Do you experience pain in your feet but can’t figure out where it’s coming from? Sometimes, we try to do everything right — we wear special shoes with extra cushioning or orthotics like toe spacers or insoles, and still our feet hurt.

This is because the culprit isn’t necessarily what we think it is. Most modern shoes are too narrow for the human foot to assume it’s normal posture, and this can cause long-term problems like bunions, hammertoe, or bone spurs. This can happen even with shoes that fit you well, and yes, even with shoes that are designed to provide comfort like padded sneakers.

Fortunately, shoes with a wide toe box can help relieve many common feet issues and prevent them in the future. Keep reading to learn three signs that you might benefit from buying shoes with a wide toe box.

#1. You Have Bunions Or Other Issues In Your Toes and Feet

A bunion is an enlargement of the joint at the base of your big toe, and it can be quite painful. If you have a bunion, then you know that even seemingly simple tasks like walking can be difficult and uncomfortable.

But bunions aren’t the only problem that can afflict your feet — corns, calluses, hammertoes, and crossover toes can all make using your feet painful. 

One thing these conditions all have in common is that they can be aggravated even caused by shoes with a tight toe box. Buying wider toe box shoes can help you relieve the discomfort caused by these conditions, and can even help your feet heal in the long run.

#2. You Use Orthotics or Toe Spreaders

If you’ve been to the doctor for your foot pain, then you might have been prescribed orthotics or toe spreaders. Alternatively, you may have done some research on your own and arrived at the conclusion that they would help your foot problems.

Orthotics are special inserts that you put in your shoes to correct problems or provide extra support, while toe spreaders are designed to spread your toes apart to encourage proper foot alignment. Both of these tools can help a lot in relieving pain and healing your feet.

But, their effectiveness becomes extremely limited if you’re still using cramped shoes that don’t allow your feet to spread out. If you’re looking to increase the positive results you get from these devices, it’s best to use them in combination with wide toe box shoes.

#3. Your Toes or Feet Hurt When You’re Active

Do your feet feel fine most of the time, but start to get irritated after you’ve been active for a few hours? If so, you may be in the early stages of developing foot problems like bunions or hammertoe.

If you’re experiencing this kind of pain, it’s a good idea to switch to shoes with a wide toe box as soon as possible. You should also try to wear these shoes when you’re most active. This will help prevent your condition from getting worse, and will also help you heal your feet by encouraging them to take on their natural alignment.

Conclusion

If you can relate to any of these experiences, odds are you could benefit greatly from using shoes with a wide toe box. Wide toe box shoes for women and wide toe box shoes for men are both available from specialty shoe stores and online retailers for a reasonable price, so making the switch shouldn’t be too difficult. 

And if you ever have any questions or concerns about what will work best for your feet, always reach out to your podiatrist.