The 10 Best Shoes for Bunions

In this video we review the 10 best shoes for woman and men with bunions. Each one of these shoes have a wide toe box that can accommodate natural toe spread and splay, thereby eliminating hallux valgus.

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Podcast with Dr. Emily Splichal

Everything mentioned in this video
#shoesforbunions #bunioncorrection #halluxvalgus

Chapters:
0:00 Start
0:01 How we chose the best shoes for bunions
0:42 Crocs
1:51 Vivobarefoot
3:07 Birkenstock
5:08 New Balance running shoes
6:13 Altra running shoes
7:43 Vibram FiveFingers
10:06 Feelgrounds
11:19 Splay athletics
12:49 Saguaro
13:40 Skinners
15:10 Wildling
15:36 Naboso inner soles
16:04 Conclusion

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[sven_the_giant]

Another great shoe for bunions are Lems, based out of Boulder, Colorado. Their extra wide toe boxes accommodate the silicon toe spacers too.

[kginoregon]

My Vibram five fingers are like being barefoot and wearing toe spacers at the same time as well as having protective calluses on the soles of my feet. They keep my big toe more where it should be and allow me to use my feet as they are meant to be. It's a struggle to get them on, but once they are on, it's completely worth it. I'm 76 and just don't care that others aren't used to how they look. They make feet feet feel like dancing.

[jeremybentham]

I transitioned too fast into barefoot shoes. While they helped me resolve foot weakness and plantar fasciitis issues, they also seemed to trigger a painful episode of sesamoiditis. The ticker midsole of the Birks and Altras that didn't work for you, actually ended up allowing me to heal the sesamoiditis without surgery. The first two shoes I moved into after the orthopedic boot (prescribed for the fracture), were a Finn Comfort Stretchy shoe with a cork footbed and a tick midsoled Altra Paradigm. Finn/Birk Sandals worked well too, Chacos were close but had too much toe spring and heel lift. Slowly, I transitioned from the Altra Paradigm to the Torin, and also to Finn Comfort Vassa. Camper Peu Sneakers were also useful, they allow you to play with different footbeds. Removing the footbed temporarily to strengthen, then replacing cushioned and supportive inserts for long hours standing (museums, subways). It's a journey, you have to try what method works for you. For me, concrete floors, city sidewalks and parks with completely minimalistic shoes were a no-no. A footbed with a few milimiters of latex or cork usually prevented a flare up. Trails, rocks, grass, sand, gravel...I can walk all day with nothing but a thin rubber out sole. YMMV.

[Korgon]

Vibram 5 Fingers- YES! Plantar fasciitis sufferer for years, they really helped along with the bunion from boots. Also had a plantar flexed first ray - all solved from 5 fingers.

[iandownes]

As a vibram rep, wear them for a few hours and rotate with other shoes and build a comfortability with them. I have been wearing 5 fingers since I was 13... after a few weeks and you get comfortable with spreading your toes you can get right into them. Just when you get close to the toes (putting them on) inch worm your (wiggling) toes as you slide in. The kso are a great weight training shoe, and my favorite is the v-trail 2.0. I've been back packing in vibrams for a while time, I have back packed 36 (out of 46) Adirondacks peaks in vibrams. You get tons of grip and being able to grip your toes helps!

[richardjackson]

As an avid Vibram 5 finger shoe wearer, now almost 5 years, I feel you downplayed these shoes. Yes, I had dorsal bunions for over 30 years, yes, I had periods of plantar faciitis, yes, I had repeated between the toes fungal infections, yes, I develop periods of tendonitis, muscle cramps, and yes, grew once again my muscles to spread my toes, yes, I experience shin muscle pain early in the day, yes, I can walk again 10 miles/day, yes, I can stand for hours on concrete with NO pain. Ok, the shoes look funny, but I think I will live now well over 100 years. I am 73. Forget all the other shoes. Tough it out, I DID!

[joyjchen]

Wow this is another amazing video! I’m so grateful I found you. I’m a dog walker and in the recent months have developed pain and bunion. I just can’t give up walking which is my livelihood. Having worn bad shoes for so long as I’m cheap, I’m now looking for shoes that accommodate my bunion pain. The first video I saw of yours yesterday led me to this one and they’re like godsend. I’m now pondering to purchase one. Thank you so much! I’ll continue to follow you… I love how your baby stretches her toes!

[feleciawallace]

Great video... I just found your channel while search of shoe ideas that'll help my left side bunion problem... I cancelled surgery today for a bunionectomy, so I thought I'd better find proper shoes now that I've decided to live with the bunion.

[bhut]

Just a heads-up to someone who has battled bunions from pre-teen years: It is very difficult to put on Five fingers when you have large bunions. I wore silicon toe separators for a decade and they are not the solution; they push all of the other toes towards the outside of the foot and cause bunionettes.

[diannedelledera]

I work in the food service industry and found crocs years ago and have worn them nearly every day for the past 11 years. I have had to glue the bottoms back together a few times, but I am on my feet usually on concrete floors for hours everyday. I have to wear something that is slip resistant and protect my feet . They are not pretty, but I wouldn't trade them! I have been doing the bunion exercises you suggested. My problem is trying to find a pair of dress shoes that don't hurt and that I can afford!

[duvessa]

I have bunions and NEED ARCH SUPPORT. I also need my heel to be higher than my toes to be comfortable. The type of Crocs you showed wreak havoc with my Morton’s Neuroma because they have no structure. I literally just threw away a pair and can now walk again in Danskos, Ariat, and other well-made shoes. That said: Croc makes some extraordinarily comfortable sandals which I wear all summer and even use for easy hikes when it is too hot for hiking boots.

[justme]

One thing to add. It's very important to have the feet breath often, especially the toes/toenails, as bacteria and fungus thrive in the underside of the nail cuticle in dark and damp conditions (closed toe-box compounded by dirty sweaty socks). Let those toes breath. Stretch em out. After a swim, bath or shower... dry those feet/toes real good.

[VMR]

Very surprised Merrell zero drop trail runners were not mentioned, even though they have been modifying their model to add more midsole😕. Should have mentioned Merrells instead of New Balance. On a positive note, I am glad this video introduced me to more brands of minimal shoes.

[richignacio]

This is the best review I have found and discovered Splays. I love em! I have HUGE bunions and there is plenty of room in the toe box. I read that the bunion may be irritated by the seam and I found thats not the case with me. The bunion does touch the seam but doesn't irritate it but again thats just me. They do stretch out after a short time. Also, my foot has actually splayed out more just after wearing these a few times and when wearing toe socks it allows your toes more freedom. Thank you for sharing the reviews!

[LMinem]

These shoes seem all to be for good weather, walking on dry surfaces. However, my winter is cold and wet early on, progressing to bitterly cold (-15F/-26C, so ice, not wet) and snowy. Frostbite is a concern. The summers can also be very muddy. None of these shoes seem to be very good for those more extreme environments.

[carolr]

I watched one of your other videos (on fixing bunions) a few hours ago and am happy to report that I ordered a pair of Whiten barefoot shoes and a silicone toe separator. Can't wait til they arrive. I'm also doing my toe exercises. Thank you for all of this!

[littlegreenliza]

Very interesting for me having suffered from bunions for 50+ years. I wish you had reviewed Arcopedico brand soft shoes which give me support and bunion relief. I wore out a pair or two then got my first Birkenstocks which are letting my toes spread. I now wear both brands alternating from one to the other. Whether it was the double arch support of the Arcopedicos or the toe spread of the Birkenstocks, I now can walk barefoot nearly painlessly which I could not do for many years. Thanks!

[MrsSheffield]

As an Osteopath I’m always telling patients about how hard shoes don’t help support the arch, they hinder the bones, muscles, fascia, etc….and turns off the neural feedback to your feet over time, but it’s hard to convince them Birkenstocks don’t help long term for foot mobility.

[Gigi-sfgz]

After years of wearing high heals, I had to stop after bunions started popping out. I've had great success with Alegria Shoes, specifically those with rocker bottoms due to a fallen metatarsal and high arches (flat shoes cause pain). I add Solemate™MicroLifts in both shoes. Can walk miles with this combination. 27, 000 steps in Europe one day and no issues!

[juliabarton]

Please make a video about how to convert Birkenstocks into barefoot shoes.