I went to my Podiatrist with a severe case of plantar fasciitis. My left foot was experiencing excruciating pain. After doing a lengthy examination, he recommend that I purchase a pair of Brooks Beast running shoes. Once I got them, he added some additional supporting material which completely eliminated the pain. A couple of months ago, I decided to remove the additional support, as it was causing the shoe to feel a little tight. Now, with the running shoes back to the way they were when purchased, I'm still experiencing no pain. I'm not a runner, but I do a lot of walking. I consider these to be the best athletic shoes that I've ever owned.