The womens Vionic Walker Classic is widely regarded as one of the best shoes for plantar fasciitis. The shoe is made of a 100% water resistant leather upper, with an EVA midsole for excellent shock absorption capability. At 370 grams it’s not the lightest walking shoe, but it’s definitely not heavy either.
The Walker comes with a half-inch heel-to-toe drop, which is a little higher than average yet may help remove pressure from your heel striking the ground.
Arch Support
The Vionic Walker is a stability shoe that makes it ideal for those who are suffering from moderate over-pronation. The contoured arch support is quite good, while the cushioning is not bad either.
It also features a removable, biomechanical “Orthaheel technology” insert which provides stability and pronation control. The Vionic insert was developed by a podiatrist with the aim of keeping your feet and legs’ natural alignment, thereby greatly reducing the chances of over-pronation and plantar fasciitis.
As mentioned, the EVA midsole is designed with a half-inch elevation to enhance heel-to-toe transition during the gait cycle. The flexible midsole serves to reduce the impact on your feet and joints by absorbing shock brought about by heel strikes and other activities that introduce force onto your feet. If you’re a heel striker, you’ll definitely appreciate this feature.
The Vionic Women’s Walker shoe is also raised in its midfoot section which is then reinforced by a thermoplastic brace to prevent over-pronation. You can also find another firm component made of thermoplastic in the shoe’s heel cup.
Heel and Ankle Support
The Vionic Walker features a firm heel contour made of thermoplastic material to provide the extra stability you need for all your daily activities. It really cups your heel to provide firm support and help relieve you of pain in the heel, arch, knee, and even back area.
What’s more, it also has a durable rubber outsole that provides optimal traction and secure footing. There are also pods placed in strategic locations to provide traction where it’s needed the most. Meanwhile, the ankle support is stable and has gotten good reviews from those that have actually achieved relief from pain.
When it comes to the Vionic Walker’s outsole, you can find two horizontal flex grooves at the forefoot section. These grooves allow you to bend your foot in the right area, thereby promoting natural flexibility.
Overall Shoe Feel
At 370 grams, the Vionic Walker weighs a bit heavier than most daily shoes for women. Despite that, as we mentioned earlier, the benefits of the arch support easily offsets this. The toe box may be somewhat tighter than what most would expect, however, the Walker is available in wide sizing options. This should take care of that issue for the most part.
The Vionic Walker mostly fits true to size. However, you might want to go for half a size larger, especially if you have wide feet.
In terms of comfort, the upper is made of 100% premium full-grain leather, which makes the shoe feel less like a running shoe and more like a stable everyday shoe. Although it’s not waterproof, it features water-resistant properties which should keep your feet dry for the most part.
As for the interior, it is made of a polyester mesh liner which is fairly breathable and keeps the interior shoe ventilated. But you shouldn’t expect to feel airy walking around in them, due to the leather components. In any event, the mesh interior helps to prevent chafing against your feet.
It is worth noting that the Vionic arch support is one of the more pronounced insole support sytsems, so there might be a break in period for severe overpronators and those with sensitive fallen arches. Vionic recommends breaking them in easily over the first few days, but most agree that you should feel excellent after you adjust.
Use
The womens Vionic Walker Classic is intended for daily use as a casual work shoe, walking shoe or for use in moderate activities.
This shoe was designed with a purpose. For its efforts, it received the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatrist Medical Association due to its effectiveness in dealing with plantar fasciitis and other foot, leg and back issues.
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Online User Reviews Overall Experience
- Great shoes but are too narrow
Several users have made a point about how narrow the shoe is for them, especially in the toe box. But with wide sizing options available, you should make sure to adjust accordingly. The overall support for this shoe for heel pain has been overwhelmingly positive despite this concern.
- A bit heavier than usual
Another small complaint about the Vionic Women’s Walker is that it’s heavier than most of the other shoes in the market. While it does offer a bit of comfort, some users pointed out that it’s just too heavy and can sometimes feel a little hot due to its leather upper. Many have similar complaints with other stability shoes, such as the Brooks Addiction Walker. The price you pay in stability and support may cost you a bit of extra weight. But it doesn’t seem all that bad.
- Helps with plantar fasciitis
A large quantity of those who purchase the Vionic walker find that this is one of the best shoes for plantar fasciitis. The results are show them returning to their daily activities with less foot pain that before they got their Vionics. The arch support is easily noticeable and definitely plays a part in the popularity of this shoe for helping ease heel pain.
- The built-in insole is good
Though you have the option to remove the Orthaheel technology insole which comes with the Vionic Walker, a number of users were able to find it good enough for their stability needs. They are capable of providing good support on their own with a solid arch support system and deep heel cup. But if you do have custom inserts, you have the option to switch them out.
Pros:
- One of the best insole profiles for stability and pronation control
- Good amount of shock absorption
- Helps ease the pain of plantar fasciitis for many users
- Ideal for those with narrow feet, but also comes in a wide option
- Awarded Seal of Acceptance by the APMA
Cons:
- Lacking in breathability due to its leather construction
- The toe box is a bit too tight for some
- A bit heavy and clunky for those that need a more flexible shoe
- Shoe may wear down faster than competing brands
- Not great for running, but moderate activity is ok