These wide-fit, comfortable shoes will work wonders for your bunions (2024)

FAQs

Should I buy wide-width shoes if I have bunions? ›

Wide Fit is Essential

When looking for shoes to wear when you have bunions, you'll need to find a pair with a wide fit. The box needs to be room enough so that you can wiggle your toes with ease.

Unfortunately, there is no medical research or data to support the claim that bunion correctors straighten the big toe.

Everyday shoe brands like New Balance, Nike, Birkenstock and Naturalizer have several styles that have all these features. But there are also shoe brands like Sole Bliss that specifically design shoes for people with bunions. Every shoe brand is different, so when you go shopping try on different shoe styles.

The best shoes for bunions are comfortable enough to wear all day and are neither too flat nor high-heeled. Other essential features include a soft, flexible upper, ample cushioning, and good arch support.

Wearing tight, narrow shoes might cause bunions or make them worse. Bunions can also develop as a result of the shape of your foot, a foot deformity or a medical condition, such as arthritis. Smaller bunions (bunionettes) can develop on the joint of your little toe.

Buy shoes made from a stretchy material, such as leather or canvas. Look for adjustable shoes with laces or a strap that you can loosen to accommodate changes in the size of your feet or bunion over time. Avoid shoes that are pointed, narrow, or tight. You should also stay away from heels that are higher than 2 inches.

In most cases, bunions can be treated nonsurgically. One of the podiatrists from our team can examine your bunion(s) and recommend a conservative treatment which includes one or more of the following: Custom shoe orthotics (inserts) that relieve pressure on the joint and align your weight in a more beneficial way.

Our pick for the best shoes for bunions, the New Balance 990v4 Unisex, rose to the top thanks to a combination of comfort, support, and roomy toe box. With a wider fit and ample cushioning, they provide relief from pressure and reduce discomfort associated with bunions.

Good shoes for bunions will have a wide toe box, good arch support, and a cushioned footbed. Look for shoes with wide options to better accommodate your bunion and avoid putting further pressure on your toe joints.

Crocs in the Clinic

“These shoes are especially light,” says Harold Glickman, DPM, former president of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). “They have huge room in the toe that affords the front part of the foot lots of room, especially for people with bone deformities like bunions and hammer toe.

What is the device to fix bunions without surgery? ›

Bunion correctors are designed to straighten your big toe and return it to its natural position. They vary in design, but often fit over part of your foot like a sleeve and have a spacer that fits between your big toe and second toe.

Surgical procedures for bunions can be done as single procedures or in combination. They might involve: Removing the swollen tissue from around your big toe joint. Straightening your big toe by removing part of the bone.

Options include changing footwear if necessary, using pain relievers, doing bunion stretches, and even using nighttime splints. However, bunions don't shrink, dissolve, or reverse from these treatments. Surgery can realign your toe joint to its correct position and reduce pain.

Going barefoot is ideal in the beginning stages of bunions. When barefoot, the joints of the toes will get stronger, an important part of good foot health.

Wearing a bunion pad can keep your big toe from rubbing against your shoe. Foot exercises and toe stretches can help keep the joint between your big toe and the rest of your foot flexible. Try icing your big toe for 10 minutes after exercising, walking or when you feel pain.