Comments on: How To Help Your Bunions If You Don’t Want Surgery

By: samantha

samantha — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:59:44 +0000

In reply to Tracy. Hi Tracy, You can find our brands and retailers by region here!

By: Tracy

Tracy — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 16:31:33 +0000

Hi Anya
I have been following the barefoot trend with interest, I am 55 with a severe left foot bunion and an increasing left foot one. I pronate considerably and believe my hips, specifically a weak glute medius also plays a role. What introductory minimalist shoe can you recommend for South Africa

By: samantha

samantha — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 15:14:16 +0000

In reply to Susan Smith. Hi Susan - you can find our favorite foot friendly socks here.

By: Susan Smith

Susan Smith — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 12:27:47 +0000

Hello Anya,
I wonder if you can help please?
I have started back at Dance recently. I love it and the music! However I have ‘flat’feet and skinny legs since a young age.
I had a fall and a’ frozen’ shoulder in Past year and have resorted to Bowen and Feldenkrais, both which helped enormously. I have developed a bursi on top of right foot foot which has a large toe bunion. I have a ‘bony’ protrusion at back of left knee. I have cramps in feet and legs and occasionally have ‘restless’ leg syndrome. I have been wearing Vivo Barefoot shoes foe some years. However what is offered on your website has really caught my attention! I have embarked on the Foot exercises, especially the recommendations for Bunions.
Where do I get toed socks I see in your photos please?
I started Yoga in my 20’s and I am 70years now.
is there anything you can recomend please?
Thank-you and keep on sharing this marvelous and vital ‘work’ Best wishes from Susan Smith

By: Anya

Anya — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 19:14:29 +0000

In reply to Jelena. Not being a clinician I don't know much about how to go about this, but you can try wide toe box shoes that are more natural than most shoes but also not that different. It can be a less drastic change, while still being kinder to your feet. Many people who are hesitant to try barefoot but want to experience some of the benefits have found good results that way.

By: Jelena

Jelena — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 12:08:31 +0000

Hi Anya. You’ve converted me into a barefoot believer, so now my kids wear barefoot shoes. But I have a very rare disease called Freiberg’s. My case has improved drastically from pilates and most importantly ditching conventional shoes and switching to exclusively Birkenstock shoes (I don’t mean just sandals) for a decade. I went from being unable to make 3 steps barefoot to this summer being able to walk barefoot even outdoors without the previous side effects. I am very interested in trying barefoot shoes for myself now, but equally scared. Our small community online has little information on the disease, the solution is either a rigid shoe (pain prevention) or surgery. Can you please help us find out wether or not going the barefoot shoe route (along with the strengthening and massaging) could help? Jelena

By: Anya

Anya — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 17:20:19 +0000

In reply to Betsy Youngquist. Sorry to hear you are having pain! It sounds like you need some cushion in your shoes. I would suggest looking at this article on cushioned barefoot shoes. My favorite from that list is the Lems Primal Zen. And you can think about adding your own insole to the barefoot shoes you already have so you don't have to buy a new pair.

By: Betsy Youngquist

Betsy Youngquist — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 16:33:44 +0000

Hi Anya,
I am new to barefoot shoes like others. I have a big toe bunion and shoes with little cushioning make the balls of my feet sore. At this point I am sometimes carrying my weight on the side of my foot when I walk, opposite the side of my foot with a bunion, due to the discomfort. I do use toe spacers at times when not wearing shoes. My toe shape is plateau. What would your recommendations be for sneakers? Thank you so much for your reply.
Best,
B Young

By: Anya

Anya — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:16:02 +0000

In reply to Heidi. I really like the Lems Primal Zen sneaker for bunions - the toe box is really wider and you get volume over the toes too for extra wiggle room. And they have extra cushion.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 07:27:48 +0000

Thanks SO much for the best articles I have read so far regarding bunions and footwear! I find it very difficult to get footwear that fits my bunions. The shoe is typically too big in the heel if it should be wide enough. Do you have a suggestion for an everyday shoe for long walks with room for hallux valgus? My largest foot measures 23.5 cm (9,3 in) in length and 9.5 cm in width (3,8 in). Pure barefoot shoes won’t work for me as I need a thicker heel.
Thanks in advance,
BR Heidi

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 10:05:39 +0000

Hi Anya, I’m totally new to barefoot shoes and have bunions. I’ve been looking at the Freet Ibex but when I measured my widest foot it is 105mm at the widest point. That would indicate I need a UK size 13, when lengthwise I would go for UK size 7! Could you recommend a wider hiking boot? Many thanks for a fantastic website I’ll be sharing with my simarlily bunion-afflicted daughter.

By: Anya

Anya — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 16:13:36 +0000

In reply to Frances West. If you have bunion pain then a sole that is less flexible can relieve some of that pain (because the big toe doesn't have to move as much). So it's a tricky balance between catering to the bunion and trying to improve it. If it were me I would get into something that is as unsupportive as possible while still not aggravating anything and then at other times work on improving the bunion through other means.

By: Anya

Anya — Thu, 30 May 2024 19:19:09 +0000

In reply to Rachael Parrill. You're probably going to have to say goodbye to the dancing shoes you currently use. Correct toes will absolutely help it, but it will take a while for your feet to adjust. I helped someone through that process and for a long time he had to wear the correct toes most of the time, because his pain would come back when he took them off. The other thing is the more your feet heal the more intolerable high heels become. You might be able to find high heels with a wide toe box, but yes something has to give.

By: Frances West

Frances West — Thu, 16 May 2024 15:54:01 +0000

Hi I recently saw a podiatrist as I have mild bunions. He was not a fan of my barefoot shoes! He said I have low arches, gave me some arch support insoles (the insole just goes under the arch and tucks under the heel, it doesn’t go under the toes) and told me to wear wide shoes.

I’ve been wearing the insoles in my FeelGrounds barefoot trainers for a few weeks and have been having less pain from my bunions (I was experiencing less pain by switching to barefoot anyway) but I’m concerned that the insole is very rigid and that I’m not strengthening my feet by wearing them. I wore my barefoot sandals at the weekend and my feet felt very loose without the arch support. How do I know if it was good advice to wear insoles or not?

By: samantha

samantha — Thu, 09 May 2024 03:06:13 +0000

In reply to Tim. Hi Tim, there are some options! Check out this list for work boots.