orthopedics at New York City’s Mount Sinai Medical Group, a higher heel-to-toe drop would be more helpful for “offloading the Achilles, such as with tendonitis.” He explains that it would “allow more plantarflexion of the foot, putting less stretch on the Achilles,” and it may also reduce stress on the ankles. Personally, I love the extra lift; it makes walking or running feel more efficient, as if I’m gliding down the sidewalk.

Dr. Katz uses both Hoka Bondi and Clifton styles with his own big-toe arthritis. “The Clifton is lighter and might be better for people who are on their feet most of the day — I use the Clifton at work daily,” he says. He finds both styles easy to recommend because they “tend to have a wider toe box and support at the midfoot, which can offload excessive extension of the big toe.”

I tend to prefer the Cliftons over other Hoka styles, especially when I’m traveling or keeping up with the fast pace of daily life in New York City. The lighter weight and responsive feel of the shoe make it easy to get more than 10,000 steps a day without any discomfort. I find that they provide solid support for both standing and walking, and the best part is they don’t require a break-in period. I didn’t deal with any rubbing, soreness, or other issues that can sometimes occur with a new pair.

This style wins points for being extremely breathable, keeping my feet dry throughout the day. They’re also easy to maintain with simple hand-washing. Because of the cushioning, I find them an especially great choice for anyone with arthritis or chronic foot pain who also wants a lightweight yet durable shoe that will go the distance.

The good news is that the newest version, the 1080v15, is even better. It’s lighter, more cushioned, and somehow even more cloudlike. The midsole, which is broad and evenly balanced, now features a new, in-house-developed foam called Infinion. The result is a softer, bouncier feel and greater responsiveness than the earlier version, so longer walks and standing for long periods feel even more comfortable. The foam is also designed to absorb impact, something I appreciate with arthritis, since it may help reduce joint pain. I also found the outsole has a great grip, which can be helpful on slippery or wet surfaces.

This version is about an ounce lighter than the previous model and has a double-layer mesh upper that feels more secure yet still breathable in the toe box. It comes in a wide range of sizes and widths, but for me, the regular width offers plenty of room for natural toe splay.

Dr. Cunha commonly recommends that patients with arthritis wear shoes with a stiffer sole, especially platforms or rocker bottoms, because, as he explains, “These soles reduce pressure on arthritic joints and limit excessive bending at the foot by transferring motion to the ankle.” He goes on to say that rocker soles promote a smoother, more efficient gait, while minimizing stress on arthritic joints, which is why we love Brooks Ghost Max 3. Catanese agrees that the more rigid the rocker is in the forefront, the more it reduces motion and force through that joint, which can decrease pain.

We found the toe box to be wide, which makes it a great option for people who suffer from foot pain and prefer extra room for their toes to splay naturally. And, as with many of the picks on our list, the Ghost Max 3 holds the APMA Seal of Acceptance and is a great choice for walking or standing. Dr. Dudek is a fan of the brand, noting that he often wears Brooks while standing all day for work. “My feet are considerably more comfortable in their shoes than in other brands I’ve tried over the years,” he says. Keep in mind that while this style isn’t necessarily heavy, it is heavier than some others on our list, at 10 ounces for women and 11.2 ounces for men.

The Cloudmonster Hyper is considered one of On’s most cushioned shoes. This style contains the brand’s trademarked Pebax-based Helion HF foam, which is ultralight and provides cushioning and speed but also feels very stable and firm. This style runs wide, with a very large toe box that provides stability, with an energetic, bouncy feel, and we found it to have great cushioning in the toe and heel areas. I found the toe box to be so wide that it took some time to get used to. I also went down half a size in this model, and most people I spoke with agreed that this shoe runs big. The upper material is light and breathable, making the shoe easy to wear for long periods of time. My friend who suffers with arthritis in her ankles reports this is her go-to shoe for traveling because it provides a wide, sturdy base with just enough cushioning for all-day wear.

The shoe has a 6 millimeter drop, so it provides less height than some of the other shoes on our list, but it still feels bouncy and tall. The rubber outsole provides a strong grip for walking, even on wet sidewalks or other surfaces. While this pick has a bouncy feel, it does feel firmer than many other options on our list, which some people may prefer.

If you have high arches and you’re looking for supportive, cushioned daily footwear, Saucony Triumph 23’s are a great option. They are a neutral shoe with a large amount of cushioning that is comfortable but doesn’t give that “too soft” feeling that you sometimes find with cushioned shoes. They have a roomy toe box, and the midsole contains Saucony’s PWRRUN PB, which is a durable and shock-absorbing foam that still provides bounce and responsiveness. According to Saucony, this foam is half the weight of the traditional EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) foam used in many shoes for cushioning, and with each shoe weighing just 8.4 ounces, it helps to reduce pressure and strain on your feet and legs.

I found that the Triumph 23’s provide a durable, grippy outsole that works well in both wet and dry conditions, thanks to their new carbon rubber outsole. It contains a 10 millimeter heel-to-toe drop, with a nice rocker bottom feel that is cushioned yet stable. I also noted the secure feel of the heel, attributed to Saucony’s Formfit technology, which is the brand’s proprietary 3D fit design that contours your foot and cradles the heel. Catanese explains that the back of the shoe should be firm and supportive, “while the midfoot should have some flexibility but not be overly bendable. A stable, wide heel that is supportive is also important.” Additionally, “shoes that lack a heel cup or elevation put excess strain on the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia, increasing the risk of pain,” says Cunha.

As a longtime Asics Gel-Kayano wearer, I appreciate that this shoe offers multiple design features that also make it a great pick for arthritis sufferers. These shoes include Asics Puregel, a newer, softer gel from Asics that is found in both the heel and forefront of this shoe to cushion, absorb shock, support landing, and minimize joint strain. They are also made with a durable rubber outsole to prevent slippage and use breathable material to keep your feet sweat-free. The sole is wide and sturdy, and the shoe doesn’t look or feel overly bulky.

I found that these shoes tended to feel narrower in the toe box than others, although I still had enough room to spread my toes naturally. Sauer, who tested these, commented that the cushioning and height of the sole helped to improve her overall comfort, saying, “I felt particularly that this was helpful for my persistent heel pain.”

In addition to helping with heel pain, the shoe is designed to keep your foot stable and secure, and if your arches are low or you’re an overpronator and your foot rolls inward, this shoe may help control that.

If you’re looking for a casual pair of shoes for walking or training that also provides support and stability, this pick from OluKai is a great choice. Editor Ashley Zeigler absolutely loved these shoes and says that she found they provided “amazing arch support, as well as being super cushiony.” She notes, “They have a mesh overlay, so they breathe really well. The tongue is sewn in, so it doesn’t move around throughout the day (causing discomfort), and the heel is stretchy, so between that and the elastic laces, you can just pop the shoe on quickly and easily.”

The OluKai Huia molds to your foot, as Zeigler found when testing them. “The very first time I put the sneakers on, I literally sighed because it felt so good on my arches,” she says. While they held up well during testing and felt durable and cushioned, they may not provide enough ankle or overall support for some people with more advanced foot issues. We think that they would be a great choice for casual wear and low-impact workouts, rather than longer walks or runs.

When you suffer from arthritis, some days the best shoe is the one that is hands-free and easy to slip on, like these Skechers Slip-ins. The Go Walk Glide Step 2.0 Dani style is ready to wear with no break-in period. It’s designed to be an everyday shoe option from work to weekends to running errands. These shoes have memory foam and Heel Pillow, a trademarked technology that is designed to keep your foot securely in place. They contain responsive cushioning and a unique midsole design that gives a cloudlike landing and puts a spring in your step.

Cunha recommends shoes “designed with insoles made from EVA or memory foam to cushion and control overpronation, along with deep heel cups for added support and proper foot alignment.” He explains that these design features work together to enhance comfort, performance, and injury prevention for people with arthritis.

This pick also scores big points for being machine washable, a feature that can be hard to find. Keep in mind that we found that they tend to run on the bigger side.

These shoes felt very comfortable right out of the box, with no need for a break-in period, according to writer and registered dietitian Emily Hirsch. She says that the cushioning provided excellent support, making them feel soft yet stable from the very first wear. They were comfortable for walking, standing for extended periods, and working, which is why they are our pick for best all-day wear.

“The cushioning feels responsive without being too soft, offering a good mix of comfort and stability,” Hirsch says. She also appreciated how lightweight the shoes are, making them ideal for walking long distances without feeling weighed down. The material held up well during testing and was especially supportive in the arch and heel. While the shoes served well for long walks, Hirsch felt they may not be firm enough for more intensive workouts or other activities that involve high-impact movements, quick lateral shifts, or heavy lifting.