Best tennis shoes for Achilles tendonitis

Lynda

New User
Hi,
I suffer a bit from achilles tendonitis at times, and I'm looking for the best shoes that would protect my ankles. I read online that the Adidas Barricade club were the best, but after buying these, i think they made the problem worse.
Can anyone recommend some shoes based on their experience?
 

jeep2008

Rookie
I do believe that it is recommended to have a heel to toe drop of at least 9mm to help.The Asics solution speed 3 I had for a little while were the worst in that area.The Barricade Boost and SoleCourt Boost are the best imo.
 

DJTaurus

Hall of Fame
Stay away from ASICS resolution and speeds. Worst in heel protection. Nike zeros and solecourt boost are the way to go.
 
R

red rook

Guest
Just my 0.02 cents, and on the contrary, I found the gel res (as far as stability shoes go) not to be detrimental towards my Achilles tendinitis. However, I’d say you would probably want an orthotic to pair along with it such as superfeet.

It seems the barricade was bad for my Achilles tendinitis as well. I think it’s super stiff shank’s lack of flex through the midfoot makes your Achilles work harder and inflame more so.
 

Dartagnan64

G.O.A.T.
I'd worry less about the shoe and more about the cheap insoles that come with them.

Get a proper insole like superfeet orange and the heel cup will stabilize and lift the heel which will take stress off the achilles tendon.

Right now I'm using Birko Sport contact insoles as they also help protect the metatarsals by supporting the transverse arch. But for pure Achilles issues, the superfeet are perfect and reasonably priced.
 

RobS

Rookie
Having suffered achilles tendonitis as well as plantar fasciitis I'll echo those that mentioned insoles. For me, Superfeet green help keep me pain free. I've been wearing Nike Vapor X with the Superfeet for several months with zero pain. I'm very particular about the fit of my shoes so I always try on potential new shoes with my Superfeet and the 2 pair of socks I wear when I play. Shoes may fit and feel different with the insoles replaced.
 

TforTommy

Semi-Pro
hey guys. Gonna bump this thread but i've been eyeing a pair of 9.5s from @kimguroo. Customisation looks amazing

Just wondering how do you guys like the zoom vapor 9.5? I had a pair and from what I remember they were much better and had much better support, especially arch support. I don't get that bad of tendinitis but get really bad arch pain especially after long sesions/

How do they compare to the 9.5s in your opinion? it's been a while since i've had my pair
 

smalahove

Hall of Fame
Having suffered achilles tendonitis as well as plantar fasciitis I'll echo those that mentioned insoles. For me, Superfeet green help keep me pain free. I've been wearing Nike Vapor X with the Superfeet for several months with zero pain. I'm very particular about the fit of my shoes so I always try on potential new shoes with my Superfeet and the 2 pair of socks I wear when I play. Shoes may fit and feel different with the insoles replaced.

I have insoles in all my tennis shoes. I suffered PF last year, and can still feel the remnants of it. The insoles I use are specifically for low arch support with a bump under the middle of the foot. In addition, I use Birkenstocks (Arizona). Yes, they're not the best fashion statement, but my feet love them. There's hardly any cushioning in Birks compared to a running shoe, but the shape of the sole makes all the difference. It's easily compared, if you walk around barefoot on a hard floor or wooden floor, and then put them on.

I can run without insoles without any issues, provided the shoes are ment for overpronation, like the Nike Structures. But playing tennis, I need the insoles, prob due to the fact that sometimes there's a lot of force abruptly applied to the footbed.
 

anarosevoli

Semi-Pro
I always had Barricades and got massive achilles problems just where the heel collar of the shoes touches the tendon. I switched to Gel Res 7 which offer the same stability but have a softer heel collar in August. Now the tendon which was much thicker than usual and totally uneven is almost normal and doesn't hurt anymore, not even after playing many days successively which wasn't possible last year. So contradicting to other statements for me Gel Res 7 were the cure.
 

jeep2008

Rookie
I always had Barricades and got massive achilles problems just where the heel collar of the shoes touches the tendon. I switched to Gel Res 7 which offer the same stability but have a softer heel collar in August. Now the tendon which was much thicker than usual and totally uneven is almost normal and doesn't hurt anymore, not even after playing many days successively which wasn't possible last year. So contradicting to other statements for me Gel Res 7 were the cure.
For me Gel Res 7 was unwearable due to heel slippage.Maybe that was good for your case since it didn't flare up your thick tendon.
 

srwaldr

New User
FWIW I've been struggling with AT for YEARS without reprieve. I'd do calf eccentrics constantly and rub the Achilles to grant some pain relief but I was always worried that it was only 1 sprint away from popping. Then recently I had some other foot pain, metatarsal and pad pain so I went to get some orthotics from a foot doctor.

Literally 1 week after getting used to the new orthotics I have absolutely zero Achilles pain for the first time since I can remember. I can't believe how fast it felt better. While they are pricey not having that pain has been worth absolutely every penny. I wear sole court boosts as well.
 

anarosevoli

Semi-Pro
For me Gel Res 7 was unwearable due to heel slippage.Maybe that was good for your case since it didn't flare up your thick tendon.
No problems with heel slippage at all, I don't even need runner's loop lacing. It was a well-known problem with Gel Res 5 (I have these for grass and need both runner's loop and 2nd pair of socks), possibly 6 (?), but never heard that of GR7 before.
 
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