Best Shoes for Achilles Tendonitis: Podiatrist

Updated October 2026. Models checked on each brand’s US website on 19 October 2026: Brooks Ghost 18, Adrenaline GTS 25 (the GTS 26 is on preorder), Glycerin 23 and Addiction Walker 2; ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 and Gel-Resolution X; HOKA Clifton 11 and Bondi 9. Every spec below is the brand’s own published figure or, where the brand’s page doesn’t show it, a named retailer’s figure, labelled with where it comes from. We have not worn or measured these shoes ourselves.

At a glance: the picks

The Brooks US product pages we read didn’t list drop or stack height, so for Brooks shoes we use Running Warehouse’s listed figures (measured on a men’s size 9) or Fleet Feet’s. Prices are US list prices on the brand’s site unless noted.

Shoe (October 2026)	Type	Heel-to-toe drop	Heel / forefoot stack	US price
Brooks Ghost 18	Neutral (Running Warehouse)	10 mm (Running Warehouse)	36 mm / 26 mm (Running Warehouse)	$150 (Brooks)
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25	Stability (Running Warehouse)	10 mm (Running Warehouse)	39 mm / 29 mm (Running Warehouse)	$124.96 on clearance (Running Warehouse); GTS 26 $155 on preorder (Brooks)
ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28	Neutral, “Maximum” cushioning (ASICS US)	8 mm (ASICS US)	Not published on ASICS US page	$170 (ASICS US)
Brooks Glycerin 23	Neutral (Running Warehouse)	8 mm (Running Warehouse)	39 mm / 31 mm (Running Warehouse)	$175 (Brooks)
HOKA Clifton 11	Neutral, “Balanced” cushion (HOKA US)	8 mm (HOKA US)	42 mm / 34 mm (HOKA UK, men’s)	$155 (HOKA US)
HOKA Bondi 9	Neutral, “Plush” cushion (HOKA US)	5 mm (HOKA US)	43 mm / 38 mm (HOKA UK, men’s size 10)	$175; some colors $140 (HOKA US)
Brooks Addiction Walker 2	Walking, “Maximum support” (Brooks)	12 mm (Fleet Feet)	Not published	$140 (Brooks)
ASICS Gel-Resolution X	Tennis (ASICS US)	Not published (ASICS US, Tennis Warehouse)	Not published	$165; $139.95 on sale when checked (ASICS US)

What to look for in a shoe for Achilles tendonitis

Heel-to-toe drop and heel lifts

Drop is how much higher the heel sits than the ball of the foot. A higher heel means your ankle bends up a little less with each step, which is the idea behind heel lifts. Here is what the research and guidelines say:

• Lab studies. In a 2012 study of 10 women running barefoot, 18 mm heel lifts reduced Achilles tendon force and strain; 12 mm lifts did not make a significant difference. A 2014 study of 30 male runners found that running barefoot or in barefoot-style shoes increased Achilles tendon force compared with conventional running shoes.
• A trial in patients. In a 2021 randomised trial of 100 adults with mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy, firm 12 mm heel lifts worn in both shoes improved pain and function at 12 weeks more than calf eccentric exercise. The gap (9.6 points on the VISA-A questionnaire) came close to, but didn’t reach, the 10 points the researchers had set as clinically important.
• The guideline. The 2018 clinical practice guideline for midportion Achilles tendinopathy in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT) made no recommendation on heel lifts because the evidence was contradictory (Grade D). Its 2024 revision, which added that trial, says clinicians may use heel lifts “as a therapeutic tool to temporarily reduce ankle dorsiflexion during activity” (Grade C).

What this means for shoes: the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) says a typical running shoe has a 10 to 12 mm drop and a minimalist shoe less than 8 mm. We found no study comparing, say, an 8 mm and a 10 mm shoe for Achilles pain, and the lifts that showed an effect were 12 to 18 mm, more than the gap between most shoes on this page. So treat drop as a tiebreaker, not a cure. While your tendon is sore, avoid switching to barefoot or zero-drop shoes; AAOS lists a change in shoewear among the things that can strain the tendon. If you prefer a lower-drop shoe, a heel lift in both shoes is the more direct way to raise the heel.

These guidelines cover pain in the middle of the tendon. Pain right where the tendon attaches to the heel bone (insertional tendinopathy) needs a different check, below.

A heel counter that holds, a collar that doesn’t press

The heel counter is the stiff cup around the back of the heel. AAOS says it should adequately grip your heel to ensure stability, and that walking shoes in particular need a stable counter. APMA’s heel-pain advice also calls for supportive heel counters and shock-absorbent soles. For pain in the middle of the tendon, a firm counter is usually fine.

Pain at the back of the heel bone, or a bump there (Haglund’s deformity, the “pump bump”), changes the priority:

• AAOS says insertional Achilles tendinitis is often relieved by shoes that are softer or open at the back of the heel, and that heel lifts are another option.
• APMA (the American Podiatric Medical Association) says shoes with a firm, rigid back may contribute to Haglund’s deformity and advises avoiding them. It suggests heel pads in the backs of shoes, but warns that open-heeled shoes are not a good idea if you have tendinitis.
• In practice: choose a soft, padded collar over a stiff, high one. Before you buy, check where the top edge of the back of the shoe sits. If it lands on your sore spot, try another shoe. See our guide to stopping shoes rubbing the back of your heel.

Cushioning

AAOS says the extra heel cushion in a running shoe reduces the compressive load at heel strike. We found no study showing that a maximum-cushion shoe heals the tendon, so pick the cushioning that feels comfortable, and make sure a tall, soft shoe still feels steady when you walk around in it. Replace shoes once the heels or soles are worn down; APMA advises against wearing shoes with excessive wear.

Shoes help; loading exercise treats

Both versions of the JOSPT guideline give their strongest grade (A) to exercise. The 2018 version says clinicians should use mechanical loading, either eccentric or heavy-load, slow-speed exercise, to decrease pain and improve function. The 2024 version calls tendon-loading exercise, with loads as high as tolerated, a first-line treatment (it excludes tendons a clinician judges too fragile to load) and, as an expert-opinion recommendation (Grade E), says people should exercise at least three times a week. AAOS lists shoewear changes alongside activity changes, anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy exercises as the mainstays of nonsurgical care. A good shoe makes your daily steps more comfortable while the exercise does the work. Read more about Achilles tendonitis and its treatment.

Are HOKAs good for Achilles tendonitis?

Some can be, but check the drop first. Both HOKA models on this page have lower drops than the 10 to 12 mm AAOS calls typical: HOKA lists the Bondi 9 at 5 mm and the Clifton 11 at 8 mm. A low drop isn’t the same as a flat shoe. Both have tall heels (43 mm and 42 mm, HOKA UK’s men’s figures), but what changes your ankle angle is the difference between heel and forefoot height, not the total height.

• Clifton 11 (8 mm): the better HOKA fit for most people. It has the higher drop of the two, a “Balanced” cushion rating, and HOKA lists it for running and walking.
• Bondi 9 (5 mm): fine if your tendon tolerates it. It has HOKA’s softest “Plush” rating and more foam under the forefoot. If it’s the shoe your feet like best, it can still work, and a heel lift can add height at the heel. If your Achilles flares in it, move to a higher-drop shoe.
• The rocker sole. Both use HOKA’s MetaRocker, a curved sole meant to roll you from heel to toe. None of the studies we cite looked at rocker soles for Achilles pain, so treat it as a comfort feature, not a treatment.

For pain at the back of the heel bone, judge any HOKA by its collar the same way as any other shoe. For more on HOKA, see are HOKA shoes good for your feet? and HOKA vs Brooks.

Our picks for October 2026

1. Brooks Ghost 18: neutral shoe with a 10 mm drop

Brooks’ neutral everyday trainer is $150 on Brooks’ site and uses its DNA LOFT v3 foam. Running Warehouse lists a 10 mm drop, a 36 mm heel and 26 mm forefoot stack, and 10.0 oz (men’s size 9). Brooks sells it in Narrow, Medium, Wide and Extra Wide. Brooks’ Ghost 18 page.

• Suits: neutral feet, and people who want a conventional drop in a mainstream cushioned shoe.
• Skip it if: your arches collapse and you want built-in support (see the Adrenaline), or you want the softest shoe you can find.

2. Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25: stability option

Running Warehouse lists the Adrenaline GTS 25 as a stability shoe with a 10 mm drop, a 39 mm heel and 29 mm forefoot stack, and 10.6 oz (men’s size 9), on clearance at $124.96 when we checked. Brooks’ site lists its replacement, the Adrenaline GTS 26 ($155), for preorder with a release date of 1 November 2026, with GuideRails support and Narrow, Medium, Wide and Extra Wide widths. Brooks’ GTS 26 page doesn’t publish its drop or say what changed, so check the figures before you buy the new one. Brooks’ Adrenaline GTS 26 page.

• Suits: people with flat feet or feet that roll in who also have Achilles pain, and anyone who needs wide widths.
• Skip it if: you don’t need support features; a neutral shoe such as the Ghost 18 may feel less structured.

3. ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28: maximum cushion with an 8 mm drop

ASICS lists the men’s Gel-Nimbus 28 at $170 with an 8 mm heel drop, 9.9 oz (281 g), neutral support and a “Maximum” cushioning level. The men’s page we checked showed Standard width only. If you prefer Brooks, the Glycerin 23 ($175 on Brooks’ site) is a cushioned neutral option; Running Warehouse lists an 8 mm drop, a 39 mm heel and 31 mm forefoot stack, and 10.9 oz (men’s size 9). ASICS’ Gel-Nimbus 28 page.

• Suits: neutral feet, long walks or long days standing, and people who want a plush feel with a moderate drop.
• Skip it if: very soft shoes feel unsteady to you, or you want the higher 10 mm drop of the Ghost 18.

4. HOKA Clifton 11: the HOKA that fits best

HOKA lists the Clifton 11 at $155 with an 8 mm drop, 9.97 oz, a “Balanced” cushion rating and neutral support, in Regular, Wide and X-Wide. HOKA UK lists a 42 mm heel and 34 mm forefoot stack (men’s). HOKA’s Clifton 11 page.

• Suits: HOKA fans who run and walk, and people who want a light, cushioned shoe with more drop than the Bondi.
• Skip it if: you need arch control (it’s neutral), or you want the 10 mm drop of the Ghost 18 or Adrenaline GTS 25.

5. HOKA Bondi 9: maximum cushion, lower drop

HOKA lists the Bondi 9 at $175 (some colors $140) with a 5 mm drop, 10.5 oz, its “Plush” cushion rating and neutral support, in Regular, Wide and X-Wide. HOKA UK lists a 43 mm heel and 38 mm forefoot stack (men’s size 10). HOKA’s Bondi 9 page.

• Suits: people who stand or walk all day, want HOKA’s softest cushioning, and find their Achilles comfortable in it, with or without a heel lift.
• Skip it if: your pain gets worse in lower-drop shoes, or you have flat feet that need arch control.

6. Brooks Addiction Walker 2: walking shoe with a 12 mm drop

Brooks sells the Addiction Walker 2 as a walking shoe ($140) with a leather upper, “Maximum support” and an Extended Progressive Diagonal Rollbar, in Narrow, Medium, Wide and Extra Wide. Fleet Feet lists a 12 mm drop and 14.5 oz (men’s), so it isn’t a light shoe. Brooks’ site showed sizes out of stock when we checked on 19 October 2026. Brooks’ Addiction Walker 2 page.

• Suits: walkers who want the highest published drop on this list, people with flat feet, and anyone who needs a leather shoe for work or everyday wear.
• Skip it if: you run, or you want a light shoe. If your pain is at the back of the heel bone, check that the leather collar doesn’t press on it.

7. ASICS Gel-Resolution X: court and tennis option

AAOS advises buying a shoe designed for your sport if you play it more than twice a week, and says court shoes are designed to provide stability in all directions. ASICS lists the men’s Gel-Resolution X at $165 ($139.95 on sale when we checked) and says its DYNAWALL midsole technology “now extends into the heel for added stability during lateral movements.” ASICS also lists a Gel-Resolution X Wide. Neither ASICS nor Tennis Warehouse publishes its drop; Tennis Warehouse lists 16.1 oz (US size 10.5). ASICS’ Gel-Resolution X page.

• Suits: tennis players who need lateral stability while the tendon settles.
• Skip it if: you mostly walk or run. Because its drop isn’t published, ask your podiatrist or physical therapist whether a heel lift makes sense in your court shoes, and check that your heel doesn’t slip with one in.

8. After an Achilles rupture or repair: your surgeon decides

Shoes after a tendon rupture are a different question from shoes for tendonitis. AAOS describes immobilizing the tendon in a cast, brace/boot or splint after surgery, roughly 6 weeks of immobilization, a gradual reduction in boot use guided by your doctor or therapist, and a complete recovery that can take about 12 months. Without surgery, AAOS says to plan on at least 6 weeks in a boot with the toes pointed toward the ground. Different surgeons use different timelines, so when you move from boot to shoe, and whether you use heel wedges or lifts along the way, is your surgeon’s call. Don’t add or remove lifts on your own. Once you’re cleared for regular shoes, ask whether a higher-drop shoe or a heel lift suits your stage of recovery. See our page on Achilles tendon and rupture care.

How we chose

We started from published specs and the clinical guidance above: a moderate drop, a heel counter that grips, a collar that won’t press on the tendon’s attachment, cushioning, and a range of widths. We included only current models we could find on each brand’s US website on 19 October 2026, across neutral, stability, maximum-cushion, walking and court shoes. We did not wear or measure any of these shoes. Amazon links on this page earn us a commission.

Where to buy

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Balance Foot & Ankle earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and colors change often; check the listing before you buy.

• Brooks Ghost 18, men’s, on Amazon
• Brooks Ghost 18, women’s, on Amazon
• Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25, men’s, on Amazon
• Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25, women’s, on Amazon
• ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28, men’s, on Amazon
• ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28, women’s, on Amazon
• HOKA Clifton 11, men’s, on Amazon
• HOKA Clifton 11, women’s, on Amazon
• HOKA Bondi 9, men’s, on Amazon
• HOKA Bondi 9, women’s, on Amazon
• Brooks Addiction Walker 2, men’s, on Amazon
• Brooks Addiction Walker 2, women’s, on Amazon
• ASICS Gel-Resolution X, men’s, on Amazon
• ASICS Gel-Resolution X, women’s, on Amazon

Frequently asked questions

What are the best shoes for Achilles tendonitis?

Cushioned shoes with a moderate heel-to-toe drop, a heel counter that grips your heel, and a collar that doesn’t press on the sore spot. Current options include the Brooks Ghost 18, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 if you need support, the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 and, for walking, the Brooks Addiction Walker 2. Pair any of them with a loading exercise program, the main treatment.

Are HOKA shoes good for Achilles tendonitis?

Some can be. HOKA lists the Clifton 11 at an 8 mm drop and the Bondi 9 at 5 mm, both lower than the 10 to 12 mm AAOS calls typical for running shoes. The Clifton 11 is the closer fit for most people. If you prefer the Bondi 9, a heel lift can add height at the heel.

Is the HOKA Bondi 9 good for Achilles tendonitis?

It’s well cushioned (HOKA’s “Plush” rating), but its 5 mm drop is low. If your Achilles feels fine in it, it can work; if the pain flares, try a higher-drop shoe or add a heel lift. If your pain is at the back of the heel bone, check that the collar doesn’t press on it.

What are the best walking shoes for Achilles tendonitis?

Look for a stable heel counter, good shock absorption and a smooth tread, which is what AAOS says walking shoes should have. The Brooks Addiction Walker 2 has the highest published drop on our list (12 mm, Fleet Feet). HOKA lists the Clifton 11 for walking, and its Bondi page suggests the Bondi for walking and standing for long hours.

What tennis shoes are best for Achilles tendonitis?

We found no study comparing tennis shoes for Achilles pain. AAOS advises a court shoe if you play more than twice a week, because court shoes are designed for stability in all directions. The ASICS Gel-Resolution X is one current option; its drop isn’t published, so ask your podiatrist whether a heel lift makes sense.

What shoes should I wear after an Achilles rupture?

That’s your surgeon’s call. AAOS describes roughly 6 weeks of immobilization after surgery, with boot use reduced gradually, and a full recovery that can take about 12 months. Ask your surgeon when to switch to shoes and whether to use heel wedges or lifts.

Do heel lifts help Achilles tendonitis?

They may. In a 2021 trial, firm 12 mm heel lifts in both shoes did slightly better than calf eccentric exercise at 12 weeks for mid-portion tendinopathy, though the difference fell just short of what the researchers set as clinically important. The 2024 JOSPT guideline says clinicians may use heel lifts to temporarily reduce ankle bending during activity (Grade C).

When to see a podiatrist

See a doctor immediately if you felt a sudden pop in the back of your calf or heel, which can mean the tendon has torn (AAOS). AAOS also notes that even with early treatment, Achilles pain may last longer than three months. APMA advises seeing a podiatrist when pain, redness, swelling or heat persist and limit your daily activities, and, for a bump at the back of the heel, if the pain persists despite home care or the bump keeps getting bigger.

Related guides

• Achilles tendonitis: causes and treatment
• Achilles tendon and rupture care
• Shockwave therapy for Achilles tendonitis
• Stop shoes rubbing the back of your heel
• Custom orthotics at Balance Foot & Ankle
• Are HOKA shoes good for your feet?
• HOKA vs Brooks

Sources

1. Martin RL, et al. Achilles pain, stiffness, and muscle power deficits: midportion Achilles tendinopathy revision 2018. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2018;48(5):A1-A38.
2. Chimenti RL, et al. Achilles pain, stiffness, and muscle power deficits: midportion Achilles tendinopathy revision 2024. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2024;54(12):CPG1-CPG32 (full text, APTA Orthopedics; reproduces the 2018 recommendations and grades).
3. Rabusin CL, et al. Efficacy of heel lifts versus calf muscle eccentric exercise for mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy (HEALTHY): a randomised trial. Br J Sports Med. 2021;55(9):486-492.
4. Farris DJ, et al. The effects of orthotic heel lifts on Achilles tendon force and strain during running. J Appl Biomech. 2012;28(5):511-9.
5. Sinclair J. Effects of barefoot and barefoot inspired footwear on knee and ankle loading during running. Clin Biomech. 2014;29(4):395-9.
6. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoInfo). Achilles tendinitis; Achilles tendon rupture (tear); Athletic shoes.
7. American Podiatric Medical Association. Haglund’s deformity; Heel pain.
8. Brooks Running US. Ghost 18 (men’s); Adrenaline GTS 26 (men’s); Glycerin series (men’s); Addiction Walker 2 (men’s).
9. Running Warehouse. Brooks Ghost 18 (men’s); Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 (men’s); Brooks Glycerin 23 (men’s).
10. Fleet Feet. Men’s Brooks Addiction Walker 2.
11. ASICS US. Gel-Nimbus 28 (men’s); Gel-Resolution X (men’s); Gel-Resolution X Wide. Tennis Warehouse: ASICS Gel-Resolution X (men’s).
12. HOKA US. Clifton 11 (men’s); Bondi 9 (men’s). HOKA UK: Bondi 9: how it compares and Clifton 11 (men’s): stack heights.