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

FAQs

What are the most comfortable shoes for bunions? ›

Exceptional comfort made Hoka's Ora Recovery Shoe our clear-cut winner for the best overall choice for feet with bunions. A stretchy and flexible material helped keep pressure off the bunion-affected areas, and a memory foam heel and cushioning in the midsole further promoted comfort.

If you form a Bunion and continue to wear ill-fitted shoes, the Bunion will continue to get larger. Fitting a Bunion in a wide shoe, along with proper fitting arch support you are decreasing the chances of it getting any larger and it will also alleviate the pain associated with a Bunion.

Unfortunately, there is no medical research or data to support the claim that bunion correctors straighten the big toe. If your bunions are pretty severe, no plastic or elastic device is going to correct them. However, these correctors and splints may provide some pain relief to the big toe.

One of our favorite recovery shoes, Hoka's Ora 2 Slides provide the relief our feet need after a distance run, hard workout, or long day of wearing heels. They have a roomy toe box and plush foam midsole that we found relieves pressure, especially in bunion-prone areas.

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.

Wearing shoes that don't fit

High heels aren't the only poor shoe choice you can make. Any shoes that are too big, too small, too narrow, or too pointed cause rubbing and pressure on your bunion.

Bunions can't be reversed, and unfortunately, they don't go away on their own. Once you have a bunion, it will likely continue to grow over time. Luckily, many people don't need to have surgery to treat their bunions. It's possible to find pain relief through home remedies, orthotics and other treatments.

Bunions can be managed at home and with the help of a medical professional such as a podiatrist to reduce symptoms. 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.

How to straighten out a bunion? ›

It's really quite simple: With the use of bunion splints or toe spacers (such as Correct Toes—McClanahan's own invention) toes can be gradually restored to a more natural position, thereby undoing the motion that pushes the bunion out. In other words, as your toes spread out, the bunion starts to recede.

With that being said, the most commonly used type of bunion correctors are ones constructed from gel or fabric since they can be worn anytime and anywhere, whether you're going to work, staying indoors or sleeping.

The Nike Motiva is our pick for the best responsive sneakers for people with bunions because they were created with that in mind.

With super soft cushioning and adaptive stretch knit uppers, the Brooks Ariel provides a comfortable, secure fit without bunion irritation. Ideal for runners needing extra stability, it has GuideRails technology to correct improper movement and reduce excess pressure on feet.

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.

Find the right shoe style

These shoes lack the support and width needed for your foot to function properly when stress is placed on the foot. Flip-flops irritate the big toe joint and are often the direct cause of bunions. Flats are a good option because the shoe places your body weight onto the balls of your feet.