A bunion changes the shape and width of the forefoot, leaving the joint at the base of the big toe vulnerable to pressure and rubbing inside a shoe.
These shoes for bunions are selected to give the prominent joint usable space and limit avoidable contact around it. Across the collection, this comes from a combination of roomier forefoot shapes, deeper toe boxes, soft leather or stretch uppers, memory foam cushioning and smooth seam-free linings. Adjustable fastenings help hold the foot without relying on a tight fit across the toes. Because bunions vary in size and shape, fitting is especially important where the joint is very prominent.
More about our shoes for bunions
To choose: if the joint is tender to any contact, start with the stretch-front models — a single stretch panel with memory foam behind it and no seam across it. If you want leather throughout and need volume rather than give, take the wide toe-box models. Both come with a removable insole, so a prescribed orthotic goes in without the shoe becoming tight over the toes.
Wide fit shoes for bunions, EE to 6E
Four fittings, made on our own lasts. A wider fitting keeps the same length and adds width and depth across the forefoot — which is why a 6E in your normal size usually works better than a standard fitting a size up.
Stretch shoes for a tender bunion joint
The front panel is stretch fabric with memory foam behind it, with no leather seam running across the joint. From the fastening back to the heel it is natural leather. The give is only where the joint needs it.
Seam-free linings
Every pair we make is lined with natural leather and has no stitching across the toes, the instep or the heel. A seam sitting on a prominent joint is one of the commonest causes of rubbing in an otherwise well-fitting shoe.
Questions we are asked
Will wider shoes stop my bunion getting worse?
We cannot tell you that, and nor can anyone selling you shoes — a bunion's progression is a clinical question for a podiatrist or foot and ankle surgeon. What a wider, softer shoe does is stop the upper pressing on the joint while you wear it.
What is the difference between wide and extra deep?
Width is side to side, depth is top to bottom. A bunion usually needs width; a bunion with a clawed second toe needs both. Our product pages say which a model has.
Can I wear these with bunion pads or a splint?
Possibly, depending on the bulk of the pad or device and the available room in the shoe. Do not use it if it creates a new pressure point. A night splint is a different product and is not designed to be worn in a shoe.
If the joint is becoming painful at rest, or the toe is starting to overlap, see a podiatrist. Footwear keeps you comfortable day to day; it does not change the joint.
