The best orthopedic shoes of 2024, according to experts

Best for: Plantar fasciitis, hammertoe, overpronation and bunions | Athletic style: Walking | Material: Leather | Colors available: White, yellow, gray, black | Sizes available: Women’s: 6-9 in whole and half sizes for 10, 11 (wide available); men’s: 8-13 whole sizes only (wide available)

Designed by one of New York's most prominent podiatrists, Nelya Lobkova, DPM, the Klaw 528 orthopedic shoe alleviates foot and joint issues caused by conditions such as hammertoe, plantar fasciitis, overpronation and bunions. The shoe offers a deep, supportive heel cup, medial and lateral arch support, and a rocker outsole — a feature Liza Egbogah tells us should always be found in a great orthotic shoe. The extensive cushioning in the midsole provides and maintains pain relief, especially for those who have plantar fasciitis.

The women’s Klaw 528 runs a bit wide, which is great for those with wide feet; however, the wider heel paired with the deep heel cup could lead to heel rubbing for those with narrow feet.

Best for: Dressy orthopedic arch support | Athletic style: Walking | Material: Leather | Colors available: Black, brown, navy (red available on Amazon) | Sizes available: 6-12 (no half sizes; wide available)

Traditionally, orthopedic shoes were designed for function, not fashion. These beautiful Dansko Fawna Mary Jane shoes are a great example of how far the once notoriously ugly shoes have come. The cult favorite Fawna shoe is made of soft stain-resistant leather, with removable EVA footbeds — a cushioned shock-absorbing material Egbogah recommends for absorbing the impact of each step you take — and special ergonomic insoles that provide cushioned arch support. 

How's that for getting the support your aching heels need, all while still looking fabulous?

While the Velcro closure may be easier for some to navigate than a clasp or snap, the Velcro may catch on clothing and could lose strength over time.

Best for: Dressy orthopedic support | Athletic style: Walking | Material: Leather | Colors available: Seven options in various shades of black and brown with various sole colors | Sizes available: 6.5-11.5 in whole and half sizes, 12-16 (wide available)

Cole Haan Wingtip Oxford shoes drive home orthopedic-shoe function with dress-shoe elegance, thanks to Cole Haan's patented Grand OS cushioning technology, sturdy arch support and lightweight rubber outsoles. We really love the fact that these shoes offer that favorite tennis-shoe feel along with a polished dress-shoe look. The shoes are also orthotic-friendly, should you want to use a custom insole for one foot or both feet. With so many colors available, congratulations: You can officially say goodbye to painful dress shoes. Forever. 

Best for: Plantar fasciitis, heel pain, shock absorption | Athletic style: Walking, running | Material: Synthetic | Colors available: 16+ | Sizes available: Women’s: 5-10.5 in whole and half sizes, 11-12 (wide available); men’s: 7-12.5 in whole and half sizes, 13-16 (wide and X-wide available)

Hoka's Bondi 8 not only provides the highest level of cushioning the brand offers and has been upgraded with a more stable, extended heel, but the shoe also features three of Egbogah’s recommendations when choosing orthopedic shoes: a wide toe box, shock-absorbing soles with materials like EVA to cushion each step and a rocker sole to minimize pressure points when walking. One tester said he had "horribly painful diabetic feet," including experiencing pain while he was sitting. He reported that the Bondi 8 shoes were "life-changing," providing comfort and stability to the point he is walking around the block nightly. He added that now his wife and 11-year-old son each has a pair.

The Bondi 8 has ?the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Seal of Acceptance, which recognizes products that benefit foot health. 

Best for: Extra arch and heel support while pounding the pavement | Athletic style: Running | Material: Mesh, rubber | Colors available: 5 (women); 3 (men) | Sizes available: Women’s: 5.5-11 in whole and half sizes; men’s: 7-11.5 whole and half sizes, 12

If you’re searching for a deeply cushioned yet stable and responsive running shoe, the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 is for you. The shoe features extra foam cushioning in the midsole to minimize joint impact while still propelling you forward — as all good running shoes should. The impressive 6mm heel-to-toe drop makes for an easy transition with each stride, while the engineered carbon plate provides stability. The shoe is durable, breathable and reflective for early and late runs, and it offers real grip for ultimate road safety. 

The Deviate's wider-than-average toe box (96.3mm) provides comfortable space for those with toe issues, yet is not so wide that it causes chafing or blisters.

Best for: Plantar fasciitis, heel pain, knee pain, travel, | Athletic style: Walking | Material: Foam, mesh, rubber | Colors available: 6 | Sizes available: 5-9.5 in whole and half sizes, 10-12 (Amazon carries only whole sizes)

Oofos OOmg slip-on sneakers reduce compressive forces on your joints, making them ideal for those with back pain. The OOmg shoes provide exceptional arch support, absorb impact and rebound slowly to soothe joints and muscles after a long day on your feet. The entire line of Oofos shoes has the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance. This company knows how to make a great orthopedic shoe, including orthopedic flip-flops and slides.

The brand recommends going up by a half size for the best fit. The OOmg Recovery Shoe is out of stock on the Oofos website, but OOmg Eezee Low Shoe is similar and in stock in whole and half sizes.

Best for: Plantar fasciitis, pronation, full-body alignment | Athletic style: Walking | Material: Leather | Colors available: White; cream white | Sizes available: 5-9.5 in whole and half sizes; 10-13 (wide available)

Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a painful inflammatory condition that causes excruciating pain in your heel and arch. Having high arches and incorrect pronation and wearing shoes that aren’t supportive enough can all further exacerbate PF. Vionic makes shoes that truly combat the painful condition, thanks to its patented VIO Motion technology that corrects pronation and promotes full-body alignment. The cult favorite Vionic Karmelle Oxford Casual Sneakers provide the alignment, comfort, arch support and the shock-absorbing cushioning it takes to overcome PF.

Men can find the same comfort and casual style with the Vionic Men's Walker shoe.

Best for: Bunions, hammertoe and pinched nerves | Athletic style: Walking, cross training | Material: Mesh | Colors available: 11 | Sizes available: 5-12 in whole and half sizes (wide available)

Kuru's Atom Athletic Sneaker prevents and relieves pain, thanks to extra cushioning in the heel and midsole, exceptional arch support and a deep heel cup that hugs your foot and prevents slippage. The wide toe box's anatomical fit helps prevent issues such as bunions, hammertoe and pinched nerves — conditions that can be more common for those with wide feet. The shoe's breathable mesh design works well to keep feet cool and dry during workouts, walks and everyday wear.

Orthopedic shoe type: Diabetic | Athletic style: Walking | Material: Synthetic | Colors available: Gray, black, blue | Sizes available: 7-11.5 in whole and half sizes, 12-15 (available in standard, wide, X-wide and XX-wide)

Diabetic nerve damage that occurs in the feet is known as peripheral neuropathy (PN) and can cause a tingling sensation through the foot and a feeling of walking on pins and needles. (OUCH!) Alternatively, PN can cause the loss of pain sensation in the feet, which can lead to sores, calluses, injuries and infection if left untreated. Studies show that wearing the correct footwear reduces the likelihood of developing these issues. 

Orthofeet’s Edgewater Stretch shoe provides everything a person with diabetes should look for in a shoe: made with antimicrobial materials, superior orthotic insoles with adjustable arch support, loads of comfortable cushioning, the ever-important rocker sole and a nonfriction inner lining that prevents sores and infections. 

Orthofeet’s Edgewater Stretch shoes are available in four widths, so you can find the ideal fit to relieve pain and prevent complications from neuropathy or other foot conditions.

Sizes: Women's 6-14 with half sizes; men's 4-16 with half sizes

If you're experiencing sticker shock from how much a pair of orthopedic shoes cost, you could try starting with a simple orthotic shoe insole. Walk-Hero's orthotics are particularly great because the insoles feature a deep heel cup, EVA shock absorption and arch support. Something else that is pretty spectacular is the nearly 38,000 five-star Amazon reviews. These insoles work by removing your shoe's existing insoles and replacing them with the orthotic insole. 

These insoles can be a great inexpensive first line of defense before spending money on orthopedic shoes, though, if you are in severe, chronic pain, a visit to your doctor should be your true first line of defense.

Sock styles: No-show; crew; full calf | Sizes: Men's and women's S-XL

Yahoo's health editor is always singing the praises of the OS1st brand of compression and sports socks. The company specializes in high-quality, medical-grade socks for just about every foot condition (plantar fasciitis, bunion, diabetic and others). The FS4 plantar fasciitis socks are designed with OS1st's patented Compression Zone Technology?, antibacterial fabric and Y-Gore heel for anatomical shape, including a left/right design for a great fit (a little R/L at the toe of the sock lets you know which foot).