Help needed for an older friend - CANNOT find shoes which her knobbly feet!

[spaghettijunction98]

Can anyone help? My friend has arthritic joints in her middle toe and big toe. She needs some smart shoes but cannot find any which don’t hurt her feet. Her feet aren’t wide so traditional ‘wide fit’ shoes are too big but but she does need room around her toes.

Can anyone suggest a shop/online retailer she could try? She’s looked at having some made but they are several thousand pounds!!

Thanks!

I don’t know if this will help, but we’ve been having the opposite problem trying to find wide fit shoes for my son. He’s got very wide feet but they’re quite flattish (thanks, my genes…). We tried a bunch of shoes from DB Shoes, but the ones we tried were more designed for swollen feet or ones that needed extra foot height, rather than actual extra width.

So I wondered if that brand might be worth browsing for her. You can filter on “medical condition” and “toe shape” (ie round toe shape, square toe shape of the shoes).
https://www.widerfitshoes.co.uk/womens-wide-fit-slip-on-flat-shoes-antarctica
She could also give them a call for advice.

Thanks @Talipesmum - I’ll pass on the details of that company to her. Any other suggestions gratefully received!

Have you tried Shuropody, if there's one near you? Also Cosyfeet online.

Birkenstocks have a wide toe box, and also look at Happy little soles.

Fitville is excellent for this type of shoe!

I would second Cosyfeet for non-standard fittings and shapes. Although they're mostly comfortable type shoes/slippers, I think they do have some smarter styles.

Vivaia are great you can get wide or normal with a stretch top in lots of round toe styles and bunion fit/wonky styles.

She might find Fitflops work for her - their soles are very kind to older feet!

Look at barefoot shoes, BarefootBrit has a good website with lots of styles on. I have small narrow feet so I wear bgreater boots for work with an insole, and vivobarefoot ballet shoes in summer as smart shoes. There are loads of options for brogues etc but I don’t care for those. I also tried Shapen but they don’t seem to cater for my narrow feet even with an insole. I’ve bought a few from happy little soles who are great.

The pavers outlet shop in the local mill shopping outlet helped my mum with her weird feet. They listened to her problem, brought out a selection and helped her try them on until she found the perfect pair.

Might be worth seeing if the have a shop/outlet near.

Calla shoes are lovely, and described as suitable for problem feet, those with bunions etc.

Have you tried Sole Bliss? Or Calla Shoes?

Gabor comes up very narrow.

Pavers and Yours do extra wide sizes

I have similar problems to your friend, and only buy from Sole Bliss and FitFlop. Not all styles in these brands suit, but most do, and I’m happy to keep ordering until I get the right ones for me.

They’re not barefoot?

Topo , Keen and Altra for sporty or walking boot type shoes with normal width heel but generous toe boxes

Fly London boots/shoes also

I have terrible wide bunions but narrow heels and skinny ankles . I have these:

https://www.runningadventureoutdoor.com/product/topo-athletic-shoes-topo-ladies-ultraventure-4-trail-shoe-purple-dark-teal-20402?variant=122&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22858967670&gbraid=0AAAAADOeH4nJDBIUYmgkijqhjczM17SFt

and these

https://amzn.eu/d/eF7UP2P

whatever you do, STAY AWAY from barefoot styles if the feet are arthritic and painful. We need to minimise flexion with decent sturdy soles.

I'd agree with Cosyfeet.

Life is hard when you have arthritis (of any type). It bloody well hurts. Don't add to this woman's misery by sending her to Cosyfeet.

A Guide to the Best Shoes for Arthritis | Arthritis Foundation

Shoes for arthritis: Tips on footwear and footcare if you're in pain

My mother likes Ecco's shoes because the leather is very soft. I think she has these. They wouldn't qualify as 'smart', but they are a reasonable price and look fine with trousers, so might be of interest, depending on how severe your friend's arthritis is.

Why is that? What type of shoe or company would you recommend for someone with her requirements?

I have narrow heels but need a wide toe box because of arthritis in big toe and I really struggle with smart shoes - but Google barefoot style shoes
https://anyas-shop.com/pages/we-do-things-differently
this website might be helpful? But I wear trainers mostly and can cope with smart shoes for very short periods of time - Altra or topo trainers work for my feet but I know you want smart shoes so might not be much help?