The 6 Best Products for Bunion Support of 2024

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From toe spreaders to splints—these products will help support and comfort your bunions.

Brides / Amelia Manley

Bunions, which involve the swelling of the first joint of the big toe, can cause severe pain for anyone. Suzanne Levine, DPM, RPT, PC, Millennium Podiatry in New York City, says tight shoes and narrow toe boxes can exacerbate bunion development and irritate them further. To avoid worsening the development of your bunions, Levine recommends using products for bunion support. Products with proper bunion support will separate the toes, provide cushioning for the joint, and give arch support.

We researched dozens of bunion support products and evaluated them for material, comfort, force applied, and value. An assistant professor of orthopedics from our Medical Expert Board reviewed the contents of this article for medical accuracy regarding what to look for in bunion support products and when to use them.

Over-the-counter bunion products only work to relieve the pain while wearing. If you're dealing with foot pain, it may be time to consult a podiatrist and consider other treatment options.

Dr. Scholl's

Adjustable fit

Helps with toe alignment

Severe bunion-friendly

Not for outdoor use

Not ideal for extended wear

Type: Splint/toe guard | Arch Support Level: None

Dr. Scholl’s is a well-known and trusted orthopedic footwear brand, and their Bunion Relief & Toe Corrector splint doesn’t disappoint. This splint prioritizes toe realignment by applying pressure on the bunion. The pressure could feel intense during testing, but the reinforced cushioning on the inside helped when we wore it. Within two days, our balance and agility had improved, and by the end of testing, our toes looked more aligned by 20-30%.

It has adjustable Velcro straps so that you can modify the fit easily. We liked that it was snug and secure and didn’t restrict any natural movement. It’s for indoor use only, making it great for staying at home and lying or sitting down.

As mentioned, it works gradually and can sometimes be uncomfortable and inconvenient. If you’re looking for a more comfortable, mobile-friendly bunion support splint that offers more immediate (albeit temporary) pain relief, the Caretras Bunion Corrector may be a better option. It provides optimal support and uses a soft fabric fastener splint that wraps around the big toe to help straighten it with a strap around the center of the foot. If you plan to wear shoes with it, it may be best to size up as it’s bulkier than a traditional sock.

Even with the cushioning, the pressure is intense. We could wear it for a few hours, but not for extended periods, or the discomfort would become too much. This also isn’t for you if you’re interested in a toe guard, splint for active use, or something to wear with other shoes or orthotics.

Amazon

Quick relief

All-in-one kit

Shock absorbing

Lacks durability

Type: Big toe sleeve | Arch Support Level: Moderate

The Flyen Bunion Sleeves Kit addresses both irritation and toe alignment. This all-in-one bunion support product provides a sleeve covering the entire big toe and midfoot area. The kit also comes with toe separators if alignment is a concern. All you have to do is place the toe spacer between the big and second toe before putting the sleeve over the entire foot. It's also crafted with medical-grade silicone that absorbs shock when walking.

We tried all the pieces during testing and were quite impressed with how they performed. We liked wearing the small wraparound piece on days when we'd be on our feet for long periods of time. We loved that the spacer made wearing shoes more comfortable. We think the large-sleeve protector would be best for people who feel sharper pain due to their bunions. The toe stretcher piece was our absolute favorite, as it helped strengthen the muscles needed for proper alignment. All of the pieces felt soft and comfortable, making this kit more than worth it.

This product isn't the most durable, so it may not be as long lasting as other picks. The big toe protector was uncomfortable if worn for long periods of time.

Amazon

Ideal for active people

Variety of choices

Pairs well with shoes

Lacks durability

Type: Toe spreaders | Arch Support Level: None

If you are unsure what support product might work best for your bunions, consider getting this all-encompassing kit that includes a variety of separators, pads, and spacers for bunion relief. Dr. Frederick's Original Bunion Corrector Kit is affordable and comes with 14 different pieces to try on your big and second toes. Each piece is made with a soft gel-like material that will provide optimal comfort throughout the day. The material is also super flexible, making it easy to take the products off and on. Plus, the products are washable, so it is easy to reuse them repeatedly. This kit might be a great option if you are trying to determine whether separators or bunion pads might work better for your foot.

Not all bunion support products are comfortable in shoes, but lucky, this kit has options. The bunion spacers were comfortable during testing—we could easily wear them for long periods. They were also soft and helped protect our bunion against friction. They proved to be great on long walks and when standing. While they weren't strong enough to fully re-align toes, we think they're good for added support and protection (especially if you're active).

This is a good starter kit, but it isn't ideal for someone who knows what support their bunions need. The items in this kit aren't as durable and long-lasting as other products, so if you know what you need, it'd be better to go for exactly what you need.

Amazon

Ample arch support

Reduces discomfort in shoes

Flexible and lightweight

Not ideal for extended wear

Type: Insoles | Arch Support Level: High

If you’re interested in a removable insole that you can wear to support and cradle your bunion, these insoles by Footlogics might be for you. They’re comfortable, have good arch support, and pair well with shoes. They alleviated the bunion discomfort we felt in shoes when we wore them and elevated our arches, which gave us more balance and stability. We also liked that they were flexible enough for running and walking long distances—they were a joy to wear on our three-mile walk.

They’re thick and seem to fit best inside wider toe boxes—a beneficial feature for shoes for bunions. They come in four sizes, from men’s 4 to 14 and women’s 5.5 to 13.

They’re large, so you may need to trim them to fit your shoes perfectly. We also don’t suggest wearing them for extended periods. We noticed that the arches became irritating when we wore them for more than three hours of walking or one-hour standing.

Amazon

Allergy-friendly

Easy to wear

Small design

Not great for narrow shoes

Type: Toe spreader | Arch Support Level: None

Depending on the type of bunion you are experiencing, products that merely separate the toes might offer optimal pain relief and support throughout the day. The ZenToes Gel Toe Separator is made with silicone that wraps around the second toe. The noninvasive design then helps keep the big toe straight and prevents it from turning inward toward the second toe.

This spreader is so great because it is smaller than other devices on the market, making it easy to wear with or without shoes.

The device does not offer a shield around the actual bunion. This means that wearing shoes could cause some friction over the impacted area.

Amazon

Reusable

Temporarily straightens the toe

Can be worn all day

May chafe

Doesn't align toes

Type: Big toe guard/toe spreader | Arch Support Level: None

For ultimate comfort, consider getting a bunion supporter made of a gel-based material, like the NatraCure Gel Big Toe Bunion Guard. This product works in two areas. First, it slips over that big toe and covers the bunion, which helps prevent any irritation or pain when walking around in shoes or barefoot. Second, the product separates the big toe from the second toe. This is important because when bunions form, they rotate the big toe inward toward the second toe. The added separator will help separate the two toes and temporarily straighten the big toe. This should make walking more comfortable and relieve pressure on that area. When we wore it, we noticed it offered ample protection against the pressure we usually felt in shoes.

This pick can cause some skin irritation like chafing. We also noticed more sweating than usual. If you're priority is toe alignment this may not be the best pick for you as it didn't do that during testing.

When selecting products for bunion support, we spoke with podiatrists and then spent hours combing the web for the best and most effective products. After considering all of our options, we determined which to feature based on key criteria recommended by podiatrists:

We use expert input at every step of reporting, testing, and writing this story. Here are some of the experts we consulted along the way:

Levine says you can wear these products whenever needed to help forestall the development of worse symptoms or relieve pain. Depending on the user, bunion support can exacerbate the symptoms instead of helping the joint. If the product is causing abrasions, increased pain, or ulcers, then cease using the bunion support and consult with your podiatrist about other options available. Levine says you should only wear bunion supports after surgery for a few weeks before stopping.

Certified running coach and marathon runner Christine Luff has spent years researching and recommending over-the-counter foot health products for runners. She sticks to brands that are recommended by organizations such as the APMA and tells her trainees to seek advice from their podiatrist or other healthcare professional.

Additional reporting to this story by Danielle Zoellner

As a seasoned health writer, Danielle Zoellner knows the importance of finding just the right product to fit your medical needs. Throughout her career, Danielle has interviewed a variety of experts in the medical and health fields while reviewing dozens of products. Her experience and knowledge in the field work together to help readers like yourself find the best products for your daily life.

Nagano H, Begg RK. Shoe-insole technology for injury prevention in walking. Sensors (Basel). 2018;18(5):1468. Published 2018 May 8. doi:10.3390/s18051468

By Christine LuffChristine Many Luff is a personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist, and Road Runners Club of America Certified Coach.