When recovering from a broken toe, you might think your footwear doesn’t play a part because you’re resting most of the time anyway. But ensuring your toes have plenty of space to spread out is vital. Before you move a muscle, remember to get your hands on the best shoes for a broken toe.
Squeezing your toes into shoes with a short, narrow toe box can cause a myriad of problems even when you’re not recovering from an injury. Callouses, corns, bunions, hammer toe, and plantar fasciitis don’t sound like things you want to deal with when you’re trying to have a lovely day off.
Walking while recovering from a broken toe can be comfortable, though. When you get your hands on the right footwear, you’re going to notice a world of difference. Worry not, we’ve got you. Here’s everything you need to know right here, right now.
But first, what happens when you break your toe?
Maybe you’ve stubbed your toe really, really hard. Perhaps you’ve suffered a serious blow to your toe that caused you to question everything you’ve ever known about toe fractures. Whatever the circumstances might be, the sudden, severe pain can leave you wondering whether your toe is broken.
When you break your toe, you’re going to experience a throbbing sensation at the break, swelling, bruising, and a temporary change of color.
Moreover, there’s a chance you might hear the bone break at the time of the accident. When you try putting pressure or weight on your foot, you might not be able to do so because of the pain.
A bad break can even cause your toe to dislocate, which means you might notice it’s sitting at an unnatural angle. A sprained toe shouldn’t look dislocated.
If you suspect your toe is broken, contact your doctor and schedule an appointment right away. A broken toe can typically be diagnosed with the use of an X-ray.
With rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE), as well as over-the-counter medication, your toe should be as good as new after a few weeks.
While there’s not much you can do during the recovery time, you should consider wearing comfortable, supportive, and protective footwear to ensure your feet are happy and healthy.
What to consider when shopping for the best shoes for a broken toe
So, you’re on the hunt for the best shoes for a broken toe? Well, there are a few tips and tricks you need to consider to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth. Sneakers are comfy, but that doesn’t mean that every sneaker style will protect and support your fractured toe.
When shoe shopping, pay attention to sneakers, sandals, and slides that come with a wide toe box.
That, combined with materials with a bit of give like soft leather or fabric, will provide your feet with plenty of wiggle room (not that you’ll be wiggling your toes any time soon). Avoid narrow footwear that doesn’t fit right around your toes.
Stiff and sturdy footwear will keep your feet grounded throughout the day, and that’s something you want to get your hands on. Narrow footwear will, however, keep your feet feeling constricted.
Sandals and slides are a great option to consider because they typically have more room all around. So, don’t shy away from experimenting with different options before settling on ones that fit your feet to a T.
What are the best shoes for a broken toe?
1. Hoka Bondi 7
Starting with one of our favorite sneakers, Hoka Bondi 7s are perfect for people recovering from a broken toe because they’re wider than your average runners.
Stylish and supportive, these sneakers are made with a comfortable padded sole, breathable mesh upper, and durable EVA midsole that promise to keep your feet protected and supported throughout the day.
Not to mention that the Bondi 7 comes in regular, wide, and extra-wide widths, which means you can choose whichever width works for your feet. Hoka sneakers are on the expensive side, but they’re worth the money because you can wear them even after you’ve recovered from your fracture.
2. Sketchers Go Walk Joy Sneaker
What better way to accommodate your feet than to opt for slip-on sneakers that require little to no effort to put on and take off? When you’re getting over a fractured toe, you’re more than likely to get annoyed whenever you need to put your shoes on.
For a budget-friendly wide-toe box sneaker, there’s no question that Go Walk Joy is the easiest footwear you’re ever going to wear.
They’re breathable and lightweight, which makes them even more comfortable than we thought. They’re made with plenty of plush padding that promises to keep you supported, too. They’re roomy, well-fitting, reasonably-priced sneakers. What’s not to adore?
3. Lululemon Blissfeel 2
When trying to get your hands on everyday sneakers that won’t affect your fractured toe, you might want to check out Blissfeel 2 by Lululemon.
We’d argue that these are the most attractive runners we’ve ever seen – they’re perfect for going to work, grabbing brunch with friends, or hitting the gym. With the green light from your doctor, you can wear them wherever you want. Lululemon sneakers are lightweight, supportive, sleek, and stylish.
4. New Balance Fresh Foam X 880v12
If you’re adamant about getting sneakers for your fractured toe, you can’t forget about everyone’s favorite New Balance sneaker model: Fresh Foam X 880v12. We’re pretty sure that these kicks are celebrity-approved considering we’ve been seeing them on Hailey Bieber, Gigi Hadid, and Taylor Swift.
With New Balance sneakers, you can count on the fact that they’re high-quality, hard-wearing, and eye-catching. These sneakers are made with layers of thick, plush padding, a wide toe box, and four widths for just the right fit.
5. Fit Flop Iqushion
Moving on to something a little more summery, you can’t go wrong with Fit Flop Iqushion flip-flops. We don’t know whether they’re the best shoes for a broken toe, but they’ll definitely give your broken toe enough room to rest.
Wearing flip-flops might not be your cup of tea, but these are guaranteed to benefit you more than walking barefoot. Sporting the APMA seal, they’re equipped with an anatomically shaped EVA footbed, pressure-relieving cushioning, and great arch support.
6. Hoka Ora Recovery 3 Slides
Flip-flops aren’t your thing? Take a peep at these Hoka Ora Recovery 3 Slides that promise to keep your toes away from bed frames and sharp edges. Highly cushioned, these Hoka slides are made for wearing around the apartment.
Walking barefoot might not be the greatest move when you’re recovering from a fractured toe because you might end up damaging your toe while walking around unprotected. With these Hoka slides, you can bank on being comfortable, supported, and protected all day long.
7. Itazero Wide Width Slip-on Orthopedic Shoes
Proper arch support distributes your body weight evenly and reduces stress on your feet. When you have a toe fracture, you need footwear with proper arch support to ensure you don’t put too much pressure on your toe.
With Itazero Wide Width slip-on orthopedic shoes, you get exactly that. This model features a wide toe box, a stretchy upper, and an attractive frame. We do need to mention that these slip-on shoes might be too wide for people with narrow feet.
8. Kocota Arch Support Recovery Slide Sandals
Needless to say, you can always turn to slides when your sneakers don’t do the trick. Slides are a great way to stay comfortable, supported, and protected when you’re walking around the apartment, going over to your neighbor for a cup of coffee, or running errands.
With these Arch Support Recovery Slide Sandals, you can be supported and stylish at the same time. They are made with soft EVA foam, patented footbeds that cradle your arches, and a simple, sleek frame.
9. Asics Gel-Nimbus 21
What to wear when you want your fractured toe to glow?
Jokes aside, Asics Gel-Nimbus 21 sneakers contain reflective material designed to help with visibility in low-light hours. And, if that wasn’t enough to persuade you to purchase them, they’re equipped with a foam base, heel-clutching technology, and abrasion-resistant rubber for durability.
Bunions, blisters, broken toes, capsulitis of the second toe – whichever condition you’re suffering from, you can count on Gel-Nimbus 21 to keep you on your toes.
10. Birkenstock Arizona Essentials Slide
We’ve arrived at the end of the article with one of our favorites, Arizona Essentials by Birkenstock.
The brand is known to come out with lightweight, wearable, and versatile footwear. But we bet you didn’t know that the widest part of the sandal aligns perfectly with your fractured toe. Birkenstocks are the best summer footwear you can opt for when recovering from a fractured toe.
