The Best Shoes for Bunions, Hammer Toe, and Diabetes, According to an Award-Winning Salt Lake City Specialty Shoe Store

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When you have a condition like a hammertoe, bunions, or diabetes, purchasing any old shoe can wind up complicating your health problems. We advise that you seek out the opinion of someone with the experience and expertise to recommend shoes specific to your needs. 

For specialty shoes in Salt Lake City, we would like to point our readers to one store in particular: Chandlers Walk Shoppe. Opened in 2000, this store aims to pull out all the stops when it comes to selecting the right shoe model and fit for your particular needs.

“Chandler’s priority is to provide high-quality footwear and excellent customer service,” reads the company website. They add that “comfortable and supportive footwear can take you a long way in achieving and maintaining good health!”

To help out our patients, we spoke with founder and owner Skip Chandler, PT, CPed, on what shoes he might recommend should someone enter his store with a specific health condition.

Best Shoe Brands for Hammer Toes

Hammertoe can be an uncomfortable condition without the right footwear. Experts recommend that sufferers look for a shoe that has an extra-wide toe box to prevent crowding or compression.

Chandler also suggests that individuals with hammertoe seek out shoes with extra depth. These can accommodate orthotics that keep toes cushioned and separated. They also provide added comfort. 

New Balance and Hoka are two athletic brands that tend to be roomy, and they often have the space needed to allow for orthotic inserts. The Hoka Bondi is a great, stylish choice for both women and men, as is the New Balance 860.

For casual shoes with extra depth and all-day comfort, Chandler recommends the Drew brand, which includes the Toledo for men and the Rose and Magnolia for women. Dr. Comfort is a brand that offers orthopedic shoes for individuals with severe hammertoe or who might be on their feet for extended periods of the day.

Best Shoes for Bunions

The key with shoes for Bunions, says Chandler, is to find a model that has width sizing. Larger widths reduce pressure upon the bunion, not only providing comfort but encouraging stabilization of the muscle structure, which can help to relieve bunions over time.

A number of brands of shoes have width sizing, including New Balance, Drew, Aravon, Taos, and Dansko. The Dansko ProXP, in particular, is a popular choice for professionals thanks to its elegance and slip-on convenience.

For individuals with severe bunions, they want to look for a shoe model that utilizes stretch fabric or mesh. These ensure that toes are not constricted, and they can help individuals whose feet tend to swell and change sizes throughout the day. Alegria is a particularly good brand noted for this quality, and models like the Alegria Qarma provide everyday style along with podiatrist-recommended features. 

Best Casual and Athletic Shoes for Diabetes

The most critical feature of a shoe for diabetics, says Chandler, is that it must have the extra depth to accommodate a diabetic insert. There are many special brands of orthopedic and diabetic shoes that offer this feature, but so do some more-common shoe brands, such as New Balances.

Chandler recommends the Dunham brand for men who want to fulfill doctor’s recommendations while still having shoes that are stylish and functional in a wide variety of situations. Dr. Comfort is another brand that provides room for diabetic inserts along with extensive all-day comfort. 

• Extra-depth will accommodate a diabetic insert
• NB, Drew, Dunham (Men’s), Dr Comfort, Propet (Good for all 3, has stretch fabric)

Propet is a brand that can offer superior performance for all three conditions above, and models like the Delaney Frost provide stretch fabric to ensure comfort even after all-day wear.

Go to Chandlers Walk Shoppe for Custom Fitting and Tailored Recommendations

Chandlers Walk Shoppe offers online ordering, but the best experience is found in-person.

“We have expert fitting staff who recognize common foot problems and fulfill doctor’s recommendations,” says owner Skip Chandler.

Everyone who comes into the store is invited to sit down, get a full range of measurements, and try on a variety of models and sizes in order to select the optimal shoe for their needs. Chandler even offers custom orthotics and shoe customizations to ensure your choice is an investment in comfort and health.

Remember that shoes aren’t just stylish but a functional part of our everyday health. Selecting the right size, shape, features, and model can mean the difference between caring for your condition and exacerbating it, especially if you are active or have a demanding job that requires you to be on your feet.

You can visit Chandlers Walk Shoppe at 6321 S Highland Dr, Salt Lake City, 84092, just off the 215 exit. Be sure to check their website for store hours, and know that they are closed on Sundays.

If you are experiencing foot problems or want a podiatrist’s recommendations on orthotics or specialty shoes, visit the offices of Elizabeth Auger at our locations in Salt Lake City, Sandy, or West Jordan. Call us at any time at (801) 396-9743 or contact us online to schedule an appointment 24/7.