The best orthopedic shoes of 2025, tested and reviewed

If you have lower body joint pain, back pain, high or flat arches, nerve pain, have had foot or ankle surgery or you just spend a lot of time on your feet, you might find relief in a new pair of shoes. Healthy feet thrive in shoes that offer the right kind of support, whether that comes from a cushier sole, a more stable footbed or a mix of both. The good news is many shoe brands now offer a few stylish orthopedic options in their lineups. That means you can find footwear with features such as proper arch support, shock absorption and wide toe boxes, while still being able to select from a wide range of colors and styles. These shoes typically don’t cost much more expensive than your average sneakers, so you won’t have to break the bank to get your hands — or feet — on some of the best orthopedic shoes available.

If you’re unsure whether orthopedic shoes are right for you, the answer is simple. “Anyone who identifies as having foot pain can benefit,” says Dr. Samantha Landau, DPM from Touro New York College of Podiatric Medicine. “Orthopedic shoes have features designed to provide relief to those who suffer from foot pain via support and comfort to help achieve optimal form and function. They also can aid stability, facilitate increasing walking distances and help reduce falls,” she explains.

With expert guidance and extensive hands-on testing, we zeroed in on the best orthopedic shoes on the market based on the types of foot conditions addressed, cost and style. As someone with wider feet and anatomical hip and leg length discrepancies, choosing shoes that are supportive and comfortable help me avoid strain and injury. With the help of a male tester to try out the men’s footwear, I put 18 pairs of shoes to the test, testing everything from running shoes to high heels. I also used my own knowledge as a credentialed pain-free performance specialist and health and fitness expert to assess the types of shoes and support needed to carry you through a range of activities. Get ready to be pleasantly surprised by how far orthopedic shoes have come to give you comfort, relief and, most of all, the style and support needed in a shoe, orthopedic or not.

And if you’re managing a specific foot disorder or challenge, also check out our articles on the best shoes for arthritic feet, best shoes for flat feet, best shoes for plantar fasciitis and best bunion correctors.

Table of contents

Update, Mar. 4, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability. Our top choice was replaced by the Kuru Atom (available for men and women) and almost all other categories were updated with new selections. We added four additional categories and renamed some of our previous categories to encompass broader needs for men’s and women’s footwear.

Best orthopedic shoe overall

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Other top orthopedic shoes we recommend for 2025

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Factors to consider when choosing orthopedic shoes

• Fit: Ensuring the correct fit is vital for comfort and, most of all, pain relief. “Make sure the shoes fit well — not too tight and not too loose. Your toes should have room to move, and there shouldn’t be any pinching or rubbing,” says Cary Chapman, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with Baptist Health Orthopedic Care. Shoes that are too big or wide can lead to slipping, poor gait and chafing. Pro tip: Measure your feet at the end of the day when your feet are generally their biggest due to swelling to ensure you get the best fit.

• Cushioned sole: “A cushioned sole can absorb shock and reduce pressure on your feet, which is especially important if you’re on your feet a lot,” shares Chapman. Cushioning also relieves the impact on the joints and back for less compressive force and pain.

• Support: Chapman recommends looking for shoes with good arch support. “This helps keep your feet aligned and distributes your weight evenly, which can prevent pain.” A firm arch is also vital for those with painful conditions such as plantar fasciitis.

• Stability: “Shoes with a firm heel counter and stable base can prevent your feet from moving around too much, providing better support,” says Chapman. Preventing side-to-side movement, or torque, is another purpose of stiffer, stable counters, according to Landau.

• Toe box: Wide toe box shoes provide ample room for your toes to move freely, reducing the likelihood of cramped or pinched toes, says Garcia. “This added space can also reduce the pressure on your feet, making it more comfortable to walk or stand for extended periods, and avoids the collateral effects of a narrow toe box, like blisters, calluses and ingrown toenails, as well as sprains, fractures and plantar fasciitis,” he says. Wide toe box shoes can prevent these issues by allowing your toes to spread out and relax naturally and also by providing a more stable and supportive fit.

• Accommodation: Chapman recommends looking for features like laces, straps, or Velcro, all of which can help you get a snug fit and provide extra support where you need it. “If you use custom orthotic inserts, make sure the shoes have removable insoles and enough space to fit them comfortably,” he adds.

• Cost: Though budget is normally the driving force behind most purchases, orthopedic shoes are not cheap, so it’s essential you weigh construction and cost to ensure that you get the most bang for your buck and a well-made shoe that will last. “High-quality materials and construction mean your shoes will last longer and continue to provide support,” says Chapman.

• Style: Even though today’s orthopedic shoes don’t sacrifice fashion for function, you should still look for a pair that you can wear with your overall wardrobe, including your work clothes and casual wear, to ensure you get the most use out of the shoe. Orthopedic running shoes are great, but can you wear them regularly with your wardrobe? If budget doesn’t allow for multiple pairs of orthopedic shoes, consider an orthopedic insole (like the Protalus T-100 listed above) that you can switch between shoes to help offer added support.

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How we chose

We researched dozens of top-rated orthopedic shoes and used input from podiatrists and orthopedic surgeons to narrow down the choices selected for testing. Ensuring that each shoe selected aligned with the expert’s recommendations, we ultimately chose 18 pairs of shoes. Each shoe was worn over the course of several months and during a variety of activities to determine its effectiveness at offering pain relief, arch support and cushioning. We then further narrowed the list based on support and pain relief or management, price, quality, style, sizes and colors offered and durability.

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Other orthopedic shoes we tested

The Hoka Bondi 8 was a strong contender for the best orthopedic walking shoe, but they were edged out by the Nike Motiva. They feel super comfortable on my feet thanks to a breathable mesh upper and a comfy memory foam collar, plus they come with the APMA Seal of Acceptance, but I found the cushioning of the Bondi 8 shoes to be a bit too much for me. I would be concerned that this level of cushioning makes them a risky wear for people with balance or stability issues.

Sports Medicine the DIFFERENCE HT Runners feature a unique heelless design meant to reduce impact and injury on the joints by forcing wearers to run on the balls of their feet instead of striking the ground with the heels first. They’re APMA-approved, but we think that they’re too niche to recommend as the best running shoe. However, if you are a heel striker or want to improve your running efficiency, these are worth looking into.

With an insulated wool blend upper and OOfoam technology in the sole, the OOFOS OOmega Londoner boot is another great option for keeping your feet warm in cooler climates. While they’re certainly toasty, I can attest to the same issue that some reviewers had in finding that they run narrow.

I had a similar experience with the AllSwifit 2.0 Slip On Walking Sneakers. They have a removable insole for adding custom orthotics, and I like the slip on design — the pull-on tab on the tongue is a nice touch — but I found them uncomfortably small in my size.

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FAQs

How do I know if I need orthopedic shoes?

If you are an overpronator (your foot rolls in when you’re walking), have high or low arches, or experience any degree of foot, knee, hip or back pain, you would likely benefit from orthopedic shoes, according to Landau.

What conditions do orthopedic shoes help with?

Orthopedic shoes are designed to support the structure of the foot and ankle, says Chapman. “They are designed for patients with specific foot conditions, such as diabetes or arthritis, or deformities like bunions and flat feet,” he explains. Orthopedic shoes can also help with conditions such as plantar fasciitis, neuromas, metatarsalgia, hammertoe, arthritis, knee pain, hip pain and back pain and prevent issues like pinched nerves, thanks to the wide toe box most of these shoes provide.

What’s the difference between orthopedic shoes and orthotics?

Orthopedic shoes help correct walking patterns to ensure proper alignment. They also provide stability, cushioning and arch support. Orthotics are inserts you can put into shoes. You can either buy orthotics through a retailer or have a podiatrist custom make one or a set for you. Put simply: Orthotics are an insert and only one part of the puzzle, while orthopedic shoes offer 360-degree support from the inside of the shoe to the outside sole. Orthopedic shoes also tend to fit orthotics or braces inside of them, and are typically wider and deeper than regular shoes, according to Brad Schaeffer, board certified foot surgeon and podiatrist with Central Park SOLE.

How do orthopedic shoes work?

Orthopedic shoes provide shock-absorbing cushioning to protect your joints and reduce pain, arch support to ward off plantar fasciitis and a wide toe box to prevent bunions and hammertoe. They also tend have features like stiff and deep counters to prevent side-to-side twisting, just-right cushioning, and rocker toes to encourage forward motion, says Landau. As a whole, orthopedic shoes improve overall alignment and gait, ultimately supporting foot health.

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Meet our experts

• Dr. Samantha Landau, is a doctor of podiatric medicine and assistant professor at the Touro New York College of Podiatric Medicine.

• Dr.Daniel Geller, DPM, chief medical officer at Canyon Foot & Ankle and Kane Footwear

• Dr. Cary Chapman, M.D., orthopedic surgeon with Baptist Health Orthopedic Care specializing in minimally invasive surgical treatments for chronic and acute foot and ankle injuries, ankle arthritis, ankle replacements, bunions and hammertoe deformities.

• Dr. Brad Schaeffer board certified foot surgeon and podiatrist with Central Park SOLE; featured doctor on the hit TLC show “My Feet Are Killing Me.”

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Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.

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