The Best Sandals For Hammer Toes - Men and Women's Guide

Are you searching for the best sandals for hammer toes but are not sure what might work in terms of comfort? If so hopefully my sandal guide can give you some ideas of the footwear you need to be looking at if you want to minimize foot pain and prevent your problem from getting worse.

Hammer toes always make buying sandals and shoes a little bit harder because of the raised toe area. I know that when I had one I had to be careful about what I wore on my feet and often had to tape the problem toe to stop any friction and subsequent foot pain.

Eventually, however, I learned what shoes and sandals to wear to stop the problem, and that in turn has helped my toe back into a better position so that I no longer have the problem.

Let’s dive into what I learned about the best sandals and shoes for hammer toes.

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My Top Picks Of The Best Sandals for Hammer Toes

Birkenstock Unisex-Adult Arizona Sandal

Birkenstock makes fashionable and comfortable sandals that are designed to help minimize foot problems. They have a wide toe box area, great arch support, and a design to help with foot positioning.

These Arizona sandals are great for people with foot conditions such as hammer toes because the toe is not hitting the leather of the sandal. Also, the inside of the sandal has an area on the footbed that helps with the positioning of your toes.

Cute Sandals for Hammer Toes – CUSHIONAIRE Women’s Bloom Comfort Sandal

Cushionaire makes a great range of sandals to help with problematic foot conditions. These bloom sandals are just one example of the many great sandals in their range that have been created for comfort.

These sandals have a wide toe box and comfort foam so they are brilliant if you are looking for something to help with hammer toes. In addition, they have:

A foam sole for comfort.
Vegan leather uppers.
Straps that you can adjust to get the perfect fit.
An outsole that has good traction.
They come in a selection of different colors.

Vionic Women’s Rest Talulah Strappy Sandals with Concealed Orthotic Arch Support

Vionics one of my favorite shoe brands for problem feet has a huge range of sandals that could work if you have a hammer toe. I chose these because they are not wedged or high-heeled and because they have straps for stability.

The great thing about Vionics is that they offer their shoes in both regular and a wide width making it easier for you to find shoes that fit you well.

These are great if you want:

A rubber sole for traction and to stop slips and falls.
Great arch support. Vionics are a market leader when it comes to support and comfort.
Leather uppers that won’t aggravate your hammer toe.
Black or metallic design depending on your needs.

Keen Women’s Closed-Toe Water Whisper Sandals

The best sandals for hammer toes don’t necessarily have to have an open front. These closed-toe sandals work so well because of the unique lacing system that allows you to adjust the sandal right down to the toe area.

These sandals come in a huge range of colors and are perfect for walking in slippery and wet conditions.

These are perfect if:

You want a comfortable footbed as these are made from EVA and have arch support.
You need traction for walking in more challenging conditions.
If you want a sandal that comes in a huge range of colors.
If you want a sandal you can clean in a washing machine.
You want odor protection as these are designed to reduce the smell of sweat.

KEEN Men’s Newport Closed-Toe Leather Sandals

Whilst closed-toe footwear can sometimes be a challenge when you have a hammer toe these Keen leather sandals are great because of the lace lock system. The system allows you to adjust the sandals right down to the toe area making it really easy for you to secure them without hurting your toe.

These are also water resistant which means they are perfect for walking along trails or using on the beach.

Although these are more expensive than some sandals on the market they make up for it with the following features:

They offer great traction and a toe bumper to protect your feet.
There is an EVA footbed that includes arch support.
The water-resistant upper expands the places where you can wear these without ruining them.
They are machine washable making them easy to clean.
The footbed has arch support for stability.

ECCO Men’s Sandals Multisport Outdoor Shoes

ECCO is well known for making shoes that are designed for comfort and that can help people who may suffer from painful feet.

These offer great support plus they are designed to be worn for long periods of time without causing you problems. ECCO believes that their sandals and shoes are good to wear straight out of the box so it is unlikely you will need to wear them in either before wearing them.

Buy these for:

The rubber sole which gives your foot structure cushioning.
The extra cushioning EVA footbed.
The wide-toe box section and adjustable straps.
The excellent traction on the outsole.

Jousen Men’s Sandals With Arch Support

These Jounsen sandals for men are another great example of what you can wear for comfort if you have a hammer toe or another foot condition. These are 100% leather and have a rubber sole for traction that makes them great for everyday wear.

I particularly like these because of the built-in arch support. Not all sandals offer this but when you find shoes with it as standard it avoids the need for an orthotic insole or shoe inserts.

These sandals are great as:

They are breathable. The lining is designed to keep your feet cool.
The straps are velcro and are easy to adjust for a better fit.
A rubber outsole helps with traction and stability.
These sandals are designed to be super comfortable.

What Do You Wear With Hammer Toes?

If you are looking for shoes or sandals for hammer toes then you will need to make sure that the footwear you buy has ample room for your feet. This means that you will need to check the depth and width of any shoes or sandals you are buying.

As hammer and claw toes are curled and raised this makes them more prone to hitting the top of sandals or shoes. This friction on the toe can cause foot pain and discomfort as well as problems such as corns on the toe joint.

The best sandals for hammer toes are roomy enough to allow the affected toe or toes space to prevent this friction.

As some hammer toes are often caused by a muscle imbalance in the foot shoes and poor arch support it makes sense for any footwear you buy to provide this to prevent worsening the problem. If your shoe or sandal doesn’t have good arch support then think about using orthotic insoles to help.

What Type of Shoe is Best For Hammer Toes?

My list of the best sandals for hammer toes was chosen because the footwear has certain key features that set them apart from normal shoes. Here are the elements that make a good shoe to wear if you have this condition and also some of the features that you need to avoid.

Avoid High Heels

High heels with a narrow toe tox should be avoided where possible. High-heeled shoes place your foot in an unnatural position which is not going to help with foot pain.

High heels often have a narrow toe box as well and this lack of space can exacerbate hammer toes and cause other problems such as bunions.

Where possible make sure that any sandals you buy are flat as this eliminates pressure on your feet and toes.

Choose Shoes and Sandals With a Wide Toe Box

Your feet and toes need space to spread in your footwear. That extra room stops overcrowding and doesn’t force your feet into an unnatural position.

A narrow-toe box is going to force your foot shape into a space that is too small and that is more likely to cause foot deformities.

Wide widths are always a better solution as they can allow your foot to feel comfortable and have the space it needs.

Buy Shoes With Extra Depth

If you are buying shoes for hammer toes then it isn’t just the width that counts but the depth of the footwear. This is because a claw toe or hammer toe is raised and will need more room if you want your shoes to fit your foot properly.

Shoes, therefore, need to have a deep toe box to give you this additional room. This extra depth helps you to avoid rubbing and friction which can create corns and calluses.

Choose Sandals Where the Straps Don’t Cover The Impacted Toe

Whilst you might not always find sandals that have the depth that you need you should assess where the straps of the sandals lie to make sure they don’t hit the toe that has the problem.

Some sandals have straps that are on the toe area which can cause them to rub the raised section. Choosing sandals where the straps avoid this toe area means that you are able to stop the friction.

Chose Soft Leather or Materials

Leather that hasn’t been treated with products such as leather conditioner can sometimes be stiff and inflexible. Harder leather is likely to hurt your feet more and cause problems.

If you wear soft leather sandals or shoes or even footwear made from a soft stretchy material you are less likely to experience any problems.

Some shoes also have a padded tongue in their design which helps to alleviate pressure on the toe area.

Supportive Shoes and Sandals Help

Don’t forget about the point I made earlier about choosing footwear with excellent support and stability. This is especially important if you suffer from flat feet or have plantar fasciitis.

Custom orthotics can really help to stabilize the foot and increase your comfort when wearing shoes.

How Can I Make My Hammer Toes More Comfortable?

The best sandals for hammer toes go a long way in helping reduce foot pain and increasing your comfort however sometimes you may need a little extra help. Here are some of the products that you can use to help with hammer toes and which can make wearing your shoes or sandals a breeze.

The Best Sandals For Hammer Toes – Men and Women’s Guide